1200 Nineteenth Street offers many superb fire safety features that in combination provide excellent fire protection. These can be placed into four (4) categories: Prevention, Detection, Notification, and Control.

1. Prevention
   Fire-resistant construction materials were used:
   1. Fireproofed structural steel.
   2. Stone and glass walls.
   3. Concrete floors.
   4. Ceilings are fire-resistant mineral fiber suspended on metal supports.
   5. Stairwells are two-hour rated.
   6. All building mechanical and electrical functions are located in separate closets or rooms on each floor.

There is an on-going Property Management Program that functions to continually remove items that could be hazardous.

2. Detection
   The Building is equipped with both automatic smoke and heat detectors and manual alarm pull-stations. There are two types of smoke detectors: the ceiling- type smoke detector and the duct-type smoke detector.

   The ceiling-type detector is located in the electrical rooms, the passenger elevator lobbies, the service elevator lobbies, and the Air Handling Unit (AHU) rooms. In addition, detectors are located in the main electrical switch gear rooms (Level PH), the elevator machine rooms (Penthouse), and the garage elevators.

   Smoke from any other space is drawn into the duct type detectors, located in all mechanical rooms on Levels C1 through the Penthouse level. The duct-type detectors will sense smoke and stop the air handling unit to prevent the distribution of smoke throughout the floor. At the same time, they will activate the fire alarm system.

   When activated, the smoke detectors and the heat detectors initiate a fire alarm.

   Manual fire alarm stations, or pull stations, are located at the entrance to each of the fire stairwells and inside the stairwells. These stations are to be used when an individual notices a fire.

3. Notification
   Activation of either an automatic or manual device will transmit a visible and audible fire alarm at the Fire Panel that shows the affected zone, floor, and device. An enunciator panel in the Lobby will also show this information.
   
   An automatic device will:
   1. Transmit an alarm to Kastle Security System who will in turn immediately call the Washington, D.C. Fire Department.
   2. Sound the fire bells and flash the strobes.
   3. A manual alarm will initiate the same response.
      
      
4. Control
   The Fire Command Center (FCC), located on the lobby level.

   Automatic Smoke Controls

   When smoke is detected in an office area:

1. Air Handling Units are deactivated on the incident floor.
2. Supply air is shut down to the fire area or floor.

Sprinklers and Waterflow Systems

There are two types of automatic sprinkler fire suppression systems operating at 1200 Nineteenth Street: a Wet Pipe System for the Lobby through Penthouse levels and a Dry Pipe System for the areas subject to freezing (both garage levels and retail areas). The Wet Pipe System maintains water in the sprinkler pipes so that it is continually ready to suppress a fire. The Dry Pipe System pumps water into empty sprinkler pipes within sixty seconds of activation.

Both systems are activated when a fire produces sufficient heat to melt a lead- fused link, a small mechanism in the cap of the sprinkler head. When melted, the sprinkler head releases water and suppresses the fire.

The building also uses a standpipe system that enables fire fighters to connect their hoses to a water supply. The standpipe system is comprised of segments of the District's water supply system known as mains, which are connected to risers, or vertical pipes. These risers extend from the garage through the Penthouse.

Other Systems

Standby Power System: 1200 Nineteenth Street is equipped with a diesel- powered generator that is capable of carrying an emergency power load within 30 seconds of a general power failure. Transfer Switches enable emergency or normal power to be provided to the following portions of the Building:

The standby power system supplies:

• Exit Lights.
  
• Emergency Lighting (in office space, common areas, and stairwells).
  One elevator.

When the generator starts, each elevator will automatically travel to the main Lobby level, where it will open its doors and shut down. Cars will shut down one at a time. After all cars have moved to the main Lobby, one pre-selected car will respond to elevator calls.

Fire Department emergency key switches, located in each car and in the Main Lobby, will activate an elevator car when turned on. However, only one car will operate at a time.

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