A Fire Command Center (FCC) is a critical facility designed to monitor, manage, and coordinate the response to fire incidents in a building or complex. The purpose of an FCC is to ensure rapid detection, communication, and efficient mitigation of fire emergencies, with a focus on safety, operational efficiency, and timely response.

Types of Fire Command Centers

1. Floor-based FCC :
– Located on a specific floor, this center serves the particular floor and is responsible for monitoring and managing fire-related incidents within that floor area.

2. Tower-based FCC :
– For high-rise buildings or complexes with multiple towers, a tower-based FCC is established to cover the specific tower. The staff here manage fire incidents at the tower level and coordinate with floor-based FCCs.

3. Overall Building Complex FCC :
– In large complexes, especially those with more than three towers, a central FCC is established to manage and coordinate fire safety for the entire complex, ensuring a unified approach to fire safety across the different buildings.

Requirements for Fire Command Centers

1. Floor Size and Occupancy :
– More than 25,000 sq. ft. : Each floor exceeding 25,000 sq. ft. and operated by a single tenant or owner must have its own FCC.
– For Multi-floor Occupancy : If a single tenant or owner occupies 1-3 consecutive floors with a combined area of over 100,000 sq. ft. an FCC must be established for that section.

2. High-Rise Buildings :
– In high-rise buildings, a tower-based FCC is necessary for each tower. The floor-level FCCs will report to the tower-based FCC for coordination.

3. Building Complex with Multiple Towers :
– Complexes with more than 3 towers must have a central Building Complex FCC that manages the fire safety of all towers within the complex.

Response Time Objectives

1. Floor-Level FCC :
– Staff in a floor-level FCC should be able to reach any point within the building in no more than 3 minutes for the remotest point on that floor .

2. Tower-Level FCC :
– For tower-based FCCs, staff should be able to reach any point on a floor within the tower in no more than 8 minutes from the remotest point on that floor.

Conclusion

The Fire Command Center (FCC) is essential in ensuring effective fire safety management in buildings and complexes. By setting up the correct FCC structure based on floor size, occupancy, and building type (high-rise or multi-tower complex), it is possible to optimize response times and improve the overall safety of occupants. The goal is to minimize response delays during fire incidents, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of mitigation efforts and protecting both people and property.

The Fire Command Center should be equipped with the following features, tailored to the specific needs of the facility:

1. Two-way talkback speaker system with control and monitoring capabilities
2. Public address system with zonal control for targeted announcements and mass notifications
3. Manual call point fire alarm monitoring and control unit
4. Automatic fire detection and alarm monitoring and control system
5. Sprinkler flow and pressure switch monitoring unit
6. Fire pump house monitoring and control unit
7. Emergency lift monitoring and control unit
8. Staircase pressurization monitoring and control unit
9. CCTV monitoring and display system
10. Remote access control system monitoring and management
11. Emergency lighting control and battery monitoring system
12. Underground parking ventilation system monitoring and control unit
13. LPG leak detection and monitoring control unit
14. Fire door status monitoring system

FCC Room Size– The FCC room should be adequately spacious and comfortable to accommodate both regular staff and additional personnel, including government fire officials, during emergencies. The room’s size must be carefully planned during the building’s design to ensure it can support the required personnel and operations effectively.

Manpower Requirements for the Fire Command Center (FCC) – Qualified personnel must be available 24/7, throughout the year, to ensure effective monitoring and control.

Monitoring and Control Staff – A minimum of two staff members, with the number increasing based on the size of the building, are required to monitor and control fire safety systems.

Firefighting and Rescue Support Staff – A minimum of two staff members, also determined by the size of the building, must be available at all times to support firefighting and rescue operations.

Technical Support Staff – At least one technical expert is needed to assist with isolating and activating electromechanical systems during fire and rescue operations. They will also perform functional testing of fire safety systems to ensure full operational readiness of all safety infrastructure.