513 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 23-29

Sections

26-8. General Requirements.

Fire Prevention and Protection

Provide and maintain fire extinguishers, or equivalent protection, at each portal and shaft entry, within 100 feet of the face of each tunnel, and at locations containing combustible materials.
Use only NRTL-approved heating devices in tunnels and store only permissible combustible materials underground, limiting quantities to a one-day supply.
Obtain and adhere to a hot work permit and maintain a fire watch during hot work or in gassy operations.

Ventilation

Provide mechanical ventilation in tunnel excavations to ensure a continuous supply of uncontaminated air, avoiding natural ventilation methods.
Supply a minimum of 200 CFM of fresh air per employee underground, adding more air as needed for equipment operation.
The USACE supervisor/KO or COR must review the ventilation system's design and performance, and a CP must inspect and test the system post-installation as per the Ventilation and Dust Control Plan.

Air Monitoring and Air Quality Standards

A QP must properly manage air monitoring devices, ensuring calibration, maintenance, and accurate record-keeping of air quality tests and device details.
Implement control strategies to maintain 8-hour TWA personal exposures below the most restrictive OEL, conducting monitoring as required and updating site-specific policies to reflect current conditions.
While monitoring, use short-term exposure or ceiling limits as alarm set points for certain contaminants to avoid false alarms, ensuring compliance with TWA limits and training personnel for prompt evacuation when levels are reached.

26-9. Figures and Tables.

Not Applicable.

26-10. Checklists and Forms.

Not Applicable.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

26-9. Fire extinguishers must be located at each portal and shaft entry and _____.

within 100 feet of each tunnel face

no farther than 25 feet in travel distance

in hazardous dust atmospheres

within 50 feet of tunneling operations

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 26-8 (l.–n.).

26-8. General Requirements. (l.–n.).

l.  Fire Prevention and Protection.  (26-8.l)

(1)  Fire Extinguishers.

(a)  Provide and maintain fire extinguishers according to chapter 9, to include necessary training requirements.

(b)  Provide and maintain fire extinguishers, or equivalent protection, at each portal and shaft entry, within 100 feet (30.5 m) of the face of each tunnel, and at locations containing combustible materials.

(2)  Within tunnels, use only heating devices approved for such locations byan NRTL.

(3)  Only combustible materials similar to diesel fuel or approved welding/cutting gases may be stored underground.  Store no more than a one-day supply of these combustible materials. Never store flammable products such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas or gasoline underground.  Never pipe flammable or combustible materials from the surface to underground locations.

(4)  Hazardous Classifications.  Obtain a hot work permit according to paragraph
9-8.g and maintain a fire watch, according to paragraph 9-8.g, when hot work is performed, or an area is designated as a gassy operation.

m.  Ventilation.  (26-8.m)

(1)  Provide ventilation and exhaust systems for tunnel excavation with sufficient capacity to maintain an adequate supply of uncontaminated air at all points in the tunnel.  Use only mechanical ventilation.  Do not use natural ventilation.

(2)  Supply at least 200 CFM (94 Liters per second) of fresh air for each employee underground. Supply additional air necessary to operate the equipment.

(3)  Do not use air that has passed through underground oil or fuel-storage areas or any other hazardous atmosphere to ventilate work areas.  Design the ventilation system to exhaust from these spaces via ducting that is properly rated for this service.

(4)  The USACE supervisor/KO or COR must review the ventilation system and performance, flow rates, and volumes before acquiring or installing the system or any components. After installation a CP must inspect and test the system as stated in the Ventilation and Dust Control Plan (see para 26-7.e).  Keep records onsite and readily available for review until project completion.

n.  Air Monitoring and Air Quality Standards.  (26-8.n)

(1)  Air Monitoring Requirements.

(a)  A QP must inspect, calibrate, maintain, and use air monitoring devices according to the manufacturer's instructions. Devices must have sufficient limits of detection and resolution and be routinely calibrated to competently detect and display contaminant levels less than or equal to 50% of the applicable OEL.

(b)  Maintain a record of all air quality tests above ground at the work site and make them available to any USACE supervisor/KO or COR upon request.  Record the location, date, time, substance(s) monitored, applicable limits, monitoring results, and nameof person conducting the test.  Also record the instrument specific data such as serial number, calibration date, bump test results, etc.  If the calibration or bump test information is recorded in a different record such as in an automated system, ensure both records contain a unique identifier that will link them.  Retain records of personnel exposure to toxic substances according to 29 CFR 1910.1020.  Maintain all air quality test records at the jobsite until completion of the project and according to DoD, U.S. Army, and USACE policies.  Records of personal monitor results, used in addition to other devices and intended only to alert personnel directly, do not need to be
maintained, however, the calibration, bump test, and other pertinent information must be recorded.

(2)  Air Quality Standards.

(a)  Implement appropriate control strategies to ensure that the 8-hour TWA personal exposures will be maintained below the most restrictive OEL according to 29
        CFR 1926.55, or as referenced in chapter 6 of this manual.  Perform monitoring prior to routine entry by other Authorized Entrants and at frequencies dictated in other regulations or site-specific policies.  Perform routine monitoring at least once each shift in stable environments and more often when conditions are realistically expected to change. Continuous monitoring is preferred.  The site-specific policies and procedures must be updated to reflect current site conditions.

(b)  The OELs for some contaminants required to be monitored by 29 CFR 1926.800 (29 CFR 1926 Subpart S) (that is, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen
        dioxide) are near the detection limitations of commercially available instrumentation. This makes them more prone to statistical fluctuations and cross sensitivities that could cause false alarms if the TWA OEL were used as the alarm set points.  It is permissible to use the short-term exposure limit or ceiling limits as alarm set points in lieu of the TWA limits, as long as compliance with the TWA is assured and personnel are trained to promptly evacuate when these levels are reached.