COVID-19 podcast: Alternate care sites and temporary construction

Specific issues to be discussed is using Chapter 19 of NFPA 101 as the baseline, building construction, sprinkler protection, fire alarm and detection systems, the use of suite provisions, acceptance testing and more.

By William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE, Koffel Associates, Columbia, Md. May 4, 2020

Bill Koffel discusses a risk based approach to establishing alternate care sites and for temporary construction during the COVID-19 emergency. Specific issues discussed include using Chapter 19 of NFPA 101 as the baseline, building construction, sprinkler protection, fire alarm and detection systems, the use of suite provisions, acceptance testing and more. Methods to determine the risk posed by the patients/residents in the alternate care sites are also discussed.

The podcast is presented by William E. Koffel, P.E., FSFPE, SASHE. Bill is President of Koffel Associates, Inc. and Chair of the NFPA Life Safety Technical Committee on Health Care Occupancies.

This article originally appeared on Koffel Associates’ website. Koffel Associates is a CFE Media content partner.


Author Bio: William E. Koffel is president of Koffel Associates. He is chair of the NFPA Correlating Committee on Life Safety and a member of several NFPA technical committees. He is a member of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board.