Fire Prevention, Evacuation, and Protection

Table of Contents
• Purpose
• General
• General Requirements
• Fire Identification, Notification, and Emergency Evacuation
• Fire Safety Inspections and Corrective Actions
• Notification and Evacuation Procedures
• Fire Drill Procedures
• Appendix 1: Fire Alarm Report
• References

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to outline a fire prevention, evacuation and protection plan
for the company. While this outline does not include all fire safety requirements subject
to company compliance, it does provide a convenient starting point for determining
whether the workplace is fire safe. Those interested in reviewing more complete code
requirements are encouraged to access the references noted above. These references
are available at the Environment, Safety and Health Office ________.

General

The major causes of fires on campus include improper disposal of smoking materials,
overloaded electrical outlets and extension cords, misuse of space heaters, mishandling
flammables, improper storage of combustibles, and unsupervised cooking operations.

General Requirements

Housekeeping.
All stairwells (in and under), exits, and passageways to and from exits shall be
kept free of all obstructions at all times. No furnishings, decorations, other
combustible objects or flammables shall obstruct exits, access thereto, egress
therefrom or visibility thereof.

Fire doors must be kept closed at all times unless they are held open by an
approved device interconnected to the fire alarm system.

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.

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 Material must not obstruct sprinkler heads or be piled around fire extinguishers,
fire alarm pull station locations, or sprinkler and standpipe control valves. To
obtain proper distribution of water, a minimum of 18 inches of clear space is
required below sprinkler deflectors.

Dispose of all trash as soon as possible in trash cans or dumpsters. Waste

materials must never be piled in corridors or stairwells while awaiting removal.
Electrical Wiring
Use of electrical devices to obtain more outlet capacity can result in overloaded
circuits and fire. Minimize the use of such devices and, when they must be used
for temporary purposes, the individual responsible for operating the equipment
should periodically check the device and outlet to ensure that overheating is not
occurring.

All electrical equipment and cords should be inspected periodically by

supervisors to ensure proper use and safe conditions. Be sure that all electrical
equipment is properly grounded. If any evidence is found of frayed, cracked or
otherwise damaged wiring or electrical outlets, the equipment affected should be
immediately taken out of service until repairs can be made.

Extension cords are to be used only when a flexible, temporary connection is

necessary; never for fixed wiring; never tacked, stapled, fastened to or run
through woodwork, ceilings or walls; never tied, or passed through doorways,
draped over pipes or other supports, never hidden under rugs. Where there is a
permanent need for an electrical outlet, one should be installed.
Electrical Appliances
Electric stoves, coffee makers, and all other appliances with exposed heating
elements should never be left unattended while in operation. They should be
unplugged after each use and stored only after they are cool enough to touch.
Ensure that such appliances are operated away from combustible materials such
as files, curtains, trash containers, etc.

Only portable electric stove complying with the design requirements of the
Environment, Safety and Health Office and approved by Facilities Operations
and Maintenance may be used at the company compound. Electric Stoves shall
not be placed under desks or in other enclosed areas.

Appliances shall bear the label of Underwriters Laboratory, Factory Mutual or

other recognized national testing agency, indicating they are approved for safe
operation.

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

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 evacuate the building. 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.

After activating the fire alarm, the person discovering the fire should immediately
call "911", from a safe location, and provide the emergency dispatcher with the
name and location of the building and information about the fire. The company
fire brigade will notify the Bureau of Fire Protection.

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. 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.

When the alarm sounds and you are in a room with a closed door, touch the door
lightly with the back of your hand. If the door is HOT, do NOT open it. Stuff
towels, sheets or other materials under the door to keep smoke out. Wet material
works well. Next, if a window is present open between 6 to 8 inches to allow
fresh air in. Keep close to the open window and drape clothing, sheet, towel, etc.
outside the window sill as a distress signal to the fire department.

If you are able to exit the building, make sure you turn off any ventilating
equipment, leave room lights on and close the door behind you as you leave.

Once outside, move a reasonable distance away from the building and remain
quiet and orderly until advised by the police or fire department officials to re-enter
the building. NEVER ATTEMPT TO RE-ENTER A BURNING BUILDING.

DO NOT USE ELEVATORS. Elevators do not provide safe means of exiting

during fire emergencies.
Evacuation of Individuals with Disabilities.
When the alarm sounds and you are unable to make your way down stairs,
obtain assistance from other individuals who are familiar with your disability.

If no one is able to assist you down the stairs, proceed to the stairwell or
designated area of refuge and inform other evacuees that you need immediate
rescue. Stairwells and designated areas of refuge are designed to provide
protection from smoke and fire; however, doors to these areas must be kept
closed in order to afford you this protection.

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 If you are unable to make your way to the stairwell or area of refuge, ask several
individuals to activate the fire alarm on your floor. This will alert the fire rescue
team by illuminating the light on the annunciator panel zoned for your floor and
will initiate a direct response to your floor. Also, ask individuals to inform rescuers
of your whereabouts.

While you are waiting, position yourself so that your face is as close to the floor
as possible. Smoke invades upper space first and most of the available oxygen is
near the floor. If smoke becomes too dense to breathe, place clothing or some
other heavy cloth over your nose and mouth to filter as much smoke as possible
until help arrives. Response time for first responders to fires is less than five
minutes.
Open Flames and Fireworks
Unapproved appliances which produce exposed elements or open flames such
as coleman stoves, fondue pots, candles, gas lanterns, hibachi grills, torches, oil
lamps and fire works are disallowed on campus unless approved for use by the
Environment, Safety and Health Office.

Fire Safety Inspections and Corrective Actions

Bureau of Fire Protection

All company buildings are inspected annually by the Bureau of Fire Protection for
the purpose of ensuring that such buildings comply with all applicable national
Fire Codes. All fire code deficiencies identified are subsequently noted in a
detailed report and forwarded to the Environment, Safety and Health Office to
coordinate corrective actions.
Environment, Safety and Health (ESH)
ESH performs periodic fire safety inspections of company facilities and assists
the Bureau of Fire Protection by conducting follow-up inspections to evaluate the
status of corrective actions.

ESH facilitates fire code corrections by assigning responsibility for specific

corrective actions to department heads and supervisors, where applicable. ESH
also coordinates the efforts of Physical Plant, Company Design and Budget and
Analysis in preparing appropriate capital budget requests and effecting required
capital corrections.
Company Departments
Each department is responsible for correcting code violations which are reported
to departmental personnel by ESH. Departments must forward corrective action
reports to ESH within the time frame specified in the notice of violation
correspondence.

Notification and Evacuation Procedures

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The Environment, Safety and Health Office will assist departments in developing
evacuation procedures and alternative emergency escape routes to be utilized by
building occupants in the event of a fire or other emergency requiring building
evacuation. This information should be posted in conspicuous locations throughout each
facility for easy reference by building occupants. The evacuation plan will be practiced
periodically during fire drills.

Fire Drill Procedures

Frequency of Drills.
Fire drills shall be conducted in accordance with the following frequencies:

• Residence Halls - a minimum of one (1) drill per semester.

• Florida State University School - a minimum of ten (10) drills per

academic year, of which two (2) must by accomplished during the first
month of each new academic year.

• Child Care Centers - a minimum of one (1) drill per month a given center
is operating.

• All other facilities having fire alarm systems - a minimum of one (1) fire
drill per calendar year.

A fire alarm that is activated due either to a planned event, an accident,

malfunction, malicious act or actual fire or smoke and results in the building being
evacuated is classified as a fire drill for the purpose of meeting the required
frequency.
Procedure for Planned Drills
All planned drills must be approved, in advance, by the Environment, Safety and
Health (ESH) Office. For those facilities where monthly drills are required,
specific drill procedures will be developed by ESH for implementation by those
departments housed in such facilities.

In every case where a planned drill is to be held, the local Police Department and
Bureau of Fire Protection must be notified, in advance, of the time and location of
the drill.

Following each planned drill, the person in charge of administering the drill must
complete a fire drill report form and forward it to ESH. A sample of the report is
included in Appendix 1 on the following page.

Appendix 1:

Fire Alarm Report

Company Fire Alarm Report

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This form is to be completed in triplicate by the building fire marshal and/or supervisor
immediately after each false alarm, fire drill, or fire. Forward all copies to Environmental
Safety & Health,____________________. Copies will then be returned to the
responsible parties with comments as pertinent.

1. Name and address of building:________________________________________

2. Date of alarm ____________________ Time of alarm _____________________
Time building evacuated ____________________________________________
3. Was alarm audible enough to alert occupants in all areas?__________
4. Did all occupants evacuate the building? _________
5. Were all windows closed? ___ Were all lights left on?____
Were all doors closed? _______
6. Did all Fire Safety staff members properly execute their duties? ____________
Shift Supervisor _________ Control Engineer_______
Checkers__________ Timers ______________
Security Guard ______________ Fire Marshals_________
7. Attitude of group.______________________________________
8. Did the company security respond to the alarm?__________
9. Did the Bureau of Fire Protection respond to the alarm? _____________
10. Fire alarm system was activated by/for:
Actual Fire/Smoke ________________________
Planned Fire Drill _______________________
False Fire Alarm _________________________
11. Trouble spots and other factors affecting alarm/evacuation.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
12. Recommendations for improvement. ______________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
13. Corrective actions initiated by staff.________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
14. Safety Office recommendations.___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Date _________________
Supervisor__________________________

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