RE: BASIC FIRE SAFETY PROCEDURES AND OPERATION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT

Transcription

1 March 15, 2016 Security Staff Training Memo RE: BASIC FIRE SAFETY PROCEDURES AND OPERATION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT Dear Staff Officers: As part of your daily rounds, security officers must look out for any unsafe conditions or hazards particularly in garage areas, corridors, mechanical rooms, elevator lobbies or service elevator lobbies. Observations should be documented and brought to the immediate attention of the Building/Facility Manager. Security officers must also acquaint themselves with the location of all emergency fire stairwells, life safety panel, emergency PA system, smoke detectors, manual pull stations, sprinklers, standpipe outlets and fire extinguishers. When an alarm sounds, the Fire Safety Director will trigger the life safety panel to call the Fire Department at 911. If a fire panel does not exist at your job site, you may be the one tasked with calling 911. Once an alarm is activated, only the Fire Department may reset the system. When the Fire Safety Team member identifies the source of the alarm, the Fire Safety Director will attempt to obtain details from the Floor Warden as to the cause of the alarm in order to communicate to the 911 operator or Fire Department personal present on the scene. Once the Fire Department arrives, the Fire Safety Director and the members of the Fire Safety Team will follow instructions from the officer in charge. From the moment the Fire Department arrives on site, they are fully in charge and are to be given complete cooperation. 1

2 Basic What to Do s in Case of a Fire 1. Immediately pull the nearest fire alarm pull station as you exit the building. 2. If searching for individuals or evacuating a building, be sure to feel doors for heat before opening them to be sure there is no fire danger on the other side. 3. Do not open doors or windows in areas where the fire is burning and/or contained. 4. If there is smoke in the air, stay low to the ground and advise others to do the same to reduce inhalation exposure. Keep one hand on the wall to prevent disorientation and crawl to the nearest exit. 5. Once away and clear from danger, take control of the other occupants evacuating. 6. Go to the designated staging area and await further instructions from emergency personnel. Who to Contact in Case of a Fire In order to ensure that the proper authorities are notified of a fire, when the opportunity arises once you are safe from imminent danger, call any of the following: Emergency Notification System 911 Chief Engineer Facility Director ISS Project Manager [212] Do treat every fire alarm as an emergency. If the alarm sounds, be prepared exit the building immediately. Emergency Flash Lights This is the one piece of equipment that is not optional on any shift. All officers must carry on their person a working flashlight. Additional Emergency flashlights should be located in 2

3 close proximity to the Security Desk or other designated command post. If there are none at your job site be sure to bring this to the attention to the facility or operations manager in charge. Fire Extinguishers Each property is different, but fire extinguishers should be located throughout the property you are assigned to. Most fire departments determine where fire extinguishers will be places based on how the property is being used and their location to critical mechanical areas and rooms. Fire Extinguisher Policy Integrated Security does not encourage people to be heroes during a fire. That job is the responsibility of the Fire Department and requires very specific training. In certain cases however, you must be prepared to extinguish small fires and/or safely evacuate those present at your work site. Persons who need to operate fire extinguishers must know how to operate them properly. Before you use a fire extinguisher, you first have to identify the type of fire you are going to extinguish. There are three types of fires: 3

4 Class A Fires - Occur when ordinary combustible materials are ignited. For example: Wood and paper fires are class A fires. Water type fire extinguishers can be used or carbon dioxide can also be used. Class B Fires - Occur when flammable liquids, gases or grease are ignited. These fires must be extinguished by smothering the flame. Using carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or foam fire extinguishers will smother the flame. Water type fire extinguishers will not effectively extinguish class B fires. Class C Fires - Occur when electrical equipment catches fire. These fires must be fought with fire extinguishers that do not conduct electricity. Carbon dioxide and dry chemical fire extinguishers must be used to extinguish electrical fires. Water and foam fire extinguishers must never be used to fight electrical fires. I. LOCATION AND OPERATION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: There are standard fire procedures common to all fire extinguishes currently in use. They are: 1. Carrying the extinguisher should be done cautiously on the way to the emergency site. If a carrying handle is provided with the extinguisher, it should be carried with one hand on the handle and one hand on the bottom lip for stability. To prevent accidental or premature discharge, safety pins should always be left on until the operator is prepared to use the extinguisher. 2. Getting within range of the fire may be difficult with some extinguishers due to the intense heat generated by the fire. If the fire personnel cannot get within an 4

5 effective range of the fire, extinguishers cannot be used and another way of attacking the fire must be decided on. 3. With a class A fire that is traveling vertically, the extinguisher should be aimed at the base of the fire working upwards with a sweeping side-to-side monition. With a fire on a horizontal surface, the extinguishing agent is to be applied to the base of the fire, working from front to rear. The rapid movement of the nozzle will spread the extinguishing agent more evenly over the surface so that the fire will be controlled more rapidly. If there is a wind or strong current of air, the extinguisher should be discharged with the wind to the operator s back. 4. If one person cannot extinguish the fire with one extinguisher, attempts should be made to apply two or more extinguishers to the fire. Fires have been controlled with two extinguishers applied simultaneously after two extinguishers used one after the other had failed to control the fire. If the fire is rapidly spreading out of control, fire personnel should immediately back away and evacuate. After the fire is extinguished, one person from the fire team can poke through the burnt out material and separate the material before removing the extinguisher(s) from the fire scene. 5. With Class B fires, attempts should be made to smother the burning liquid with the extinguisher agent. Be careful during the discharging of the extinguisher. If the nozzle is too close to the surface of the flammable liquid, the liquid may splatter and cause the fire to spread. 6. With Class C fires the extinguishing agent should be applied directly onto the flames. Fire personnel must be cautious not to allow any part of the extinguisher to come in contact with energized wires or equipment, especially if the fire has to be extinguished before the electrical power can be turned off. Your immediate compliance is requested. Prepared by, Alan Schissel 5