"I insist on having Summit Fire Consulting on our development team. Their critical review in predevelopment always improves our design and execution. Their credibility with local code officials assures us that we are providing excellent life safety design at the best possible price."
Steve Minn, Principal
Lupe Development Partners
Means of egress
Description
- Review of codes and standards such as the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code to determine means of egress requirements for new buildings.
- Examples: occupant loads, required egress widths, travel distance, common path of travel, number of exits and continuity, etc.
- Examine existing building conditions to determine the adequacy of an existing means of egress system.
- Assist in the design and development of the means of egress system for a building through review of architectural floor plans.
- Calculations and analysis to determine approximate egress times for building occupants for various scenarios.
- Preparation of Life Safety Evaluations, as required for buildings using smoke-protection of assembly seating.
- Review/approval by Professional Engineer (PE) in fire protection engineering.
Level of Involvement
Can vary, depending on specific project and client needs. Typically, Summit Fie Consulting is working for the Architect of Record and can be involved during Schematic Design and Design Development only, providing cursory design guidance; or, we can be involved during the entire project: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration.
Sample Project
Summit Fire Consulting is currently involved with a renovation project that is underway at the Northrop Auditorium located on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Summit Fire Consulting is working as a sub-consultant to the Architect of Record for the project. Summit Fire Consulting’s scope includes a review of select building code requirements, including construction type/allowable height and area, smoke control design, and means of egress. As part of the means of egress analysis, Summit Fire Consulting is reviewing architectural floor plans at stages throughout the Schematic Design and Design Development phases of the project to assist the Architect of Record in developing a code-compliant means of egress system for the building. The primary focus of the egress analysis includes determination of appropriate occupant loads, analysis of travel distances, analysis of common path of travel, determination of the required number of exits (per floor and for the building), analysis and interpretation of specialized egress requirements for Group A occupancies, calculation of required egress widths/capacity, etc. Given the scope of the renovation project, the building is being treated as new construction from a code perspective; however, there are several challenges involved with existing building features that are intended to remain. Summit Fire Consulting is assisting in developing both prescriptive and alternative code-compliance strategies for presentation to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
