Fires can happen anywhere and at any time. They usually happen without warning and, without the proper fire protection plan in place, they can grow and build without anyone knowing until it is too late. And for this reason, OSHA created Standard 1910.155.

Standard 1910.155 sets the guidelines for fire protection equipment, including setting basic requirements for what equipment and prevention methods are required to be available. It explains what is required of some of the most commonly used fire prevention and detection equipment. This equipment includes: fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, employee alarms, and smoke detectors. The standard goes into specific details for many of these items, including how to properly maintain them with a rigorous auditing schedule and how to properly label them. This equipment is very important for fire prevention and suppression, and usually is the most important equipment to ensure a safe and healthy evacuation after an incident; it is also very important for business continuity.

The standard also explains what must be done in the event of a fire. Much of this standard, at lease in reference to the steps which must be followed in the event of an actual fire, overlaps with Standard 1910.36 which covers evacuation plans. If your evacuation plan is not included with your fire protection plans, you should revisit your plans to ensure they are up to code.

If you have any questions about fire protection plans, please contact us so that we can help you through your issues. And if you have anything to add about fire protection plans, please leave a comment.

Fire poses a threat to companies in all industries. If not properly contained, they can severely injure or kill employees, and can bring business to a screeching halt. Fortunately, there are many things a safety team can do to greatly reduce the risk of a widespread fire in a place of business. OSHA Standard 1910.155 states the guidelines which any safety team should follow in relation to fire protection and prevention. Following these guidelines will reduce the chances of a fire, help prevent the spread of a fire in potentially dangerous situations, and will put into place procedures to protect employees should a fire grow beyond easily suppressible levels.

First and foremost, it is important to have federally approved fire protection equipment in place. Approved equipment is equipment which has been tested by a third party and deemed to be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association Fire Code, or must be custom made and have test data available to inspectors.

This standard also discusses the basic requirements for some of the most common, and most important, preventative equipment which is necessary in any workplace. This include things like sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and employee alarms. It discusses in detail the various sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers which a company might utilize, and how to properly audit and label them.

Finally, this standard discusses what must be done in the event of a fire. This includes what systems must be available, what escape mechanisms must be in place, and also ties in with all applicable evacuation plan requirements.

If you have not recently reviewed your fire protection plans, or are afraid your plan is not up to code, please contact us so that we can help. And if you have anything to add about fire protection, please leave a comment.

In today’s world of chemicals, flammable and combustible liquids pose a grave fire risk that threatens workers safety and the workplace. Because flammable and combustible liquids have become ubiquitous in the workplace and their potential hazard is so high, understanding those liquids is essential in the prevention and control of their hazards.

OSHA 29CFR1910.106 applies to the handling, storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids. The basis of the standard is NFPA publication 30. OSHA, a division of the Department of Labor (DOL), considered NFPA as a primary source for best practices as it relates to flammable and combustible liquids.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a report, February 2012, entitled “The total cost of fire in the united states” where they reported that the U.S. spent an estimated $331 billion on fire in 2009. In a previous report NFPA estimated 1,400 fires occurred annually between 2002 and 2005 where flammable liquids were the major contributor for the fire.

In order to understand flammable and combustible liquids, it’s important to understand the terminology used to define them and their potential hazards. It’s also important to understand that the flammable and combustible liquids themselves do not burn. It’s their vapor mixed with air, within a specific range, that burns. Since the flash point determines the liquids ability to generate vapor, flash point became the basis for classification and identification of flammable and combustible liquids.

The flash point characterizes the fire hazards of liquids. The lower the flash point the lower the temperature at which the liquid gives off vapor and the more flammable the liquid is. For example, the flash point for gasoline is –45 deg. F, which means that the liquid gives off vapor at room temperature and much lower and therefore it’s highly flammable.

Flash point is defined as the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapor that can form an ignitable mixture with air. At its flash point temperature, the liquid vapor flashes when lit in an open container. Flash point shouldn’t be mixed up with fire point, which is normally 5 to 10 degrees higher than the flash point. At its fire point temperature, the liquid vapor sustains fire when lit in an open container.

OSHA defines flammable liquid as any liquid having a flash point below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (deg. F). Flammable liquids are known as Class I liquids and divided into three sub-classes; class IA, class IB and class IC depending on their flash point temperature.

Combustible liquids are defined as any liquid having a flash point at or above 100 deg. F and divided into two classes; Class II and class III. In turn, class III is divided into two sub-classes; class IIIA and class IIIB liquids depending on their flash point temperature.

Too much vapor to air will make the mixture too rich and too little vapor to air will make the mixture too lean to burn. It’s the proper mixture of vapor to air ratio that gives rise to the fire risk. The flammable range is the limit between the minimum concentration and the maximum concentration of flammable vapor in air, in which a flash will occur in the liquid if ignited. Those limits are referred to as the lower and upper flammable limits (LFL or UFL). The vapor mixture below its LFL or above its UFL will not burn.

Because of their high potential for fire hazards, flammable and combustible liquids should be handled, used and stored with great caution. Metal containers and portable tanks used for flammable liquids should be made of proper material and should be properly vented. In most instances, grounding of containers while filling tanks is a must to avoid accidental static charge sparks. Storing of flammable liquids should be done in accordance with the OSHA standard. Suitable fire control devices, hoses of fire extinguishers, should be available at locations where flammable or combustible liquids are stored.

Complying with OSHA 1910.106 is a good way to ensure safety and prevent accidental fires.

Fires are one of the greatest threats a company can face. A fire puts ever member of the staff in danger, can severely damage or destroy equipment, and can bring a company to a screeching halt. It is for this reason that OSHA Standard 1910.155 is so important for any business to review and follow. This standard covers fire protection, with regulations to help prevent fires as well as help suppress or contain them, should the need arise.

Fire prevention is obviously key to any fire protection strategy. If you can stop a fire from ever happening, that is a true safety win. The best way to do this is to make sure all of your equipment and machinery are properly maintained and all safety devices are working properly.

And while prevention is the goal of every business, equally important is preparing for a fire emergency. Early detection and elimination can save lives, machinery, and keep a business running smoothly. Simple things like fire detectors and sprinklers can help suppress a fire, while properly working fire extinguishers can put a fire out before it has the chance to spread. It is also important to ensure your fire protection equipment is regularly checked to ensure it is functioning properly. This is best accomplished by an annual audit, which will test each piece of equipment, and ensure that your plan is still efficient, regardless of the changes you make to your business year over year.

If you have any questions about your fire protection plan and implementation, please contact us so that we can help ensure you are safe and up to code. And if you have anything to add about fire protection and prevention, please leave a comment.