Fire Prevention Week (FPW) was celebrated October 7-13, 2018. This year, the National Fire Protection Association selected the theme:

Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere!™

NFPA’s goal is to help educate the public and suggests remembering three key words to help reduce injuries, fatalities, and property losses, due to fires in the home.

“LOOK” for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

“LISTEN” for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home.

“LEARN” two ways out of every room, and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

In support of the NFPA’s efforts to educate the public, Brooks suggests that everyone consider the following steps to stay safe:

• Make sure your home has at least one working smoke alarm on each floor level.
• Push the test button on each smoke alarm to make sure they work.
• Check to see that you have two unobstructed ways out of each room.
• Select a meeting place outside, and make sure everyone knows it.
• Make sure everyone’s cell phone has the emergency phone number for your fire department.

Sharing knowledge about the codes that regulate our business should result in a safer environment, wherever extinguishers are installed. The next time you are gathered with fellow employees or have a meeting with the AHJ, consider sharing the following insights from NFPA 10. Chances are you know 9 out of 10, but there might be one (in the following information) that will improve the way you conduct business, or the way an AHJ enforces codes, helping to ensure extinguishers are safe and ready for use in the event of a fire.

Extinguisher Inspection and Maintenance

According to NFPA 10, only a trained technician with proper tools, listed parts, and the manufacturer’s service manuals can perform annual maintenance work. Maintenance should not be confused with or replaced by the monthly quick-check inspections. Only the maintenance procedures detailed in the service manuals complies with the intent of NFPA 10. Example lists of maintenance items are provided in NFPA 10 (A.7.3.1) for most extinguisher types. Those sample lists can be used for discussion purposes to help highlight the importance of conducting thorough annual maintenance to ensure extinguishers will work effectively and safely.

Travel Distance

Although “Travel Distance” is always actual walking distance, including through doorways and around fixed objects, it varies, based on the reason the extinguisher was originally installed. For Class A, travel distance is 75 ft from any point to an extinguisher. Extinguishers are installed throughout buildings for fires that could occur in common combustibles, so travel distance for those extinguishers must be from “any point”. For all others, travel distance is from the hazard to an extinguisher. For example, travel distance for Class K is a maximum of 30 ft from the hazard (typically a cooking appliance). For large cooking operations, with many cooking appliances, multiple extinguishers need to be installed. For Class D, travel distance is 75 ft from the hazard. The same concept applies to Class B fire hazards. The travel distance is measured from the hazard to the extinguisher, but the actual travel distance depends on the type/size of the Class B hazard (see NFPA 10, 6.3).

Class C Rated Extinguishers

Since fires are typically Class A or B hazards, extinguishers are selected based on the anticipated Class A or B hazards. An additional consideration is where energized electrical equipment could be directly involved in a fire or one that surrounds the electrical equipment. So an extinguisher that has passed the UL711 shock hazard test, and has a Class C rating, is needed. These concepts are well established in NFPA 10, 6.4 and explained further in annex section E.5.

Re-Use of Wet Chemical and Water Mist Prohibited

When a wet chemical or water mist extinguisher is partially discharged, the remaining agent needs to be discarded. Also, every five years, when these extinguishers undergo hydrostatic testing, the agent is discarded. Only the agent on the extinguisher label is permitted for recharging.

Extinguisher Service Collar Exemptions

The general rule of thumb is that every extinguisher that is recharged or where maintenance is performed, that includes internal examination, gets a verification-of-service collar. Although, this does not apply to pump tanks or cylinder- or cartridge-operated extinguishers. Also new extinguishers, such as pressurized water, foam, and wet chemical are not required to have a service collar installed when they are initially charged in the field (only after a hydrostatic test or recharge).

New Tamper Seals are Installed Annually

To make sure an extinguisher pull pin is not jammed and can be removed easily, they are required to be operated (pulled) annually. Since that removal breaks the tamper seal, a new listed tamper seal must be installed. If the tamper seal is missing, the extinguisher may have been used, so internal maintenance is performed.

Monthly Inspection Tags

Although records of monthly inspections are permitted in a central paper file or on a computer, it is a good practice to record the inspections on the extinguisher tag. This allows the AHJ to perform spot checks, as tags have the month, year, and initials of the person performing the check.

A Placard Required for Every Class K Extinguisher

Restaurants and other commercial cooking operations have automatic extinguishing systems and Class K fire extinguishers. Wherever a Class K extinguisher is installed for these locations, a placard is required near the extinguisher that states the fire protection system shall be actuated prior to using the fire extinguisher.

Extinguishers with Visual Obstructions Need Signs

Extinguishers are typically installed for easy access and where they can be seen. Since that is not always practical, or even possible for certain locations, signs are used to indicate extinguisher locations. On a monthly basis, extinguisher visibility, or the means of indicating extinguisher location, needs to be checked (NFPA 10, 7.2.2(2)). For locations where new obstructions obscure extinguishers, and they are no longer visible, an extinguisher sign needs to be installed. Extinguishers always need to be accessible, even where visibility is obscured.

Only Use the Extinguisher Hanger Intended for the Extinguisher

When mounting an extinguisher on a hanger, only a hanger intended for the extinguisher is allowed (NFPA 10, 6.1.3.4(1)). Some existing locations have newer extinguishers on older hangers that do not match the extinguisher. Another obvious mismatch is a 10 lb extinguisher on a hanger intended for a 5 lb extinguisher. Replacement hangers are readily available, and corrective action is fairly easy and quick, resulting in a safe installation.

NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers provides our industry with the minimum requirements that are intended to make extinguishers in the field safe and ready for use. Sharing this information and spreading the word about code compliance should result in a safer environment in all properties, where extinguishers are relied upon as a first line of defense in the event of fire.

Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a division of U.S. Department of Labor and mandated by law to enforce the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA is charged with assuring safe and healthful working conditions, for working men and women, by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of statutes and regulations. An important safety regulation is contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 1926.501, which is the duty of employers to provide fall protection to employees.

OSHA References for Full-Body Harness and Lanyard

Type of Work of Activity	OSHA Code Section
Work on Elevated Working Surface	CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
Constructing an Elevated Surface	CFR 1926.501(b)(2)(i)
Work Near Hoist Area	CFR 1926.501(b)(3)
Work Near Skylights and Holes	CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(i)
Formwork and Reinforcing Steel	CFR 1926.501(b)(5)
Working Above Dangerous Equipment	CFR 1926.501(b)(8)(ii)
Overhand Bricklaying	CFR 1926.501(b)(9)(i)
Reaching Below a Working Surface	CFR 1926.501(b)(9)(ii)
Roofing Work (Sloped Roofs)	CFR 1926.501(b)(10)
Walking on Steep Roofs	CCFR 1926.501(b)(11)
Erections of Precast Concrete	CFR 1926.501(b)(12)
Residential Construction	CFR 1926.501(b)(13)
Work Near Wall Openings	CFR 1926.501(b)(14)

There are quite a few parts of CFR 1926.501 that address fall protection. For certain conditions, employers must provide either a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system to limit or prevent injuries to employees where there is a potential for falling.

One of the most cost effective compliance systems that employers frequently choose is the personal fall arrest system, more commonly known as a full-body harness with a lanyard, which can be properly anchored to arrest a fall.

OSHA Compliant Fall Protection Products

P/N	Product	OSHA Compliant
FPHNSTD	Full-Body Harness (Standard Size)	✔
FPHNXL	Full-Body Harness (Extra Large)	✔
FP6LDS	Lanyard w/ Double Snaps	✔
FP6LSR	Lanyard w/ Snap & Rebar Hook	✔
FP12PFL	Lanyard w/ Brake Mechanism	✔

Elevated Working Surface

Interpretation: An employee either constructing a leading edge or on a walking or working surface with an unprotected edge, which is 6 feet or more above a lower level, is required to be protected and allowed to use a full-body harness and lanyard for protection. This also applies to employees in the vicinity of the work but not necessarily involved in the work.

Hoist Area

Interpretation: Every employee in a “hoist area” is required to be protected from falling 6 feet and is allowed to be protected using a full-body harness and lanyard. Also, if the chain or gate is removed to facilitate hoisting operations, like when materials are handled, employees are required to be protected from fall hazards and are permitted to wear a full-body harness and lanyard for compliance.

Skylights and Holes

Interpretation: Employees on walking or working surfaces are required to be protected from falling through holes, such as skylights that are 6 feet or more above lower levels, and are permitted to be protected using a personal full-body harness and lanyard.

Formwork and Reinforcing Steel

Interpretation: Every employee on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel is required to be protected from falling more than 6 feet and is permitted to be protected using a full-body harness and lanyard.

Working Above Dangerous Equipment

Interpretation: An employee 6 feet or more above dangerous equipment is required to be protected from falling onto the equipment and is permitted to wear a personal full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Bricklayers

Interpretation: An employee performing overhand bricklaying, 6 feet or more above lower levels, is required to be protected and is permitted to wear a personal full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Reaching Below a Working Surface

Interpretation: An employee that must reach more than 10 inches below the level of the surface they are working on is required to be protected and a full-body harness and lanyard is permitted for protection.

Roofing Work

Interpretation: Every employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs with unprotected edges, 6 feet or more above lower levels, is required to be protected from falling and is permitted to be protected with a full-body harness and lanyard.

Walking on Steep Roofs

Interpretation: Any employee on a steep roof with unprotected edges, 6 feet or more above lower levels, is required to be protected from falling and is permitted to use a full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Erections of Precast Concrete

Interpretation: An employee erecting precast concrete products, such as wall panels, columns, beams, and floors, 6 feet or more above lower levels, is required to be protected from falling and is permitted to use a full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Residential Construction

Interpretation: All employees working on residential construction, 6 feet or more above lower levels, are required to be protected and permitted to use a full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Wall Openings

Interpretation: Any employee working near a wall opening or a chute, where the opening or chute is 6 feet or more above lower levels, is required to be protected from falling and is permitted to use a full-body harness and lanyard for protection.

Your customers, with employees performing work where there is a potential for a fall, like hood cleaning for instance, are required by OSHA to provide protection for those employees. A cost-effective solution is to provide each employee with a personal fall arrest system, such as a full-body harness and lanyard. Your insights on the OSHA requirements, where these devices are permitted to be used for compliance and safety, will help your customers save money and protect their employees from injuries. Providing this safety equipment will also improve your bottom line.

You probably already know that extinguisher technicians are “wall-mount experts”. If they can install surface-mount extinguisher cabinets and extinguishers on hangers, they can safely mount other safety products on walls and columns of buildings. Here are some ideas for additional revenue generators, where your technicians can install other safety products in buildings along their service routes.

Hand Sanitizers

Almost all hospitals, many hotels, and other businesses have hand sanitizers. If the installations were done using adhesive backed strips, chances are that many of the installations have failed, due to poor surface preparation prior to installation. It could also be due to mounting surfaces that are not intended for these adhesive mounts, like wallpaper, brick, and concrete block walls. Offer to replace the hand sanitizers with the most recent Purell ES™ hand sanitizer products.

Hand Sanitizers

P/N	Description	Size	Quantity
FA1450D8	Hand Sanitizer Dispensers	450 ML	Case of 8
FA145006	Sanitizer Refills	450 ML	Case of 6

To install the Purell ES™ (Everywhere System), remove the wall mount base by pushing on the latch at the bottom of the dispenser. Install the base with two #8 fasteners, then install the sanitizer onto the wall mount. Make sure to prime the unit by pushing several times to dispense liquid into your hand.

Over time, your customer can easily see when the sanitizer is running low, as the dispenser is clear plastic and the liquid level is obvious. Cartridges are easy to replace by squeezing the two sides of the base. After you have installed the units, make sure to explain how to remove and replace. Also make sure to leave a case of replacement refills for their use prior to your next visit.

Industrial Towel Dispensers

Most industrial sites, repair garages, and machine shops need high-quality disposable towels that are equivalent to the old shop rags. The most recognized in the industry is the WypAll® Jumbo Roll. A red roll of 475 sheets is a replacement for 75 lb of scrap rags. Rolls of “wipers” are most often installed on a wall rack, like a heavy-duty paper towel dispenser. It needs to be secured to the wall with appropriate fasteners so it does not come off with frequent use. Make sure your technicians leave a supply of replacement towel rolls and offer to periodically check inventory to make sure the supply does not run out.

WypAll® Jumbo Roll Industrial Towels

P/N	Description
KCHWM	Wall-Mount Towel Dispenser
KCHDW475	Refill Rolls (475 per roll)

Emergency Flashlight Station

The FAA requires that each crewmember of commercial flights have a readily available flashlight that is in good working order (CFR14 121.549). It only makes sense that other organizations have the same need for emergency flashlights when the lights go out. Installing wall-mount emergency flashlight stations will make flashlights readily available in strategic locations, such as exits from rooms. The Pelican™ 3310ELS (Emergency Lighting Station) has a flashlight, which has a photo-luminescent body; so it glows in the dark, making it easy to find when the lights suddenly go out. The station containing the flashlight is a hinged, clear case that is surface mounted with common fasteners.

Help your customers prepare for emergencies where a blackout could occur, by installing emergency flashlight stations.

Emergency Flashlight Station

P/N	Description
P3310ELS	Pelican Emergency Flashlight Station
TFAAB	AA Alkaline Batteries (Pkg of 4)

Wall-Mounted Eyewash Stations

A bottle of sterile saline solution, mounted to the wall, is essential where an employee’s eyes are in immediate need of attention during an emergency. Single- or double-bottle Eyesaline® eyewash wall stations are easy to install, using four common wall fasteners (such as anchored screws). The bottles have single-use, twist-off tabs that are tamperproof. But make sure that your customer has a supply of replacement bottles readily available, should any be used.

Your technicians already have the expertise to correctly and safely mount fire extinguishers and extinguisher cabinets. Expanding your business and increasing your profits by having them install other products on walls makes good sense. Your customers will also benefit by having safety products correctly mounted and readily available and accessible in the event of an emergency.

Wall-Mounted Eyewash Stations

P/N	Description	Bottle Size
461ES	Single Bottle Eyewash Station	32 Oz
462ES	Double Bottle Eyewash Station	32 Oz (Qty of 2)

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Brooks continues to track legislation and code updates. The defense bill that passed moves us one step closer to extinguisher mandates for military facilities. Connecticut now mandates extinguishers for most new occupancies. New Hampshire deleted monitoring equipment for extinguishers and allows monthly inspections. Ohio is moving toward mandating extinguishers, as outlined in national codes, and there is still work to be done in New Jersey to accomplish the same thing.

U.S. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND EXTINGUISHERS

A Senate Report accompanied the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to require extinguishers throughout military bases. President Trump signed FY19 NDAA into law on August 13, 2018. Specifically, the report contains the following statement:

Brooks and the Fire Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) have been working diligently over the past year to align the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) with the NFPA and ICC codes, regarding portable fire extinguishers. Passage of FY19 NDAA, with the accompanying report, is a very positive step toward reinstating the previous level of safety of the national standards for all US military installations.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Legislative Regulation Review Committee approved new versions of the Building Code, the Fire Prevention Code, and the Fire Safety Code that will require portable extinguishers throughout most new occupancies, starting October 1, 2018. The Building Code and the Fire Safety Codes have been updated to reference the requirements, contained in the Fire Prevention Code, so there are no longer conflicts. The updates only impact new buildings. Brooks and FEMA will continue to work with Connecticut officials to require extinguishers in existing buildings.

Ohio

By way of background, the State Fire Code was updated in 2017 to include an allowance that negates extinguisher requirements for certain occupancies with quick response sprinklers. In July of 2018, the state fire marshal developed a formal proposal that would match the latest editions of the IFC and IBC, which contains no such allowance and mandates the installation of fire extinguishers. Once approved by legal counsel, the draft will be released for public comment and, if approved, sent to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Legislative Review. If no significant concerns are raised, it is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

New Hampshire

House Bill H1254 established a committee to study the procedures for adoption of national codes by the state. It was signed by the governor and became effective June 25, 2018.

On May 31, 2018, the New Hampshire Board of Fire Control voted to rescind the requirement for electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers (the original requirement was implemented on December 23, 2011). The update aligns with the latest editions of NFPA 1 and NFPA 10, which allows building owners to determine the method of extinguisher inspection, i.e. manual inspections, electronic monitoring, or any combination.

New Jersey

Brooks and FEMA continue to work with the New Jersey Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NJAFED) to submit written testimony to align the state fire code with the latest edition of the IFC and remove an allowance which negates extinguisher requirements for certain occupancies with quick response sprinklers.

Mandating extinguishers that reflect national codes improves safety. We’ll continue to work with FEMA on these issues and track and influence other issues to improve safety at the national and state levels.