CHAPTER 10 FIRE PROTECTION FOR OFFICES - CHECKLIST I. ELECTRICAL

CHAPTER 10

I. ELECTRICAL

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  lnstall wiring according to the electrical code adopted for your county and manufacturer’s literature.
  
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  Keep equipment clean, dry and cool.
  
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  Perform regularly scheduled and recorded maintenance of electrical equipment.
  
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  Turn off lights and electrical equipment during non-business hours.
  
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  Do not overload electrical outlets.
  
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  Restrict the use of portable heaters, hot plates, etc.., and monitor their use very carefully.
  
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  Post a list of precautions near the electric coffee makers, hot plates and portable electric heaters. These are leading causes of office fires.
  
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  Turn off equipment when not in use. One sign posted could prevent a costly loss.
  
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  Check electrical cords periodically and replace them at the first signs of wear.
  

II. ARSON

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  Provide automatic sprinkler protection.
  
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  Maintain a well trained emergency organization.
  
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  Provide adequate security (exterior and interior lighting, intrusion alarms, guard service, secured access openings).
  
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  Provide automatic smoke, heat and fire alarm systems.
  
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  Ensure that all sprinkler control valves are locked wide open with sturdy locks and chains.
  
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  Control visitor and employee access to travel within a property.
  

III. SPONTANEOUS IGNITION

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  Provide automatic sprinkler protection above and below suspended ceilings if roof or floor deck above is combustible or the space contains combustibles capable of sustaining fire spread.
  
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  When a drop-out suspended ceiling is installed below automatic sprinklers, the ceiling tiles should be FRMC approved and used only in the metal frame for which they are approved.
  
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  Upgrade electrical circuits to accommodate new office equipment.
  
  

IV. SMOKING

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  Provide automatic sprinkler protection.
  
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  Prohibit smoking inside the building, and post signs to that effect.
  
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  Where smoking is permitted, provide safe receptacles for disposal of smoking materials.
  
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  Require cleaning crews to empty ashtrays.
  
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  Educate personnel as to the potential hazards of careless disposal of smoking materials.
  
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  Strategically place portable fire extinguishers and train key personnel in their use.
  
  

V. EXPOSURE FIRE

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  Control smoke travel. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and fire resistive cutoff should be arranged to minimize smoke movement between floors and fire areas.
  
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  Provide a smoke-control system to keep non-fire areas free of smoke and remove smoke from the fire area to the outside.
  
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  Provide adequate clearance, circulation of air and, in some cases, insulation between combustible material and hot surfaces or heat sources.
  
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  Turn off lights and electrical equipment during non-business hours.
  
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  Emphasize operator training and the importance of turning off portable electric heating equipment, hot plates, etc.
  

CHAPTER 11

FIRE PROTECTION FOR OFFICES

I. WHAT CAN YOU DO?

First be aware of common causes of office fires. For starters, the office stage is often set with fuel for a hot, smoky fire in almost everything you see. Did you install computers and office equipment? What about wood furniture? Don’t forget carpeting, padding and plastic laminate, vinyl-fabric-covered furniture, foamed plastic padding, vinyl wall covering, wood paneling, fluids for copiers, and stacks of paper supplies. It all burns fast. Some melt. Some can self-ignite. Poor housekeeping adds more fuel: waste paper, cluttered file rooms, and storage in closets.

A profile of losses for properties insured by Allendale Insurance, Arkwright and Protection Mutual Insurance gives you an idea of what to evaluate for your loss prevention program.

Electricity and arson still top the list.

1991 to 1995
CAUSE			NO. OF LOSSES		AMOUNT OF LOSSES ($)
Electricity		84				34,947,000
Arson		47				11,563,000
Spontaneous Ignition		2				4,957,000
Smoking		17				3,490,000
Hot work		12				2,375,000
Hot surface		12				1,998,000
Overheating		6				1,878,000
Exposure		16				1,472,000
Other		14				2,316,000
Unknown		119				13,446,000
TOTAL		329				$78,442,000

Second, provide a written plan for eliminating hazards. Install automatic sprinkler protection. If you lease office space to renters, inform your leaseholders of your fire prevention policy and the type of fire protection system available. If you rent office space, you should be equally well informed about the program, emergency response and the location of the local fire department. Whether you lease or own the office, watch for the following problems and refer to the checklist at the end of this book for more guidelines.

Electrical defects, hot surfaces, overheating or heat sources, Piping or electrical heating equipment can start fires instantly when heat contacts combustibles. Offices today tend to use more extensive wiring than ever before due to increasing use of computers and lighting. Heightened awareness and periodic inspections are important. Do you practice a comprehensive electrical testing program?

Arson, Poor security enforcement and lack of automatic detection systems make it especially easy for an arsonist to strike quickly and disappear. Also, when a company downsizes, moves the office to a new location, reorganizes staff, recovers from civil unrest or the aftermath of a loss your business is more vulnerable to an arson attack.

Spontaneous Ignition, can occur while the office is being remodeled. Certain materials can self-ignite. For example, wood located near a furnace or flue will undergo several chemical changes and eventually self-ignite. Anything involving the use of paint, linseed oil, rags, burlap, fiber-board, sawdust or foam rubber, for example, could also self-ignite.

Smoking, curtailed by health laws, still is a threat. Cigarettes and matches continue to cause some of the worst fire losses. Providing marked smoking areas and posted rules for properly disposing of smoking materials is a good plan.

Hot Work Fires are completely preventable. Loss histories show that hot work fires result from cutting, grinding, brazing, welding, soldering, thawing pipe and torch-applied roofing or any operation producing open flames, heat or sparks. It is best to choose another method to get the job done. Lax precautions or paper-only policies do not work. A strictly followed permit system is essential. Stop any hot work job where proper procedures are not being followed. Do not assume contractors are following your policy for hot work. Require them to sign a contract agreeing to follow every step of your permit system. Make sure they are watched as they perform their jobs; escort them off the property if they flatly refuse to cooperate.

Exposure Fire and Non-thermal Damage. Heat radiating or flames spreading from an external fire in a nearby structure, yard storage, dumpster or dry vegetation can cause office fires or spread heat and smoke damage. Maintaining proper distance between the exposed office and the nearby exposure is ideal.

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