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Standpipe
The building was not equipped with automatic sprinklers.
A
standpipe for occupant use (Class II according to
NFPA 14, Standpipe and
Hose Systems) was provided. A single 6-inch riser
supplied one hose
station on each floor from the basement through the
fifth floor. Above the
5th floor the water supply split into two 4-inch risers
to supply hose outlets
on each floor. The mechanical penthouse had a single
hose station
supplied from one of the 4-inch standpipe risers.
Each hose station was equipped with 100 feet of 1
1/2-inch singlejacketed
linen fire hose and a plastic variable stream fog
nozzle. Hose
outlets consisted of national pipe standard threaded
connections, not
national standard fire hose thread as specified by
NFPA 1963, Screw
Threads and Gaskets for Fire Hose Connections. As
a result, firefighters
were unable to connect their hoses directly to the
standpipe outlets.
During their initial attack, firefighters extended
the occupant use hose line
with 50 feet of their own hose, but the line disconnected
when it was
charged and they were forced to rely solely on the
occupant use hose for
the initial attack on the fire.
The primary water supply for the standpipe was provided
through a
6-inch domestic service line. Pressure for the upper
floors was boosted by
two electric pumps, which were not listed or approved
for fire protection
service. A single fire department connection located
at the northeast
comer of the building provided two 2 1/2-inch hose
inlets to supplement the
water supply for the standpipe risers. The standpipe
system appeared to be
well maintained and in good condition at the time
of the fire.
Fire Alarm and Detection
The building had a manual fire alarm system and two
separate
smoke detection systems covering different areas.
The only smoke detector
on the third floor, where the fire originated, was
in the elevator lobby and
was not connected to the fire alarm system. The elevator
lobby smoke
detectors were single-station devices that were installed
solely to activate
the elevator recall feature and did not start the
alarm.4
NFPA 72-(90), Section 3-733 requires that smoke detectors
used to
initiate elevator recall also activate the building
fire alarm signals.
Fire Separation and Compartmentation
Although the building construction closely resembled
Type 1 fireresistive
construction, floor-to-floor and area separation was
generally nonexistent.
Vertical and horizontal communication between areas,
including
areas with different uses, was common throughout the
building. As noted
below, some stairways and vertical shafts were open
on one or more floor
levels. These conditions contributed to smoke and
fire spread beyond the
area of origin, especially during fire control efforts.
Interior Finishes
Combustible interior finish materials were installed
extensively
throughout the third and fourth floor areas that were
damaged by the fire.
Combustible ceiling tiles and plywood paneling installed
on furring strips
contributed to the severe flash fire which occurred
during firefighting
operations.
At the time of construction, most of the areas involved
in the fire
had smooth or decorative plaster ceilings. Decorative
wood and leaded
glass fixtures were installed in ceilings in the special
function areas,
including the large dining room. In succeeding years,
1-foot by 1-foot
composite ceiling tiles were glued to the underside
of the plaster ceiling in
many areas to hide defects. Sometime later, a new
suspended track ceiling
was installed below the plaster ceiling to hide other
defects and
accommodate new lighting fixtures. The ceiling tile
materials used in both
of these systems were combustible, however, the flame
spread ratings could
not readily be determined.
Like the ceilings, wall coverings had been successively
replaced and
modified. In the bar and McHale Rooms, 1/8-inch plywood
paneling was
installed on l-inch by 3-inch furring strips. In corridors
and the
monumental stair leading from the lobby to the third
floor, foil-backed
vinyl wall coverings had been installed. The plywood
paneling was labeled
to indicate it had been tested in accordance with
ASTM E84, Test of
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
and had a flame spread
index rating of 150. The Uniform Building Code requires
that interior finish
material covering fire-resistive or noncombustible
assemblies be attached
directly to the assembly? Installing the paneling
on furring strips instead
of directly attaching it to the wall surface could
be expected to significantly
increase the material’s flame spread index rating.
Most floor surfaces were covered with carpeting.
Tile or other
resilient floor coverings were used in service spaces
and some high traffic
areas including stairs, some corridors, bar backs,
and restrooms. Floor
coverings did not appear to contribute significantly
to the fire.
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