As with any occupancy, it is essential to implement standard property loss prevention programs in your warehouse facility. These programs include:

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1 Causes include ht wrk, smking, inapprpriate cntractr actins, and arsn. Cntributing factrs include pr husekeeping, impaired fire prtectin, and inadequate respnse t fires. Implementing lss preventin prgrams t cntrl fire causes and cntributing factr is essential in any warehuse setting. A Warehuse Fire Preventin prgram is actually a cllectin f prgrams that can be separated int three categries as shwn in the Warehuse Fire Preventin triangle in the figure t the right. This dcument will fcus upn the categry that addresses Lss Preventin. As with any ccupancy, it is essential t implement standard prperty lss preventin prgrams in yur warehuse facility. These prgrams include: Ht wrk permit prgram Smking cntrl prgram Fire prtectin impairment cntrl prgram Emergency respnse prgram Surveillance and security prgram Husekeeping prgram Cntractr cntrl prgram These prgrams prvide the cntrls needed t manage surces f ignitin, manage trash and debris that can be readily ignited, and secure the premises frm unauthrized intruders. They prvide additinal cntrls t limit and manage utages f fixed fire prtectin and supprt apprpriate respnse in the event f a fire emergency. 1

2 Cutting, welding and ther temprary ht wrk result in a significant number f majr fires each year. Zurich experience shws that the ccurrence f serius ht wrk fires cntinue t ccur each year. The impact f a ht wrk fire can grw expnentially in a strage ccupancy due t the cmbustible lading. While any ht wrk requires clse attentin, the largest and mst significant ht wrk fires are caused by utside cntractrs. It is essential t capture ht wrk cntrls in a cmprehensive ht wrk permit prgram and t apply the prgram t bth emplyees and utside cntractrs. Develping and implementing a written ht wrk permit prgram is an essential cmpnent f facility risk management. It shuld have the supprt f all levels f management. A prgram fr the cntrl f utside cntractrs shuld include measures that require permissin t bring ht wrk equipment nt the premises, and full cmpliance with the facility's prgram when ht wrk is t be perfrmed. Management shuld peridically verify that the ht wrk prgram is in use fr bth emplyees and utside cntractrs. As persnnel change, the prgram shuld be reviewed and updated. An imprtant element f a ht wrk permit prgram is the permit itself. Zurich can prvide ht wrk permits in supprt f the recmmended ht wrk prgram. Supplies may be btained free f charge. Cntact yur Zurich cnsultant t request a supply f permits. Anther imprtant element f a ht wrk permit prgram is a wrk area inspectin befre the permit is issues. Apprpriate cnditins shuld be in place with flammables and cmbustible materials remved r prtected, prtable fire extinguisher r fire hses prvided, and a fire watch psted during and at least 30 minutes fllwing the wrk. Given the amunt f cmbustibles in a warehuse ccupancy, it shuld g withut saying that a "N Smking" plicy r sme frm f smking cntrl prgram is essential. The best plicy is t eliminate and prhibit smking at the wrkplace; hwever, if this is nt feasible the fllwing guidance is ffered t assist in develping an effective plicy. Identify bth designated "Smking" and "N Smking" areas Lcate designated smking in areas detached frm the building when lcated utside r well separated frm cmbustible materials r classified electrical areas when lcated inside Smking material receptacles shuld be: Designed t prevent lit cigarettes frm falling r rlling away Made f nn-cmbustible material Limited t use with smking materials nly (n trash) Secured t avid being kncked ver Designated lcatin fr discarding receptacle cntents shuld als be cnsidered as there is the pssibility f ignitin frm the discarded smldering smking materials Other items t cnsider fr a successful prgram: Management cmmitment that includes "leading by example" Prgram structure that includes incentives r crrective actins New hire and annual training Keep in mind, particularly in the United States, laws can be a factr when determining where smking is r is nt permitted. Many US states have passed laws specifically identifying where smking is banned. When smking plicies are initially instituted, emplyees may be reluctant t cmply. This being the case, it takes management cmmitment t make these prgrams effective. 2

3 The Zurich Fire Prtectin Impairment Prgram is available fr use nline, by r by fax. Prgram materials can be dwnladed frm ur web site r printed material can be prvided. The prgram shuld be established in cnsultatin with yur lcal Zurich Cnsultant. A fire prtectin impairment ccurs when any fire prtectin system is taken ut f service. This includes sprinkler systems, undergrund water mains, fire pumps, fire pump suctin tanks, gravity tanks, detectin systems, and ther fire prtectin systems cmmnly fund in warehuses. Warehuses ffer a number f special challenges, including but nt limited t: Large number f fire prtectin systems Ptential fr significant dllar values under a single rf Variety f cmbustible ladings and high challenge strage arrangements Hrizntally cntiguus fire spread pprtunity due t large pen flr areas Temperature cntrlled spaces including freezers Ptential fr an impairment t multiple fire systems due t a water supply r fire main utage Fire prtectin systems in warehuse ccupancies have prven t be key cmpnents t mitigating lss nce a fire starts. Prperly managing the warehuse space, peratins, and any ther activities when a fire prtectin system is ut f service is essential as the pprtunity fr a fire t get ut f cntrl during this time, increases expnentially. Bth experience and cmmn sense tell us that actins taken during an emergency are mre effective if carefully planned in advance. This is particularly true with fire emergencies, where prmpt, effective actins can reduce prperty lsses. It is imprtant t understand that fire prtectin standards such as NFPA 13 "Standard fr the Installatin f Sprinkler Systems" nly expect sprinklers t cntrl r suppress a fire. In all cases, it is anticipated that final fire extinguishment will be achieved thrugh the manual human interventin f public r private fire service persnnel. It is als imprtant t understand that NFPA 13 nly requires a ne t 2.5 hur water supply duratins fr autmatic sprinkler systems prtecting strage ccupancies. Where fire system water supplies are prvided frm limited n-site supplies (tanks, cisterns, r reservirs), their limited duratin will establish the available time during which effective fire service interventin must be achieved. Fire emergencies in warehuses will be a challenge t any public r private fire service rganizatin. The cmbinatin f large flr areas, limited pints f access and high ceilings make these facilities much different frm the typical structures encuntered by the fire service. Add in the heavy cmbustible lading represented by the strage, uncertainty f fire system perfrmance, limited knwledge f fire lcatin, questins regarding building integrity, and ptential fr strage cllapse, and the fire service fficer-in-charge has many reasns nt t cmmit persnnel t an aggressive internal fire attack. Where fire service persnnel are nt trained, equipped, and prepared t perfrm final fire extinguishment activities, it is pssible that water supplies will eventually be exhausted and the warehuse will be lst even thugh sprinklers perfrmed as intended. Pht surce: FEMA NFPA 1620 "Recmmended Practice fr Pre- Incident Planning" prvides cmmn guidance fr fire service pre-incident planning in any ccupancy, and Chapter 20 "Warehuses 3

4 and Strage Occupancies" prvides specific guidance fr pre-incident planning fr warehuse. Hwever, it is imprtant t nte, that all guidance in this recmmended practice is general and must be carefully integrated with cmplete knwledge f lcal cnditins. Befre an emergency, practively engage the public fire service t familiarize them with yur site, buildings, strage arrangements, and fire prtectin systems. Be familiar with NFPA 1620 and the infrmatin that will be beneficial t the public fire service. Mst facilities n lnger maintain n-site fire brigades; hwever, that des nt mean that yur staff will nt play critical rles supprting the fire service during an emergency. When a fire alarm sunds, key persnnel such as the warehuse manager, facilities staff, and security persnnel shuld mbilized t assist the arriving fire service respnders. They can prvide access at nrmally clsed site gates, access t fire system facilities, access t buildings, infrmatin regarding the lcatin f the fire, status f fire systems, status f building evacuatin, status f utilities, and much mre. Yur staff will be a key asset t the fire service incident cmmander fr the duratin f the emergency. They must be rganized int an effective fire team even if they will nt be directly invlved with fighting the fire. A surveillance and security prgram will nt nly help prevent theft f prduct, but will help prevent against arsn. Arsn fires can be set by a disgruntled emplyee r set t cver a criminal activity. Regardless f the intent, it is imprtant that basics steps be implemented t reduce expsures t burglary, vandalism, r set fires. The fllwing is a list f measures t cnsider, which include bth passive and active prtectin: Passive prtectin Active prtectin Fencing arund buildings, with gate that are lcked during nn-wrking hurs Lcking drs, trailers, vehicles, etc. Lcking sprinkler cntrl valves in the pen psitin Security fficers statined at gates and cnducting runds during nn-perating hurs Burglar alarms, which may include dr cntacts, mtin detectin, nise detectin, etc. Visitr registry and mnitring prgram Badge access t mve frm ne area f the facility t anther Clsed circuit televisin Gd husekeeping can be easily verlked as an imprtant cmpnent f a cmprehensive warehuse fire preventin prgram. Pr husekeeping can cntribute t the magnitude f any fire. The fllwing are sme examples f hw inadequate husekeeping can add t a lss: When cmbustible materials are stred in an aisle, a fire can be allwed t spread frm rack t rack acrss an aisle. Aisle strage can slw emplyee evacuatin as well as emergency respnse. The design f an autmatic sprinkler systems is ften based n the separatin distance (aisle width) between racks. Withut the anticipated separatin, the sprinkler systems may nt prvide adequate prtectin. Inside: Splintered wd pallets, crrugated cardbard, plastic wrap, and similar debris can be readily be ignited by varius surces. As these materials are smaller in size, they can burn quickly and cntribute t a larger fire. Outside: Debris can accumulate n the grund at the dck dr. Vehicles, smking, 4

5 and electrical faults have be the surce f ignitin fr trash fire that then spread t trailers and the building. Many lsses in warehuses can be traced directly t human errr. Often times, the rt cause f the lss can be directly attributed t cntractrs perfrming wrk in an unfamiliar envirnment. D nt assume cntractrs are aware f the hazards arund them. Cntractrs shuld be clsely supervised when they are n site. Sme cmmn prcedures and precautins shuld include: Required rientatin prgram Sign-in and sign-ut Escrts t prvide mnitring at all times Enfrcing all ht wrk prcedures Enfrcing fire prtectin impairment prcedures Inspectin and apprval f wrk by n site persnnel Fire prtectin systems in warehuse ccupancies have prven t be key cmpnents t mitigating lss. Fr prtectin systems t be effective, they must perate efficiently, autmatically, and withut delay. A carefully managed maintenance prgram is the key t success. When cmpnents f the sprinkler system malfunctin, a fire can grw unchecked. The quick peratin f the fire prtectin system is critical t fire cntrl in the early stages (incipient) f grwth. Fires grw very rapidly with n fire prtectin in place. Weekly Mnthly Quarterly Semi-annual Annual Unsupervised/unlcked sprinkler cntrl valves shuld be inspected Water pressure at the risers shuld be checked and recrded Air pressure n the dry and preactin sprinkler systems shuld be checked Churn test shuld be cnducted n the bster/fire pump Fire extinguishers shuld be inspected Sprinkler cntrl valves shuld be visually inspected t ensure they are pen (lcked and/r supervised) Test all sprinkler system water flw alarms Test sprinkler waterflw alarms Test supervisry signals such as sprinkler cntrl valve tamper switches Test the actuatin system fr each gaseus extinguishing system Fire drs shuld be drp-tested All fire prtectin valves shuld be exercised Private fire hydrants shuld be checked t ensure they are in gd cnditin and drained Full flw test shuld be cnducted fr the fire/bster pump 5

6 An utside service shuld inspect the fire extinguishers Test smke detectrs, heat detectrs and manual pull statins Details f a cmplete prgram can be fund in NFPA 25 "Standard fr the Inspectin, Testing, and Maintenance f Water-Based Fire Prtectin Systems". The fundatin f the Zurich Cnsulting philsphy is preventin. N lss can be smaller than the lss that is prevented, and any lss allwed t ccur can grw int the wrst-case disaster. T avid the disruptin f a small fire r the cnsequences f a majr warehusing disaster, preventin is the key. A cmprehensive and management supprted lss preventin prgram can have a huge impact in maintaining a fire safe facility. 1. NFPA 13 Standard fr the Installatin f Sprinkler Systems. Natinal Fire Prtectin Assciatin, Quincy: NFPA, NFPA 25 Standard fr the Inspectin, Testing, and Maintenance f Water-Based Fire Prtectin Systems. Natinal Fire Prtectin Assciatin, Quincy: NFPA, NFPA 51B Standard fr Fire Preventin During Welding, Cutting, and Other Ht Wrk. Quincy: NFPA, Zurich Services Crprtatin, additinal Risktpics: 1. Warehuse fire preventin: Warehuse fire preventin - maintenance strategy: Warehuse fire preventin management f change:

7 Zurich Services Crpratin Risk Engineering 1400 American Lane, Schaumburg, Illinis The infrmatin in this publicatin was cmpiled by Zurich Services Crpratin frm surces believed t be reliable fr infrmatinal purpses nly. All sample plicies and prcedures herein shuld serve as a guideline, which yu can use t create yur wn plicies and prcedures. We trust that yu will custmize these samples t reflect yur wn peratins and believe that these samples may serve as a helpful platfrm fr this endeavr. Any and all infrmatin cntained herein is nt intended t cnstitute legal advice and accrdingly, yu shuld cnsult with yur wn attrneys when develping prgrams and plicies. We d nt guarantee the accuracy f this infrmatin r any results and further assume n liability in cnnectin with this publicatin and sample plicies and prcedures, including any infrmatin, methds r safety suggestins cntained herein. Mrever, Zurich Services Crpratin reminds yu that this cannt be assumed t cntain every acceptable safety and cmpliance prcedure r that additinal prcedures might nt be apprpriate under the circumstances The subject matter f this publicatin is nt tied t any specific insurance prduct nr will adpting these plicies and prcedures ensure cverage under any insurance plicy Zurich Services Crpratin