FIRE SAFETY Requirements

on Construction

Sites

Fire Prevention and Protection

References • EM 385-1-1 Section 9 • 29 CFR 1910.155; Subpart L • 29 CFR 1926.150 ; Subpart F • UFGS 01 35 26 • Accident Abstracts

Fire Prevention and Protection

Potential Contractor Mishaps • Fires • Explosions • Smoke inhalation • Smoke damage • Thermal burns Leading to property damage, injury, and

death.

Direct Causes of Fire Related Mishaps

• Lack of ignition source control • Improper storage/use of compressed gas • Defective and improper use of temporary

heating devices • Improper storage/use/disposal of flammable

and combustible materials, scraps, etc... • Inadequate types,numbers, and locations of

fire extinguishers • Smoking near flammables and combustibles

Indirect Causes of Fire Related Mishaps

• Lack of training, supervision or implementation of SOPs

• Failure to apply AHA/ORM by site superintendent

• Inadequate site-specific safety training prior to phase of work

• Accepted Fire Protection Plan not implemented

• Regular site safety inspections not performed • Extinguishers not provided

Fire Prevention & Protection

Every year fires take thousands of lives and cost billions of dollars. First line of defense is a Fire Prevention Plan

Fire Protection and Prevention

• 09.A.01 A fire prevention plan shall be written for facilities and project sites. > For Construction operations see NFPA 241; for Marine operations see 19.A.04.

Fire Prevention Plan • It shall include, as a minimum:

– List of the major workplace fire hazards; – Potential ignition sources; – the types of fire suppression equipment or

systems appropriate to the control of fire; – assignments of responsibilities for maintaining the

equipment and systems; – personnel responsible for controlling the fuel

source hazards; and – housekeeping procedures, including the removal

of waste materials.

09.A.01.a

Annual Survey

• An annual survey of the suitability and effectiveness of fire prevention and protection measures and facilities at each project or installation shall be made by a qualified person. Records of the survey findings and recommendations shall be retained on file at the project or installation.

09.A.02

Smoking

• Smoking shall be prohibited in all areas where flammable, combustible, or oxidizing materials are stored. “NO SMOKING, MATCHES OR OPEN FLAMES” signs shall be posted.

09.A.07

Fire Prevention & Protection

09.A.11

Measures must be taken to control the growth of tall grass, brush and weeds adjacent to facilities. Maintain a break of 3 feet around facilities.

• Fire cut-offs shall be retained in buildings undergoing alterations or demolition until operations require their removal.

Fire Protection in Construction

09.A.26.a

09.B Flammable and Combustible Liquids

20-B:C

At least one portable fire extinguisher rated 20-B:C shall be provided on all tank trucks or other vehicles used for transporting and/or dispensing flammable or combustible liquids.

09.B.03.a

Fire Protection Requirements

09.B.03.b

Each service or refueling area shall be provided with at least one fire extinguisher rated not less than 40-B:C and located so that an extinguisher shall be within 100 ft (30.4 m) of each pump, dispenser, underground fill pipe opening, and lubrication or service area.

Flammable Liquids As Cleaners

• No flammable liquid with a flash point (closed cup test) below 100 °F (37.7 °C) shall be used for cleaning purposes or to start or rekindle fires.

09.B.06

Flash Point

• The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off vapor within a test vessel in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

• The flash point is normally an indication of susceptibility to ignition.

Safety Devices

• Portable tanks (less than 660 gal (2.4 m3) individual capacity) shall be provided with one or more devices installed in the top with sufficient emergency venting capacity to limit internal pressure under fire exposure conditions to 10 pounds per square inch (psi) (68.9 kilopascal (kPa)) gauge or 30% of the bursting pressure of the portable tank, whichever is greater.

09.B.09

Flammable & Combustible Liquids Storage

09.B.12

The design, construction, and use of storage cabinets, indoor storage areas, outdoor storage areas, hazardous materials storage lockers, and other occupancies shall be in accordance with NFPA 30 or, for marine applications, 46 CFR 147 covers use of cabinets and 46 CFR 92.05-10 specifies design and construction.

Safety Cans for Storage and Transfer

• Safety cans and other portable containers for flammable liquids having a flash point at or below 73 °F (23 °C) shall be labeled/listed and painted red with a yellow band around the can and the name of the contents legibly indicated on the container.

09.B.15

Self-Closing Safety Faucet

• Flammable and combustible liquid dispensing systems shall be electrically bonded and grounded.

09.B.20.b

A total of 5 one-pound propane cylinders may be stored indoors as long as they are stored away from exits and stairways, or in areas normally used for the safe exit of people.

09.C.12.a

LPG Storage Inside of Buildings

First Response Fire Protection

• Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided where needed as specified in Table 9-4. Fire extinguishers shall be inspected monthly and maintained as specified in NFPA 10. Records shall be kept on a tag or label attached to the extinguisher, on an inspection check list maintained on file, or by an electronic method that provides a permanent record.

09.E.01

Fire Extinguisher Distribution

Minimum rating for single extinguisher

2-A 2-A 4-A

Maximum coverage (floor area) per unit of A rating

3000 sq. ft.

1500 sq. ft.

1000 sq. ft

Maximum floor area for extinguisher

11,250 sq. ft.

11,250 sq. ft.

11,250 sq. ft.

Maximum travel distance to extinguisher

75 feet 75 feet 75 feet

Class A Class B

Class A Class B

Class A Class B

Low Hazard Medium Hazard

High Hazard

Occupancy

EM 385-1-1 Table 9-4

Inspection

• Know what to look for when inspecting! – Type of extinguisher – Labeling – Pins in place? – Charged?

General Requirements • Fire extinguishers

shall be in a fully charged and operable condition and shall be suitably placed, distinctly marked, and readily accessible.

09.E.03

Elements Of Fire Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs four elements to occur: * Fuel * Oxygen * Heat * Chemical reaction.

Take away any one of these factors, and the fire cannot exist!

Classes Of Fire Fires are classified according to the types of objects being burned: Class A – ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber or certain types of plastic Class B – flammable or combustible gases and liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners or propane Class C – energized electrical equipment such as appliances, switches or power tools Class D – certain combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium or sodium.

Fire Extinguishers The faceplate of every fire extinguisher shows the class or classes of fire it is designed to fight. To properly use a fire extinguisher, follow the P-A-S-S procedure:

P Pull the pin A Aim the extinguisher’s hose or nozzle at the bottom of the fire S Squeeze the trigger

S Sweep it slowly back and forth, covering the entire fire with the extinguishing substance.

P

S

A

S

• Fire detection and employee fire alarm systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with requirements of NFPA and OSHA.

Fire Detection and Employee Fire Alarm Systems

09.H.01

Summary

Fire Protection Plan Fire Hazards, Ignition Sources, Fire Suppression

Equipment, Housekeeping, Trash Disposal, Emergency Response and Evacuation

Elements of a fire Class of fire Use of fire extinguisher Distribution of fire extinguishers