An overview from Antea Group on the purpose and application of Life Safety Code, as well as a deep dive into relevant regulations NFPA 101, IFC 2015, and OSHA Subpart E. For more information, visit http://us.anteagroup.com/en-us/services/health-and-safety.

1. LIFE SAFETY
NFPA 101, IFC 2015 & OSHA Subpart E
02/01/2017

2. • … to guide the design, construction and
features of a structure to protect the
occupants from the effects of fire.
• While protection from fire is the focus, it
also applies to dangers from other
emergencies similar to fires.
• It’s purpose is to provide safe evacuation
from, or shelter within, a building during
a fire.
Purpose of Life Safety
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3. Application
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• The Code applies to New and Existing occupancies.
• Requirements for New Construction are more restrictive than
Existing, as they are easier to implement at that stage.
• There are general requirements that apply to all occupancies,
and specific requirements that apply to certain types of
occupancies.

4. • 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E
• Basic life safety requirements.
• References LSC 2009, or IFC 2009 as allowable methods of compliance
• International Fire Code, Chapter 10
• More commonly enforced by AHJ’s around the country than LSC
• Most of the requirements are the same, but not as in depth
• NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code (LSC)
• Most comprehensive guidance on Life Safety
• Also the most difficult to understand
OSHA, IFC, & NFPA
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5. • Exit Access: The portion of the means of egress that leads to an
exit.
• Exit: That portion of a means of egress that is separated from all
other spaces of the building or structure by construction,
location, or equipment as required to provide a protected way
of travel to the exit discharge.
• Exit Discharge: That portion of the means of egress between the
termination of an exit and the public way.
• Horizontal Exit: A way of passage from one building to an area
of refuge in another building, or the same building around a fire
barrier.
Definitions
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6. • Chapter 1: Administration
• Chapter 2: Referenced Publications
• Chapter 3: Definitions
• Chapter 4: General
• Chapter 5: Performance Based Option
• Chapter 6: Classification of Occupancy and Hazard of Contents
• Chapter 7: Means of Egress
• Chapter 8: Features of Fire Protection
• Chapter 9: Building Services and Fire Protection Equipment
• Chapter 10: Interior Finish, Contents, and Furnishings
• Chapter 11-42: New and Existing Occupancies
• Chapter 43: Building Rehabilitation
Life Safety Code - Structure
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7. • Chapter 1: Administration
• Chapter 2: Referenced Publications
• Chapter 3: Definitions
• Chapter 4: General
• Chapter 5: Performance Based Option
• Chapter 6: Classification of Occupancy and Hazard of Contents
• Chapter 7: Means of Egress
• Chapter 8: Features of Fire Protection
• Chapter 9: Building Services and Fire Protection Equipment
• Chapter 10: Interior Finish, Contents, and Furnishings
• Chapter 11-42: New and Existing Occupancies
• Chapter 43: Building Rehabilitation
Life Safety Code - Structure
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8. • Chapter 4 provides general rules that need to be followed in all
facilities.
• These are generalities, that are explored in depth and modified
in later chapters.
Chapter 4
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9. • Two means of egress…shall be provided in every building
…where size, occupancy, and arrangement would endanger
occupants attempting to use a single means of egress …
• The two means of egress shall be arranged to minimize the
possibility that both might be rendered impassable by the same
emergency condition.
Chapter 4: Number of Exits
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10. • In every occupied building or structure, means of egress from all
parts of the building shall be maintained free and unobstructed.
Means of egress shall be accessible to the extent necessary to
ensure reasonable safety for occupants having impaired
mobility.
Chapter 4: Unobstructed Means of Egress
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11. • In every building or structure of such
size, arrangement, or occupancy that a
fire itself might not provide adequate
occupant warning, fire alarm systems
shall be provided where necessary to
warn occupants of the existence of fire.
• Translation: If the building is so big that
part of it is on fire and you may not know
it, you need a fire alarm.
Chapter 4: Fire Alarm Systems
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12. • Every exit shall be clearly visible, or the route to reach every exit
shall be conspicuously indicated. Each means of egress, in its
entirety, shall be arranged or marked so that the way to a place
of safety is indicated in a clear manner.
• Translation: Make sure you understand how to escape.
Chapter 4: Markings and Visibility
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13. • The AHJ may allow you to deviate from the requirements of the
LSC if you can prove the design you want can still provide the
same level of protection.
• Important for special structures and updating historical buildings
Chapter 5: Performance Based Option
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14. • Determine if a space is a business, industrial,
mercantile, etc.
• The Appendix section for this chapter is very
useful, as it gives examples to guide you.
• Guidance on hazard classifications, used
throughout the code
• Low Hazard: Contents of the space do not
support combustion.
• Medium Hazard: Contents burn with moderate
rapidity, considerable smoke output.
• High Hazard: Extremely flammable, potential for
explosion
Chapter 6: Classification of Occupancy and
Hazard of Contents
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15. • Provides the required fire separation between two occupancies.
• Like occupancies do not require a separation
• These range from 0 to 3 hour fire wall separations
• Pay attention to remodeled areas where they have cut through
walls to provide access
• Identify spaces where they may have changed occupancies
Separation of Occupancies: Table 6.1.14.4.1
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16. • A building or structure in which two or more classes of
occupancy exist.
• Can be intermingled or separated by fire-resistance rated
assemblies.
Multiple Occupancy Type Buildings
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17. Assembly
• An occupancy used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for
deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement,
awaiting transportation, or similar uses; or used as a special
amusement building, regardless of occupant load.
• Churches
• Restaurants/bars
• Theatres
• Bus/train stations
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18. • An occupancy in which products are manufactured or in which
processing, assembling, mixing, packaging, finishing, decorating
or repair operations are conducted.
Industrial
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19. • An occupancy used
primarily for the storage
or sheltering of goods,
merchandise, products or
vehicles.
Storage
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20. • An occupancy used for the display and sale of merchandise.
Mercantile
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21. • An occupancy used for the transaction of business other than
mercantile.
Business
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22. • Special Structures and High-Rise Buildings
• Educational
• One- and Two-Family Dwellings
• Lodging or Rooming Houses
• Hotels and Dormitories
• Apartment Buildings
• Residential Board and Care Occupancies
Other Occupancies
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23. • Chapter 7 provides in depth details about the construction,
installation and design of the means of egress.
• Components
• Capacity
• Number
• Arrangement
• Travel distances
• Discharges
• Illumination
• Emergency Lighting
• Marking
• Special Provisions
Means of Egress
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24. • Doors are required to swing in the direction of travel when
there is an occupant load of 50 or more. There are exceptions
to this rule, see 7.2.1.4.2
• Doors typically need to remain unlocked, and have panic
hardware installed. Again, there are exceptions to this rule
based upon the occupancy or exceptions found in 7.2.1.5.5.1
7.2 – Door Openings
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25. • Occupant load determines numerous aspects of the means of
egress components when assessing a given space, including:
• Number of exits
• Width of exits
• Door swing
• Signage requirements
• This is calculated by dividing the total area of the space, by the
factors in table 7.3.1.2
Occupant Load
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26. Table 7.3.1.2 – Occupant Load Factors
• Gross Floor Area: Floor area within the inside perimeter of the
outside walls of the space in consideration.
• Net Floor Area: Gross floor area less hallways, stairs, closets,
thickness of interior walls, columns, or other features.
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27. Calculating Occupant Load
• Example:
• Manufacturing space of
50,000 sq.ft.
• Industrial Use is 100 gross
sq.ft/person
• 50,000/100= 500 persons
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Occupancy Square Feet Square Meters
Industrial Use
General and high hazard
industrial
100 9.3
Special-purpose industrial NA NA
Mercantile Use Sales area
on street floor
30 2.8

28. • Chapters 11-42 will provide specific
requirements for the number of
exits
• In general: No less than 2 means of
egress from an occupied space.
• Occupant load between 500-1000:
no less than 3
• Occupant load more than 1000: no
less than 4
Determining Number of Means of Egress
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29. • Door openings in a means of egress
shall not be less than 32 inches.
7.2.1.2.3.2 has 9 exceptions to this
rule.
• Table 7.3.3.1 provides the exit
width per person for a occupancy
• Example: Manufacturing space
calculated earlier as an occupancy
load of 500 persons.
• 0.2 in/person
• 500*0.2=100 inches total width
Determining total width of Means of Egress
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Area Stairways – Inches
per person
Level
Components –
Inches per
person
Board and Care 0.4 0.2
Health Care, sprinklered 0.3 0.2
Health care, non
sprinklered
0.6 0.5
High hazard contents 0.7 0.4
All others 0.3 0.2

30. Travel Distances
• Travel distance to an exit is based
upon the occupancy.
• Always found in section _.2.6.1 of
the occupancy chapters.
• Industrial Occupancy,
• With sprinkler system: 250 ft
• Without sprinkler system: 200 ft
• Table 40.2.6.1
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31. Chapter 8: Features of Fire Protection
• Guidance on building
construction, and
compartmentation of spaces.
• This helps prevent the spread
of smoke and fire from
traveling throughout the
building, which can prevent
escape.
• This is the key reason why fire
doors must be self closing
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32. • Guidance on the installation of building equipment, in regards to
its impact on Life Safety.
• Guidance on the installation of fire alarm and suppression
systems, which are a key to notifying occupants of a fire, and
providing time to evacuate.
• Fire sprinkler systems are typically not designed to extinguish a fire. They
are designed to SUPRESS a fire while occupants are evacuating, and the
fire department is responding.
Chapter 9: Building Services and Fire
Protection Equipment
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33. • Materials adhered to the floors, walls and ceilings must comply
with this chapter
• Caution must be taken with the type of materials used, due to
flame spread rates
• This is often an issue in educational buildings (elementary
schools) where teachers hang artwork on the walls
• Carpets are only allowed to extend a few inches up a wall for
this reason, unless designed for walls.
• Ceilings are required to be non combustible, with allowances for
some hanging items.
Chapter 10: Interior Finishes
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34. • Is the business the first occupant of the building?
• Is the business a tenant in a shared facility?
• Has the facility been remodeled?
• Is there excessive storage within the facility?
What to think about
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35. • NFPA 101: Life Safety Code
• International Fire Code, 2015 Ed
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E – Means of Egress
References & Resources
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36. Nicholas Paoli, CSP, ARM, CFPS
Project Manager | USA
Antea®Group
Office: +1.303.615.311
Mobile: +1.720.252.3652
USA Toll Free 800.477.7411
200 Union Blvd Suite 500 Lakewood, CO
80228
Nicholas.Paoli@anteagroup.com |