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| Los Angeles City Hall Seismic Rehabilitation Project - Upgraded Fire Life Safety Elements |
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| When the Los Angeles City Hall was built in 1927 Fire / Life Safety systems were less sophisticated than they are today. For instance, a single exit had been provided for each of the tower (high rise) floors. This single exit served both as a public access to these floors, and as the only fire escape available for the tenants to use in case evacuation became necessary. Such safety features as fire sprinklers, fire and smoke detection devices, fire alarms, pressurized stairwells and the concept that stairwells should be isolated from the building and continuous from the very top of the building to the ground were not in the original building design in 1927. To bring the building up to the spirit of current fire / life safety code today, these features had to be included in the rehabilitation of Los Angeles City Hall. They include: |
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| • | Increase in the number of Exits |
| • | Upgrade existing escape routes |
| • | Install pressurized stairwells that are isolated and continuous |
| • | Install fire sensing devices and manual pull stations |
| • | Install fire alarm system |
| • | Install fire sprinklers |
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Increase in the number of Exits |
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| Two new stairwells were added from the top of the building down to the ground floor. Also two new stairwells were added from the 10th floor down to the 5th floor in the north and south wings of the mid rise portion of the building. |
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| Major elevators and stairway systems (existing from 1927). Note that the stair wells are not continuous from top to bottom. |
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| New stairwells and corridors improve escape routes from the building in case of emergency. |
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| Upgrade Existing Escape Routes |
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| The old/ existing stairwells have been upgraded and new stairwells added so that when complete there will be 2 stairwells continuous from the 27th floor to the 1st floor and two additional stairwells from the 10th floor to the 5th floor. Any one of a number of signals from the alarm system will automatically start pressurization fans and pressurize the stairs to minimize smoke migration into the stair wells. |
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| Install Pressurized Stairwells that are Isolated and Continuous |
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| These stairwell shafts will be fully enclosed with a 2 hour fire resistive shaft construction and related self closing fire doors. These shafts will provide a safer exit system for tenants. The new stair shafts will be pressurized in the event of a fire so that if a stair shaft door is opened smoke will not enter the shaft. |
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| Install Fire/Smoke Sensing Devices and Manual Pull Stations |
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| When Tenant Improvements is completed approximately 10,000 fire sprinklers will be installed in every room and on every floor in the building. Approximately 500 smoke detectors, 500 strobe / speakers are being installed. Manual pull stations will be provided throughout the building. |
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| The fire alarm system, which is continuously monitored from the Fire Control Room, is automatically activated by any of the following devices. |
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| • | Sprinklers |
| • | Manual pull stations |
| • | Fire and smoke detection devices |
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| The fire control room which will be located on the 1st floor is an emergency control center where fire control panels will report the location of an activated smoke detector, fire sprinkler flow switch, or the location of an activated manual pull station and from which any announcements to individual floors, or to the whole building can be made. |
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| Install fire Sprinklers |
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| A modern sprinkler system is being installed on every floor. Water will be pumped from an underground water storage tank or from the City water main. This pumping system and water storage tank were installed earlier, in 1994 under an earlier project. |
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| New fire doors on 2nd floor |
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| Some WON doors, similar to Accordion Doors, are being added to isolate the elevator lobbies on various floors. These doors will close automatically on a signal from any one of the sensing devices located in the area of these WON doors. New fire doors are also being added in the 2nd floor main corridors to enhance the exiting of the building. |
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