Fire Safety

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FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY TRAININGGeneral Areas
Office of Environmental Health and Safety East
Carolina University
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Objectives

• General Information
• Emergency Evacuation Plans / Regulatory
  Requirements
• Notification Systems
• Emergency Exits and Fire Doors
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers

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Fire in the United States

• The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates
  in the industrialized world. For 1997, the U.S.
  fire death rate was 15.2 deaths per million
  population.
• Between 1993 and 1997, an average of 4,500
  Americans lost their lives and another 26,500
  were injured annually as the result of fire.
• Fire is the third leading cause of accidental
  death in the home at least 80 percent of all
  fire deaths occur in residences.
• Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at
  8.5 billion annually.

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Where Fires Occur

• There were 1,795,000 fires in the United States
  in 1997. Of these
• 40 were Outside Fires
• 31 were Structure Fires
• 22 were Vehicle Fires
• 7 were fires of other types
• Fires in the home most often start in the
• Kitchen 29
• Bedroom 13
• Living Room 7
• Chimney 5
• Laundry Area 4

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How Does a Fire Work?

• Three components
• Need all three components to start a fire
• Fire extinguishers remove one or more of the
  components
• Oxygen is required as a catalyst may come from
  the air OR from the fuel itself

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ECUS Policy On Fire is to

• EVACUATE
• Regardless of the internal policies that may
  have been in place previously, current University
  policy is to evacuate the area where a fire
  occurs regardless of the amount or cost of
  equipment that may be lost.
• DO NOT GO BACK INTO THE BUILDING FOR ANYTHING,
  NOT EVEN TO ATTEMPT A RESCUE.

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There Is A What Do I Do?
Fire

• Upon discovering a fire, immediately sound the
  building fire alarm and/or alert other occupants.
  Only properly trained emergency response
  personnel should assist with the evacuation of
  mobility-impaired individuals.
• From outside of the building dial 911.
• Provide your name, which building you are in, and
  the location of the fire.

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FIRE!

• When you evacuate, do not stop for personal
  belongings. Leave immediately using the nearest
  exit. Do not use the elevators.
• Evacuate to the designated meeting location for
  the building and out of the way of emergency
  personnel.

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Regulatory Requirement

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  (OSHA) requires emergency evacuation plans under
  29 CFR 1910.38

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Emergency Evacuation Plans

• Emergency Evacuation Plans for all departments
  must be updated annually.
• This plan must cover the approved primary and
  secondary meeting locations, the notification
  method, any unique procedures for that specific
  building, and designate a Safety Representative
  and Alternative Safety Representative.

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Emergency Evacuation Plan
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Training

• All faculty, staff, and students must be trained
  on emergency evacuation plans and participate in
  scheduled drills.

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Notification Methods
All campus buildings must have some sort of
notification system to warn occupants. This may
include one or more of the following

• Voice yell for help/fire/Code Red.
• Public Address system (PA)
• Alarm Pull Stations

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Alarm Systems
Many campus buildings have an alarm system of one
kind or the other. The clear protective covers on
pull handles do not activate the alarm, the
handle must actually be pulled. These pull
stations are typically located near the exits.
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Fire Alarm Panels
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RACE Method of Evacuation

• R Remove all persons in danger!
• A Always pull the alarm and call ECU Police
  Department.
• C Contain the fire by closing the windows and
  doors.
• E Extinguish the fire only if you are trained
  and confident.

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Means of Egress

• A continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel
  from a building or structure.

• Egress must be unobstructed and unlocked while
  the structure is occupied.
• Stairwells should remain clear also items
  should not be stored in these areas.

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Exits

• Exit access must be clearly indicated so building
  occupants know the direction of escape.
• Artificial illumination must have backup.

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Exits

• All exits must be clearly visible no mirrors,
  curtains, or other camouflage.
• All exits must be clearly illuminated with at
  least 5 candlepower.

• Doors which may be mistaken as exits must be
  clearly labeled as Not an Exit.

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Fire Doors

• Door stops, wedges and other unapproved hold-open
  devices are prohibited on fire doors
• Swinging fire doors shall close from the
  full-open position and shall latch automatically

NO!!!
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Building Evacuation

• Proceed to nearest exit in an orderly fashion.
• Assemble at least 100 feet from the building at
  your designated meeting location.

• Provide emergency crews with information about
  people still in the building.
• Never re-enter a building until instructed to by
  the police department, fire department, or EHS
  staff.

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Precautions Against Fire

• Clearance of not less than 36 inches shall be
  provide between all electrical service equipment
  (electrical panels) and storage.
• Multiplug adaptors, such as cube adaptors,
  unfused plug strips or any other device not
  complying with NFPA 70 are prohibited.

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Electrical Safety

• UL listed transient voltage surge protectors may
  be used when allowed.

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Electrical Safety

• Extension cords and flexible cords cannot be a
  substitute for permanent wiring.
• These cords cannot be nailed, stapled, run under
  carpet, wrapped around furniture, run across the
  ceiling, or attached to any surface by any other
  creative means.
• All cords should be in good
• condition.

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Open Flames

• Open flames are not allowed in ECU buildings.
• Candles and burning incense are not permitted.

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Portable Space Heaters

• Space heaters are prohibited from use in all
  State-owned buildings.

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Approved Safety Can
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Incipient Stage Fires
Fires in the initial or beginning stage and can
be controlled or extinguished by portable fire
extinguishers without the need for protective
clothing or breathing apparatus.
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Portable Fire Extinguisher Safety
You are not expected to be firefighters!
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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Locate and identify extinguishers so that they
  are readily accessible.
• Only approved extinguishers shall be used.
• Maintain extinguishers in a fully charged and
  operable condition.

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Classification of Fires Extinguishers
Class A Fires

• Wood
• Paper
• Rags
• Some rubber and plastic materials

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Classification of Fires Extinguishers
Class B Fires

• Gasoline
• Oil
• Grease
• Paint
• Flammable Gases
• Some rubber and plastic materials

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Classification of Fires Extinguishers
Class C Fires

• Electrical Fires
• Office Equipment
• Motors
• Switchgear
• Heaters

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Classification of Fires Extinguishers
Class D Fires

• Metals
• Magnesium
• Titanium
• Sodium
• Zirconium
• Potassium
• Lithium

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Multi-Class Ratings

• There are several types of multi-class
  extinguishers A-B, B-C, or A-B-C.
• Be sure the correct extinguisher is provided for
  the hazards.

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Different Kinds of Extinguishers

• The 4 most common fire extinguishers
• All Purpose Water
• Carbon Dioxide
• Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical
• Dry Powder
• Each kind of extinguisher has a specific use.

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All Purpose Water

• Use on CLASS A fires
• Pressurized water
• Pressure gauge present

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Carbon Dioxide

• Use on CLASS B and CLASS C fires
• Caution! Skin can freeze to the discharge horn
  during use.
• No pressure gauge

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Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical

• Use on CLASS A, CLASS B, and CLASS C fires
• Fine powder under pressure
• Pressure gauge present

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How to Use an Extinguisher
P A S S
P Pull the pin. A Aim extinguisher nozzle at
the base of the flame. S Squeeze trigger while
holding the extinguisher upright. S Sweep the
extinguisher from side to side, covering the area
with the extinguishing agent.
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Is It Ready To Use ?
Inspection, Maintenance and Testing

• Visually inspected monthly
• Maintained annually
• Hydrostatically tested periodically (5 or 12 yrs.)

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When NOT to Fight a Fire!

• Only fight a fire in the incipient stage
• Fire has spread beyond its point of origin
• Your instincts tell you GET OUT
• Remember to keep an exit to your back

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Partnership with GFR

• Pre-fire planning
• Campus building surveys
• Training / Education
• Authority having jurisdiction is the State Dept.
  of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal.

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Do You Know???

• Where is the nearest fire alarm station?
• Where is the nearest fire extinguisher?
• Where is the primary exit?
• Where is the secondary exit?
• Where is your emergency procedures manual?

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Questions and Comments

• Office of Environmental Health and Safety
  328-6166
• safety_at_mail.ecu.edu
• Office of Radiation and Biological Safety
  744-2236
• ECU Police 911
• East Campus
• ECU Police 744-2247 West Campus

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Quiz

• Please click on the link below to take you to the
  QUIZ.
• You must submit to quiz to receive credit for the
  training.
• You will be sent confirmation via email.