University of Pennsylvania Multi Building Sprinkler Upgrade
Arora Engineers (Arora) was selected as a prime consultant to provide the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) a multi-building sprinkler system evaluation and upgrade.
Philadelphia City Council passed bill number 180745 to change the Philadelphia Fire Code by adding Section B-903.2.11.7 and amending Section F-903.2.7. The amendment requires automatic sprinklers to be installed in areas of the basement and the level of exit discharge in buildings that have one or more stories located 45 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Existing drawings and UPenn design manuals were reviewed prior to survey. A fire flow test was conducted by the Philadelphia Water Department was commissioned for each building in the Scope of Work. The fire flow test results were used to develop hydraulic calculations for the sprinkler system design. Final hydraulic calculations developed with HydraCalc were provided at the Construction Documentation level.
SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDED: SURVEYS PER BUILDING
- Areas of sprinklered/non-sprinklered.
- Connections to the existing water supply
- Connection and pathway to a new water supply entrance (Towne Building only)
- Pathways for fire sprinkler piping and drainage as necessary
- Integration of proposed fire sprinkler system to existing fire alarm system
The buildings included in the scope:
- Chemistry Lab (1973 Wing) | Ground Floor and 1st Floor
- Chemistry Lab (1958 Wing) | Basement/Ground Floor
- John Morgan Building | Basement/Ground Floor (1st Floor)
- Rosenthal Building | Basement and 1st Floor
- Towne Building | Basement and 1st Floor
- Vance Building | 1st Floor
CHEMISTRY LAB (1973 WING)
The scope of work for this building required fire sprinkler system coverage in non-sprinklered areas of the Basement/Ground Floor and 1st Floor. The Basement/Ground Floor consisted of one level in this building. The Arora Team paid close attention to detail to the sprinkler and associated piping installation in the large classroom.
- Chemistry Lab (1973 Wing) Floor: Noted Existing Areas of Sprinkler Protection
- Basement: Ground Floor Deluge System at 2-Story Vertical Opening; Preaction System in NW Room, NE Corridor; SW Labs
- 1st Floor Deluge System at 2-Story Vertical Opening
CHEMISTRY LAB (1958 WING)
The scope of work for the Chemistry Lab (1958 Wing) required fire sprinkler system coverage in non-sprinklered areas of the Basement/Ground Floor. The Basement/Ground Floor consisted of two levels in this building. The Arora Team coordinated installation of new sprinkler systems in laboratories with sensitive equipment that could not be relocated during renovation.
JOHN MORGAN BUILDING
The John Morgan scope of work included two large classrooms requiring sprinkler and piping installation while preserving the ceiling finish. Another area of note were the architecturally sensitive corridors on the Ground Floor. Arora preserved and protected the decorative crown molding while completing the sprinkler system coverage in non-sprinklered areas of the Basement and Ground Floors. Additionally, sprinkler protection was included in the small Sub-Basement Levels.
ROSENTHAL BUILDING
The scope of work for this building required fire sprinkler system coverage in non-sprinklered Basement and 1st Floors. New zones were established and connected to existing protection on other floors.
TOWNE BUILDING
The Arora Team successfully completed new fire sprinkler coverage while preserving the architectural features in the corridors. Arora partnered with KS Engineers to design the incoming fire protection water supply from the City of Philadelphia Municipal Water Supply to the Towne Building.
VANCE BUILDING
The scope of work for this building required provision of fire sprinkler system coverage in the non-sprinklered 1st Floor. The existing deluge systems used as separation protection between the 1st and 2nd Floors remained. The Arora team coordinated the provision of the new fire sprinkler zone integrating it with existing protection on other floors.
