The Design of the Firth Building in Uclan University - Report Example

Engineering Design Project Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: City & State: Date: Introduction When considering the technical design of the Firth building in Uclan University, it has taken the modern technological advancement in both fire safety and effectiveness power use. It is clear from the blue prints of the building it has enough emergency management exits as well as sufficient area that one may need while in the building. In most cases like this in Firth building in Uclan University, failure to evaluate fire safety can be fatal especially when students are involved. This is because some students always feel kind of weird characteristics and thus they may cause havoc in the building (Craighead, 2009: 156). Firth building in Uclan University includes such users as students, teachers, cleaners, and other support staff. With such kind of a mixture in a building then it is important to consider safety as a priority and not an option. Objectives of the project The Firth building in Uclan University has a new design that needs analysis to provide safety tips and means to help in determining the fire safety protocols. Moreover, the fire safety strategy that Firth building in Uclan University needs has follow the standards that the country has set forth on fire safety. Essentially, this project is a thorough review to assess the routes, number of occupants, type of dwelling and the present safety exit routes from the building. Analysis of the building Looking at the Ground floor plan of the building, fire safety is properly set up and the security means is ideal for the whole building. The entrance 1 for the building has a good location with sufficient space that can allow occupants escape with ease in case of fire. From the entrance lobby through to the staircase and the Lift have the best safety location. With that kind of positioning of those amenities in a building therefore it acts as per the fire safety plan. In addition, considering the Level 1 plan building gas location is at an external position from the main building, which ensures that the building has a fire safety plan that will help in protecting fire-breakouts. Level 2 plan has included an extra metal railing that may be necessary for the security purposes while in case of emergency the occupants needs to leave the building for safety reasons. However, this metal railing should include a safety exit staircase that may be usable in case there is an emergency plan need. The entire building has the fire line as well as the smoke like, which would otherwise help in case on an emergency. These gadgets are important when considering the building use as necessary to alleviate the fire safety plan. Safety is the keys to any development in any building plan and Firth building in Uclan University is not an exception. Therefore, there is a need to devise the most beneficial fire, safety plan for the entire plan, which should include fire-fighting equipments along the corridors of the building in each floor. Each room must have firefighting equipment, which has not been included in the blue print of the entire building. However, the necessity to have proper safety plan lies in the administration need to develop a fire safety plan for the entire building. The usage of the building Generally, the Firth building in Uclan University is used majorly for the student’s usage. Therefore, the development of the fire safety plan must also entire be focused on the students need for safety and address this issue as a matter of need for students to learn to ensure safety all the time while they are within Firth building in Uclan University. Moreover, there are workers who clean the entire building they also need to be enlightened on fire safety plan of the entire place (Alex (ed), 2010: 201). In a more specific way, if the administration in Firth building in Uclan University has to attain the fire safety plan, it has to develop a safety document and place it at different areas in the building (John, 2005: 197). That way the students, workers and teachers will have an opportunity to get enlightened on fire safety plan for the building. In a more specific manner, there should be directions pointing to the direction of all the exits with a green color arrow (Furness, & Martin, 2007: 186). These exit direction should be in all places of Firth building in Uclan University starting from the labs, research rooms and offices. Number of occupants The Firth building in Uclan University has more than 500 occupants that need safety and considering this as a big number to control, it means the building should have enough exits as well as firefighting equipment in all locations. This number includes students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff, which may include the cooks and the cleaners. Calculations Stair calculations Generally, two risers and a single tread range between 24 and 25 inches. For instance, a step rise [A] of 7 ¼ inches, a tread [B] width is as follows: Or  This means that the tread [B] is 10.5 inches. Then number of raisers for stair way is equal to total rise divide by 7. For instance, if the deck for a given stair is 36.5” then you will be able to calculate the total rise by: 36.25”/5 = 7.25” The rise height = deck landing/number of risers In addition, the number of treads will be less than the risers by one. Therefore, the risers are 4 Thus the total run  Total run  Emergency exit calculations Width units of exit Where:  time factor  Exit units required  Persons For example, the analytical lab will accommodate Regarding the same the units of exit are If the number of units is over round it over to  Round it over if  Units required  This means the building can have 2 exits of 3 units and 1 exit of 4 units’ width Fire escape and service access In case of fire, the count of fire escape in the building should be doubled considering the large number of the occupants in the building that has to be taken care off (Diamantes, 2010: 123). Moreover, the number of freeways should have correct indications that give directions to the exits. All the exits from the Firth building in Uclan University should have emergency fire safety plan that has to be conserved all the time. The surrounding The environment surrounding the Firth building in Uclan University has enough space that can provide refuge for the occupants. However, fire assembly points should be at a reasonable distance from the entire building that will give the occupants a good time to wait for the instructions following the fire safety plan. Non-compliance issues The Firth building in Uclan University has a ramp in the existing building, which is planned to be eliminated. This is not ideal since the ramp may be useful as an additional exit path in case there is a need for emergency (Iafc, 2011: 137). In addition, the metal railing should have exit stairs, which may be useful for exit purposes in case of emergency. Fire management issues Considering fire as fatal issue in any building, Firth building in Uclan University happens to be part of the fire safety plan that has to be put into consideration to ensure safety for the occupants. The main fire management issues that need consideration in the Firth building in Uclan University includes proper location of the fire exit direction, emergency fire alarms, and firefighting equipment (Cousins, 2012: 102). In addition, the management should provided a fire fighting and safety plan to the occupants in the Firth building in Uclan University to ensure safety issues are always put in place. Recommendations Safety is the key factor that needs consideration in all buildings. Therefore, Firth building in Uclan University does not have any exception in this case. Always the occupants should have proper instructions and the directions that they should take in case there is a fire emergency (Marsha, 2010: 97). Moreover, the occupants should be aware of the risk involved in the entire fire emergency and thus they should consider taking the necessary precautions as expected. The management ought to have a continuous supervisison on the routine observation on fire safety that all the occupants have to follow and ensure no single part of the rules leaves unattended. Lastly, in level 3 plan if it is possible the management should include the extension section a part of the free zone that may be used as an exit point, which would otherwise reduce the need to cause commotion at other exits. This is as per need to ensure a better prevention than cure the harms that may come up in time of emergency. Conclusions Firth building in uclan university ground floor plan meets the necessary fire protection plan and thus it has the best design that accommodates the entire safety plan. Essentially, the fire safety plan should always be regarded as the top precedence in all the buildings (Melvyn, 2011: 38). If this rule becomes mandatory to all the occupants, then Firth building in Uclan university occupants having being aware of the scenarios and expectations that may arise due to fire risk they can be more careful. Not only safety for the building is necessary but also the occupants have the responsibility to consider the need to manage the safety plan needed. Level 1 uses part of the safety plan for the ground floor has the key to meet the fire safety plan that the occupants need have. Level 2 plan has also considerable safety plan and sufficient space that may be useful in events of sudden firebreak outs. Furthermore, there is a call to have a proper plan for the entire building in this level to ensure there are no cases that are not possible to understand during emergency scenario. Level 3 has considerable plan that incorporates the safety plan and the extension section is an ideal part of that plan. Lastly, the location of the bottled gas store and bin store is an additional safety plan that the Firth building in Uclan University has put into consideration to ensure reduced danger to the construction and the occupants. References Alex, D. (ed) (2010), Workplace Law Handbook 2011 - Health and Safety, Premises and Environment Handbook, New Jersey: Workplace Law Group. Abraham C. Lynn, Robert Reitherman, (2011), AEI 2011: Building Integration Solutions: Proceedings of the 2011 Architectural Engineering National Conference, March 30-April 2, 2011 Oakland, California. Craighead, G., (2009), High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety, New York: Butterworth- Heinemann. P. 156. Diamantes, D., (2010), Principles of Fire Prevention, New York: Cengage Learning. P. 123 Furness, A. & Martin, M., (2007), Introduction to Fire Safety Management, New York: Routledge. P. 186 Iafc, (2011), Fire Inspector: Principles and Practice, New Jersey: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. P. 137 Cousins, M., (2012), Architect's Legal Pocket Book, New Jersey: Routledge. P. 102 Marsha, P., (2010), Fire and Life Safety Educator, New York: Cengage Learning. P.97 Melvyn, G. (2011), Building Code for Historic and Existing Buildings, New York: John Wiley & Sons. P. 38 John, N., (2005), Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics, New York: PennWell Books. P. 197 Read More

Moreover, there are workers who clean the entire building they also need to be enlightened on fire safety plan of the entire place (Alex (ed), 2010: 201). In a more specific way, if the administration in Firth building in Uclan University has to attain the fire safety plan, it has to develop a safety document and place it at different areas in the building (John, 2005: 197). That way the students, workers and teachers will have an opportunity to get enlightened on fire safety plan for the building.

In a more specific manner, there should be directions pointing to the direction of all the exits with a green color arrow (Furness, & Martin, 2007: 186). These exit direction should be in all places of Firth building in Uclan University starting from the labs, research rooms and offices. Number of occupants The Firth building in Uclan University has more than 500 occupants that need safety and considering this as a big number to control, it means the building should have enough exits as well as firefighting equipment in all locations.

This number includes students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff, which may include the cooks and the cleaners. Calculations Stair calculations Generally, two risers and a single tread range between 24 and 25 inches. For instance, a step rise [A] of 7 ¼ inches, a tread [B] width is as follows: Or  This means that the tread [B] is 10.5 inches. Then number of raisers for stair way is equal to total rise divide by 7. For instance, if the deck for a given stair is 36.5” then you will be able to calculate the total rise by: 36.

25”/5 = 7.25” The rise height = deck landing/number of risers In addition, the number of treads will be less than the risers by one. Therefore, the risers are 4 Thus the total run  Total run  Emergency exit calculations Width units of exit Where:  time factor  Exit units required  Persons For example, the analytical lab will accommodate Regarding the same the units of exit are If the number of units is over round it over to  Round it over if  Units required  This means the building can have 2 exits of 3 units and 1 exit of 4 units’ width Fire escape and service access In case of fire, the count of fire escape in the building should be doubled considering the large number of the occupants in the building that has to be taken care off (Diamantes, 2010: 123).

Moreover, the number of freeways should have correct indications that give directions to the exits. All the exits from the Firth building in Uclan University should have emergency fire safety plan that has to be conserved all the time. The surrounding The environment surrounding the Firth building in Uclan University has enough space that can provide refuge for the occupants. However, fire assembly points should be at a reasonable distance from the entire building that will give the occupants a good time to wait for the instructions following the fire safety plan.

Non-compliance issues The Firth building in Uclan University has a ramp in the existing building, which is planned to be eliminated. This is not ideal since the ramp may be useful as an additional exit path in case there is a need for emergency (Iafc, 2011: 137). In addition, the metal railing should have exit stairs, which may be useful for exit purposes in case of emergency. Fire management issues Considering fire as fatal issue in any building, Firth building in Uclan University happens to be part of the fire safety plan that has to be put into consideration to ensure safety for the occupants.

The main fire management issues that need consideration in the Firth building in Uclan University includes proper location of the fire exit direction, emergency fire alarms, and firefighting equipment (Cousins, 2012: 102). In addition, the management should provided a fire fighting and safety plan to the occupants in the Firth building in Uclan University to ensure safety issues are always put in place. Recommendations Safety is the key factor that needs consideration in all buildings.

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