CALHOUN LOFTS: INTEGRATING FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
INTO �THE SIMPLE LIFE MADE STYLISH�
�The simple life made stylish�
appropriately illustrates how
Calhoun Lofts appeals to one�s
senses. What is not so apparent is
the multitude of systems which are
functioning behind the scenes,
monitoring the environment and
responding as necessary to changes
in that environment. The fire and
life safety systems are an example
of one of those systems.
The fire and life system is
comprised of a multitude of
subsystems all working together to
ensure that an appropriate action is
initiated should an incident occur.
A few of the subsystems includes:
� Arc and ground fault detector
circuits to shut off electricity in
less than a second should a fault
occur
� Smoke detectors to signal if a
fire has occurred
� Duct detectors to shut off the air
handlers to stop the spread of smoke
� Fire sprinklers to control a fire
� A fire pump to supply water for
the fire sprinkler system
� A fire standpipe system to provide
water for fire fighters to battle a
blaze
� Fire dampers in duct work and fire
walls to slow the spread of smoke
and fire through fire barriers
� Fire rated walls and glass to slow
the spread of fire
� Fire caulking in small
penetrations in walls and floors to
stop smoke spread
� Elevator controls which allow Fire
Fighters to control elevators for
use in fire fighting
� Pressurized stairwells to stop
smoke from entering the stairs
� Hold-open magnets on key fire
doors to allow them to normally be
open but to close on alarm
� Emergency lighting to ensure one
is able to see well enough to
evacuate
� An emergency generator to power
all of the life safety devices
� A fire alarm system which
monitors and controls a number of
the devices previously mentioned
The UH Fire Marshal�s Office ensures
through numerous inspections and
tests that all of the systems
function both independently and in
cooperation with one another. This
task begins during the design phase
of the project when the subsystems
are being discussed and ideas are
placed on paper. It continues during
the installation phase and
culminates with the acceptance
testing phase. While that seems like
the end of the process it is only
the beginning. The systems now have
to be routinely monitored,
inspected, and tested to ensure that
everything is working as it was
designed.
�The simple life made stylish� may
be simple on the surface but is
anything but simple to achieve.
�The simple life made stylish�
appropriately illustrates how
Calhoun Lofts appeals to one�s
senses. What is not so apparent is
the multitude of systems which are
functioning behind the scenes,
monitoring the environment and
responding as necessary to changes
in that environment. The fire and
life safety systems are an example
of one of those systems.