Subpart L—Fire Protection

Subpart L is concerned with fire protection and fire prevention. This subpart contains requirements for fire brigades, aU portable extinguishers, fixed fire suppression systems and fire detection systems, and alarm systans. It contains training requirements for the organization and personnel. It describes requirements for training and protective equipment for fire brigades. 

In addition, this subpart establishes the requirements for the placement, use, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishes provided for use by employees, as well as the requirements for all automatic sprinkler systems installed to meet a particular OSH A standard. Firefighting equipment is to be available and readily accessible. Workers are to be trained annually on the use of fire extinguishers. 

The fire detection system should be in a labeled specific location. Lastly, a unique alarm system must be established at the worksite that will alert employees to a fire. 

155 Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart 

Industrial facilities are not immune to fire and its terrible consequences. Each year fire-related losses in the United States are considerable. According to conservative figures reported by Brauer (1994), about 1 million fires involving structures and about 8000 deaths occur each year. The total annual property loss is more than 7 billion. Complicating the fire problem is the point that Cote and Bugbee (1991) made above—the unpredictability of fire. Fortunately, facility safety officials are aided in their efforts in fire prevention and control by the authoritative and professional guidance readily available from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Safety 

Council (NSC), fire code agencies, local fire authorities, and OSHA regulations. In this section, we discuss fire prevention and control and fire protection provided by the use of fire extinguishers. 

All of the advisory and regulatory authorities approach fire safety in much the same manner for example, they all agree that electrical short circuits or malfunctions usually start fires in the workplace. Other leading causes of workplace fires are friction heat, welding and cutting of metals, improperly stored flammable/combustible materials, open flames, and cigarette smoking. 

The best way to prevent and control fires in the workplace is to institute a facility Fire Safety Program. Safety experts agree that the best way to reduce the possibility of fire in the workplace is prevention. For the facility safety official this begins with developing a fire prevention plan, which must be in writing and must list fire hazards and fire controls and specify the control jobs and personnel responsible and emergency actions to be taken. More specifically, in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, the elements that make up the plan must include the following  

A list of the major workplace fire hazards and their proper handling and storage procedures, potential ignition sources (such as welding, smoking, and others), their control procedures, and the type of fire protection equipment or systems that can control a fire involving them. 

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Subpart L—Fire Protection—Other Fire Protection Systems (1910.155—1910.165)... 

Appendix C to Subpart L— Fire Protection References for Further Information... 

Recommendations on the fire precautions to be taken in the design of chemical plant are given in the standards NFPA 30 (2003), API RP 2001 (2005) and API PUBL 2218 (1999). Legal requirements for fire protection are given in the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910, subpart L (2007). 

The Life Safety Code of the NFPA specifies the numbers and types of different occupancies and the sprinklers and alarms appropriate for each. Sprinklers and alarms are not required in all instances. Subpart L of the OSHA regulations addresses fire protection. It... 

OSHA has many requirements concerning fire protection in the workplace. These requirements are found in Subpart L and in some other specific standards. Among the items addressed by OSHA standards is fire brigades, all portable and fixed fire suppression equipment, fire detection systems, and fire or employee alarm systems. 

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