PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Inspection and maintenance of the fire protection system at the Hobby Airport in Houston, TX.

A. PHYSICAL EVALUATION OF THE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

The initial phase of the project is the inspection of the existing fire protection system at
Hobby Airport. Of special interest for purposes of the project are the current structural
integrity of the system and evaluating the systems observance of National Fire Protection
Agency (NFPA) and Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) regulations. The
Qualitative Design and Review (QDR) is an integral stage in developing a successful fire
safety design.
Qualitative Design Review
(1) Initiate a comprehensive and thorough examination of Hobbys Airport fire
protections system.
(2) Conduct a review of the existing system and establish fire safety objectives. This
step is vital, because if all objectives are not identified and communicated, then
the design will fail. The airport authority must approve the acceptance criteria
before the fire strategy work can begin
(3) Identify hazards and plan for renovation or maintenance of hazards.

B. RENOVATION
If the existing system does not comply with NFPA regulations, then renovation and
maintenance will occur. The airport fire protection system is comprised of the systems.
The systems can be addressed and renovated simultaneously.
Mechanical System
The fire protection system must have adequate ventilation, to remove smoke incurred by the fire.
Airport terminals and restaurants will have independently operated ventilation systems according
to NFPA guidelines.
Exhaust systems will employed in eating areas to assist in the removal of oil and grease smoke.
Fire retardant structures (walls, pathways, walkways) will be constructed and renovated to ensure
that damages are not spread to

Electrical System
The fire protection system must be integrated into the existing power grid of the airport. The fire
protection system must operate on an integrated yet separate power supply. In the event that
airports power supply fails, the fire protection must continue to operate uninterrupted

The electrical phase encompasses the design of the annunciation systems, specifically, the fire
alarm system. The fire alarm system has two major components: ithe alarm that notifies
protection workers of the possibility of a fire, and ii alerting all terminal and airport passengers
there is indeed a hazard.

Plumbing System
Water that will be released by the sprinklers will be stored in storage tanks. Pumps will transport
water from storage, to the sprinkler system.
The residual water expelled by the sprinkler, must have a drainage or exit route, as dictated by
NFPA guidelines. The drainage paths are contingent on the structural design of the airport.

C. OPERATIONAL READINESS ACTIVATION TRANSITION (ORAT)

A series of tests are implemented to ensure that fire protection system meets all criteria
set forth by the Jenkins Engineering Firm and Hobby Airport representatives.
The fire safety objectives set forth at the beginning of the fire protection construction
should have been met.

REFERENCES
Application of Fire Safety Engineering Principles to the Design of Buildings Code of
Practice, British Standards Institution, London, 2001.

Engineering Guide - Performance-Based Fire Protection, National Fire Protection Association,

Quincy, MA, 2007

NFPA 31
NFPA 54
NFPA 96