FP Narrative 72-82 Boston Street Townhouses 10-02-2018
1076 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339•Tel 781.826.4144•Fax 781.924.5792•www.wbaengineers.com
161 Exchange Street, 3rd Floor, Pawtucket, RI 02860
WB&A Wozny/Barbar & Associates, Inc.
C O N S U L T I N G E N G I N E E R S
FIRE PROTECTION NARRATIVE
LRI PROPERTIES LLC
72-82 BOSTON ST
TOWNHOUSES
SALEM, MA.
OCTOBER 02, 2018
BASIS (METHODOLOGY) OF DESIGN
Section 1 – Residential Building Description
1. Building “Use” Group: R-2 (residential)
2. Total square footage of Building: 16,997 sq. ft.
3. Building height: 39’-0”
4. Number of floors above grade: 3
5. Number of floors below grade: 1
6. Square footage per floor: Garage –4,310 sq. ft.
First Floor- 4,402 sq. ft.
Second Floor- 4,279 sq. ft.
Third Floor – 4,006 sq. ft.
7. Type(s) of occupancies (hazards): Light Hazard – residential
8. Type(s) of construction: VB
9. Hazardous material usage and storage: Non
10. Height storage of commodities within a
building stored over 12 ft. N/A
11. Site access arrangement See civil drawings
Section 2 – Applicable Laws and Governing Codes
1. Building Code: Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR, 8th Edition
2. Referenced Standards: NFPA 13 - 2013, NFPA 25 – 2011, NFPA 72 - 2010,
3. Applicable Sections of M.G.L., Chapter 148, “Fire Protection.”
4. Applicable Sections of 527 CMR “Fire Prevention Regulations.”
5. Applicable Specialized Codes (plumbing, electrical and architectural access.)
6. Applicable Federal Laws such as OSHA, ADA, etc.
Section 3 – Design Responsibility
1. Wozny/Barbar and Associates (WB&A) is providing a design and design criteria including
specifications. Hydraulic calculations are required and have been provided. The design has been
based on Fire Protection Systems, Chapter 9, Guidelines for the Preparation of Narrative Reports.
2. Fire Protection drawings will indicate sprinklers in the most remote areas only, as per “guidelines
for the Preparation of the Narrative Reports 780 CMR-903.1.1”. WB&A Associates is providing a
partial design and the design criteria which will be used by the installing contractor who will
finalizes the system layout, as per Guidelines for the preparation of Fire Protection System
Narrative Reports. WB&A will review sprinkler contractor shop drawings for conformance with
the design documents and NFPA requirements. In addition, WB&A will provide periodic
inspection during construction.
3. The Professional Fire Protection Engineer of record responsible for the fire suppression will be
Grzegorz B. Wozny, PE, Massachusetts No. 39170, and the electrical engineer of record
responsible for fire alarm system will be Salim Afsar, PE, Massachusetts No.39083.
Section 4 – Fire Protection System to be Installed
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1. Sprinkler System
a. The building will be provided with a 4” fire service and 4” double check valve assembly
installed in vertical position.
b. The fire service will be located in a water service room attached to the building.
c. Fire department inlet connection will be installed within 100 feet from a fire hydrant.
d. Standpipes are not required and will not be provided.
e. Each unit will be a dedicated sprinkler zone.
f. All parking garages will be a single dry pipe sprinkler zone.
g. The sprinkler system design will be based on NFPA 1302-13 requirements.
h. Spaces above ceiling will be provided with listed sprinklers. The spacing of those
sprinklers will be 12’x12’ maximum.
i. Residential sprinklers will be provided inside apartments and dry, quick response
sprinklers in garages.
j. The hydrant flow test was performed on December 7, 2016 by Williams Sparage, the
results are as follow:
• Static pressure - 72 psi
• Residual pressure - 70 psi
• Flow - 1106 gpm
2. Fire Alarm System
a. The building shall include a complete independent addressable fire detection and alarm
system for monitoring sprinkler systems with complete audio evacuation signaling.
Equipment shall be UL listed and shall meet the requirements of the local fire department
and State Fire Marshal.
1) Alarm notification shall be via ADA - compliant audio signaling devices.
2) Low frequency 520HZ mini horns shall be installed in bedrooms and mini horns
in the kitchen and living areas of the dwelling units.
3) Local heat detectors will be installed in the entrance to the units in the garage
level.
4) Local smoke detectors will be installed in the units.
5) Audible alarm signals shall sound at march time cadence (120 ppm).
6) Sound an audible signal at the FACP. Upon acknowledgment, the alarm LED
shall light steadily and the audible shall silence. Subsequent alarms shall re-
initiate this sequence.
7) Flow, tamper and pressure switches will be wired to the fire alarm control panel.
8) Smoke detector will be installed in the fire alarm control room.
9) A rotating beacon will be installed outside the FACP room.
10) 120 volt smoke detectors shall be provided in bedrooms and smoke/CO
combination detector will be provided outside each bedroom. Detectors shall be
equipped with battery backup.
Section 5 – Sequence of Operation
1. Sprinkler System
a. Wet System – When a single heat activated sprinkler fuses and discharges water, flow
switch at a floor control valve assembly is actuated and sends an alarm signal to the main
fire alarm control panel.
a. Dry S ystem – When a single heat activated sprinkler fuses and discharges water, pressure
switch at a dry pipe valve is actuated and sends an alarm signal to the main fire alarm
control panel.
2. Fire Alarm System
a. The operation of any automatic alarm initiating device (system smoke, heat, waterflow,
and pressure switch) shall automatically:
1) Initiate the transmission of an alarm to the Municipal Fire Station and a listed
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Central Station for transmission of alarms to the Fire Department.
2) Audible alarm signals shall sound at march time cadence (120 ppm). The system
shall also be capable of temporal (NFPA 72 - 2.2.2.2).
3) Turn on the exterior beacon at the primary entrance.
4) Flash an alarm LED and sound an audible signal at the FACP. Upon
acknowledgment, the alarm LED shall light steadily and the audible shall
silence. Subsequent alarms shall re-initiate this sequence.
5) Visually indicate the alarm initiating device, type and location via the alpha-
numeric display located at the FACP.
6) Tampering with any of the supervised control valves shall flash a supervised
signal at the Fire Alarm Control Panel.
Section 6 – Testing Criteria
1. Sprinkler System,
a. Notify the authority having jurisdiction and Owner’s representative of the time and date
of the test.
b. Perform all required acceptance test as required by NFPA 13 and NFPA 25.
c. Complete and sign the appropriate Contractor’s material and test Certificate(s).
2. Fire Alarm System
a. The system shall be fully tested by a UL certified testing company in accordance with UL
guidelines and NFPA standards. Each and every device shall be tested. A copy of NFPA
Record of Completion documentation to Fire Marshall prior to the fire department walk-
through. At a minimum perform the following tests:
1) Before energizing the cables and wires, check for correct connections and test
for short circuits, ground faults, continuity, and insulation.
2) Close each sprinkler system flow valve and verify proper supervisory alarm at
the FACP.
3) Verify activation of all waterflow and pressure switches.
4) Open initiating device circuits and verify that the trouble signal actuates.
5) Open and short signaling line circuits and verify that the trouble signal actuates.
6) Open and short notification appliance circuits and verify that trouble signal
actuates.
7) Ground all circuits and verify response of trouble signals.
8) Check presence and audibility of tone at all alarm notification devices.
9) Check installation, supervision, and operation of all intelligent smoke detectors
using the walk test.
10) Each of the alarm conditions that the system is required to detect should be
introduced on the system. Verify the proper receipt and the proper processing of
the signal at the FACP and the correct activation of the control points.
11) When the system is equipped with optional features, the manufacturer’s manual
shall be consulted to determine the proper testing procedures. This is intended to
address such items as verifying controls performed by individually addressed or
grouped devices, sensitivity monitoring, verification functionality and similar.
b. A copy of the final test report and UL certification shall be submitted indicating proper
functioning of the system and conformance to the specifications. The test shall be
performed by UL certified and factory - trained qualified technicians. Each and every
device shall be tested, and standalone operation of remote panels shall be verified. UL
certification shall be performed by the same company that will hold and execute the Test
and Inspection contract.
Equipment and Tools
During the pre- and final acceptance testing of the systems, the installing contractor will provide the following
equipment at the site.
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1. Sprinkler system testing notification announcements to the occupants of the building;
2. All devices within limits of construction shall be tested in strict accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions: (i.e. all manual pull stations will be activated and reset with key; all smoke detectors
will be tested with magnets; all A/V units will be activated and monitored for audible and visual
notification; etc.);
3. Construction Documents and approved Shop Drawings or As-Built Drawings;
4. Approved narrative description (sequence of operation);
Approval Requirements
The following approvals are necessary prior to the start of work:
1. Salem Fire Department, Permit for Fire Protection System. This permit is for installation of the
fire alarm system and automatic sprinkler system.
2. A verbal approval at time of testing followed by a written documentation shall be issued indicating
all Code requirements have been satisfied.
3. The contractor, in conjunction with the alarm manufacturer, shall rectify all portions of the system
that fail acceptance testing.
4. The contractor and the alarm manufacturer will issue final inspection reports along with
Certificate of Completion verifying all systems affected by construction are in compliance.
5. All documentation for personnel contact regarding emergency notification shall be submitted by
the owner’s representative.
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