Means of Egress

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Means of Egress Fire Protection

• General Requirements
• Emergency Fire Prevention
• Plans
• Classification of Fires
• Fire Extinguishers
• Sprinkler Systems
• Advantages/Disadvantages of
• Fire Extinguisher Types

2

• Subpart E of OSHAs 1910 Standard Concerns Safe
• and Efficient Means of Leaving a Building or
  Facility
• in an Emergency
• Egress A place or means
• of going out.
• Subpart E contains
• definitions
• general requirements that are
• fundamental to safe and
• efficient egress from facilities
• detailed requirements to ensure
• qualitative/quantitative factors
• are covered

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Why is Important to Properly Mark Exits Know
The Way Out?
Although fire is the most obvious reason, there
are others
Toxic Vapors
Radiation Exposure
Natural Disasters
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Still more hazards include
Explosions
Smoke
Actions or threats by terrorist groups, mentally
ill persons, or political radicals
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Each hazard can be compounded by

• Panic and confusion
• Poor visibility
• Lack of information
• and/or
• Misinformation

These factors frequently cause more injuries
and fatalities than the hazard itself!!!
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Subpart E - Means of Egress
Derived from NFPA 101-1970, Life Safety Code
(NFPA - National Fire Protection Association) It
is written for general applicability
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The requirements in Subpart E are general and
do not deal specifically with specialized
facilities or out of the ordinary uses of the
facilities.
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Definitions (1910.35)
Means of Egress A continuous and
unobstructed way of exit travel from any point
in a building or structure to a public way and
consists of three separate and distinct parts
-- the way of exit access -- the exit
-- the way of exit discharge
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Definitions (1910.35)
A means of egress includes
- room spaces - doorways - hallways -
escalators - courts
- corridors - passageways - balconies - lobbies
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Means of EgressGeneral Requirements (1910.36)

• This subpart contains general fundamental
  requirements essential to providing a safe means
  of egress from fire and like emergencies.
• These are minimum requirements.
• They do not apply to exits from vehicles,
  vessels, or other mobile structures.

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Means of EgressGeneral Requirements (1910.36)

• Fundamental Requirements
• All buildings, new and old, intended for
  human occupancy shall have
• exits sufficient for prompt and convenient escape
  in an emergency
• exits of a certain design that do not depend
  solely on any single safeguard
• structures that do not cause danger to occupants
  during periods of escape

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Means of Egress

• Fundamental Requirements
• All buildings, new and old, shall have
• no locks or devices to prevent an exit in an
  emergency except in specialized facilities
  (mental, penal, or corrective institutions where
  attendants are on duty)
• clearly visible and understandable means to
  egress
• doorways and passageways that are clearly marked
  Not an Exit to prevent them from being mistaken
  for exits

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Means of Egress

• Fundamental Requirements
• All buildings, new and old, shall have
• adequate and reliable illumination for all exits
  in every building or structure equipped with
  artificial illumination
• fire alarm systems (when a fire may not provide
  adequate warning to occupants of a building)
• emergency provisions that shall not cause a
  hazard under normal occupancy (i.e., enough exits)

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During Construction Repair

• The occupants of the building shall be protected
• to the same extent as if construction or
  repair
• were complete.
• The activity shall not create any additional
  danger
• or handicap egress beyond normally
  permissible
• conditions of the
• building.

15
During Maintenance

• Every exit, way of approach to
• an exit, and way of travel from
• the exit in to the street or open
• space shall be free of all
• obstructions or impediments
• to full instant use.

• Every automatic sprinkler system, fire
  detection and alarm
• system, exit lighting, fire door, and other
  item or
• equipment shall be continuously in proper
  operating
• condition.

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Means of Egress, General (1910.37)
An exit shall consist only of the approved
components. Exit components shall be constructed
as an integral part of the building or shall be
permanently affixed thereto.
What does this mean? Do not
replace parts to exit doors, signs, lighting,
etc., with parts that did not come with them.

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Fire Resistance

• The measure of fire resistance is the
• fire resistance rating. This is the time
• in hours that materials or assemblies
• have withstood a fire.
• When an exit is protected by separation from
  other
• parts of the building, the separating
  construction shall
• meet the following requirements
• Three stories or more - 1 hour fire resistance
• Four or more stories - 2 hour fire resistance
• Openings must be protected by approved
  self-closing fire doors

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Means of Egress (1910.37)

• Rules to observe
• Level exits are limited to the use of no more
  than 100 persons inclined exits - 60 persons
• The capacity at an exit (means of egress) shall
  be sufficient for occupant load of a space served
• Occupant load is the maximum number of persons
  that may be in a space at any time
• Exits must be readily accessible at all times

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Means of Egress (1910.37)

• Rules to observe
• Access to an exit shall NOT be through a
  bathroom
• or other room subject to being locked (except
  where
• the exit serves only that room)
• Access to exits shall be clearly recognizable
• Exit doors shall not be disguised, covered,
  concealed
• or decorated in such a way to confuse their
  purpose
• Mirrors must not be placed on or near exit doors
• Exit routes shall never be toward a high hazard
• location, unless effectively shielded
• Minimum width of any way of exit access is 28
  inches

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Exterior Exit Routes

• Are permissible, under certain conditions
• May include flat roof tops, enclosed courtyards,
• balconies, etc.
• Have specific requirements
• Smooth, solid, level floors
• Guard rails on open sides above ground level
• Covered by roof if snow or ice could accumulate
• Permanent, reasonable straight route of travel
• No obstruction to use of exterior access route
• No dead ends longer than 20 feet

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Discharge from Exits

• Must discharge directly to the street, yard,
  court, or other open space leading to the street
• The discharge area (including the street) shall
  be large enough to accommodate all who leave the
  building from the exit
• Stairs and other exits shall be so arranged as to
  make clear the direction of exit to the street

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Means of Egress - A Wrap-up

• Must have a minimum ceiling height of 76
• Lights from the ceiling shall be at least 68
  from the floor
• If an exit is not level, stairs or ramps must be
  used
• Exit alarms installed to restrict the improper
  use of an
• exit shall not prevent the emergency use of
  the exit
• Furnishings decorations cannot obstruct an
  exit
• Every exit shall be marked by a clearly visible
  sign with the
• word EXIT in plainly legible letters at
  least 6 high (and
• 3/4 wide letters)

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Means of Egress - A Wrap-up

• Exit signs shall be illuminated either by an
  internal
• or external means by a reliable light
  source
• giving a value of not less than 5
  foot-candles
• on the illuminated source
• When the way to an exit is not readily apparent,
  
• signs or markings similar to exit signs
  shall be
• provided with the
• direction to the exit

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Emergency Fire Prevention Plans (1910.38)

• More than 10 employees - must be in writing
• Must include
• Escape procedures
• Escape route assignments
• Critical operations shutdown
• procedure
• Rescue medical duty
• assignments
• Means of reporting fires emergencies
• Identification of responsible persons for
  further info
• Procedure to account for all personnel

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Alarm System (1910.165)

• Established by employers to the
• requirements of OSHA 1910.165
• Alarm should be audible or seen by
• all people in the plant
• Should have auxiliary power supply
• Alarm sound be distinctive (recognizable
• as a signal to evacuate)
• Signals performance of emergency
• action operations

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Evacuation

• Types of evacuation must be
• in emergency action plan
• Employees must know their
• roles in each type of emergency
• Refuge/Safe areas should be determined and
  identified
• in the emergency action plan
• Exterior safe areas may include
• Parking lots
• Open Fields
• Streets
• Employees must clear area for emergency
  operations

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Emergency Training

• Employees must be trained before implementing
  emergency plans
• Training for each type of disaster response is
  necessary (so employees know what to do)
• Employer shall review emergency plan with each
  employee when
• the plan is developed
• employee responsibilities or actions change
• the plan is changed

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Personal Protection

• Essential to personnel exposed to
• hazardous substances
• Employees may be exposed to a wide
• variety of hazardous substances in
• an emergency
• Employees must be adequately protected
• in those situations (especially those
• assigned to get employees out and/or
• stay behind)

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Medical Assistance

• Employers are required to have
• -- personnel trained to render first aid
• -- eye wash stations (where employees
  are
• exposed to corrosive materials)
• -- the ready availability of medical
  personnel
• for advice and consultation on
  matters
• of employee health (health care
  does
• not need to be provided, but
  medical help
• must be available to resolve
  problems

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Fire Prevention Plan
Must include the following
elements 1 - List of all major work place
hazards (including proper handling and
storage procedures, potential ignition
sources,and type of fire equipment or systems
to control a fire involving them) 2 - Names or
job titles of equipment maintenance personnel
(and those responsible for ignition prevention or
control systems) 3 - Names or job titles of
those responsible for control of fuel source
hazards
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Fire Prevention Plan

• Plans must also include
• Housekeeping of flammable combustible waste
• materials and residues
• Employee review of the fire prevention plan
• Availability - by placing the plan in the
  workplace
• Employee training - to apprise them of the fire
  hazards
• of materials processes to which they are
  exposed
• Maintenance of equipment and systems that produce
• heat to prevent accidental ignition of
  combustible
• materials

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Fire Protection - Subpart L

• 1910.155 - Scope, Application Definitions
• 1910.156 - Fire Brigades
• 1910.157 - Portable Fire Extinguishers
• 1910.158 - Standpipe Hose Systems
• 1910.159 - Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• 1910.160 - Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General
• 1910.161-163 (Other types of fixed
  systems)
• 1910.164 - Fire Detection Systems
• 1910.165 - Employee Alarm Systems

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Fire Protection - Definitions
Class A Fire- A fire involving ordinary
combustible materials such as paper, wood,cloth,
and some rubber and plastic materials.
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Fire Protection - Definitions
Class B Fire - A fire involving flammable or
combustible liquids, flammable gases, greases and
similar materials, and some rubber and plastic
materials.
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Fire Protection - Definitions
Class C Fire - A fire involving
energized electrical equipment where safety to
the employee requires the use of
electrically nonconductive extinguishing media.
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Fire Protection - Definitions

• Class D Fire - A fire involving combustible
  metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
  sodium, lithium and potassium.
• Extinguisher rating - The numerical rating given
  to an extinguisher which indicates the
  extinguishing potential of the unit based on
  standardized tests developed by Underwriters
  Laboratories Inc.

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Fire Brigades - 1910.156

• Fire Fighting Equipment
• Shall be maintained and inspected at least
  annually
• Portable fire extinguishers and respirators shall
  be inspected at least monthly

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Portable Fire Extinguishers - 1910.157

• Employees are NOT required to use
• extinguishers
• If an employer has a
• total evacuation policy and a
• emergency action plan and a
• fire prevention plan which meets 1910.38
• AND
• does NOT have extinguishers in the
• workplace
• the employer is EXEMPT from 1910.157

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Portable Fire Extinguishers - 1910.157

• General Requirements
• Mount, locate and identify them
• for ready accessibility
• Use only approved extinguishers
• Do NOT use Carbon tetrachloride
• or chlorobromomethane
• extinguishing agents
• Maintain fully charged and operable
  extinguishers
• Keep extinguishers in their designated places at
  all times
• except during use
• Remove soldered - or riveted shell - inverted
  type extinguishers
• from service permanently

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Portable Fire Extinguishers - 1910.157

• Selection Distribution
• Select based on the classes of workplace fires
  and the
• size and degree of hazard
• Extinguishers shall be distributed so that the
  following
• maximum travel distances apply
• Class A .. 75 feet Class B
  .. 50 feet
• Class C .. Based on appropriate pattern
  for
• existing Class A
  or B hazards
• Class D .. 75 feet

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Portable Fire Extinguishers - 1910.157

• Training and Education
• Employees shall be educated in use of
  extinguishers
• and associated hazards upon initial
  employment
• and at least ANNUALLY thereafter
• Employees designated to use fire fighting
  equipment
• shall be trained

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Automatic Sprinkler Systems - 1910.159

• Complete coverage is necessary
• Equipment and devices must be approved
• Systems must be properly maintained
• A main drain flow test must be performed on each
  system annually
• The inspectors test valve shall be opened at
  least every two years to assure proper system
  operation
• New systems shall have proper acceptance tests
  conducted

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Automatic Sprinkler Systems - 1910.159

• Sprinkler system must provide at least 1
  automatic water supply for at least 30 minutes
• To prevent interference and provide for a maximum
  protection area, the vertical clearance between
  sprinklers and material below shall be at least
  18 inches

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Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General - 1910.160

• Systems using dry chemical, gaseous agents, water
  spray and foam are regulated by 1910.161 through
  1910.163
• Fixed systems must be designed and approved for
  use on the specific fire hazards they are
  expected to control
• If the system becomes inoperable, employer must
• Notify employees
• Take precautions to assure their safety (install
  temporary system, etc.)

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Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General - 1910.160

• Except where discharge is immediately
  recognizable, a distinctive alarm or signaling
  system shall be provided
• Safeguards must warn employees against entry into
  hazardous discharge atmospheric areas
• Hazard warning or caution signs shall be posted
  at the entrance to, and inside, areas protected
  by use of agents in hazardous concentrations
• Systems must be inspected annually by a
  knowledgeable person

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Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General - 1910.160

• Total Flooding Systems
• Emergency action plan for each area required
  where agent concentrations exceed maximum safe
  levels (as specified in 1910.162(b)(5) and
  (b)(6))
• Pre-discharge alarm needed for all systems
• Alarm must be seen above ambient light or noise
  levels
• Alarm must give employees time to safely exit
  from the discharge area prior to discharging

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Fixed Extinguishing Systems, General - 1910.160

• Total Flooding System
• Automatic system actuation shall be provided by
  an approved fire detection device interconnected
  with the pre-discharge employee alarm system

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Fire Detection Systems - 1910.164
- Only approved
devices/ equipment may
be used -
Shall be restored to normal operating
condition as soon as
possible after test - Must be maintained in an
operable condition except during repairs
or maintenance - Must be tested and adjusted as
often as needed to maintain proper
reliability and operating conditions - Servicing,
maintenance and testing must be done by a
trained person knowledgeable in the operations
and functions of the system - Protect
outdoor equipment from corrosion
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Fire Detection Systems - 1910.164
- Detection equipment must be located and/or
protected from mechanical or physical
impact - Systems shall be designed to operate in
time to control or extinguish a fire -
Must be designed and installed to provide a
warning for emergency action and safe
escape of employees - The number, location, and
spacing of fire detectors must be based
on design data obtained from -
Field experience - Tests - Surveys
- Mfg. Recommendations
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Employee Alarm Systems - 1910.165
- Shall - Provide warning for necessary
emergency action safe escape -
Shall be perceived above ambient
noise or light levels by all employees
in the affected workplace areas - Must be
distinctive recognizable as a signal to
evacuate - Employer shall explain to each
employee the preferred means of reporting
emergencies (manual pull boxes, public
address system, radio, telephone, etc.) - All
devices must be approved
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Employee Alarm Systems - 1910.165
- All employee alarm systems must be
restored to normal operating condition as
promptly as possible after test or alarm -
Shall be maintained in operating condition
(except when undergoing repair/maintenance) -
Shall be tested for reliability/adequacy every 2
months (for non-supervised alarm systems) -
Supervised employee alarm systems must be test
annually for reliability and adequacy -
Servicing, maintenance and testing must be done
by trained persons
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HOUR 3 QUIZ .
4. Exterior safe areas include all of the 1.
A means of egress is defined as a
following, except continuous and
unobstructed way of exit
a. Parking lots travel from a specific point
in a building b. Open
Fields or structure to a public way and consists
of c Alley ways three
separate and distinct parts.
d Streets
True_______ False_________

5. A fire involving energized
electrical 2. Exterior exit routes have specific
equipment is
classified as a requirements. These are
a.
Class A fire a. No dead ends longer then 10
feet b Class B
fire b. Open, irregardless of the weather
c Class C fire c.
Smooth, solid, level floors
d Class D fire d.
Guard rails on all sides above ground
level. 3. Emergency and fire prevention
plans must be in writing if an employer has more
than 10 employees. True________
False__________

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Hour 3 Quiz - Answers

• 1. False. Means of egress must be from any
  point in a building or structure - not a specific
  point.
• 2. C.
• 3. True.
• 4. C.
• 5. C.