Page 58 - 2018_IFC

DEFINITIONS

EMERGENCY CONTROL STATION. An approved loca- EXHAUSTED ENCLOSURE. An appliance or piece of
tion on the premises where signals from emergency equip- equipment which consists of a top, a back and two sides pro-
ment are received and which is staffed by trained personnel. viding a means of local exhaust for capturing gases, fumes,
vapors and mists. Such enclosures include laboratory hoods,
[BE] EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPEN-
ING. An operable window, door or other similar device that exhaust fume hoods and similar appliances and equipment
provides for a means of escape and access for rescue in the used to retain and exhaust locally the gases, fumes, vapors
event of an emergency. and mists that could be released. Rooms or areas provided
with general ventilation, in themselves, are not exhausted
EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILL. An exercise per- enclosures.
formed to train staff and occupants and to evaluate their effi-
ciency and effectiveness in carrying out emergency EXISTING. Buildings, facilities or conditions that are
evacuation procedures. already in existence, constructed or officially authorized prior
to the adoption of this code.
EMERGENCY POWER SYSTEM. A source of automatic
electric power of a required capacity and duration to operate [BE] EXIT. That portion of a means of egress system
required life safety, fire alarm, detection and ventilation sys- between the exit access and the exit discharge or public way.
tems in the event of a failure of the primary power. Emer- Exit components include exterior exit doors at the level of exit
gency power systems are required for electrical loads where discharge, interior exit stairways and ramps, exit passage-
interruption of the primary power could result in loss of ways, exterior exit stairways and ramps and horizontal exits.
human life or serious injuries. [BE] EXIT ACCESS. That portion of a means of egress sys-
tem that leads from any occupied portion of a building or
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF VALVE. A valve designed to
shut off the flow of gases or liquids. structure to an exit.
[BE] EXIT ACCESS DOORWAY. A door or access point
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF VALVE, AUTOMATIC. A
fail-safe automatic-closing valve designed to shut off the along the path of egress travel from an occupied room, area or
flow of gases or liquids initiated by a control system that is space where the path of egress enters an intervening room,
activated by automatic means. corridor, exit access stairway or ramp.
[BE] EXIT ACCESS RAMP. A ramp within the exit access
EMERGENCY SHUTOFF VALVE, MANUAL. A manu-
ally operated valve designed to shut off the flow of gases or portion of the means of egress system.
liquids. [BE] EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAY. A stairway within the
exit access portion of the means of egress system.
EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICATIONS.
Dedicated manual or automatic facilities for originating and [BE] EXIT DISCHARGE. That portion of a means of
distributing voice instructions, as well as alert and evacuation egress system between the termination of an exit and a public
signals pertaining to a fire emergency, to the occupants of a way.
building.
[BE] EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF. The story at the
[BG] EMPLOYEE WORK AREA. All or any portion of a point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge
space used only by employees and only for work. Corridors, begins.
toilet rooms, kitchenettes and break rooms are not employee [BE] EXIT PASSAGEWAY. An exit component that is sep-
work areas.
arated from other interior spaces of a building or structure by
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. An electronic fire-resistance-rated construction and opening protectives,
system that protects stationary storage batteries from operat- and provides for a protected path of egress travel in a hori-
ing outside their safe operating parameters, and generates an zontal direction to the exit discharge.
alarm and trouble signal for off normal conditions.
EXPANDED PLASTIC. A foam or cellular plastic material
[BG] EQUIPMENT PLATFORM. An unoccupied, ele- having a reduced density based on the presence of numerous
vated platform used exclusively for mechanical systems or small cavities or cells dispersed throughout the material.
industrial process equipment, including the associated ele- EXPLOSION. An effect produced by the sudden violent
vated walkways, stairways, alternating tread devices and lad- expansion of gases, which may be accompanied by a shock
ders necessary to access the platform (see Section 505.3 of wave or disruption, or both, of enclosing materials or struc-
the International Building Code).
tures. An explosion could result from any of the following:
EXCESS FLOW CONTROL. A fail-safe system or other 1. Chemical changes such as rapid oxidation, deflagration
approved means designed to shut off flow caused by a rup- or detonation, decomposition of molecules and run-
ture in pressurized piping systems.
away polymerization (usually detonations).
EXCESS FLOW VALVE. A valve inserted into a com- 2. Physical changes such as pressure tank ruptures.
pressed gas cylinder, portable tank or stationary tank that is
designed to positively shut off the flow of gas in the event 3. Atomic changes (nuclear fission or fusion).
that its predetermined flow is exceeded.

2018 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ® 25
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