511 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 9-15

Chapter 9: Fire Prevention and Protection

This chapter focuses on fire prevention and protection, emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures and practices to safeguard against fire hazards.

USACE fire fighter viewing large field fire and flames

This chapter emphasizes the need for comprehensive measures and practices to safeguard against fire hazards.

It outlines the necessity of training personnel involved in operations such as fueling heaters and operating kettles, ensuring they understand the risks and safety procedures related to fire. It mandates the development of Fire Prevention Plans for all facilities, detailing fire hazards, emergency evacuation procedures.

It details and the roles and responsibilities of personnel in maintaining fire suppression equipment and systems. It also addresses the inspection and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers and fixed fire suppression systems according to established standards.

It also highlights the importance of Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) for activities like wildland fire prescribed burns, requiring a detailed assessment to ensure adequate fire watch and hazard control measures are in place.

Lastly, it provides guidelines for the safe use and maintenance of heating devices and melting kettles, including the positioning of kettles, the use of fire extinguishers, and the necessity of hot work permits, to prevent fire risks in operational areas.

9-1. References.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 9-1.

9-1. References.

a.  EP 1130-2-540, Environmental Stewardship and Maintenance Guidance and Procedures (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer- Pamphlets/)  (9-1.a)

b.  International Code Council, International Building Code (IBC) (https://www.iccsafe.org/)  (9-1.b)

c.  National Interagency Fire Center, Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, ‘Redbook’ (https://www.nifc.gov/policies/pol_ref_redbook.html)  (9-1.c)
d.  NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=10)  (9-1.d)

e.  NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=30)  (9-1.e)

f.  NFPA 30A, Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=30A)  (9-1.f)

g.  NFPA 51B, Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of- codes-and-standards/detail?code=51B)  (9-1.g)

h.  NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and- standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=58)  (9-1.h)

i.  NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) (2020) (https://www.nfpa.org/Codes- and-Standards)  (9-1.i)

j.  NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of- codes-and-standards/detail?code=241)  (9-1.j)

k.  NFPA 386, Standard for Portable Shipping Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and- standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=386)  (9-1.k)

l.  NFPA 600, Standard on Facility Fire Brigades (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and- standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=600)  (9-1.l)

m.  NFPA 1051, Standard for Wildland Firefighting Personnel Professional Qualifications (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list- of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1051)  (9-1.m)

n.  NFPA 1142, Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Firefighting (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=1142)  (9-1.n)

o.  NFPA 1143, Standard for Wildland Fire Management (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=1143)   (9-1.o)
p.  NFPA 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire
Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the
Public by Career Fire Departments (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all- codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1710)  (9-1.p)

q.  NFPA 1720, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire
Suppression Operations, emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all- codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1720)  (9-1.q)

r.  NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire
Fighting and Urban Interface Fire Fighting
(https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=1977)  (9-1.r)

s.  NFPA 2010, Standard for Fixed Aerosol Fire-Extinguishing Systems (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=2010)  (9-1.s)

t.  OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program
(https://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program)  (9-1.t)

u.  UFC 3-600-01, Fire Protection Engineering for Facilities https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc)  (9-1.u)

v.  UFC 3-601-02, Fire Protection Systems Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
(https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc)  (9-1.v)

w.  29 CFR 1910.110, Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title29-vol5/pdf/CFR-2019-title29-vol5- sec1910-110.pdf)  (9-1.w)

x.  29 CFR 1910.156, Fire Brigades (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-
2022-title29-vol5/pdf/CFR-2022-title29-vol5-sec1910-156.pdf)  (9-1.x)

9-2. Definitions.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 9-2.

9-2. Definitions.

a.  Extinguisher Classification.  The letter classification given to an extinguisher to designate the classes of fire on which it will be effective.  (9-2.a)

b.  Extinguisher Rating.  The numerical rating given to an extinguisher that indicates the extinguishing potential of the unit.  (9-2.b)

c.  Fire Cut-Offs.  Building features (for example, fire walls, automatic fire doors) designed to retard or restrict the spread of a fire within the building. (9-2.c)

d.  Fixed Extinguishing System.  A permanently installed system that either extinguishes or controls a fire.  (9-2.d)

e.  Flammable Liquid.  Any liquid having a flashpoint at or below 199.4°F (93°C). Flammable liquids are divided into four categories as follows:  (9-2.e)

(1)  Category 1 includes liquids having flashpoints below 73.4°F (23°C) and having a boiling point at or below 95°F (35°C).

(2)  Category 2 includes liquids having flashpoints below 73.4°F (23°C) and having a boiling point above 95°F (35°C).

(3)  Category 3 includes liquids having flashpoints at or above 73.4°F (23°C) and at or below 140°F (60°C).

(4)  Category 4 includes liquids having flashpoints above 140°F (60°C) and at or below 199.4°F (93°C).

f.  Fume. Very small suspended solid particles created by condensation from the gaseous state.  (9-2.f)

g.  Hot Work.  Hot work is considered any activity that generates or has the potential to generate, heat, sparks, open flame, or explosion (for example, hot riveting, welding, burning, abrasive blasting, brazing, cutting, grinding, powder-actuated tools, soldering). Grinding, drilling, abrasive blasting, or similar spark-producing operations are also considered hot work except when such operations are isolated physically from any atmosphere containing more than 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of a flammable or combustible substance.  (9-2.g)

h.  Hot Work Permit. Written authorization to perform hot work operations.  (9-2.h)

i.  Incipient Stage Fire.  A fire that is in the initial or beginning stage and that can be controlled or extinguished by portable fire extinguisher, Class II standpipe, or small hose systems without the need for protective clothing or breathing apparatus.  (9-2.i)

j.  Prescribed Fire.  Any fire ignited to meet specific management objectives. (9-2.j)

k.  Qualified Person (QP), Fire Protection Systems, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance.  An individual who meets the criteria of a QP as defined in UFC 3-601-02. (9-2.k)

l.  Sprinkler System.  A system of piping designed according to fire protection engineering standards and installed to control or extinguish fires.  The system includes an adequate and reliable water supply, a network of specialty sized piping and
sprinklers that are interconnected, a control valve, and device for actuating an alarm when the system is in operation.  (9-2.l)

m.  Wildland Fire. A planned or unplanned fire involving wildland fuels.  (9-2.m)