Fire Prevention Program Updated February 2010 REGULATORY AUTHORITY California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3221, Title 19 (19CCR) and Title 24 (24CCR), along with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards SCOPE The Fire Prevention Program covers all district employees and all district properties. RESPONSIBILITIES Risk Management Conducts annual inspections of all campus buildings to ensure compliance with State and local fire code regulations. Monitors the use of flammable liquids and materials. Provides fire safety education and training. Serves as liaison with insurance carrier(s) relating to fire safety issues. Campus Safety Conducts semi-annual campus evacuation exercises. Monitors fire detection and fire suppression alarms, and will respond to alarm activations and will report malfunctions to appropriate Maintenance and Operations staff or alarm service providers. District Facilities Ensures all campus construction projects comply with all applicable fire and life-safety regulations, including but not limited to fire department access, fire flow requirements, exiting, fire-resistive construction, and fire suppression and alarm systems. Ensures that all campus construction projects are inspected and built to the DSA approved plans prior to use or occupancy. Plant Manager or Site Administrator Maintains all campus fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, fire sprinklers, standpipes and hydrants. Ensures that all systems are inspected by a licensed technician based on the following schedule: o Sprinkler system Per NFPA 25 various requirements depending on system. At a minimum, visual inspection annually. o Alarm system Per NFPA 25, 100% device inspection annually. o Kitchen hood suppression system - every 6 months o Standpipe systems Per NFPA 25 every 5 years o Fire extinguishers annual service o Fire Hoses Per NFPA 14 visual inspection annually, pressure test every 5 years. Page 1 of 8
Inspects and maintains campus exit signs, emergency lights and stand-by generators in accordance with the frequency and procedures as prescribed in NFPA 101. Deans, Department Chairs and Administrators Ensure correction of all fire hazards within their control. Provide appropriate storage of flammable liquids in their department. PROGRAM Fire safety is a matter of common sense, education and training. By following the guidelines and requirements of this program, we can prevent most of the situations that cause fires to start. General Guidelines Report all fires, regardless of how minor, to Campus Safety immediately. Call 911 if needed. Keep exits and exit passageways free of obstructions at all times. Fire doors must be kept closed at all times unless they are held open by an approved device interconnected to the fire alarm system. Exit lights, fire alarms, wet standpipes, fire extinguisher cabinets and fire extinguishers shall be maintained in working condition and shall not be concealed from view by any material or object. Material must not obstruct sprinkler heads or be piled around fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull station locations, or sprinkler and standpipe control valves. Keep combustible storage a minimum of 18 below the ceiling in sprinklered buildings and 24 in non-sprinklered buildings.. Any door or passageway which is neither an exit nor a way to an exit and which is likely to be mistaken for an exit shall be identified by a sign reading NOT AN EXIT or shall be identified by a sign indicating its actual character, STOREROOM, RESTROOM, etc. Exit doors must be able to be opened from inside without a key, special knowledge, or effort. There shall be no combustible material storage allowed in mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, boiler rooms, or under stairwells. Flammable Storage Flammable liquids are those which have a flash point below 100 F. These are called class I liquids. Combustible liquids are those which have a flash point at or above 100 F. These are called class II and class III liquids. Approved storage cabinets shall be used where it is desired to keep more than 10 gallons of class I or II liquids or more than 60 gallons of combustible liquids inside buildings. No individual container shall exceed 5 gallons capacity and not over 120 gallons shall be stored in any one cabinet. All flammable liquids shall be stored in approved safety cans with signage indicating the type of liquid. Flammable storage must be kept at least fifty (50) feet from open flames or other heat sources. Ordinary combustibles must not be stored in flammable storage cabinets. Oily or grease-laden rags must be kept in metal self-closing containers. Rooms used for storage must be constructed to meet the NFPA requirements for one (1) hour fire separation, ventilation, heating, electrical systems, and fire detection and/or suppression. Page 2 of 8
Flammable and combustible materials should be present in work areas only in quantities required for the days job, and must be placed in an approved storage area at the end of each work day Class I and II liquids shall not be dispensed by gravity from tanks, drums, barrels, or similar containers. Electrical Panels must meet the following requirements: Be accessible to the occupants in an emergency. Be unobstructed 36 inches in front of and in all directions around the panel. Have the panel cover and panel door securely in place and closed. Have all breakers and main switches clearly marked as to the equipment/area that they control. Be identifiable as an electrical panel. Do not cover or paint electrical panels to match the wall, etc. Must not have any open breaker slots. Extension Cords Extension cords shall not be used in place of permanent wiring (not used for more than 90 days). Extension cords shall not extend through walls, ceilings, floors, under door, or floor coverings. Power strips shall be UL listed, directly plugged into permanently installed receptacle, and not daisy-chained together. Do not use cords with frayed or damaged wiring. Outlets must meet the following requirements: Have the cover plate securely fastened to the outlet box. Be replaced when broken. Be protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) when located within six (6) feet of a water source Gas and Electric Barbecue Grills: Barbecue grills are not permitted for use INSIDE buildings. Barbecue grills must not be used within 15 feet of a building when there is a door, window, air intake vent, or other similar avenue for smoke or uncontrolled flames to enter the building. All gas lines, valves and connections on gas grills must be periodically checked to detect leakage. If a leak is detected, the grill will be taken out of service until repaired. Do not leave a grill unattended. Keep combustible materials at least 15 feet from the grill. DO NOT use a grill within 50 feet of flammable storage areas. Know the location of the nearest fire extinguisher. Portable Space Heaters The following guidelines must be followed when using portable space heaters The heater must have an automatic safety switch that turns off the unit if it is tipped over. Page 3 of 8
Units must be grounded and UL approved. Power cords must be in good shape. If there are any defects in the cord or unit, DO NOT USE. Space heater must be fan driven. Space heaters with heated coils are not permitted. Heaters must be plugged into a wall receptacle or power strip. Do not use an extension cord. Never leave the unit on while you are out of your office. Always check the unit before leaving your office for lunch or at the end of the day and make sure it is shut off. Units must remain at least three feet from combustible materials, such as papers, magazines or office furniture. Do not place the heater in or near wet areas or in high traffic areas, such as exit ways. Before operating the heater, always read and follow the manufacturers operating instructions. NEVER USE SPACE HEATERS IN AN AREA WHERE FLAMMABLE VAPORS MAY BE PRESENT. The campus maintenance department or a member of the District Safety office may inspect and disapprove any space heater that creates a hazard or is inappropriate to a particular location based on specific circumstances, or code and/or legal requirements. Holiday Fire Safety Guidelines The following fire safety guidelines must be used when decorating for holidays or special occasions: All decorations, such as garland, artificial trees, wreaths, tinsel, and streamers must be labeled as "fire-proof," "fire-resistant" or "flame-proof." All holiday lighting should bear a testing lab seal of approval. Never use lights on metallic trees. Natural trees, wreaths and greens are prohibited in public buildings unless they are sprayed with an approved fire proofing material. The use of candles is prohibited in all buildings. Decorations must be arranged in a manner not to obstruct exits, emergency lighting, exit signs, or corridors. Fire Extinguishers A portable fire extinguisher 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. The type of extinguisher made available in a particular location is determined by the following factors: The type of hazard The amount hazardous material in the area. The best agent to be used on the hazard(s) (i.e., water, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, halon). o Type - Fires are classified into groups according to the nature of the material subject to fire. Fire extinguisher classification corresponds to these groups. Class A: Fires consisting of ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, some plastics, and textiles, where a quenching and cooling action of the extinguishing agent is required Class B: Page 4 of 8
Fires consisting of flammable liquid and gas, such as oil, gasoline, paint, acetone, and grease, where oxygen exclusion or a flame-interrupting effect of the extinguishing agent is required. Class C: Fire involving electrical wiring and electrical equipment where dielectric nonconductivity of the extinguishing agent is required. Class D: Fires consisting of combustible metals, such as magnesium, potassium, powdered aluminum, zinc, sodium, titanium, zirconium, and lithium, where a material specific extinguishing agent is required. The vast majority of extinguishers located throughout RSCCD properties are classified as ABC extinguishers. ABC fire extinguishers can be used on wood, paper, liquids, and chemical fires. Be informed regarding the locations and classifications of portable fire extinguishers in your area. If you observe portable fire extinguishers that have been tampered with, rendered nonfunctional, or are missing, a report should be made to Campus Safety. Locations Extinguishers should be located at or near the exits in the normal path of travel to the exit. The travel distance required to reach a fire extinguisher should be no more than75 feet. (No more than 50 feet from any area in which more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gases are being used or stored). The extinguisher must be clearly visible and identifiable. When this is not possible, appropriate signage will be posted directing the occupant to the location. The extinguisher must remain located in its designated location. Do not remove the extinguisher to use as a doorstop, to cover a welding operation, for barbecue activities, etc. The extinguisher must not be hung higher than five (5) feet from the floor. Inspection Extinguishers must be inspected periodically. Campus Safety personnel or other designated persons must check each extinguisher visually at least once per month. This check will include: Ensuring that the extinguisher is in its designated location. Checking the pressure on the gauge (tamper seal on carbon dioxide (CO 2 extinguishers)). Checking to see that the safety pin is in place and sealed. Checking the extinguisher for any obvious physical damage. Initialing the tag on the extinguisher to confirm the inspection. Fire Identification, Notification and Emergency Evacuation Identification/Notification In the event that anyone smells smoke or sees fire or smoke and there is a building fire alarm system, they should immediately activate the alarm to evacuate the building by using the nearest pull station. Even if the fire is known to be small, the alarm should be activated immediately. The fire could grow quickly, endangering building occupants. All building occupants should be familiar with fire alarm pull station locations in their area. Page 5 of 8
After activating the fire alarm, the person discovering the fire should immediately call Campus Safety from a safe location, and provide the emergency dispatcher with the name and location of the building and information about the fire. Campus Safety will notify the local fire department. After the alarm has been sounded and the fire has been reported, an attempt should be made to extinguish the fire if it is small and if it can be extinguished without exposing oneself to injury. Portable fire extinguishers are available for use for those trained. Otherwise, evacuate along with others and stand by to tell officials the exact location of the fire and other pertinent information. Evacuation The primary concern in the event of a fire is to evacuate everyone from the building as quickly as possible. In order to accomplish this, occupants must be prepared in advance for quick and orderly evacuation. Periodic meetings should be held with all personnel to explain, in detail, evacuation procedures. When the fire alarm sounds, immediate evacuation is required. If time and conditions permit, close all doors and windows (do not lock doors, unless for security purposes). When on floors above ground level, always use stairways to exit the building (NEVER USE ELEVATORS). Once outside, stay clear of doors, sidewalks and roadways. Return to the building only after being directed to do so by campus safety officials. Instructors are responsible for ensuring safe evacuation of all students, including those with disabilities. Should you have a mobility-impaired student and need further direction or have any questions/concerns regarding student evacuation, please contact Campus Safety. Fire Watch A Fire Watch is a temporary measure intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified individuals for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fire and notifying the fire department. A fire-watch is required when the emergency notification system cannot alert building occupants of hazards or the need to evacuate. The areas that are affected by the outage or malfunction will be covered until the system has been repaired, tested and placed back into service. Fire watch personnel must be trained in the following procedures; reporting fire emergencies, conducting building evacuations, practicing fire prevention techniques, and using portable fire extinguishers. A fire watch is needed when: There is a loss of local audible fire alarm warning signals. There is a loss of power, including battery backup, to a fire alarm control panel. Damage occurs to any fire alarm components, making an alarm system ineffective. There is a loss of alarm communication between the fire alarm panel and both the campus safety office and central monitoring station. There is a loss of automatic sprinklers, standpipes, or other types of fire suppression systems in building that have no automatic smoke detection in common areas, corridors, mechanical, and storage areas. Page 6 of 8
Fire Watch Procedures Notices will be posted at the entrances of building which do not have operating fire alarms. (See Appendix A Sample Notice). Once each hour, when buildings are occupied by students and staff, an assigned person shall conduct a thorough inspection of all public areas, mechanical/electrical room, storage/closet areas, kitchen, and other high-risk places. Written records shall be maintained noting the date, time, officer doing the inspection, and any notations regarding condition of facility in terms of fire hazards, etc. If there is any indication of fire leave the building and immediately contact 911. Make all efforts to inform everyone in the building to evacuate the facility. Do not attempt to fight the fire. A Fire Watch must be maintained during the entire time an event is scheduled in larger indoor public areas such as the gym or the theater. Off Hours Fire Watch (students and staff not in building): Fire Watch during these times is left to the discretion of campus safety personnel. However, it is suggested for protection of assets that the Fire Watch be completed two (2) times during each shift when students and staff are not in the buildings. Page 7 of 8
NOTICE The Building Fire Alarm System is Inoperative Every effort is being made to complete repairs as soon as possible. Immediately contact Campus Safety or call 911 if you detect any of the following: - See or smell smoke, or; - Detect the presence of fire, or; - Smell natural gas, or; - Detect the presence of any other condition which endangers the life of building occupants. In an emergency, please evacuate the building as quickly as possible using the most direct route. Building occupants will be notified when the fire alarm has been repaired. Page 8 of 8