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Outline

State Fire Marshal’s Office

WELCOME to the  Basic Fire Safety and Crowd Managers Training Program

THANK YOU  …for taking the time to complete this self-training program. This was developed with the goal of improving the fire safety knowledge and skills of people working in public assemblies. We hope you find it informative.

Goals and Objectives    This program will provide you with the basics about: Safety planning and evacuation procedures Fire science and fire safety Fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems Crowd behavior and responsibilities of crowd managers, and... How to complete a safety inspection of an assembly before every event

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NH State Fire Code Changes

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What is an assembly???? “An occupancy used for the gathering of 50 or more people for deliberation, worship,entertainment, eating…” (NFPA 101) Just a few examples: restaurants theatres gymnasiums churches

What is festival seating? Festival seating is the term the Life Safety Code® uses to describe “ A form of audience/spectator accommodation in which no seating, other than a floor or ground surface, is provided…” Or, in other words, festival seating is a space or area that has no seats. (like dance floors, open bar areas, etc.)

What is Fire?

The Basics of Fire

Fire Facts In a fire, the heat builds rapidly Temperatures at the floor can be as low as 90° F The temperature at the ceiling can be 600° F, or much more

Fire Facts Early in the fire, breathing in even small amounts of smoke and poisonous gases will make you drowsy & disoriented.

Fire Facts

Fire Facts Fire consumes the oxygen in the air and increases the amount of deadly carbon monoxide, which causes a loss of consciousness or death within minutes. Fire victims rarely SEE the flames or die from them.

Fire Facts The LEADING CAUSE of death in a fire is asphyxiation (the inability to breathe)

Requirements for Public Assembly Businesses

Inform The Public!  Before the start of each event, act, or show: An announcement must be made, (or a projected image must be shown), that notifies occupants where all exits are located - in case of a fire or other emergency. Building owners and operators: Don’t assume that your patrons already know!

Inform The Public In the event of an emergency, the sound system must be shut off, unless it is part of the voice evacuation system. Outside, call 911 to notify the Fire Department Remember to STAY CALM!

This next section will cover: Parts of the Fire Alarm System Exit Signs Emergency Lighting Commercial Kitchen Safety Fire Extinguishers and their use Fire Exits Fire Sprinklers

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Alarm Panel This tells the fire department where the alarm is coming from NEVER reset the fire alarm panel without the approval of the fire department officer in charge! Check with your local fire department if you have questions.

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Smoke Detectors Work by detecting fine particles in the air (smoke, steam, and even dust can trigger a smoke detector) The indicator light on a detector shows that it is connected to a power supply Check for dust and debris periodically Never cover or block a detector

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Heat Detector These units can only detect heat, or rapid changes in temperature Used where smoke detectors may be too sensitive Can’t be re-used once they have activated

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Fire Alarm Horn/Strobe This device gives notification of an alarm in the building Sounds and flashes when a device is activated or someone activates a pull station Noise can only be stopped by resetting the fire alarm panel (fire department’s responsibility)

Parts of the Fire Alarm System The horn/strobe will sound and flash at the same time. It is designed to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act for people with visual deficiencies.

Manual Pull Stations (or) Manual Fire Alarm Boxes

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Manual Pull stations / Fire Alarm Boxes What you need to know about pull stations: Where they are located  How to operate them (often two actions are needed to activate the alarm) CALL 911 once outside to verify the Fire Dept. has received the alarm

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Manual Pull Stations  or Fire Alarm Boxes This is different than the one shown previously Make sure you know how to operate the pull stations in your building

Parts of the Fire Alarm System Manual Pull Stations  or Fire Alarm Boxes    This is a third type of pull station. They all have the same function and purpose, but may operate differently.

Parts of the Fire Alarm System This slide shows a pull station and a horn/strobe configuration. Notice the pull station is located near the exit door.

Exit Signs There are several different types: Non-Illuminated Illuminated Fluorescent Glowing/L.E.D. Places of Assembly must have illuminated signs

Exit Signs Illuminated Exit Sign When required, this type of sign must be able to remain lit in a power outage (emergency or back-up power required)

Exit Signs Illuminated Exit Sign This exit sign has an arrow pointing to the direction of the exit door.

Emergency Lighting Emergency lighting Needed in case of power outage MUST BE CHECKED MONTHLY! Test buttons are usually located on the light or on the battery box

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Emergency Lighting This is another example of emergency lighting. The indicator light and test button are shown on the front.

Emergency Lighting Gauge Indicator light Test switch (This switch is used to make sure the lights are in working order)

Emergency Lighting This photo shows an emergency light, and a  horn/strobe unit

Commercial Kitchen Safety Keep kitchen areas neat and clean Always keep kitchen exits and access areas clear and dry Be careful to keep combustibles away from heat sources Educate employees on how and when to use the kitchen extinguisher and hood suppression system

Commercial Kitchen Safety This photo shows an extinguishing system for the grill and deep fryer. This will operate automatically, and if necessary  can be operated manually. You must know where the actuator (manual pull device) is and how to use it.

Commercial Kitchen Safety This is the actuator for the extinguisher system for the grill area. It is located on the way to the exit.

Commercial Kitchen Safety Vents over the grill must be cleaned regularly Nozzles for the extinguishing system must be kept clean in order to function properly

Commercial Kitchen Safety Fire extinguishing systems are required where grease laden vapors emanate from cooking foods Nozzles (located in the hood area) must be kept clean Class “K” portable fire extinguishers are required Hood & ducts over cooking surfaces must be cleaned quarterly Baffles in the hoods must be kept clean also

"This is an example of..." This is an example of a  clean hood area and shows fire suppression system nozzles.

HOW CAN FIRE BE STOPPED? To stop fire, we must remove 1 or more of the four sides of the ‘fire tetrahedron’.

HOW CAN FIRE BE STOPPED? Any of these four actions will stop fire: Remove the fuel Remove oxygen Remove the heat  source Break the chemical chain reaction

In a building without automatic sprinklers, a fire may be stopped or controlled with a properly used fire extinguisher…. if it is discovered in the early stages. Next, we will learn the basics about fire extinguishers, and how to use them.

Fire Extinguishers Extinguishers must never be blocked They must be plainly visible, or have a sign above to show their location They must be properly mounted and ready for use

Fire Extinguishers Extinguishers Know the location of all extinguishers (usually near exits) They are found in most buildings, including places of assembly

Fire Extinguishers Fire Extinguishers Must be checked once a month - Is the extinguisher ready for use? Is it where it should be? Look at the gauge: is the indicator in the green area? Annual inspection by a qualified professional, is required

Fire Extinguisher Facts    One side of the fire tetrahedron is fuel.    All fuels are grouped into 4 classes:    A, B, C, or D

Fire Extinguisher Facts The four classes of fuel are: Class A Fire -Wood/Paper Class B Fire -Oils & Grease Class C Fire -Energized Electrical Class D Fire -Flammable Metals

Fire Extinguisher Facts Fire Extinguishers are grouped in the same manner: Class A Fire – water, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide (CO2) Class B Fire – dry chemical or CO2 Class C Fire – CO2, halon alternatives Class D Fire – specialized powders

Fire Extinguisher Facts The most common home and commercial extinguishers are multipurpose (dry chemical) extinguishers, and will extinguish Class A, B & C fires.   The extinguisher’s label tells you what types of fire it can put out.

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Types of Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

"Operating Portable Fire" Operating Portable Fire Extinguishers

Considerations Before Using  A Fire Extinguisher 1) Alert everyone to get out of the building (PULL THE FIRE ALARM!) 2) Call 911 BEFORE trying to put it out! 3) Always stay between an exit and the fire: NEVER LET THE FIRE TRAP YOU!

How To Operate A Fire Extinguisher Learn and use the P.A.S.S acronym:  P  for Pull the Pin  A for Aim hose at the base of the fire  S  for Squeeze the handle  S  for Sweep the hose from side to side

How To Operate A Fire Extinguisher

How To Operate A Fire Extinguisher

How To Operate A Fire Extinguisher

How To Operate A Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Wrap Up Alert others to get out Call 911 before deciding to use an extinguisher Use the proper extinguisher type             for the fuel Safety First/Stay Back P.A.S.S. = Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

Fire Extinguishers Know where they are located. Know how to use them. Use the right extinguisher for the right fire. AND REMEMBER: never attempt to use a fire extinguisher unless you are comfortable! It’s not worth getting hurt!

Fire Exits Have you opened your exits today?

Fire Exits When inspecting your building:  Are all the exits visible and clearly marked? Can an exit or exit sign be seen from every place in the building? Are all the exit lights working? Are the exits clear and passable? Do the exit doors open all the way? Once outside, is there a clear path to a public way? Correct any problems Immediately!

Fire Exits There must be a clear and unobstructed path to all exits!

Fire Exits The bar visible across the door in the photo is called ‘panic hardware’ The door must swing open with minimal force The bar MUST release any lock installed (so no one can get trapped inside) Check every door every day!

Fire Exits Exit Doors This photo shows a blocked exit. Don’t let this happen in YOUR building. Even lightweight objects can create a serious hazard in an emergency situation. Exit doors must never be locked or blocked.

Sprinklers There are many misconceptions about sprinklers. Sprinklers require annual maintenance/testing by a professional technician. Sprinkler piping must always be protected from freezing. Sprinklers will not operate correctly if they are blocked Most people think sprinklers can flood a building. This is not true. Each individual sprinkler head must get hot enough to activate and flow water.

Fire Sprinklers Sprinkler systems are now required in many places of assembly Sprinkler heads must not be blocked by decorations, storage of paper products, etc., or they will not work properly Sprinkler piping is not to be used for hanging things- it’s simply not designed that way

Fire Sprinklers Only the sprinkler head above the fire will initially activate GOOD NEWS! Most fires are contained by only 1 or 2 sprinklers! Sprinklers are designed to control, not put out, the fire

Let’s look at some common Fire Hazards...

Fire Hazards Check ashtrays for lit cigarettes before discarding Check trash frequently and remove as needed No combustibles or decorations near or around candles Never leave candles unattended-even at home! Keep combustibles away from fireplaces Keep furnace or boiler room clear of all combustible items Have all heating appliances (including fireplaces) professionally maintained at least once a year Maintain a clean kitchen/prep area NO extension cords- they are for temporary use on portable appliances and NOT to substitute for permanent wiring

Fire Hazards Flammable Storage Certain quantities of flammable products must be stored in a special, fire-rated  cabinet. Good house keeping is essential in the prevention of fires.

Crowd Management and Evacuation

Crowd Management

Crowd Management To effectively prepare to handle any situation, you must know the expected audience, and the performers. What type of performance is it? What is the mood of the audience? Will the performers help, or hurt, in an emergency situation? How is an emergency communicated to the performers?

Crowd Management In order to ensure a safe evacuation in an emergency, you must know your building. Know the layout of your building Where are the primary exits? Where are the alternate or secondary exits? Can all the doors be opened easily from the inside? Are the exits clearly marked and obvious to patrons? Which areas in the building tend to be more congested?

Crowd Management Having an emergency action plan in place is critical to prepare employees and prevent confusion. All employees must have a clear understanding of their role in the emergency action plan The emergency action plan must be practiced and drilled until all employees are comfortable with it The main objective of the emergency action plan is to GET EVERYONE OUT SAFELY

Priority 1: Getting everyone out safely! EVACUATION ! EVACUATION ! EVACUATION ! KNOW YOUR BUILDING. KNOW YOUR PLAN.

Get everyone out safely!

In Summary

Emergency Action Plans An Emergency Action Plan should be developed with management and employee input.

Emergency Action Plans Emergency Action Plans need to be developed by every business. This plan will describe what actions specific employees will undertake in the event of an emergency. Who, What, When, Why, Where, How

Emergency Action Plans Points to cover: Who calls 911 to call in or verify the alarm? Who goes to the PA system and keeps people calm and orderly while evacuating?

Emergency Action Plans Designate certain employees in each section to assist with directing people to the proper exit Determine which exit(s) people need to be directed to in each part of the building? Pre-plan how to best assist those patrons who may need it

Emergency Action Plans Once outside, who meets the firefighters & police to provide information? Are employees expected to attempt to extinguish fires with a fire extinguisher? (if so, they must be properly trained) Where should employees meet after the evacuation? Who is responsible for the employee head count?

Emergency Action Plans

Emergency Action Plans

Fire Safety In a fire, seconds count. The MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR for escape is a clear, unobstructed path of travel to the exit. Extra chairs, highchairs, products, etc. should never be stored at exits. Have you opened your exits today?

NO SINGLE EVACUTION PLAN WILL WORK FOR EVERY BUILDING OR FACILITY. KNOW YOUR BUILDING KNOW YOUR PLAN EVACUATE      EVACUATE EVACUATE

Practice! A TV station in Texas did an experiment. It proved that the fire escape plans we teach children in school DO NOT WORK if they are not practiced at home. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

Practice! Handing people a diagram, having them complete a training program, and then saying they are responsible, also will not work. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

THANK YOU... again, for taking the time to complete this training program and for taking the time to ensure your building is as safe as it can be. A couple of websites that may be interesting or helpful are listed below: nfpa.org nh.gov/safety/firesafety

For more information… John Raymond Assistant Director Office of the State Fire Marshal State of New Hampshire 33 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03305 tel:  603-271-3294 fax: 603-271-1091 Email: fmo@safety.state.nh.us

A Special Thank You To The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office for their assistance with the development of this program.