Page 44 - Campus Security & Life Safety, March/April 2019

should include educational efforts for users to help curb actions that could increase risk.
Security Threats
In today’s environment, the risk associated with outside threats such as terrorism, active shooters, and even simple negligence cannot be overlooked. These threats often introduce new security measures that may not have existing during building design. Security measures taken without consideration of the impact on fire protection and life safety can be detrimental to facility and occupant safety in a fire or other emergency. For example, a secure door fitted with an electronic lock and card reader access may unlock upon a fire alarm to allow free egress. However, if the card reader is later disabled in favor of a keyed lock, the free egress feature initially designed into the system will no longer oper- ate as designed. The resulting impact on emergency egress could be detrimental.
Likewise, traffic bollards installed to pre- vent vehicle traffic from accessing areas around a facility could affect fire department access to the facility. Even removable bollards can slow down fire department response times. The addition of screening equipment such as metal detectors or turnstiles could decrease exit access or increase required egress time. Video monitoring equipment installed to increase safety and security may have resulted in penetrations for conductors through fire rated enclosures, thus impacting passive fire protection features. Even some- thing as simple as hanging blinds for security on an interior window that is protected with window sprinklers to achieve required fire ratings can prevent water from reaching the glass and render the window sprinkler use- less, thus negating the required fire rating and compartmentation goals.
While many other examples exist, the important point is that these concerns can only be addressed if they are known. The only way to know is through periodic audits, security and use assessments, and constant updates to emergency protocols and procedures.
The People Factor
Finally, populations in campus environ- ments can drastically vary from day to day. Events such as graduations, concerts, and sporting events can introduce occupant load surges. When these events are held in facili- ties that are designed for such high occupant events, the risk that the occupant load increases will impact egress is minimal. However, facilities may host smaller events that were not designed for assembly use. Areas such as building atriums, vacant lec- ture halls or classrooms, or libraries may be used to host assemblies such as career fairs and networking events, for example. In a building not designed for assembly purpos-
es, these gatherings could overload the avail- able egress and the transient nature of attendees could compound the problem by filling the facility with those unfamiliar with alternative egress routes.
Traffic associated with campus events may create a campus-wide traffic issue. Even small concentrations of increased traffic in specific areas may impact fire department access. The need for overflow parking can also contribute to temporary situations where parking could limit building access for emergency responders.
Best Practices
Due to of the constantly changing landscape of risk on a college or university campus, risk assessment and evaluation must be an ongo- ing process. Periodic audits and reviews of facility use, hazards, and security concerns are vital to ensure that the progress and change that is so prevalent in campus envi- ronments maintain the expected level of pro- tection and risk mitigation.
These assessments must look beyond just fire protection systems such as sprinkler protection and fire alarm systems to include an in-depth review of changes in hazards and life safety considerations, with due con- sideration of other systems that may impact these features. Construction and renovation phasing must include a complete risk assess- ment and egress review to ensure occupant protection and egress access through all phases of construction. Finally, these ongo- ing efforts must include preplanning with emergency responders.
Change and innovation is inevitable. However, it requires a vigilant eye to ensure that these continuous and sometimes unnoticeably slow changes do not increase risk to unacceptable levels, or decrease the level of protection for occupants and facil- ity assets.
April Musser the is Southeast Regional Prac- tice Leader of fire protection engineering for Telgian Engineering and Consulting (TEC).
risk management
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campuslifesecurity.com | March/April 2019