Fire Safety II
INSY 3020/7970/7976/ENH 670
Occupational Safety & Ergonomics
Outline
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Introduction to Fire Safety
Exit Routes
Fire Protection
Emergency Action Plan
Fire Prevention Plan
OSHA Subpart E
OSHA Subpart L
Evacuation Modeling
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29 CFR 1910 OSHA
General Industry Regulations
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United States Code (USC)
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Congress
US Statutes at Large
Federal agencies
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Regulations and Standards
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Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Indexed by alphanumeric code
 50 topics or titles
 Ex: 29 CFR-OSHA General Industry Regulations
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29 CFR 1910 OSHA
General Industry Regulations
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29 CFR-OSHA General Industry Regulations
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Title 29 of the CFR
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Part 1910: general industry
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Each part is divided into subparts (26) and sections
 Paragraphs & subparagraphs, etc.
29 CFR 1910.34(c)(2)
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OSHA Tidbits
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Shall means must and is
mandatory.
 Should means recommended.
Minimal Standards
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The standards do not prohibit a
better type of construction, more
exits, etc.
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1910 Subpart E
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Part Number:1910
Part Title: Occupational Safety and
Health Standards
Subpart: E
Subpart Title: Exit Routes, Emergency
Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans
Standard Number:1910 Subpart E
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1910 Subpart E
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1910.34 Coverage and definitions
1910.35 Compliance with NFPA 101-2000,
Life Safety Code
1910.36 Design and construction
requirements for exit routes
1910.37 Maintenance, safeguards, and
operational features for exit routes
1910.38 Emergency action plans
1910.39 Fire prevention plans
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1910.34 Coverage and
definitions
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Coverage
 Every employer is covered
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Exits routes are covered
Some Definitions
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Exit
Exit access
Exit discharge
Exit route
Occupant load
Refuge area
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Refuge Area
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A space along an exit route that is protected
from the effects of fire by separation from
other spaces within the building by a barrier
with at least a one-hour fire resistance-rating;
or
A floor with at least two spaces, separated
from each other by smoke-resistant
partitions, in a building protected throughout
by an automatic sprinkler system that
complies with 1910.159 of this part
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1910.35 Compliance with NFPA
101-2000, Life Safety Code
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An employer who demonstrates
compliance with the exit route
provisions of NFPA 101-2000, the Life
Safety Code, will be deemed to be in
compliance with the corresponding
requirements in 1910.34, 1910.36, and
1910.37
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Life Safety Code® Handbook
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1910.36 Design and construction
requirements for exit routes
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Basic requirements for Exit routes
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An exit route must be permanent
An exit must be separated by fire resistant
materials
Openings into an exit must be limited
The number of exit routes must be adequate
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A single exit route
Two exit routes
More than two exit routes
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1910.36 Design and construction
requirements for exit routes
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An exit route must meet
minimum height and width
requirements
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The ceiling of an exit route must be
at least 7’6” (2.3 m) high.
Any projection from the ceiling
must not reach a point less than
6’8” (2.0 m) from the floor
An exit access must be at least 28”
(71.1 cm) wide at all points
The width of an exit route must be
sufficient to accommodate the
maximum permitted occupant load
of each floor served by the exit
route
7”6”
6’8”
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1910.37 Maintenance, safeguards,
and operational features for exit
routes
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The danger to employees must be minimized
Lighting and marking must be adequate and
appropriate
The fire retardant properties of paints or
solutions must be maintained
Exit routes must be maintained during
construction, repairs, or alterations
An employee alarm system must be operable
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1910.38 Emergency action plans
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Application
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An employer must have an emergency
action plan whenever an OSHA standard in
this part requires one.
Written and oral emergency action
plans
Minimum elements of an emergency
action plan
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1910.39 Fire prevention plans
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Employee information
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An employer must inform employees upon
initial assignment to a job of the fire
hazards to which they are exposed. An
employer must also review with each
employee those parts of the fire prevention
plan necessary for self-protection.
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1910 Subpart L
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Part Number:1910
Part Title: Occupational Safety and Health
Standards
Subpart: L
Subpart Title: Fire Protection
Standard Number:1910 Subpart L
Title: Authority for 1910 Subpart L
Appendix: A , B , C , D , E
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1910 Subpart L
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1910.155 - Scope, application and definitions applicable to this
subpart
1910.156 - Fire brigades
1910.157 - Portable fire extinguishers
1910.158 - Standpipe and hose systems
1910.159 - Automatic sprinkler systems
1910.160 - Fixed extinguishing systems, general
1910.161 - Fixed extinguishing systems, dry chemical
1910.162 - Fixed extinguishing systems, gaseous agent
1910.163 - Fixed extinguishing systems, water spray and foam
1910.164 - Fire detection systems
1910.165 - Employee alarm systems
Appendices A - E
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Classes of fire
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Fires are classified by the material that
is burning.
Fires are designated as:
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Class
Class
Class
Class
A
B
C
D
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Classes of fire
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"Class A fire" means a fire involving
ordinary combustible materials such as
paper, wood, cloth, and some rubber
and plastic materials, leaving an ash
residue and burn with a white to gray
smoke.
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Classes of fire
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"Class B fire" means a fire involving
flammable or combustible liquids,
flammable gases, greases and similar
materials, and some rubber and plastic
materials.
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Classes of fire
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Classes of fire
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"Class C fire" means a fire involving
energized electrical equipment where
safety to the employee requires the use
of electrically nonconductive
extinguishing media.
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Classes of fire
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Classes of fire
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"Class D fire" means a fire involving
combustible metals such as magnesium,
titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and
potassium.
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Fire Extinguishment Systems
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Portable extinguishing
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Extinguisher rating
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the numerical rating given to an extinguisher which
indicates the extinguishing potential of the unit based on
standardized tests developed by Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc.
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Ex: 2-A or 20-B (relative effectiveness)
Fixed extinguishing
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permanently installed system that either
extinguishes or controls a fire at the location of
the system.
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Fire Extinguishing Agents
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“Extinguisher classification” means the letter
classification given an extinguisher to designate the
class or classes of fire on which an extinguisher will
be effective.
Fire extinguishing agents are classified according to
the types of fires on which they are effective.
Agents may be classified as “A,” “B,” “C” or “D,” or
combinations of types. “ABC,” “BC” and “AB” are
common fire extinguisher designations.
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Fire Chemistry
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The Fire Tetrahedron.
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The removal of any one element
extinguishes the fire.
OXYGEN
HEAT
FUEL
CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION29
Water (Class “A” Agent)
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Removes heat, best on Class “A” fires,
best overall agent.
Very bad for Class “B” fires as it spreads
the fuel.
Very bad for Class “C” fires as it
conducts electricity.
Disastrous on a Class “D” fire, may
cause an explosion.
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Carbon dioxide (Class “BC” Agent)
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"Carbon dioxide" means a colorless,
odorless, electrically nonconductive
inert gas that is a medium for
extinguishing fires by reducing the
concentration of oxygen or fuel vapor in
the air to the point where combustion is
impossible.
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Carbon dioxide (Class “BC” Agent)
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Displaces oxygen reducing its
concentration to below the level capable
of supporting combustion.
Good for Class “B” and “C” fires.
Not good for Class “A” fires.
Hazardous to humans.
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Dry chemicals
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Ordinary dry chemical powder (Class
“BC” Agent)
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Siliconized Sodium Bicarbonate.
Airborne powder interrupts the chemical
chain reaction.
Does not smother, cool or remove fuel.
Good for Class “B” and Class “C” fires.
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Dry Chemicals
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Multipurpose dry chemical powder
(Class “ABC” Agent)
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Siliconized Ammonium Phosphate.
Performs as above, plus the powder melts
when it contacts a hot surface, sealing the
oxygen away from the fuel.
Good for Class “B” and Class “C” fires.
Fair for Class “A” fires.
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Foam (Class “AB” Agent)
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Water based detergent floats on surface of
burning liquids, excluding oxygen from the
fuel.
Excellent cooling qualities, same as water.
Not suitable for a Class “C” fire.
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Dry powder (Class “D” Agent)
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Only for Class “D,” metal fires.
Low velocity, sodium bicarbonate or sand.
Attempts to smother fire; however, some
metal fires will continue to burn with no
apparent source of oxygen.
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PKP or Purple K Powder (Class
“BCD” Agent)
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Potassium bicarbonate dyed purple to
distinguish it from other agents.
Primarily for Class “D” fires (smothering).
It will work on Class “B” and Class “C” fires
as well (interrupting).
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PKP or Purple K Powder (Class
“BCD” Agent)
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Fire detection systems
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Heat detector
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temperature is the primary indicator of fire
Fixed temperature
Smoke detector
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Smoke is the primary fire indicator
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Ionization – contains radioactive material that
“charges” smoke particles and senses the
electrical potential
Photoelectricity – smoke disrupts a beam of
light.
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Fire detection systems
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Flame detectors
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Rate of rise detectors
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Monitor the wavelength of light for those most
common to fire.
Susceptible to false readings
Respond to fires that flame up quickly but do not
react to slower changes in ambient temperature.
Gas sensors
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Use the presence of combustion gases as the
primary fire indicator.
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Fixed Extinguishing Systems
(Sprinkler Systems)
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Sprinkler systems
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Automatic
Semiautomatic
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Studies have shown that sprinkler systems to be the most
effective means for controlling fires in buildings.
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NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems
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NFPA 13D Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in
One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes
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NFPA 13E Recommended Practice for Fire Department
Operations in Properties Protected by Sprinkler and Standpipe
Systems
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Fixed Extinguishing Systems
(Sprinkler Systems)
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NFPA 13R Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and
Including Four Stories in Height
NFPA 14 Standard for the Installation of Standpipe
and Hose Systems
NFPA 15 Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for
Fire Protection
NFPA 16 Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water
Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems
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Sprinkler Systems
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Wet-pipe system
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Contains water under pressure at all times.
Any sprinkler head that is opened will allow
water to pass immediately.
can be damaged by water freezing in the
pipes or leakage
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Antifreeze solution
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Wet-pipe system
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Sprinkler Systems
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Dry-pipe system
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Contains pressurized air or nitrogen at all times.
Water is separated from the dry pipes.
When sprinkler head is opened, pressure is lost.
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This loss of pressure opens a valve to release water into
the system.
Dry-pipe system is suitable for areas subject to
freezing.
Slower than wet-pipe system
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Dry-pipe system
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