Fire Protection and Prevention

1. New England Roofing Industry Partnership Fire Protection and Prevention

2. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 1 Training Objectives • After completing this unit, you will know: • The components of fire and related hazards. • How to control fires by removing a component. • The employer’s responsibilities for a fire fighting program and its basic components. • Your role in fighting a fire. • The types of fire extinguishers and their limitations. • How to effectively use a fire extinguisher.

3. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 2 References • 29 CFR 1926.150-159; Subpart F, Fire Protection and Prevention • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

4. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 3 The Main Dangers of Fire • Smoke inhalation kills more people than burns. • Three out of four workers who die in fires die from the smoke. • Fires produce intense heat above 10000 F. • Fires will use up the oxygen you need to breathe. • Smoke is toxic and contains gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride & carbon dioxide.

5. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 4 What is Fire?

6. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 5 Preventing Fires • We can prevent fires by taking away one of the triangle’s sides (Fuel, Heat, or Oxygen). • We can make sure there is no fuel. • We can make sure there is no heat (ignition). • We can’t do much about the oxygen, but we can use an extinguisher to take away the oxygen after the fire starts!

7. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 6 Controlling or Eliminating Fuels • Storing Flammable & Combustible Liquids • Store away from heat sources and in approved containers only. • Store fuels in quantities greater than 1 gallon in an approved safety can. • Store fuels of 1 gallon or less in original container, approved container, or safety can. • Do not store fuels near exits or on stairways.

8. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 7 Controlling or Eliminating Fuels • Storing Flammable & Combustible Liquids • Do not store more than 25 gallons of fuel in any one room unless in an approved storage cabinet. • Do not store more than 60 gallons of flammable liquids or 120 gallons of combustible liquids in a single approved storage cabinet. • Outside: containers, maximum 60 gallons each; shall not exceed 1,100 gallons in each pile. • Do not store portable tanks closer than 20 feet to buildings.

9. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 8 Controlling or Eliminating Fuels • Using Flammable and Combustible Liquids • Store in closed containers when not in use. • Never use within 50 feet of open flames and ignition sources. • Dispose of leaks and spills quickly. • Never work in saturated clothes! • Never use gasoline or other flammable to start a fire!

10. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 9 Flash Point • The temperature the liquid must reach to give off enough vapors to ignite. • Flammables have a lower flash point and are therefore more dangerous. • Check the MSDS

11. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 10 A Liquid’s Flammable Limits • Range of fuel to air concentrations that allow a fire of explosion to occur. • Between the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) and the Upper Explosive Limit (UEL), ignition source will cause an explosion. Check the MSDS.

12. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 11 NFPA Label • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • The higher the number in the red box (max is 4), the greater the fire hazard. Check the MSDS.

13. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 12 Controlling or Eliminating Fuels • Pouring Flammable & Combustible Liquids • Dispensing operations where more than 5 gallons are dispensed at a time must be separated from other operations by at least 25 feet. • Dispensing valves must be self-closing. • Transfer only when containers are grounded and/or bonded.

14. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 13 Controlling or Eliminating Ignition Sources (Heat) • We can control ignition sources by: • Not smoking or having open flames. • Keeping welding, grinding, and cutting at least 50 feet from flammables. • Not cutting on tanks, vessels, or drums. • Keeping engine exhausts away from flammables. • Making sure electrical devices comply with OSHA’s Subpart K.

15. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 14 What About Static Electricity? • Pouring from one container to another can cause static electricity: • Transfer only when containers are grounded and/or bonded together. • Never attach or detach bonding clips in hazardous concentrations of gases or vapors. • Don’t fill a gas can in the bed of a truck that has a bed liner or in a trunk of a car. Always place can on ground!

16. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 15 Controlling or Eliminating Ignition Sources (Heat) • Temporary Heaters: • Keep tarps and canvas at least 10 feet away. • Keep combustible materials at least 18” away from chimney of circulating room heaters. • Keep combustibles materials at least 36” away from the rear of heaters. • OSHA does not allow solid fuel heaters indoors or on scaffolds!

17. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 16 LP Gas Heaters • Must have manufacturer’s affixed safety data plate. • Must use according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Must have a fresh air supply. • Must have automatic shut off valve to prevent gas build-up during a flame-out!

18. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 17 Propane-LP Gas Precautions • Store, transport, & use LP gas only in approved containers. • Never weld on LP containers. • Don’t point heaters towards containers. • Don’t store LP containers inside. • Don’t roll on side or bottom edge – use a dolly. • Keep valve protection in place. • Don’t lift by the ring.

19. SUBPART F Fire Protection and Prevention 18 Propane Storage

20. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 19 Fighting Fires • Fire Fighting Program: • Required throughout construction activities • Written program required by OSHA: • Procedures for calling fire department • Training for workers in how to identify & correct hazards and use extinguishers. • Water supply • Detectors, alarms, and fire fighting equipment • Explained to every worker

21. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 20 Types of Fire Extinguishers • There are four basic types: • Type A - for wood, cardboard, and paper • Type B - for flammable liquids and grease • Type C - for electrical • Type D - for combustible metals • Never use a water based Type “A” on an electrical or flammableliquid fire!

22. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 21 Fire Extinguisher Requirements • OSHA requires: • At least one 2A rated extinguisher for each 3,000 sq. ft. • At least one per floor and one next to stairway. • At least 1 within 100 feet of every part of protected building. • At least one 10B within 50 feet of 5 gallons or more of a flammable liquid or 5 lbs. of flammable compressed gas. • One 20B extinguisher between 25-75 feet of 60 gallons or more outside. • One 20B on tank trucks.

23. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 22 Before You Fight a Fire • Before fighting a fire, make sure: • You have a way out. • You have called the fire department. • The fire is small enough to fight. • The area is not filled with too much smoke. • You know what is burning and have the right extinguisher. • You use the P.A.S.S. method!

24. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 23 P.A.S.S. • P - Pull Pin • A - Aim at base • S - Squeeze • S - Sweep from side to side

25. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 24 A Roofing Fire Hazard Situation If you are involved with BUR, consider the following:

26. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 25 Hazards and Controls With Kettles • The kettle is propane-fired – where should the tanks(s) be placed? • How close to the building and combustible materials can the kettle be? • The asphalt has a Flash Point of 4500F. • What kind of Fire Extinguishers are needed? • Where should they be placed?

27. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 26 Kettle Set-up for Fire Prevention • Tanks should be no closer than 10 feet, or 2 feet if the kettle is insulated. • Minimum 20 feet to combustible material, building surface or building opening. • Temperature in the kettle must be kept below 4500 F at all times. • A minimum 20-B:C fire extinguisher must be kept within 30 feet.

28. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 27 Another Roofing Fire Hazard: Using Torches This operation utilizes an open flame – have sufficient pre- cautions been taken? Photo courtesy of NRCA, “Hot Times: An NRCA Review of Torch Safety Essentials”

29. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 28 Precautions for Use of Torches • Survey site for combustibles on or under deck. • Tanks should be no closer than 10 feet. • Check hose connections for leaks. • No combustibles or flammables nearby. • No heat directly on combustible substrate. • No flame near or into openings. • Adequate PPE for torch user. • Fire watch after torch application.

30. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 29 Case Study: What went wrong? Propane gas was being used to fuel a portable heater. The heater flamed out, allowing gas to gather in the bilge area of a construction barge. The accumulated gas exploded with great force, killing the worker.

31. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 30 Fire Protection & Prevention(1926.150 – .159) Common OSHA Citations: – .150(c)(1)(I): 2A fire extinguishers – Building Area – .152(a)(1): Storage of LP Containers – .153(j): Fire Protection Program/equipment – .150(a)(1): 10B Fire Extinguisher w/in 50 feet of combustible/flammable liquids – .150(c)(1)(vi): Approved containers for flammables/combustibles How can the hazards addressed by these Standards best be corrected, controlled, or eliminated?

32. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 31 Review Questions • True or False? • Smoke kills more people than the fire itself. • Fire is fuel, heat, and oxygen. • Flammable liquids of one gallon or less, must be stored in an approved safety can or original container. • Welding, grinding, and smoking can not be done within 50 feet of flammable and/or combustible liquids.

33. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 32 Review Questions • True or False? 5. Gasoline can be used to start scrap lumber fires. 6. Flammable liquids have a higher flash point than combustible liquids and therefore are more dangerous. 7. Flammable/combustible liquids should be transferred only when containers are grounded and/or bonded due to static electricity. 8. LP Gas tanks can be stored inside.

34. SUBPART Fire Protection and Prevention F 33 Review Questions • True or False? • 9. Employers are required to explain fire protection programs to workers. • 10. There are only 2 types of fire extinguishers usable in construction. • 11. OSHA requires at least one 2A rated extinguisher for each 3,000 square feet of building and one per floor. • 12. Workers should be within 100 feet of an extinguisher at all times.