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Fire Safety During 

Construction &             

Demolition

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Robert Beddia Joseph Graffagnino

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F1401.1 Scope. This chapter shall apply to structures in the course of construction, alteration, or demolition, including those in underground locations. Compliance with NFPA 241 (2004) is required for items not specifically addressed herein.

NFPA 1.3.4  A fire safety program shall be included in all construction, alteration, or demolition contracts, and the right of the owner to administer and enforce this program shall be established, even if the building is entirely under the jurisdiction of the contractor.

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F1408.1 Program superintendent. The owner shall designate a person to be the Fire Prevention Program Superintendent who shall be responsible for the fire prevention program and ensure that it is carried out through completion of the project. The fire prevention program superintendent shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter and other provisions as necessary to secure the intent of this chapter…

F1408.2 Prefire plans. The fire prevention program superintendent shall develop and maintain an approved prefire plan in cooperation with the fire chief. The fire chief and the code enforcement official shall be notified of changes affecting the utilization of information contained in such prefire plans.

Woe to the wicked; woe to his neighbor.Bamidbar Rabbah 17:5

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NFPA 8.6.2.1  Protection shall be provided to separate an occupied portion of the structure from a portion of the structure undergoing alteration, construction, or demolition operations when such operations are considered as having a higher level of hazard than the occupied portion of the building.

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NFPA 8.6.2.2  Walls shall have at least a 1‐hour fire resistance rating.

NFPA 8.6.2.3  Opening protectives shall have at least a 45‐minute fire protection rating.

NFPA 8.6.2.4* Nonrated walls and opening protectives shall be permitted when an approved automatic sprinkler system is installed.

A.8.6.2.4 Construction tarps would not be considered appropriate barriers or openingprotectives.

What are the hazards associated with construction and demolition?

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Fuel sources?

•Debris (F1404.2)•Combustible materials (NFPA 8.3)•Flammable liquids (F1405)•Flammable gases (F1406)

F1404.2 Waste disposal. Combustible debris shall not be accumulated within buildings. Combustible debris, rubbish and waste material shall be removed at the end of each shift of work. Combustible debris…shall not be disposed of by burning as unless approved.

F1404.4 Spontaneous ignition. Materials susceptible to spontaneous ignition, such as oily rags, shall be stored in a listed container.

Debris.

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NFPA 241 8.3.1 Temporary storage of equipment to be installed, combustible construction materials, or combustible packing materials shall not be permitted in unprotected structures under construction or alteration (Exception: Where authorized by the authority having jurisdiction).

Combustible materials.

Flammable and combustible liquids.

F1405.1 Storage of flammable and combustible liquids shall be in accordance with Section 3404.

F1405.2 Class I and II liquids. The storage, use and handling of flammable and combustible liquids at construction sites shall be in accordance with Section 3406.2. Ventilation shall be provided for operations involving the application of materials containing flammable solvents.

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Flammable gases.

F1406.1 Storage and handling. The storage, use and handling of flammable gases shall comply with Chapter 35.F3501.1 Scope. …Compressed gases shall also comply with Chapter 30…F 3001.1 Scope. …Cutting and welding gases shall also comply with Chapter 27…LP-gas shall also comply with Chapter 38 and the Fuel Gas Code of New York State.F1403.3 LP-gas heaters. Fuel supplies for liquified-petroleum gas-fired heaters shall comply with Chapter 38 and the Fuel Gas Code of New York State.

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Sources of ignition?•Hot work (F1404.6)•Temporary heating equipment (F1403)•Motorized equipment (F1416)•Open burning (F1404.3)•Spontaneous ignition (F1404.4)•Smoking (F1404.1)•Lighting (NFPA 6.1.3)•Arson (NFPA 7.2.5)

Hot work (F1404.6)

• Operations involving the use of cutting and welding shall be done in accordance with Chapter 26.

Pre-hot-work check (F2604.3.1)1.Hot work equipment to be used

shall be in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair.

2. Hot work site is clear of combustibles or combustibles are protected.

3.Exposed construction is of noncumbustible materials or, if combustible, then protected.

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4. Openings are protected.5. Floors are kept clean.6. No exposed combustibles… opposite side of partitions, walls…7. Fire watches, where required…8. Approved actions have been taken to prevent accidental activation…9. Fire extinguishers and fire hoses (where provided) are operable and available.

2604.3 Area Reviews. Before hot work is permitted and at least once per day while the permit is in effect, the area shall be inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing hot work operations to ensure that it is a fire safe area…

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Mother of all hot work (F1417)

2602.1 Definitions. Operations including cutting, welding, Thermitwelding, brazing, soldering, grinding, thermal spraying, thawing pipe, installation of torch-applied roof systems, or any other similar activity.

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Temporary heating (F1403)

F1403.5 Installation. Clearance to combustibles from temporary heating devices shall be maintained in accordance with the labeled equipment…

NFPA 241 5.2.2 Chimney or vent connectors, where required from direct-fired heaters, shall be maintained at least 18 in. from combustibles and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 211, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances.

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Motorized equipment (F1406)

F1416.1 Conditions of use. Internal‐combustion‐powered construction equipment shall be used in accordance with all of the following conditions:

1. Equipment shall be located so that exhausts do not discharge against combustible material.                2. Exhausts shall be piped to the outside of the building.                                                                             3. Equipment shall not be refueled while in operation.                                                                        4. Fuel for equipment shall be stored in an approved area outside of the building.

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Open burning (F1404.3)

Smoking (F1404.1)

Spontaneous combustion (F1404.4)

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Lighting (NFPA 6.1.3)

• 6.1.3.1 Temporary lights shall be equipped with guards to prevent accidental contact with the bulb…

•6.1.3.2 Temporary lighting fixtures, such as quartz, that operate at temperatures capable of igniting ordinary combustibles shall be fastened securely…

• 6.1.3.4 Temporary lights shall not be suspended by their cords unless such cords and lights have been designed for that purpose.

Arson (NFPA 7.2.5)

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Some Special Concerns:

F901.7 Systems out of service. Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the fire department and the code enforcement official shall be notifiedimmediately…

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F1408.7 Temporary covering of fire protection devices. Coverings placed on or over fire protection devices to protect them from damage during construction processes shall be immediately removed upon the completion of the construction processes in the room or area in which the devices are installed.

Egress

F1411.2 Maintenance. Required means of egress shall be maintained during construction and demolition, remodeling or alterations and additions to any building.

Exception: Approved temporary means of egress systems and facilities.

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Means of egress II

F1411.1 Stairways required. Where a building has been constructed to a height greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm) or four stories, or where an existing building exceeding 50 feet (15 240 mm) in height is altered, at least one temporary lighted stairway shall be provided unless one or more of the permanent stairways are erected as the construction progresses.

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Rapid Communication (NFPA 7.1)

Rapid Communication (NFPA 7.1)

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Temporary Enclosures

NFPA 241 4.3.1 Only noncombustible panels, flame-resistant tarpaulins, or approved materials of equivalent fire-retardant characteristics shall be used.

NFPA 241 4.3.3 Where used to enclose structures, forming equipment, and similar items, the enclosing material shall be fastened securely or guarded by construction so it cannot be blown by the wind against heaters or other sources of ignition.

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F1415.1 Where required. Structures under construction, alteration or demolition shall be provided with not less than one approved portable fire extinguisher…

1. At each stairway on all floor levels where combustible materials have accumulated.

2. In every storage and construction shed.3. Additional portable fire extinguishers shall 

be provided where special hazards exist…

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Fire Department Access.

F1410.1 Required access. Approved vehicle access for fire fighting shall be provided to all construction or demolition sites. Vehicle access shall be provided to within 100 feet (30 480 mm) of temporary or permanent fire department connections. Vehicle access shall be provided by either temporary or permanent roads, capable of supporting vehicle loading under all weather conditions. Vehicle access shall be maintained until permanent fire apparatus access roads are available.

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Water supply for fire protection.

F14121 When required. An approved water supply for fire protection, either temporary or permanent, shall be made available as soon as combustible material arrives on thesite.

NFPA 241 8.7.2.3 Where underground water mains and hydrants are to be provided, they shall be installed, completed, and in service prior to construction work.

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F501.3 Construction documents. Construction documents for proposed fire apparatus access, location of fire lanes, security gates across fire apparatus access and construction documents and hydraulic calculations for fire hydrant systems shall be submitted to the fire department for review and approval prior to construction.

NFPA 241 8.7.2.2 There shall be no delay in the installation of fire protection equipment.

F1413.1 Where required. Buildings four or more stories in height shall be provided with not less than one standpipe for use during construction. Such standpipes shall be installed when the progress of construction is not more than 40 feet (12 192 mm) in height above the lowest level of fire department access. Such standpipe shall be provided with fire department hose connections at accessible locations adjacent to usable stairs. Such standpipes shall be extended as construction progresses to within one floor of the highest point of construction having secured decking or flooring.

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F1413.2 Buildings being demolished. Where a building is being demolished and a standpipe is existing within such a building, such standpipe shall be maintained in an operable condition so as to be available for use by the fire department. Such standpipe shall be demolished with the building but shall not be demolished more than one floor below the floor being demolished.

NFPA 241 8.7.2.1 The standpipes shall be provided with conspicuously marked and readily accessible fire department connections on the outside of the building at the street level and shall have at least one standard hose outlet at each floor.

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NFPA 7.5.8.3 No material or construction shall interfere with access to hydrants, siamese

connections, or fire extinguishing equipment.

Bottom Line.

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NFPA 241 A.1.3.2 The unique and dangerous situations confronting firefighters during {construction and demolition} demand that a complete exchange of pertinent information be established and continued during the life of the project.