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Fire Safety
10 Introduction
20 Flammable
and Combustible Materials
30 Fire
Extinguishers
40 Fire
Safety Inspections/Housekeeping Procedures
50 Emergency
Egress
60 Occupant
Emergency Plan and Persons with Disabilities
70 Emergencies
involving Fire
10 Introduction
The Occupational Health and Fire Safety branch of the Public Safety
Department, administers the Hope College fire prevention and life safety
inspection programs.
Fire prevention measures propose to reduce the incidence of fires by
eliminating opportunities for ignition of flammable materials.
20 Flammable and Combustible Materials
- Substitution
Flammable liquids sometimes may be substituted by relatively
safe materials in order to reduce the risk of fires. Any substituted
material should be stable and nontoxic and should either be nonflammable
or have a high flashpoint.
- Storage
Flammable and combustible liquids require careful handling
at all times. The proper storage of flammable liquids within
a work area is very important in order to protect personnel
from fire and other safety and health hazards.
- Cabinets
Not more than 120 gallons of Class I, Class II,
and Class IIIA liquids may be stored in a storage
cabinet. Of this total, not more than 60 gallons
may be Class I and II liquids. Not more than three
such cabinets (120 gallons each) may be located in
a single fire area except in an industrial area.
Table 1. Maximum allowable capacity of containers
and portable tanks
| |
Flammable Liquids |
Combustible Liquids |
|
Containers |
1A |
1B
|
1C |
II
|
III
|
|
Glass or approved
plastic1 |
1 pt2
|
1 qt2 |
1 gal
|
1 gal
|
1 ga |
|
Metal (Other
than DOT drums) |
1 gal
|
5 gal |
5 gal
|
5 gal |
5 gal |
|
Safety Cans |
2 gal
|
5 gal |
5 gal |
5 gal |
5 gal |
|
Metal drums (DOT
specifications)
|
60 gal
|
60 gal |
60 gal |
60 gal |
60 gal |
|
Approved portable
tanks
|
660 gal
|
660 gal |
660 gal |
660 gal |
660 gal |
(1) Nearest metric size is also
acceptable for the glass and plastic
(2) One gallon or nearest metric equivalent size may be used if metal
and labeled
with their contents.
- Containers
The capacity of flammable and
combustible liquid containers will
be in accordance with Table 1.
- Storage
Inside Buildings.
Where
approved storage cabinets
or rooms are not provided,
inside storage will comply
with the following basic
conditions:
- The
storage of any flammable
or combustible liquid shall
not physically obstruct
a means of egress from
the building or area.
- Containers
of
flammable
or
combustible
liquids
will
remain
tightly
sealed
except
when
transferred,
poured
or
applied.
Remove
only
that
portion
of
liquid
in
the
storage
container
required
to
accomplish
a
particular
job.
- If
a
flammable
and
combustible
liquid
storage
building
is
used,
it
will
be
a
one-story
building
devoted
principally
to
the
handling
and
storing
of
flammable
or
combustible
liquids.
The
building
will
have
2-hour
fire-rated
exterior
walls
having
no
opening
within
10
feet
of
such
storage.
- Flammable
paints,
oils,
and
varnishes
in
1
or
5
gallon
containers,
used
for
building
maintenance
purposes,
may
be
stored
temporarily
in
closed
containers
outside
approved
storage
cabinets
or
room
if
kept
at
the
job
site
for
less
than
10
calendar
days.
- Ventilation
Every inside storage room will be provided
with a continuous mechanical exhaust ventilation
system. To prevent the accumulation of
vapors, the location of both the makeup
and exhaust air openings will be arranged
to provide, as far as practical, air movement
directly to the exterior of the building
and if ducts are used, they will not be
used for any other purpose.
- Elimination
of Ignition
Sources
All nonessential
ignition
sources
must be
eliminated
where flammable
liquids
are used
or stored.
The following
is a list
of some
of the
more common
potential
ignition
sources:
Open
flames,
such
as cutting
and welding
torches,
furnaces,
matches,
and heaters-these
sources
should
be kept
away
from
flammable
liquids
operations.
Cutting
or welding
on flammable
liquids
equipment
should
not be
performed
unless
the equipment
has been
properly
emptied
and purged
with
a neutral
gas such
as nitrogen.
Chemical
sources
of ignition such
as d.c.
motors,
switched,
and circuit
breakers-these
sources
should
be eliminated
where
flammable
liquids
are handled
or stored.
Only
approved
explosion-proof
devices
should
be used
in these
areas.
Mechanical
sparks-these
sparks
can be
produced
as a
result
of friction.
Only
nonsparking
tools
should
be used
in areas
where
flammable
liquids
are stored
or handled.
Static
sparks-these
sparks
can be
generated
as a
result
of electron
transfer
between
two contacting
surfaces.
The electrons
can discharge
in a
small
volume,
raising
the temperature
to above
the ignition
temperature.
Every
effort
should
be made
to eliminate
the possibility
of static
sparks.
Also
proper
bonding
and grounding
procedures
must
be followed
when
flammable
liquids
are transferred
or transported.
- Removal
of
Incompatibles
Materials
that
can
contribute
to
a
flammable
liquid
fire
should
not
be
stored
with
flammable
liquids.
Examples
are
oxidizers
and
organic
peroxides,
which,
on
decomposition,
can
generate
large
amounts
of
oxygen.
- Flammable
Gases
Generally,
flammable
gases
pose
the
same
type
of
fire
hazards
as
flammable
liquids
and
their
vapors.
Many
of
the
safeguards
for
flammable
liquids
also
apply
to
flammable
gases,
other
properties
such
as
toxicity,
reactivity,
and
corrosivity
also
must
be
taken
into
account.
Also,
a
gas
that
is
flammable
could
produce
toxic
combustion
products.
30 Fire Extinguishers
A portable fire extinguisher is a "first aid" device and is very effective
when used while the fire is small. The use of fire extinguisher that
matches the class of fire, by a person who is well trained, can save
both lives and property. Portable fire extinguishers must be installed
in workplaces regardless of other firefighting measures. The successful
performance of a fire extinguisher in a fire situation largely depends
on its proper selection, inspection, maintenance, and distribution.
- Classification of Fires and Selection of Extinguishers
Fires are classified into four general categories depending on
the type of material or fuel involved. The type of fire determines
the type of extinguisher that should be used to extinguish it.
- Class A fires involve materials such as wood, paper,
and cloth which produce glowing embers or char.
- Class B fires involve flammable gases, liquids,
and greases, including gasoline and most hydrocarbon
liquids which must be vaporized for combustion to occur.
- Class C fires involve
fires in live electrical equipment
or in materials near electrically
powered equipment.
- Class
D fires
involve combustible
metals, such as magnesium,
zirconium, potassium,
and sodium.
Extinguishers will be selected according to the potential fire
hazard, the construction and occupancy of facilities, hazard to
be protected, and other factors pertinent to the situation.
- Location and Marking of Extinguishers
Extinguishers will be conspicuously located and readily
accessible for immediate use in the event of fire. They
will be located along normal paths of travel and egress.
Wall recesses and/or flush-mounted cabinets will be used
as extinguisher locations whenever possible.
Extinguishers will be clearly visible. In locations where
visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, directional
arrows will be provided to indicate the location of extinguishers
and the arrows will be marked with the extinguisher classification.
If extinguishers intended for different classes of fire
are located together, they will be conspicuously marked
to ensure that the proper class extinguisher selection
is made at the time of a fire. Extinguisher classification
markings will be located on the front of the shell above
or below the extinguisher nameplate. Markings will be of
a size and form to be legible from a distance of 3 feet.
- Condition
Portable extinguishers will be maintained
in a fully charged and operable condition.
They will be kept in their designated locations
at all times when not being used. When
extinguishers are removed for maintenance
or testing, a fully charged and operable
replacement unit will be provided.
- Mounting
and Distribution
of Extinguishers
Extinguishers
will be
installed
on hangers,
brackets,
in cabinets,
or on shelves.
Extinguishers
having
a gross
weight
not exceeding
40 pounds
will be
so installed
that the
top of
the extinguisher
is not
more than
3-1/2 feet
above the
floor.
Extinguishers
mounted
in cabinets
or wall
recesses
or set
on shelves
will be
placed
so that
the extinguisher
operating
instructions
face outward.
The location
of such
extinguishers
will be
made conspicuous
by marking
the cabinet
or wall
recess
in a contrasting
color which
will distinguish
it from
the normal
decor.
Extinguishers
must be
distributed
in such
a way that
the amount
of time
needed
to travel
to their
location
and back
to the
fire does
not allow
the fire
to get
out of
control.
OSHA requires
that the
travel
distance
for Class
A and Class
D extinguishers
not exceed
75 feet.
The maximum
travel
distance
for Class
B extinguishers
is 50 feet
because
flammable
liquid
fires can
get out
of control
faster
that Class
A fires.
There is
no maximum
travel
distance
specified
for Class
C extinguishers,
but they
must be
distributed
on the
basis of
appropriate
patterns
for Class
A and B
hazards.
- Inspection
and
Maintenance
Once
an
extinguisher
is
selected,
purchased,
and
installed,
it
is
the
responsibility
of
the
Occupational
Health
and
Safety
to
oversee
the
inspection,
maintenance,
and
testing
of
fire
extinguishers
to
ensure
that
they
are
in
proper
working
condition
and
have
not
been
tampered
with
or
physically
damaged.
40 Fire Safety Inspections/Housekeeping
First line supervisors and Safety Committees are responsible for conducting
work site surveys at least annually. These surveys should include observations
of worksite safety and housekeeping issues and should specifically address
proper storage of chemicals and supplies, unobstructed access to fire
extinguishers, and emergency evacuation routes. Also, they should determine
if an emergency evacuation plan is present in work areas and that personnel
are familiar with the plan.
50 Emergency Egress
Every exit will be clearly visible, or the route to it conspicuously
identified in such a manner that every occupant of the building will
readily know the direction of escape from any point. At no time will
exits be blocked.
Any doorway or passageway which is not an exit or access to an exit
but which may be mistaken for an exit, will be identified by a sign reading "Not
An Exit" or a sign indicating it actual use (i.e., "Storeroom"). Exits
and accesses to exits will be marked by a readily visible sign. Each
exit sign (other than internally illuminated signs) will be illuminated
by a reliable light source providing not less than 5 foot-candles on
the illuminated surface.
60 Occupant Emergency Plan for Persons with Disabilities
The first line supervisor is assigned the responsibility to assist
Persons with Disabilities under their supervision. An alternate assistant
will be chosen by the supervisor. The role of the two assistants is to
report to their assigned person, and to either assist in evacuation or
assure that the PWD isremoved from danger.
Visitors who have disabilities will be assisted in a manner similar
to that of Hope College employees. The Host of the person with disabilities
will assist in their evacuation.
70 Emergencies involving Fire
- Fire Alarms
In the event of a fire emergency, a fire alarm will sound for
the building.
- Evacuation Routes and Plans
Each facility shall have an emergency evacuation plan.
All emergency exits shall conform to NFPA standards.
Should evacuation be necessary, go to the nearest exit
or stairway and proceed to an area of refuge outside the
building. Most stairways are fire resistant and present
barriers to smoke if the doors are kept closed.
Do not use elevators. Should the fire involve the control
panel of the elevator or the electrical system of the building,
power in the building may be cut and you could be trapped
between floors. Also, the elevator shaft can become a flue,
lending itself to the passage and accumulation of hot gases
and smoke generated by the fire.
- Emergency Coordinators and Supervisors
Emergency Coordinators and/or Supervisors
will be responsible for verifying personnel
have evacuated from their assigned areas.
Fire Emergency Procedures
If you discover a fire:
- Activate the nearest fire alarm.
- Notify the fire department by dialing
911 or 8-911 on centrex lines. Give your
location, the nature of the fire, and
your name.
- Notify your Emergency Coordinator and/or
supervisor and other occupants.
Fight the fire ONLY if:
- The fire department has been notified
of the fire, AND
- The fire is small and confined to its
area of origin, AND
- You have a way out and can fight the
fire with your back to the exit, AND
- You have the proper extinguisher, in
good working order, AND know how to use
it.
If your are not sure of your ability or the fire extinguisher's capacity
to contain the fire, leave the area.
If you hear a fire alarm:
- Evacuate the area. Close windows
and close doors as you leave.
- Leave the
building
and
move
away
from
exits
and
out
of
the
way
of
emergency
operations.
- Assemble in
a
designated
area
outside
the
building.
- Report to
the
monitor
so
he/she
can
determine
that
all
personnel
have
evacuated
your
area.
- Remain outside
until
competent
authority
(Public
Safety
Officer,
Office
of
Health
and
Safety,
or
your
supervisor)
states
that
it
is
safe
to
re-enter.
Evacuation Routes
- Learn at least two excape routes,
and emergency exits from your area.
- Never use an elevator as part
of your excape route.
- Learn to activate a fire alarm.
- Learn to recognize alarm sounds.
Health and Fire Safety Manual
Office of Occupational Health and Fire Safety, Hope College, 295 East
13th Street, Holland, MI 49423
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