How many smoke compartments are required on a rebuilt hospital floor measuring 150' x 400' to comply with NFPA 101-2012?

To determine the number of smoke compartments required for a rebuilt hospital floor measuring 150' x 400', we must refer to the guidelines established by NFPA 101-2012, also known as the Life Safety Code.

Under NFPA 101, the number of smoke compartments needed is based on the area of the floor and the specific requirements for healthcare facilities. Generally, each smoke compartment cannot exceed a certain maximum area, typically outlined in the code. For healthcare facilities, the size limit for smoke compartments is usually 22,500 square feet.

Calculating the area of the floor in question:

• The area can be calculated as 150' x 400', resulting in 60,000 square feet.

Given that each smoke compartment can accommodate up to 22,500 square feet, we divide the total area of the floor by the area allowed for each smoke compartment:

60,000 sq ft ÷ 22,500 sq ft/compartment = 2.67 compartments.

Since smoke compartments need to be whole numbers, we round this up to the nearest whole number, which indicates that at least three smoke compartments are necessary to fully comply with NFPA 101-2012.

Thus, the correct answer reflects the need