Building Survey
Overview
The Tamarac Plaza is an office complex consisting of three (3) buildings; Tamarac Plaza I, Tamarac Plaza II and Tamarac Plaza III (also known as Argosy Plaza). The buildings were constructed in 1980, 1982 and 1984. The buildings are constructed of reinforced concrete moment resisting frame (RCMRF) and include a modern life safety system constructed in accordance with the Denver Fire Code requirements in effect at the time of construction. The following is a description of the primary components of the building’s life safety systems.
Safety Personnel and Assigned Tasks
This building has the following safety personnel on staff:
- A Fire Safety Director and Deputy who are thoroughly trained in building life safety considerations.
- A team of evening security officers who work seven days a week. They are trained through manuals and frequent drills to assure understanding of life safety procedures.
- Two (2) skilled engineers who are familiar with life safety considerations and building mechanical systems. This team is on duty from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
- International Fire Code requires that employers designate and train certain personnel to assist in safely evacuating employees during an emergency. See, “General Emergency Procedures - Office, Residential and Business Occupancies: Emergency Staff.”
Fire Protection Equipment and Systems: Type and Location
Smoke/Heat Detection:
This building is equipped with an automated early warning fire detection system that automatically notifies the Denver Fire Department, building safety personnel, and the building tenants. The components of the system include the following:
- Smoke detectors located throughout all common areas, restroom corridors, janitor and electrical closets, above the ceiling in the return air plenum, supply air ducting and elevator shafts.
- In the event heat or smoke is detected, an alarm is transmitted to the Fire Command Center in the building. In addition, an automatic alarm is transmitted to the Denver Fire Department. There is a master control panel in the Fire Command Center that will graphically display the location of the alarm.
Fire Sprinklers:
The first floors of each building have fire suppression sprinkler heads that are activated by heat or flame. Activation will cause an alarm to be transmitted to the building Fire Command Center and the Denver Fire Department. Each sprinkler head provides water to a radius of approximately 80 square feet at a rate of approximately 25 gallons per minute.
Fire Alarm Manual Pull Stations, Fire Standpipe Valves and Fire Extinguishers:
The building is equipped with the following equipment for the Denver Fire Department, building personnel, and building occupants.
- Fire alarm manual pull stations are installed at all exit stairwells within the building. These are activated by pulling on the alarm handle. Once the manual pull box is activated, an alarm will sound through the building and a signal is automatically transmitted to the first floor Fire Command Center and the Denver Fire Department.
- Fire standpipe valves are found in the fire extinguisher cabinets located near fire exit stair enclosures and labeled “Fire Valve and Extinguisher.” These valves are supplied by vertical standpipe risers. In an emergency, water under extremely high pressure is provided to the standpipes by the building fire pump and/or Fire Department pumps.
- Fire extinguishers are located in the fire extinguisher cabinets near fire exit stair enclosures and labeled “Fire Valve and Extinguisher.” If the fire is small and users are properly trained, these extinguishers can be used by building occupants and personnel.
Emergency Lighting Systems:
- Emergency lighting is located in the following areas:
- Stairwells
- Exit lights
- Exit corridors
- Tenant suites (limited lighting)
Smoke Control:
The building is equipped with a smoke control system. Activation of any automatic initiating device on the fire floor will activate the smoke control system. The building fans are designed to create a vacuum on the fire floor which shuts off all supply air to that floor and uses return air to clear smoke from that floor. All other floors are designed to automatically switch to full supply air and zero return air to minimize the transfer of smoke to other floors.
Elevator Emergency Controls:
Elevator emergency controls are automatically activated in the event of a building alarm.
- Phase I: Immediately upon receiving a fire alarm, all elevators return to the ground floor and discharge all passengers. The elevator doors remain open for use by the Denver Fire Department.
- Phase II: The Fire Department is able to use the elevators through a fire control key switch within the elevator. While under Fire Department control, the elevators cannot be summoned to any building level.
Communication Equipment and Systems
Communication with building occupants is critical in an emergency situation. Our building uses the following systems for emergency communication:
- Audible alarm devices are programmed to sound throughout the building.
- An evacuation graphic is posted on each floor of the building in the elevator lobby (“YOU ARE HERE”). This placard directs occupants to the nearest stair enclosure.
- The building management office telephone is 303-696-0706. Building management is either onsite or on call 24 hours per day, seven days a week, to provide assistance in an emergency situation.
- Emergency telephones are located in each elevator cab for two-way communication with the elevator monitoring company.