Date Issued: August Revision: 1.0

Transcription

1 1 1. Introduction A is implemented to ensure the fire safety of building occupants or a building area when the automatic fire protection system has been temporarily disabled. This Environmental Health & Safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing a fire watch was developed by the Department of Environmental Health & Safety in accordance with the University s Policy Statement on Health and Safety and to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Ontario Building and Fire Codes. Assistance in using this guidelines and meeting the requirements of applicable codes is available from the Department of Environmental Health & Safety. 2. Scope This SOP outlines the requirements of a in Queen s University buildings where there is a temporary impairment of the Fire Alarm System or Fire Suppression System. For the purpose of this document a Fire Protection System shall mean a Fire Alarm System or Fire Suppression System. 3. Applicable Legislation Ontario Fire Code NFPA 101, Life Safety Code 4. Requirements to Implement a The Ontario Fire Code requires that buildings equipped with fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems be fully operational at all times. Therefore, in the event any of these systems are offline for any reason, a is to be initiated immediately. A is only intended as a short term alternative that permits continued occupancy of the building while corrective measures are being implemented. If a cannot be implemented, the building may not be occupied.

2 2 5. Notification to Building Occupants When Fire Protection System maintenance is scheduled, building occupants are to be notified in writing: The nature and duration of the outage; That a will be in place; Emergency procedures during the outage. Signage shall be posted at all entrances and in common areas of the building indicating which Fire Protection system is out of order and emergency procedures. (see sample Signage) 6. Notification to Kingston Fire and Rescue If a fire protection system will be offline for less than 24 hours, Queen s Security and Emergency Services shall contact Kingston Fire & Rescue to advise what fire protection system is off-line and that a has been implemented in the building. If a fire protection system is to be offline for more than 24 hours, Queen s Environmental Health and Safety shall provide written notification to Kingston Fire and Rescue. Queen s Security and Emergency Services shall notify Kingston Fire and Rescue of the status daily. 7. Hot Works Hot works such as welding or cutting shall be prohibited in the area where the sprinkler protection is impaired. If hot work cannot be avoided in areas where the sprinkler system is impaired, alternate precautions as approved by the Department of Environmental Health & Safety shall be implemented.

3 3 8. Personnel A may be performed by Queen s Security and Emergency Services staff, responsible occupant, employee, or contractor. At least one (1) qualified person shall be employed to complete fire watch duties in all unprotected portions of the building. personnel are to be familiar with the building and procedures for sounding an alarm and alerting the fire service in the event of a fire. If the fire sprinkler system is out of service, the Personnel are to have fire extinguishing equipment readily available and be trained in its use. If the fire alarm system is still capable of sounding an alarm, personnel shall be instructed how to activate the alarm signal. inspections shall be the primary duty of the individual responsible for the Fire Watch. Each person assigned to duties should be provided with the following equipment: Suitable means of communication (cell phone, portable radio, etc.) for notifying Kingston Fire and Rescue A portable air horn, whistle or other approved means of sounding an alarm Flashlight Copy of Duties Copy of the Log Sheet Keys and/or access codes to provide entry to all rooms/spaces Floor plan(s) of the building under

4 4 9. Procedures The must be continuous until the fire protection system is repaired and online. personnel must tour all unprotected portions of the building each hour. Upon the completion of each inspection, the person conducting the shall record the time each round was completed and sign or initial each entry. personnel are to actively look for evidence of smoke and fire and listen for inroom smoke detectors sounding. In locations where construction or maintenance activities are occurring, exit doors, access to exits and corridors are to be checked periodically for proper operation and obstructions. 10. If Fire or Smoke Conditions are Discovered: Do not attempt to extinguish the fire unless it is safe to do so. Leave the fire area immediately and close doors Alert building occupants by activating the fire alarm or sounding a series of 3 long blasts of a portable air horn or whistle and yelling Fire Fire Fire or activate the fire alarm system if it is capable of sounding an alarm. From a safe location: o Notify the Emergency Reporting Centre via radio; or o Call 911 and Campus Security & Emergency Services ( ) Assist persons requiring assistance. Evacuate the building via the nearest safe exit DO NOT use the elevator. Await the arrival of the Fire Department and Campus Security and Emergency Services. No one shall re-enter the building until the ALL CLEAR has been given by the Fire Department as communicated by the Campus Security and Emergency Services Supervisor.

5 5 11. Unoccupied Buildings In a building that is unoccupied, where a fire protection system is offline, a fire watch is required unless approved by the Department of Environmental Health & Safety. 12. Cancellation of a Cancelling the is based on an assessment by a Qualified Fire Protection System Technician; that the fire protection system(s) is fully operational. Queen s Security and Emergency Services shall notify Kingston Fire & Rescue and Fire Monitoring Canada when the Fire Protection system(s) is fully operational. Revision History : Initial Release

6 WARNING FIRE ALARM SYSTEM OUT OF SERVICE IN CASE OF FIRE CALL 911 or x36111 A FIRE WATCH IS PATROLLING THE AFFECTED AREAS OF THIS BUILDING IF YOU HEAR 3 BLASTS OF AN AIR HORN OR WHISTLE EVACUATE THE BUILDING FOLLOW POSTED EMERGENCY PROCEEDURES

7 FIRE WATCH LOG SHEET Name or Address of Building: Area of Building Under : Date Time er Signature Comments / Observations All areas of the building under must be inspected and documented hourly. This Log is to be maintained at the facility until the re-establishment of fire protection system; at which time this sheet is to be submitted Queen s Environmental Health and Safety. (613)