Construction Fire Safety in British Columbia Presenters: Katarina - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Construction Fire Safety in British Columbia

CFT Engineering Inc.

Presenters: Katarina Burgess, P.Eng., CP John Bolduc, BASc, EIT Brad Walton, AScT

Background and Purpose

Background: CFT Engineering Inc. was contracted by Forestry Innovations Investments to prepare a report on construction fire safety in British Columbia. For this project CFT Engineering collaborated with members of the Building Safety Standards Branch, WorkSafe BC and the Wood Enterprise Coalition

Background and Purpose

Purpose: To review current legislation regulating construction fire safety and current industry practice, and to provide recommendations for potential changes to legislation and enforcement practices governing construction fire safety in British Columbia

Background and Purpose

Context: The report was published prior to the adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code and the 2012 BC Building Code.

Outline for this Presentation

 Introduction  Levels of Risk during Construction  Key Legislative Requirements (2006 BCFC & BCBC)  Enforcement  Alberta Perspective  IBC and NFPA Perspective  Reported Fires (2005-2011)  Findings from Site Investigations  Fire Department Response to Construction Fires  Conclusions from Report  Recommendations from Report  Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code (Time permitting)

What Makes Construction Fire Safety Risk Unique?

 Incomplete fire separations (passive protection)  Lack of functional/commissioned fire suppression and

detection systems (active protection)

 Inadequate water supply for manual firefighting  Fire Department response effectiveness  Increased risk of incendiary fires due to periods where

the site is unoccupied, and the incompleteness of security devices

 Hazardous operations that take place at construction

sites (e.g. hot works)

Levels of Risk during Construction

 Phased Occupancy:

There is a greater risk when buildings under

construction are partially occupied

BC Fire Code requires a 1 hr separation BC Fire Code requires alarms or watched

tours

 Water Supply

The water supply needed to fight fires in

buildings under construction is often greater than what is needed for completed buildings

Risk Level for Construction Phases

2006 Legislative Requirements

 Objectives: To provide a framework for reducing

• r eliminating identifiable risks to fire and life

safety

 BC Fire Code contains the majority of legislative

requirements for construction fire safety

 BCBC addresses the issue through the

requirement in Part 8 of the BC Building Code to conform with the BC Fire Code

 BC Occupational Health and Safety Standard

contains some supplementary requirements

2006 Legislative Requirements

 Fire Safety Plan

 Required by the

2006 BC Fire Code

 Checklists have

been developed by the Office of the Fire Commissioner and municipalities including the Surrey Fire Service

2006 Legislative Requirements

 Active System (e.g. detection and fire

suppression systems)

 BC Fire Code requires that a system is provided to

alert site personnel of a fire. Air horns are typically provided.

 Does not require a fixed automatic detection system

 Passive System (e.g. fire separations)

 BC Fire Code requires that one usable exit be

maintained

 BC Fire Code requires a 1 hour separation between

• ccupied areas and areas under construction.

2006 Legislative Requirements



Manual Suppression Systems



BC Fire Code requires that extinguishers be provided in specific areas



The BC Fire Code requires standpipe systems be installed progressively



Limiting Combustible Materials



Combustible refuse in sufficient quantities to constitute a fire hazard is required to be moved to a safe location



Barricades



BCBC requires perimeter barricades



BC Fire Code requires fencing for outdoor storage



See Appendix A note

2006 Legislative Requirements

 Hot Works

 BC Fire Code requires that hot works be monitored with

a fire watch during hot work and after completion

 Smoking

 BC Fire Code limits smoking to permitted areas.

 Heating Equipment

 The BC Fire Code requires clearances between

combustible materials and temporary heating equipment to conform with Part 6 of the BC Building Code or minimum clearances shown on certified heating equipment.

Enforcement of Legislative Requirements

 The Authority Having Jurisdiction (Fire and

Building Authority) is responsible for auditing construction fire safety plans and practices

 Ultimate responsibility lies with the owner, who

typically delegates the implementation of safety practices to the general contractor

 Many municipalities now require the submission

• f a construction fire safety plan before

construction commences

Construction Fire Safety in Alberta

 The 2006 Alberta Fire Code has additional or

more detailed “unique to Alberta” requirements. Key requirements that differ from the BC Fire Code are as follows:

 Requirements for adjacent buildings or facilities to be

protected from buildings under construction.

 Additional requirements for access for firefighting.

This is also a requirement of the BCBC, but the wording in the Alberta Fire Code is more specific.

 Extensive additional requirements for the progressive

installation of standpipe systems

Construction Fire Safety in Alberta

 Alberta Standatas have been developed

to address:

Fire Department access Water supply Standardization of requirements for

construction fire safety

Construction Fire Safety in the United States

 2012 International Building Code requires:

 At least one lit stairway be provided where a building

is at least 50 ft. or four storeys

 A specific requirement for standpipe installation  An acceptable water supply be provided as soon as

combustible material is on site

 NFPA 241, “Standard for Safeguarding

Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations” has additional information for construction fire safety

Construction Fire Data

 CFT Engineering Inc. obtained information

from the Office of the Fire Commissioner regarding reported construction fires from 2005 to 2009 in BC

 Reports are now also available for 2010

and 2011

Construction Fire Data

 Reported Fires on Construction/Demolition Sites

between 2005 and 2009:

 275 were reported  Resulted in 10 injuries and one fatality  Resulted in equipment and property loss valued at

• ver $53 million

 Additional fires during 2010 and 2011:

 94 additional fires reported (369 total)  One additional injury and one additional fatality  Equipment and property loss valued at over $65

million ($118 million total)

Total Reported Cost of Construction Fires

$0 $50,000,000 $100,000,000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of Reported Constuction Fires in British Columbia

50 100 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Incendiary and Suspicious Fires in Construction 223, 60% 146, 40%

Incendiary/Suspicious Other

Incendiary Fires Occuring vs. Time of Day

5 10 15 20 25 0:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Number of Incendiary Fires

Non Incendiary Fires Occuring vs. Time of Day

5 10 15 20 25 0:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Number of Non Incendiary Fires

Site Investigations

 CFT Engineering Inc. reviewed construction

sites to assess fire protection practices in BC

 Legislative requirements were largely adhered to  Hazards specific to construction activities that

were noted included:

 Accumulation of combustibles  Delayed communication with the Fire Department

regarding available systems

 Delays in charging installed fire protection systems  Delayed installation of fire pumps for highrises

 Not commissioned prior to occupancy

Fire Department Response to Construction Fires

 The Fire Department’s response to a

construction site which is not anticipated to have persons in the buildings will typically be less aggressive

 If the site is expected to be vacant and adjacent

properties are at risk, the Fire Department may prioritize the protection of adjacent properties

 Pre-incident response planning can improve the

effectiveness of Fire Department operations

Conclusions from the Report

 A key element of fire safety in construction is the

development of a working active construction fire safety plan

 Current requirements lack sufficient guidance on

how to incorporate procedures to mitigate site specific risks

 Additional guidance and education for risk

mitigation is needed

 Mitigating strategies should become industry

practice

Recommendations

 Linking of BC Building Code and Fire Code:

 In order to increase the awareness of the requirements

for construction fire safety of professionals and contractors involved in the construction industry, it is recommended that there be a reference to the BC Fire Code requirements relating to construction fire safety within Division B, Part 3 and Division B, Part 9, Article 9.10.1.2, of the BC Building Code

 Division B, Part 1, Subsection 1.1.4 of the BC Building

Code should be revised to include a reference to the construction fire safety plan

Recommendations

 Assignment of a Fire Safety Coordinator

In order to provide continual monitoring of risks

throughout the different construction phases

Should keep workers up to date on with

emergency procedures

Should monitor the site with respect to the

construction fire safety plan

Should provide a single point of contact to the

fire services

Should be trained to identify basic hazards

Recommendations

 Fire Warning and Alarm:

BCFC Article 5.6.1.9 should be amended to

include a fire warning system when the site is not active, such as after hours

A fire warning system may be a fire watch or

active detection systems or a combination of fixed detection and manual fire watch, potentially supplemented by lighting and security cameras

Recommendations

 Coordinating Registered Professional:

BC Building Code Part 2, Division C, Article

2.2.7.3 (Appendix A) should provide general direction to inform the owner and constructor that as part of the project planning, a CFSP is required by the BC Fire Code, Section 5.6, “Construction and Demolition Sites”.

Recommendations

 Adequate Water Supply for Fire Fighting:

 BCFC Article 5.6.1.4 should be amended to

require the provision of a water supply for firefighting to the site as soon as combustible material arrives onsite

This may require early coordination with the

City, Engineering Department, consultants and trades, or a temporary water supply for firefighting could be provided

Recommendations

 Fire Risk Assessment Management  BC Fire Code Division B, Appendix A 5.6 should

add an explanatory note stating that it is essential that a risk assessment of potential fire hazards be carried out

 Risk assessment should include risks to adjacent

property, facilities and wildland

 Findings and recommendations from the risk

assessment would form the approach to risk mitigation in the construction fire safety plan

 A review and analysis of risks associated with

adjacent properties or facilities should be completed by a knowledgeable professional for complex or higher risk sites

Recommendations

 Pre-construction Meeting:

There should be a suggestion within the BC

Fire Code, Division B, Appendix A, for a pre- construction meeting upon issuance of building permit

The Fire Department and/or local assistant to

the fire commissioner should be invited to this meeting

Recommendations

 Construction Fire Safety Plan

 Universal and detailed guidelines should be provided to

the industry concerning the development of a construction fire safety plan and the implementation of construction practices

 Current minimum requirements should be expanded to

include the submission and review of the plan by the Fire Department and/or the Authority Having Jurisdiction

 The plan should be required to be updated at regular

intervals

 The City of Surrey bulletin could be used as an

example for other municipalities

Recommendations

 Development of Fire Protection Practice to

Mitigate Risk during Construction

Guidelines should be established and

reviewed with WorkSafe BC with respect to requirements for construction sites in order to establish industry practice

Recommendations

 Development of Fire Protection Practice to Mitigate Risk

during Construction

 Examples may include:

 Provision of an unobstructed stair at each floor level  Priority given to fire separation, firewall and closure installation

Security measures

 Exposure Protection  Charging the sprinkler system where practical  Installation of fire pumps for standpipes, hydrants and hose

stations

 Industry practice cannot be legislated, but through a

combination of legislation, comprehensive guidelines and education, these practices should become the standard practice for all sites

Recommendations

 Provision and Maintenance of Fire

Department Access:

A Code conforming Fire Department access

route to the construction site should be available as soon as work commences at the site

A drawing showing the layout of the site and

the fire protection features should be available at the main Fire Department response point

Recommendations

 Management of Ignition Source and

Combustible Content:

Procedures should be developed and

implemented to control sources of ignition and also to prevent accumulation of combustible materials

Recommendations

 Responsibility and Enforcement:

A method should be established for regular

auditing of fire safety at construction sites

Ownership and responsibility for construction

fire safety should be clearly established

 This could be achieved through the requirement of

regular field reviews undertaken by either the Authority Having Jurisdiction or knowledgeable professional

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

 The 2012 BC Fire Code has included

significant changes to Section 5.6

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code

Adoption of the 2012 BC Fire Code