Fire/Life Safety

General Fire/Life Safety

      Fire/life safety involves numerous safety issues including fire prevention, fire suppression, and
      emergency evacuation/response. Fire/life safety is everyone's responsibility.

              IMPORTANT:

    Learn how to prevent fires and respond to fires — what you learn will be
    invaluable.

      TAMU is committed to providing a safe environment for building occupants and emergency
      response personnel. TAMU uses nationally accepted codes as guidelines for inspections,
      testing, and procedures.

The Effects of a Fire

      Most fires produce an immense amount of smoke that is highly toxic. In fact, smoke is
      responsible for more fire fatalities than flames. A smokey fire can have the following effect
      on humans:

           Within 30 seconds _ Disorientatio
 
           Within 2 minutes _ Unconsciousness

 Within 3 minutes _ Death

      Timing is critical during a fire. To ensure your safety, you must know how to prevent and
      respond to any fire emergency.

Fire Prevention

      The greatest protection against property loss and injuries from fire is prevention. Follow
      these guidelines to promote fire/life safety:

• Minimize combustible storage.
• Store waste materials in suitable containers.
• Use flammable materials in well-ventilated areas. Use and store flammables away from ignition sources, such as cigarettes.
• Keep equipment in good working order. Have electrical wiring and appliances inspected regularly.
• Ensure that heating units are properly safeguarded.
• Do not hunt for gas leaks using a open flame. Use approved gas indicators.
• Report and repair all gas leaks immediately.
• Conduct hot work in well-ventilated areas.
• Test enclosed or confined spaces for flammable atmospheres.
• Use open flames carefully. Do not use open flames where flammable atmospheres may be present.

      For more information on fire/life safety, refer to other chapters in this manual, including
      Emergency Preparedness, Electrical Safety, Laboratory Safety, Chemical Safety, Confined
      Space, etc.

Fire Response

      If you see a fire or smoke, or if you smell smoke, complete the following steps:

            1. Pull the fire pull station to begin evacuating the building.

  2. If you are not in immediate danger, call 9-911 to report the fire. Provide the operator
      with the following information:

      •Building or area name
      •Approximate location of the fire
      •Size and type of fire
      •Your name

  3. If you are formally trained in fire fighting techniques and are not in immediate danger,
      you may attempt to fight the fire. Do not place yourself or others in unnecessary
      danger.

  4. Exit the building by following posted evacuation routes. Do not use elevators during
      an emergency.

      During actual emergencies, building occupants must receive permission from the UPD, the
      Fire Department, or the Environmental Health & Safety Department before re-entering the
      building.

             NOTE:

  Evacuation plans and fire drills are essential for building occupants to respond
  correctly to a fire alarm. Refer to the Emergency Preparedness chapter for more
  information.

Arson

      If you suspect arson, no matter how small the incident, contact the UPD or the
      Environmental Health & Safety Department. Do not alter the fire scene in any way, unless
      you are trying to extinguish a live fire. The UPD and Fire Department work together to
      investigate possible arson.

Combustible Storage

      By storing excess combustible materials improperly, employees not only increase the
      potential for having a fire, they increase the potential severity of a fire. To reduce the hazards
      associated with combustible storage, follow these guidelines:

• Eliminate excess combustible materials such as paper and cardboard.
• Do not store combustible materials in hallways, stairwells, or mechanical rooms.
• When stacking combustible materials, leave at least 18 inches between the top of the stack and the ceiling.

Portable LPG

      The Texas Railroad Commission regulates the sale and use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
      (LPG), including butane and propane. These regulations govern several types of
      LPG-powered equipment including the following:

• Forklifts
• Floor buffers
• Cooking and heating equipment
• Laboratory equipment

      Exhaust fumes may contain carbon monoxide which can present a health hazard. Exhaust
      can also create smoke which may activate a smoke detector. Take special precautions to
      ensure adequate ventilation when using these machines indoors.

      Because LPG is extremely flammable, it is a potential fire hazard. Do not store LPG near
      heat, flame, or other ignition sources. In addition, do not leave portable LPG containers
      larger than 16 oz. in a building overnight. Instead, place portable LPG containers and LPG
      equipment outside in a storage area that is at least 25 feet away from other buildings,
      combustible materials, roadways, railroads, pipelines, utility lines, and the property line. This
      storage area should prevent unauthorized entry and have a portable fire extinguisher within
      25 feet. Refer to the Agriculture Safety chapter of this manual for more information on LPG.

Emergency Access and Egress

      Emergency access and egress are critical during an emergency situation such as a fire. During
      a fire, timing and quick response are essential to save lives and property. Effective emergency
      access ensures that fire trucks can reach a building in time to extinguish the fire. Unobstructed
      emergency egress ensures that building occupants can exit a building to safety.

      These definitions help clarify the concept of emergency access and egress:
 

• Emergency Access:

          Pertinent facilities and equipment remain available and unobstructed at all times to ensure
          effective fire detection, evacuation, suppression, and response.
 

• Emergency Egress:

          A continuous and unobstructed way to travel from any point in a public building to a public
          way. A means of egress may include horizontal and vertical travel routes, including
          intervening rooms, doors, hallways, corridors, passageways, balconies, ramps, stairs,
          enclosures, lobbies, courts, and yards.

IMPORTANT:
Each location within a building must have a clear means of egress to the outside.

      The following sections offer safety guidelines and procedures for maintaining emergency
      access and egress.

Corridors, Stairways, and Exits

      An exit corridor and/or stairway is a pedestrian pathway that allows direct access to the
      outside of a building and/or allows access to a building entrance and subsequent pathways to
      the outside of a building (i.e., an exit corridor is the quickest, easiest, and most direct
      pathway for leaving a building.) Because exit corridors or passageways are the primary
      means of egress during an emergency, employees must follow the safety guidelines outlined in
      this section.

              IMPORTANT:

    There must be at least 44 inches clear width of unobstructed, clutter-free space in
    all corridors, stairways, and exits.

      Follow these guidelines to promote safe evacuation in corridors, stairways, and exits:

• Keep all means of egress clean, clutter-free, and unobstructed.
• Do not place hazardous materials or equipment in areas that are used for evacuation.
• Do not use corridors or stairways for storage or office/laboratory operations. Corridors may not be used as an extension of the office or laboratory.

Fire Lanes

      A fire lane is an area designated for emergency personnel only. It allows them to gain access
      to building and/or fire protection systems. Although most fire lanes on campus are clearly
      marked, not all fire lanes are easy to distinguish. TAMU has a program in place to clearly
      mark all fire lanes.

                IMPORTANT:
                Do not park in fire lanes or within 15 feet of fire hydrants and other fire
                equipment.

Fire Doors

      A fire door serves as a barrier to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke.
      Unless they are held open by the automatic systems, fire doors should remain closed at all
      times. Do not tamper with fire doors or block them with equipment, potted plants, furniture,
      etc.

      Fire doors are normally located in stairwells, corridors, and other areas required by Fire
      Code. The door, door frame, locking mechanism, and closure are rated between 20 minutes
      and three hours. A fire door rating indicates how long the door assembly can withstand heat
      and a water hose stream.

      Always keep fire doors closed. If it is necessary to keep a fire door open, have a special
      closure installed. This closure will connect the fire door to the building's fire alarm system,
      and will automatically close the door if the alarm system activates.

                IMPORTANT:

Know which doors are fire doors and keep them closed to protect building occupants and exit paths from fire and smoke. Never block a fire door with a non-approved closure device such as a door stop, block of wood, or potted plant. For fire doors with approved closure devices, make sure that nothing around the door can impede the closure.

      Never alter a fire door or assembly in any way. Simple alterations such as changing a lock or
      installing a window can lessen the fire rating of the door.

      Doors to offices, laboratories, and classrooms help act as smoke barriers regardless of their
      fire rating. Keep these doors closed whenever possible.

                REMEMBER:

A closed door is the best way to protect your path to safety from the spread of smoke and fire.

Fire Detection and Notification

      TAMU uses several types of fire detection and notification systems including heat detectors,
      smoke detectors, pull stations, and horns and lights. The following sections discuss these
      components.

Heat and Smoke Detectors

      Fire detectors at TAMU are linked to the University Emergency Reporting System. Once a
      building alarm system is activated, the Reporting System alerts the Emergency Operator who
      initiates emergency response.

      There are two types of fire detection devices used on the TAMU campus: heat detectors and
      smoke detectors. Please note the location of the detectors in your area and prevent damage
      and accidental activation.
 

• Heat Detectors:

          Heat detectors respond to the convected energy in hot smoke and fire gases (i.e., heat).
          Heat detectors are normally located in laboratories, mechanical rooms, storage areas, and
          areas that could produce high levels of dust, steam, or other airborne particles.
 

• Smoke Detectors:

          Smoke detectors respond to the solid and liquid aerosols produced by a fire (i.e., smoke).
          Since smoke detectors cannot distinguish between smoke particles and other particles
          such as steam, building occupants must be aware of detector locations and be considerate
          when working around them. Smoke detectors are normally found in exit corridors, office
          areas, assembly areas, and residence halls.

      If your work produces steam, dust, or an environment that could damage or activate a
      detector, protect the detector with some type of covering (e.g., plastic bag). Remember to
      remove the protective covering at the end of the day or as soon as your work is done.

Alarm Systems: Pull Stations

      Fire alarm manual pull stations are installed to manually activate a building's alarms in addition
      to the automatic fire sensing devices. When pulled manually, a pull station activates the fire
      alarm system and notifies University personnel that an emergency exists. Pull stations are
      located near exit stairways and/or building exits.

      If you smell smoke or if you see smoke or a fire, complete these steps:

      1. Pull a manual pull station to evacuate the area.

      2. If you are not in immediate danger, call 9-911.

      3. If you are trained in fire fighting and it is reasonably safe to do so, attempt to extinguish
          the fire.

Alarm Systems: Horns and Lights

      Emergency horns/bells and lights are located throughout University buildings with fire alarm
      systems. They are typically found near emergency pull stations. Do not block emergency
      horns or lights. Report damaged or defective horns and lights to the Environmental Health &
      Safety Department.

Fire Suppression

      TAMU uses various types of fire suppression equipment including portable fire extinguishers,
      sprinklers, halon systems, carbon dioxide systems, and fire hose/standpipe systems. The
      following sections discuss each type of fire suppression equipment.

Fire Extinguishers

      Fires are classified according to three basic categories. Each type of fire requires special
      treatment to control and extinguish it. Therefore, all fire extinguishers are clearly marked to
      indicate the fire classes for which they are designed.

      Fires are classified as indicated below. Refer to the table on the following page for additional
      information.
 

• Class A:

          Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, textiles, paper, rubber, cloth, and
          trash. The extinguishing agent for a Class A fire must be cool. Water and multi-purpose
          dry chemical fire extinguishers are ideal for use on these types of fires.
 

• Class B:

          Fires involving flammable or combustible liquids or gases such as solvents, gasoline, paint,
          lacquer, and oil. The extinguishing agent for  a Class B fire must remove oxygen or stop
          the chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide, multi-purpose dry chemical and halon fire
          extinguishers are ideal for use on these types of fires.
 

• Class C:

          Fires involving energized electrical equipment or appliances. The extinguishing agent for a
          Class C fire must be a nonconducting agent. Carbon dioxide, multi-purpose dry chemical,
          and halon fire extinguishers are ideal for use on these types of fires. Never use a water
          fire extinguisher on a Class C fire.

      There are numerous types of fire extinguishers; however, most extinguishers contain water,
      carbon dioxide, or dry chemicals. The Halon agent is no longer available for purchase. Halon
      has been determined to be an ozone-depleting agent. Halon fire extinguishers are safe to use,
      however, if used, the extinguisher will be replaced by a different type.

INSPECTION, TESTING, & RECHARGING

      The Environmental Health & Safety Department inspects and tests fire extinguishers regularly.
      The Environmental Health & Safety Department also recharges extinguishers. (Fire
      extinguishers must be recharged after every use.) To move a fire extinguisher to a new
      location or report a missing or damaged fire extinguisher, call the Environmental Health &
      Safety Department.

USING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

      Most fire extinguishers provide operating instructions on their label; however, the time to
      learn about fire extinguishers is not during a fire. The sooner you know how to use a fire
      extinguisher, the better prepared you are.

                NOTE:

      Portable fire extinguishers are located throughout all University facilities. They
      are mounted in readily accessible locations such as hallways, near exit doors,
      and areas containing fire hazards. Make sure that fire extinguishers are
      accessible and securely mounted.

      The Environmental Health & Safety Department provides fire extinguisher classes. When
      using a fire extinguisher to fight or control a fire, aim the spray at the base of the fire. Because
      most extinguishers only work for a short time, employ a sweeping motion and work quickly
      to control the fire.

                IMPORTANT:

      Do not attempt to fight a fire unless it is small and controllable. Use good
      judgment to determine your capability to fight a fire. When fighting a fire,
      always maintain an escape route. Never allow a fire to block your egress.

PORTABLE EXTINGUISHERS AND AUTOMOBILES

      All state-owned vehicles in excess of 20 horsepower must contain a 2-¹/₂ pound A-B-C
      class fire extinguisher.

Sprinkler Systems

      The purpose of water sprinkler systems is to help extinguish and minimize the spread of fires.
      Sprinklers are normally activated only by heat. They are not connected to emergency pull
      stations. To ensure that sprinklers are effective in the event of a fire, maintain at least 18
      inches of clearance between any equipment or storage items and the ceiling. (Anything close
      to the ceiling can defeat the sprinkler system.) Never hang anything from a sprinkler head.
      Arrange work areas to facilitate sprinklers and allow even water distribution.

Halon and Carbon Dioxide Systems

      Special work areas, such as computer rooms and chemical storage rooms, may contain
      specialized fire suppression systems. For example, many computer rooms contain halon
      systems and many chemical storage rooms contain carbon dioxide systems. Areas with
      special fire suppression systems will be clearly identified on the room door. People who
      work in these areas must do the following:

• Keep all room doors and windows closed.
• Know how the fire suppression system works (i.e., operation, abort switch, etc.).
• Do not tamper with ceiling tiles.

      If you have any questions about supplemental fire suppression systems, please contact the
      Environmental Health & Safety Department.

Fire Hoses and Standpipe Systems

      Fire hose cabinets are located in several buildings near the exit stairwells and in corridors.
      Employees who use a fire hose to extinguish a fire should have received training to ensure
      proper usage and safety.

Open Burning

      TAMU must comply with TNRCC regulations for open burning. Follow these steps before
      burning anything outside:

      1. Only natural ground cover may be burned. It is not acceptable to store items for burning at
          a later date. Open burning must only be used as a way to remove brush and other
          acceptable items if no alternate removal can be used.

      2. Smoke and flying debris may not cross or contact public thoroughfares.

      3.  Responsible persons must be present during the entire burn, be equipped with adequate
           fire fighting agents, and be able to quickly communicate with emergency response
           personnel.

      Please contact the Environmental Health & Safety Department for additional information on
      open burning and alternative methods of disposal and for obtaining permits.

Holiday Decorations

      Holiday decorations are often fire hazards. Follow these guidelines to improve fire safety
      during the holidays:

• Do not use live Christmas trees in University buildings unless they are treated with fire retardants. Use an artificial tree that is fire resistant.
• Do not place holiday decorations where they may block emergency egress (e.g., stairways, corridors, near doors, etc.)
• Only use decorations that are flame retardant.
• Practice good housekeeping by minimizing paper and other combustible decorations.
• Avoid using extension cords. If you must use an extension cord, use a heavy gauge cord and place it in plain view. Make sure the cord does not pose a tripping hazard.
• Use FM or UL labeled electrical decorations.
• Do not light candles or use other decorations with open flames.
• Turn off lights when the room is unoccupied.

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