Most cities and towns in the United States have either

adopted one of the model codes, or have developed a code

Systems Protection
that is very similar to one of the model codes. Thus, although
there are thousands of specific differences in the various
building codes in use across the nation, in reality most of the
codes are rather similar in form and content.

And Limitations of Codes

One of the most serious problems associated with building

Building Codes
codes as they apply to fire and life safety stems from the
fact that a building code is, at best, limited in its capability
to solve the fire problem.
Let me explain this. Back in the 1800's, fire experts
came to the conclusion that the structure itself represented
the key to fire safety.
The assumption developed at that time was that a building
constructed of noncombustible or fire resistive materials would
be inherently fire safe. I have been challenging this theory
for a number of years.
by Richard M. Patton
Patton Protection Systems, Inc. It is my contention that it is the fire involving interior
Tucson, Arizona furnishings that represents the prime hazard to human life.
Eighty-five percent of the structural fires start as content
fires. I claim that a fireproof building can never be more than
While a building code covers a variety of things, includ- an excellent furnace. As fuel burns within a furnace, so do
ing sanitation, ventilation and structural loading, usually more the contents burn within the fireproof structure. While fire
than 50 percent of the contents of a building code is concerned resistive compartmentation can limit fire spread to some de-
with fire safety matters. Many people consider a building code gree, a major fire can develop within any one compartment.
to be the first line of defense against fire. Once a major fire develops in any one section of a fireproof
There are four organizations in the United States that building, toxic gases from this fire will spread throughout
have developed and publish model building codes. These organi- the structure. It is the toxic gases generated by a major
zations and their respective codes are: ICBO — International internal fire that represent the prime threat to human life.
Conference of Building Officials (Uniform Building Code) ; Usually, the people who are inside the structure with the
BOCA — Building Officials and Code Administrators, Inter- internal fire are killed before the structure itself is seriously
national (Basic Building Code); SBCC — Southern Building tested.
Code Congress (Southern Standard Building Code), and AIA —
American Insurance Association (National Building Code).
The article by Richard M. Patton and the following
Each of these four organizations not only publish a model article by Mires Rosenthal are excerpted from presentations
building code, but each has a staff and organization to in- made by the two men during the 1973 International Public
terpret the code, update and revise it, review drawings, and Works Congress and Equipment Show, held September 15
assist any municipality or other entity that adopts the code through 20 in Denver, Colorado. Rosenthal's remarks were
in the technical application of the code. prepared as a response to those of Patton.

An Evolution in Fire Science

These simple concepts that I have proposed, and which
the fire protection community has attempted to reject for so
many years now, are most revolutionary in nature.
Let's look at the matter in total perspective. I have
pointed out that over 50 percent of the content of a building
code deals with fire safety. Accordingly, the building code has
traditionally been considered the first line of fire defense.
Now I claim that the structure itself is, to a large degree,
irrelevant to the fire problem. If you accept the concept that
it is the interior fire, involving interior combustible furnish-
ings, that represents the prime threat to human life, then the
building code in its present form cannot possibly guarantee
fire safety for the human occupants.
But let's take this concept another step. If we assume
that the interior contents are the prime fire hazard, not the
structure itself, then it follows that the solution to fire lies
in a method of controlling the interior fire. This means that
we must control the contents fire to achieve safety. This can
only be accomplished with a fire control system. Some system,
"One of the most serious problems associated with building codes as they
apply to fire and life safety stems from the fact that a building code is,
whether it be simple or complex, must be installed within
at best, limited in its capability to solve the fire problem. Let me explain the structure to automatically detect and cope with the internal
this. Back in the 1800's, fire experts came to the conclusion that the fire problem.
structure itself represented the key to fire safety."

16 SOUTHERN BUILDING • DECEMBER, 1973

 system, is the single most critical component in a building
from the fire safety viewpoint. Why ? Because the sprinkler
system controls the interior fire, the content fire. The content
fire not only is the most prevalent type of fire, but it is the
most difficult fire to deal with. It is more difficult to control
the content fire than it is to control the structural fire.
Therefore, any system that controls the content fire will
usually be more than equal to the needs of the structural
fire. When a system controls the content fire, it automatically
protects the building as well.
These model code groups are now in the process of re-
quiring sprinkler systems for many occupancy types, including
hospitals, nursing homes, and the high rise building. But
these organizations are doing more than requiring sprinklers.
They also are beginning to reduce some of the structural
regulations when sprinklers are installed. The shift away
from extremely rigid structural requirements toward sprinkler
protection will now reduce structural fireproofing require-
ments, and, in some instances, they will reduce corridor
construction requirements, permitted travel distance to exits,
etc. There has already been some trade offs for sprinklers.
Now many more trade offs are being considered,

Benefits
All of this should be good news to the builders and archi-
tects, because:
1. With adequate trade offs a sprinklered building can
actually be the most economical structure to construct.
2. More flexibility in design will be permitted. Carried
to an extreme degree, it could be argued that it doesn't make
"Now I claim that the structure itself is, to a large degree, irrelevant to any difference how the building is designed, or what materials
the fire problem. If you accept the concept that it is the interior fire,
involving interior combustible furnishings, that represents the prime threat are used. If the built-in fire supression system is properly
to human life, then the building code in its present form cannot possibly
guarantee fire safety for the human occupants." designed, the building will be safe from fire. Obviously, the
code groups will never go this far in trade offs, but the move
toward greater latitude in design for properly sprinklered
This means that to solve the fire problem we must shift buildings is definitely under way.
our emphasis from structural regulations to fire control
3. There can be greater latitude in the use of plastics
systems.
and other combustible materials in structures and in the
Let's review my logic sequence again. furnishings.
Logic Step A: First we must recognize that it is the 4. The sprinkler system is a practical way to make older
interior content fire, not the structural fire, that is the prime buildings, which do not meet existing codes, safe. This rep-
threat to human life. resents an alternate to demolition of many fine old buildings.
Logic Step B: If it is the internal fire involving interior In summary, the shift away from rigid building codes
furnishings that is the primary problem, then a building and the so-called fireproof structure to a systems protected
code—which defines the basic structure—can never provide building should be good news to all concerned.
a true solution to fire.
Incidentally, a systems protected building can mean more
Logic Step C: Therefore, we must shift our attention than a sprinklered building. A systems approach can include
from structural regulations to fire control systems. air handling system controls, electronic fire detectors and
Acceptance of Concept controls, communications systems, and manual fire fighting
For years these concepts have been rejected by the so- systems.
called fire protection authorities. However, despite the fact I believe this movement within the model code groups
that none of the fire protection authorities are presently toward a systems approach to safety can also bring about
admitting to the logic sequence which I have outlined, I be- very profound advancements in the basic design of the
lieve the validity of it has already been accepted. For example, sprinkler system, the fire alarm system and other related
the General Services Administration, while never publicly systems by freeing these systems from the extreme restric-
acknowledging the concept that it is the interior fire that is tions that have been imposed on them.
the chief concern, nevertheless has lately come out with a When the model code groups come to a full realization
systems approach to fire safety. Note that GSA has publicly that fire safety systems are critically important components
endorsed Step C in my logic sequence without ever acknowl- of the building code, then I believe these model code groups
edging Logic Steps A and B. are not going to sit still and be content with obsolete and
Now let's get back to the four model code organizations. unchanging fire protection standards.
All four of these authorities, BOCA, ICBO, SBCC and the I am most hopeful that under the influence of the model
AIA, have primarily approached the fire problem as a struc- code groups and, also, the fire services, including fire chiefs
tural problem. The codes are structure oriented. and fire marshals from around the nation, that we will achieve
I believe at least three of these organizations are begin- a modernization of the fire sprinkler system and other fire
ning to realize that a fire control system, namely the sprinkler control systems.

SOUTHERN BUILDING • DECEMBER, 1973 17