Page 84 - OHS, July/August 2021

FACILITY SAFETY
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It’s important to understand the factors that most frequently contribute to construction site fires so that needed steps to minimize associated risks can be taken. BY VAL ZIAVRAS
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Slatan/Shutterstock.com
Hardly a week goes by without a building under a construction fire shows up on our news feeds. In recent months, we have witnessed fires in commercial buildings
1
being renovated in Idaho, in a former Sony building in
New Jersey being demolished2 and in multiple apartment buildings being developed around the country, including high profile incidents in Las Vegas3 and Texas.4
Data5 shows that fires in buildings under construction occur all too frequently. Fires broke out in U.S. buildings under construction during the years 2013-2017, on average, every 90 minutes. These blazes caused an average of four civilian deaths, 49 injuries and $304 million in direct property damage annually. Most occurred in residential properties, but seven percent of the fires took place in (large and small) mercantile or business properties.
Facility managers may not be directly responsible for overseeing new building development or demolition projects, but they certainly play a significant role when existing structures are being renovated. Those charged with the care and maintenance of buildings can also foster a culture of safety among workers, whether a structure is being built, rehabbed or razed.
Understand the Leading Risks
It’s important to understand the factors that most frequently contribute to construction site fires so that needed steps to minimize associated risks can be taken.
NFPA research shows that during 2016 and 2017, there was a sizable increase in renovation fires, with 2017 having the second- highest number of incidents in the last decade. Fire departments responded to an average of 2,580 fires in structures undergoing
major renovations annually from 2013-2017. These fires made up only one percent of all reported structure fires but still caused an average of eight deaths, 52 injuries and $104 million in direct property each year. While large fires typically make the news, many of the major renovation fires (almost one-fifth) were confined fires.
Electrical distribution and lighting equipment were the leading cause of these fires and resulted in three in 10 injuries. The data tells us that 15 percent of fires were caused by heating equipment and accounted for 21 percent of injuries. Arcing was the leading heat source in renovation fires, followed by a spark, ember or flame from operating equipment, radiated or conducted heat from operating equipment and unclassified heat from powered equipment.
Fires that were intentionally set caused 12 percent of fires, while one in 10 fires were caused by cooking equipment. Torches, burners or soldering irons prompted one in 10 fires and more than one fifth of direct property damage while smoking materials started three percent of fires and caused eight percent of injuries.
December and January saw the most fires (although things peaked in March), and civilian injuries were highest in January and February. Renovation fires typically occur between noon and four p.m. (21 percent of total) and between four p.m. and eight p.m. (22 percent of total) but those that occurred between midnight and four a.m. caused disproportionate shares of direct property damage. A structural member or framing is typically the first item ignited in structures being altered.
Develop a Fire Safety Program
Whether a building onsite is being constructed, renovated or demolished, facility managers should understand and agree with the fire safety strategies that will be in place during construction. NFPA® 241 Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations6 has been in existence since 1933 to help facility managers and others mitigate fire risks during construction projects. NFPA 241 is a comprehensive document that requires a building owner to develop a fire prevention program for every construction project. The owner then designates a Fire Prevention Program Manager (FPPM) who is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the site’s fire prevention program.
Emphasizing a holistic approach to safety is always wise but especially so during any element of construction. Facility managers should be in lockstep with the designated FPPM— meeting regularly with that individual and visiting the site often to ensure that safety messages are communicated, protocols are followed and steps are being taken to ensure that fire risk is minimized.
One of the best ways that facility managers can advance safety
80 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2021
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