BALANCED FIRE PROTECTION

Mar 1, 2005 12:00 PM, BY PAT JAUGSTETTER

A balanced fire protection plan is effective only if its components are regularly inspected and maintained. Building owners should not believe that just because the proper fire equipment is installed and in place, that it will be in operable condition to fight fire. The reality is that maintenance is a critical component of effective fire protection.

Everything must be checked to ensure it is in proper working condition. Are the fire extinguishers pressurized? Is the standpipe fire hose station in proper condition, showing no signs of cracks or breaks? These are just two of the questions security managers must consider when creating a balanced fire protection plan.

To ensure quick response to any fire, security managers must be certain that a complete and balanced approach to fire protection exists in their building. Life-safety devices, including fire extinguishers, standpipe fire hose stations, smoke/fire alarms, exit signs and emergency lighting, and fire suppression systems must be in place and well-maintained.

Fire protection equipment requirements are legislated by city, state and federal laws — many of them adopted directly or adapted from model code-making organizations, such as the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Security personnel must comply with the fire codes in their geographic areas. However, considering the history of fires and the potential severity of future ones, they may want their balanced fire protection plan to exceed minimum requirements of local codes for added protection and safety. Security personnel should become advocates for their own safety by urging building owners to go above and beyond local requirements.

A balanced fire protection plan is the first line of defense against fire. Small fires in the beginning stage can be suppressed with portable fire extinguishers or water hose lines connected to building standpipes. Even if the occupants are unable to extinguish the fire, they are able to gain time and to protect the exit way in order to evacuate or defend in place while waiting for the fire department to respond.

When fires are extinguished in the early stages:

• Loss of life is minimal. Ninety-three percent of fire-related deaths occur once fire has progressed beyond early stages.

• Direct property damage is minimal. Ninety-five percent of all direct property damage occurs once the fire has progressed beyond the early stages.

A complete and balanced fire protection plan

NFPA statistics for 1999 indicate a fairly consistent level of fires throughout the late 1990s. Since there is no decrease in the number of structure fires, it is more important than ever to ensure that all systems are in place for a complete and balanced fire protection plan. Here are the basic components (See building diagram at top left):

• design and construction of building;

• portable fire extinguishers and standpipe fire protection stations;

• automatic fire/smoke alarms;

• automatic fire suppression systems;

• emergency lighting and EXIT signs; and

• training.

According to NFPA, a successful balanced fire protection plan should be designed so that life safety does not depend solely on any single component. Each safeguard must work with the others to protect lives and property. Additional fire protection methods can be added to the plan in case any of the basic components are ineffective due to human or mechanical failure. None of the components are meant to stand alone, but when linked together, this life-saving chain of survival provides complete fire protection. Here is an example of the steps:

• the fire department is called and everyone's safety is confirmed;

• a portable fire extinguisher/standpipe fire hose station is the first defense if the fire is small and contained;

• the smoke alarm sounds;

• the suppression system activates; and

• the fire department responds.

Online and video training; educational resources

The Internet is an excellent vehicle to access training resources on fire protection, and a good place to find industry groups that offer instructional materials on fire equipment products.

In the past couple of years, the Fire Equipment Manufacturers' Association (FEMA) has created a library of educational resources available to the public, which includes brochures, guides and diagrams, white papers, videos and CD presentations.

In addition, FEMA (www.femalifesafety.org) can provide access to two new education and training Web sites available to anyone looking for instructional education on portable fire extinguishers and standpipe fire hose stations. The first Web site, www.fireextinguisher.com, guides people who have never used a fire extinguisher. This interactive, hands-on site was created by Brooks Equipment, a member of FEMA, to give novice users more confidence.

The second site, www.rackhosetraining.com, was created by FEMA and teaches visitors how to operate a standpipe fire hose station properly. The site also explains when to fight a fire, reviews various types of stations and discusses maintenance procedures. Both sites ask visitors to complete a quiz at the endto earn a completion certificate. The certificate is helpful in fulfilling OSHA training requirements.

Also worth reviewing is a new FEMA video on CD-ROM called “Your First Defense When Disaster Strikes.” This 10-minute video is an educational overview of portable fire extinguishers, the codes and standards relating to fire extinguisher placement and usage, and testimonials on how fire extinguishers can save lives at large public gathering spaces.

Security professionals can help fight fires in the workplace

As many fires in the news have illustrated, a balanced, properly maintained fire protection plan is critical to life safety. Every component needs to work together to ensure a safe and healthy environment. Clearly, groups at all levels and industries need to be advocates for balanced fire protection.

Security directors and safety managers should consult with local fire authorities, NFPA (www.nfpa.org), as well as building, fire prevention and life safety codes for more information on a specific facility's requirements.

FOR THE RECORD

About the Author

Pat Jaugstetter is president of Fire Equipment Manufacturers' Association (FEMA)

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