Building Fire Safety

Building Fire Safety

Stanford University Fire Marshal’s Office

Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety

Course Contents

• Fire Prevention• Electrical Safety• Evacuation Procedures• Fire Extinguisher Basic Training

Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention

• Flammable and combustible liquid storage shall be in approved storage cabinets. Quantities not exceeding 10 gallons may be stored outside of a cabinet.

• California Fire Code 7902.5.8

FLAMMABLE

KEEP FIRE AWAY

• Cabinets shall be provided with a conspicuous label in red letters on contrasting background stating:

CFC 7902.5.9.3.1

Fire Prevention, cont.


• Do not use hot plates to heat flammable solvents

• Curtains surrounding laser equipment should be fire-retardant.

• Work areas should be kept clean and free from obstructions.


• Do not store incompatible materials within the same cabinet or exhausted enclosure.

CFC 8001.11.8

• When processes or conditions exist where a flammable mixture could be ignited by static electricity, means shall be provided to prevent the accumulation of a static charge. CFC 8001.11.5


• Do not block access to lab/office exits, emergency equipment and controls.

• Labs in excess of 200 sq. feet which contain hazardous materials are required to have two exits.

CBC 304.2.2.1


• Maintain a minimum of an 18-inch clearance between storage tops and ceiling sprinkler deflectors.

NFPA 13

• Use the proper type of fire extinguishers for metal fires. Met-L-X fire extinguishers should be used on fires involving metal or metal hydrides.


• Exercise extreme caution with open flame and spark-producing work. Keep combustibles at a safe distance away.

• Corridors and stairways shall not be used for storage. Title 19, Section 3.11

Most Frequent Causes of Fire on College Campuses

• Arson• Electricity• Smoking• Cutting/Welding

Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety

• Temporary wiring for electrical power and lighting installations is allowed during periods of construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment or similar activities.

Electrical Safety, cont.

• Temporary wiring for electrical power and lighting installations is allowed for a period not to exceed 90 days for holiday decorative lighting, carnivals and similar purposes and for experimental or developmental work.


• Electrical wiring, devices, appliance and other equipment which are modified or damaged and constitute an electrical shock or fire hazard shall not be used.


• Extension cords shall not be used as a substitute for permanent wiring

• Extension cords shall only be used with portable appliances while such appliances are in immediate use.


• Extension cords shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle, power tap or multi-plug adapter.

• The ampacity of the extension cords shall not be less than the rated capacity of the portable appliance supplied by the cord.


• The extension cords shall be maintained in good condition without splices, deteriorations or damage.

• Extension cords shall be grounded when serving grounded portable appliances.


• Extension cords and flexible cords shall NOT be:– affixed to structures;

– extended through walls, ceilings, or floors;

– under doors or floor coverings; or

– subjected to environmental or physical damage.


• Multi-plug adapters, such as multi-plug extension cords, cube adapters, strip plugs and other devices, that do not comply with Article 85 of Part 9, Title 24 CCR or the National Electric Code shall not be used.


• Power taps shall be polarized or of the grounded type and shall be listed with the Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.)


• Power tap shall be connected to a permanently installed receptacle.

• Work space around switchboards and panelboards shall be provided and maintained as required by the National Electric Code. Such space shall not be used for storage.


• A clear and unobstructed means of access with a minimum width of 30 inches and minimum height of 78 inches shall be maintained from the operating face of the switchboard or panelboard to an aisle or corridor.


• Doors to electrical control rooms shall be marked with a plainly visible and legible sign stating “ELECTRICAL ROOM” or similar approved wording.

DANGER

ELECTRICAL ROOM


• The disconnecting means for each service, feeder or branch circuit originating on a switchboard or panelboard shall be legibly and durably marked to indicated its purpose unless such purpose is clearly evident.

Evacuation Procedures

Evacuation Procedures

Confinement– This is the most important concept in fire

safety. An interior fire produces extreme temperatures and deadly smoke. The interior fire's only weakness is its susceptibility to confinement.

– If you discover a fire in a room:• Close the door to the room as you exit.• Close all doors in the immediate area, if possible.

Evacuation Procedures, cont.

Report the Fire• Reporting a fire in your building can best

be accomplished by:– Pull the nearest interior fire alarm pull

station.– Call the Fire Department emergency

telephone number• 9-911 on Stanford University telephones• 911 on telephones with Palo Alto prefixes.


Evacuation– Evacuation from the area of the fire to a

safe location is of primary importance in the management of a fire emergency.

– If the fire is in your area or if the fire alarm sounds, leave the building in an orderly manner and assemble at a predetermined Emergency Assembly Point (EAP) located a safe distance from the building.


Fighting the Fire• This is best accomplished by confining

the fire by closing doors. However, a portable fire extinguisher may be used if:– The fire is small– You have been trained to use a portable

fire extinguisher

NOTE

Heroic efforts by persons fighting fires have resulted in fatalities when confinement, reporting and evacuation procedures were neglected. Remember, the emphasis on protecting lives and property by Confinement, Reporting and Evacuation

Fire Extinguisher Basic Training

FuelAir

Heat

Tetrahedron of Fire

Fire Extinguisher Basic Training

• Types of Fires– Class A - Ordinary combustible materials– Class B - Flammable liquids– Class C - Electrical– Class D – Metals– Class K – Cooking Appliance with

combustible cooking media (vegetable or animals oils and fats).

Types of Fire Extinguishers

• Water

• Carbon Dioxide

• Dry Chemical

• Halon 1211 /Cleanguard

• Dry Powder

• Wet Chemical

Types of Fires and Proper Fire Extinguishers

• Class A - Ordinary combustible materials– Water– Multipurpose Dry Chemical (ABC Rated)– Halon 1221/Cleanguard

• Class B - Flammable liquids– Multipurpose Dry Chemical (ABC Rated)– Carbon Dioxide– Halon 1221/Cleanguard

Types of Fires and Proper Fire Extinguishers

• Class C - Electrical– Multipurpose Dry Chemical (ABC Rated)– Carbon Dioxide– Halon 1221/Cleanguard

• Class D - Metals - Dry Powder

• Class K - Cooking Appliances– Wet Chemical

In Case of Fire

DO DON’T

Keep Calm Panic

Report the fire by calling 9-911 Assume the fire has been reportedand pulling nearest fire alarm

Advise other employees Try to quickly gather belongings

Use nearest stairwell Use elevator

Close doors and windows Break windows

Keep low, under the smoke Run through smoke-filled areas

Use an extinguisher on a small fire Use an extinguisher on a large fire

Go to the Emergency Assembly Point Become a "Spectator" once outside

Direct firefighters to emergency Go back inside the building

SafetyMust be Practiced Always!

Don’t take shortcuts or chances!

Documents

Building Fire Safety