Exit Routes, Emergency Action
Plans, Fire Prevention Plans,
and Fire Protection
Safety & Health Consultation
Introduction
• Fires and explosions kill more than
200 and injure more than 5,000
workers each year
• There is a long and tragic history of
workplace fires in this country
caused by problems with fire exits
and extinguishing systems
• OSHA requires employers to
provide proper exits, fire fighting
equipment, and employee training to
prevent fire deaths and injuries in
the workplace
Safety & Health Consultation
MEANS OF EGRESS [1910.33 – 39]
29CFR 1910 SUBPARTS
37(a)(3)
431
EXIT MARKING
37(b)(2)
359
EXIT ROUTE UNLOCKED
36(d)(1)
SUBPART E
EXIT ROUTES FREE & UNOBSTRUCTED
197
EXITS – MINIMUM 28 INCHES WIDE
36(g)(2)
148
EXIT ROUTE SIGNS
37(b)(4)
145
3
NUMBER OF SERIOUS VIOLATIONS – FY 2014
Exit Route
• A continuous and
unobstructed path of exit
travel from any point within a
workplace to a place of safety
(including refuge areas)
• Consists of three parts:
– Exit access
– Exit
– Exit discharge
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.34
Exit Routes
Basic Requirements
• Exit routes must be permanent
and there must be enough exits
in the proper arrangement for
quick escape
• Exits must be separated by fireresistant materials
1910.36(a)
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(b)
Exit Routes
Basic Requirements
• Openings into an exit must be
limited to those necessary to
allow access to the exit or to the
exit discharge
• An opening into an exit must be
protected by an approved selfclosing fire door that remains
closed or automatically closes in
an emergency
1910.36(a)
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(b)
Exit Discharge
Each exit discharge must lead
directly outside or to a street,
walkway, refuge area, public
way, or open space with access
to the outside that is large
enough to accommodate all
building occupants likely to
use the exit route
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(c)
Exit Discharge
Exit stairs that
continue beyond the
level on which the
exit discharge is
located must be
interrupted on that
level by doors,
partitions, or other
effective means that
clearly indicate the
direction of travel to
the exit discharge
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(c)(3)
Exit Route Design
• Must be:
– Unlocked and
unrestricted
– Side-hinged
– Adequate capacity and
height
– Must meet height and
width requirements
– Outdoor exit route
permitted
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(d) – (h)
Unlocked and Unrestricted
• Must be able to open door from inside without keys,
tools, or special knowledge.
– Panic bars that lock from the outside are permitted.
• Must be free of device or alarm that could restrict
emergency use if device or alarm fails.
• May be locked from inside in mental, penal, or
correctional facilities.
– And only if supervisory personnel are continuously on duty
and their is an emergency plan.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(d)
Unlocked and Unrestricted
1910.36(d)
Side-Hinged Exit Door
• Must be used to connect any
room to an exit route
• A door that connects any room to
an exit route must swing out in
the direction of exit travel if the
room is designed to be occupied
by more than 50 people or
contains high hazard contents
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(e)
Exit Route Capacity
and Dimensions
• Must support the maximum permitted occupant load
for each floor served
• Capacity must not decrease in the direction of exit
route travel to the exit discharge
• Ceiling must be at least 7-½ ft. high with no
projection reaching a point less than 6 ft.-8 in. from
floor
• An exit access must be at least 28 in. wide at all
points
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(f) & (g)
Outdoor Exit Route
• Have guardrails to protect unenclosed sides if a
fall hazard exists.
• Covered if snow or ice is likely to accumulate
along route.
• Reasonably straight and have smooth, solid,
substantially level walkways.
• Must not have a dead-end that is longer than 20
feet.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(h)
Minimize Danger to Employees
• Exit routes must be free and
unobstructed
• Keep exit routes free of explosive
or highly flammable materials
• Arrange exit routes so that
employees will not have to travel
toward a high hazard area, unless it
is effectively shielded
• Emergency safeguards (e.g.,
sprinkler systems, alarm systems,
fire doors, exit lighting) must be in
proper working order at all times
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(a)
Obstructed
exit route
Exit Route Maintenance and
Safeguards
• Danger to employees minimized.
• Adequate and appropriate lighting and
marking.
• Fire retardant properties maintained.
• Exit routes maintained during construction
and repairs.
• Employee alarm system must be operable.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.36(a) – (e)
Lighting and Marking
• Adequately lighted.
• Clearly visible and marked by a sign reading
“Exit”.
• Free of decorations or signs that obscure visibility
of exit.
• If direction of travel to exit is not apparent, signs
must be posted along exit access indicating
direction of travel to nearest exit.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(b)
Exit Marking
Each doorway or passage
along an exit access that
could be mistaken for an
exit must be marked “Not an
Exit” or similar designation,
or be identified by a sign
indicating its actual use
(e.g., closet).
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(b)(5)
Fire Retardant Properties
• Fire retardant paints or solutions must be
renewed as often as necessary to maintain
their fire retardant properties.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(c)
Construction and Repairs
• During new construction, employees must
not occupy a workplace until exit routes are
completed and ready for employee use.
• During repairs or alterations, employees
must not occupy a workplace unless exit
routes are available and existing fire
protections are maintained, or until alternate
fire protection is furnished.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(d)
Operable Alarm System
• Install and maintain an
operable employee alarm
system that has a distinctive
signal to warn employees of
fire or other emergencies,
unless employees can
promptly see or smell a fire
or other hazard in time to
provide adequate warning to
them.
• Employee alarm system
must comply with 1910.165.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.37(e)
Psychological Hazards
• Lack of information
• Panic
• Confusion
Physical Hazards
• Fire
• Toxic vapors
• Threats
• Storms
• Other safer location
Emergency Action Plan
• An employer must have an
emergency action plan whenever
an OSHA standard in this part
requires one.
• An emergency action plan (EAP)
must be in writing kept at the
workplace and available to
employees when required.
• If an employer has 10 or fewer
employees, may be communicated
verbally.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.38(a) – (b)
Emergency Action Plan
Elements
• Must have procedures for:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Reporting a fire or other emergency
Emergency evacuation
Employees who operate critical operations
Account for employee post evacuation
Employees performing rescue or medical duties
Name or job title of every employee who may
be contacted about the EAP
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.38(c)
Alarm System and Training
• Maintained and distinctive sounds based on an
emergency.
• Employer must designate and train employees for
a safe and orderly evacuation.
• Employer must review plan with employees:
– Development and/or initial hiring
– Job change
– Plan change
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.38(d) – (e)
Fire Prevention Plan
• An employer must have a fire
prevention plan when an OSHA
standard in this part requires one.
• A fire prevention plan must be in
writing, kept at the workplace,
and available to employees for
review.
• If an employer has 10 or fewer
employees, it may be
communicated verbally.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.39(a) – (b)
Fire Prevention Plan
The plan must include:
• A list of the major fire hazards and handling,
storage, and control procedures
• Names or job titles of persons responsible for
maintenance of equipment and systems to prevent
or control ignitions or fires
• Names or job titles of persons responsible for
control of fuel source hazards
• Training for all employees who have
responsibilities in the plan
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.39
Employee Information
• 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.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.39(d)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Safety & Health Consultation
FIRE PROTECTION [1910.155 – 165]
29CFR 1910 SUBPARTS
157(c)(1)
336
EXTINGUISHERS – ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CHECKS
157(e)(3)
197
EXTINGUISHERS – VISUAL MONTHLY INSPECTIONS
157(e)(2)
SUBPART L
EXTINGUISHERS – PROVIDED & ACCESSIBLE
175
EXTINGUISHERS – TRAINING PROGRAM
157(g)(1)
170
EXTINGUISHERS – INITIAL & ANNUAL TRAINING
157(g)(2)
149
31
NUMBER OF SERIOUS VIOLATIONS – FY 2014
Purpose
Portable fire extinguishers are used to begin
fire extinguishment in the EARLY stages of
its development to minimize loss.
Safety & Health Consultation
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Exemptions
Where the employer has implemented a written fire
safety policy which requires the immediate and
total evacuation of employees from the workplace
upon the sounding of the fire alarm…
Has an Emergency Action Plan and Fire Prevention
Plan meeting 1910.38 and extinguishers are not
provided by the employer…
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(b)(1)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Exemptions
Where the employer has an emergency action plan
meeting 1910.38, which designates certain
employees authorized to use available fire
extinguishers, other employees evacuate,
employer is exempt from the distribution
requirements.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(b)(2)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Exemptions
Where the employer has an emergency action plan
meeting 1910.38, which designates certain
employees authorized to use available fire
extinguishers, other employees evacuate,
employer is exempt from the distribution
requirements.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(b)(2)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
General Requirements
• Provide portable fire
extinguishers
• Mount
• Locate
• Identify
• Readily accessible
without injury
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(c)(1)
Properly
Mounted?
Safety & Health Consultation
Portable Fire Extinguishers
If portable fire extinguishers
are provided for employee use,
the employer must mount,
locate and identify them so
workers can access them
without subjecting themselves
to possible injury.
Blocked extinguisher
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(c)(1)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
General Requirements
• Only approved fire
extinguishers shall be
used.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(c)(2)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
General Requirements
• Employer shall not provide or make available in
the workplace portable fire extinguishers using:
– Carbon tetrachloride, or
– Chlorobromomethane extinguishing agents
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(c)(3)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
General Requirements
Portable fire extinguishers are maintained
in a fully charged and operable condition
and kept in their designated places at all
times except during use.
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(c)(4)
Selection and Distribution
• Distribute portable fire
extinguishers for use
by employees on
Class A fires so that
the travel distance for
employees to any
extinguisher is 75 feet
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(d)(2)
Selection and Distribution
• Employer may use:
– Uniformly spaced standpipe
systems or hose stations
connected to a sprinkler system
instead of Class A fire
extinguishers.
– Systems must provide total
coverage of area to be
protected and employees must
be trained annually in use.
Safety & Health Consultation
Selection and Distribution
• Distribute portable fire
extinguishers for use
by employees on
Class B fires so that
the travel distance for
employees to any
extinguisher is 50 feet
or less
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(d)(4)
Selection and Distribution
• The employer shall
distribute portable fire
extinguishers used for
Class C hazards on
the basis of the
appropriate pattern for
existing Class A or
Class B hazards
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(d)
Selection and Distribution
• Distribute Class D
portable fire
extinguishers so that
the travel distance
from the combustible
metal working area to
any extinguishing
agent is 75 feet
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(d)(6)
Classes of Fire Fuels
• Class “A” - Ordinary combustibles
– Wood, paper, cloth, rubber, many plastics
– Characteristic - leaves ash
A
• Class “B” - Flammable or combustible
liquids
– Gasoline, oil, grease, tar, oil based paint,
lacquer, flammable gas
B
Safety & Health Consultation
Classes of Fire Fuels
• Class “C” - Energized electrical
equipment
C
– Wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery,
appliances
• Class “D” - Combustible metals
– Magnesium
Safety & Health Consultation
D
Classes of Fire Fuels
• Class “K” Cooking materials
– Cooking oils, fat, grease
Safety & Health Consultation
K
Typical Picture Symbols
• Class “A”
– Ordinary Combustibles
• Class “B”
– Burning Liquids/Gases
Safety & Health Consultation
Typical Picture Symbols
• Class “C”
– Energized Electrical
Equipment
• Class “K”
– Cooking Materials
Safety & Health Consultation
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Selection and Distribution
• Class “A” fire extinguisher – Ash
• Class “B” fire extinguisher – Boil
• Class “C” fire extinguisher – Circuit
• Class “D” fire extinguisher – Dense
• Class “K” fire extinguisher - Kitchen
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(d)
Stored-pressure Water
• Size
– 2 1/2 gallon
• Application
– Class A
• Operating Principle
– Air Pressure
Safety & Health Consultation
Range
Discharge time
30-40 ft.
1 minute
Dry Chemical
• Size
– 5 - 20 lb.
• Application
– Ordinary Base
• Classes B & C
– Multipurpose
• Classes A, B, & C
• Expellent Principle
– Stored Pressure or Gas
Cartridge
Safety & Health Consultation
Dry Chemical
Size Range Discharge time
(lbs.) (feet)
(seconds)
Safety & Health Consultation
5
8 - 12
10 - 15
10
20
10 - 15
5 - 20
15 - 20
10 - 25
Carbon Dioxide
• Size
– 10 lb.
• Application
– Classes B and C
• Operating Principle
– Liquefied Compressed
Gas
Range
Discharge time
3 - 8 ft.
8 - 30 seconds
Safety & Health Consultation
Wet Chemical
• Size
– 1.59 gallons
• Agent Type
– Potassium Acetate,
• Application
– Class K
• Operating Principle
– Air Pressure
Safety & Health Consultation
Range
Discharge time
8 -12 ft.
75 - 80 seconds
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Inspection, Maintenance and Testing
• Employer responsible
• Portable fire extinguishers
– Annual visual inspection
– Maintenance check
• Record date and retain record for one (1) year after last entry
or the life of the shell whichever is less
• Provide alternate protection when removed from
service for maintenance, testing, and recharging
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(e)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Hydrostatic Testing
• Ensure testing is performed by trained personnel
with suitable equipment and facilities
• Maintain evidence for OSHA of hydrostatic
testing with a certification record
Safety & Health Consultation
1910.157(f)
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Hydrostatic Testing
•
•
•
•
Stored pressure water
Wet chemical
Dry chemical
Carbon dioxide
Safety & Health Consultation
5 years
5 years
12 years
5 years
1910.157(f)
Training and Education
• Where employer has provided portable fire
extinguishers for employee use
– Employer shall provide training on fire
extinguisher use and hazards involved with
incipient stage fire fighting.
• Initially and annually thereafter
1910.157(g)(1) – (2)
Safety & Health Consultation
Training and Education
• Employees who have been designated to
use fire fighting equipment as part of an
emergency action plan
– Employer shall provide training in use of
appropriate equipment to designated group.
• Initially and annually thereafter
1910.157(g)(3) – (4)
Safety & Health Consultation
Your Questions?
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