Fire Safety Planning

FIRE SAFETY PLANNING (as described in B.C. Fire Code Sec. 2.8)

B.C. Fire Code Sec. 2.8

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Purpose:

To prevent the occurrence of fire by the control of fire hazards in the building.
Ensure operation of fire protection systems by establishing maintenance procedures.
Provides a systematic method of safe and orderly evacuation of the building in the event of a fire.
Transfer information to Fire Fighter Personnel of important building design and fire suppression systems within the building.

What Constitutes a Fire Safety Plan
A fire safety plan must be submitted in a red or red sided binder, with white dividers for each section and must include written procedures for:

1. Sounding the fire alarm.
2. Notifying the fire department.
3. Instructing occupants on procedures to be followed when the fire alarm sounds.
4. Evacuating endangered occupants.
5. Confining, controlling and extinguishing the fire.
6. Appointment and organization of designated supervisory staff to carry out fire safety duties. Specific responsibilities must be assigned and their authorities defined.
7. The instruction and training of supervisory staff and other occupants so that they are aware of their responsibilities for fire safety.
8. The holding of fire drills. The frequency and extent can vary depending on circumstances.
9. The control of fire hazards in the building.
10. The maintenance of building facilities provided for the safety of occupants.

*Please Note:  The Burnaby Fire Department now requires that all Fire Safety Plans, once approved, also be submitted in a PDF format via a CD to the B.F.D. Fire Prevention Office, attention Assistant Chief Fire Prevention Officer.

For "high buildings" as defined below, a fire safety plan must also include written procedures for:

1. Instruction to supervisory staff on the use of the voice communication system.
2. Procedures for the use of elevators.
3. Procedures for evacuation of non-ambulatory persons.
4. Action to be taken by supervisory staff in initiating smoke control or other fire emergency systems installed in a building in the event of fire until the fire department arrives.
5. Procedures to facilitate fire department access to the building and fire location within the building.

The fire safety plan must be kept in a location for reference by the Fire Department and supervisory staff at the central alarm and control facility, the fire alarm anunciator or in the front entrance of the building for reference by the fire department, supervisory staff and other personnel. 

Burnaby Fire Department requires the Fire Safety Plan contents in the following format: (in a red or red sided binder.)

Annual review of this plan must be performed to keep information current and accurate.

Section 1 - Firefighter Information (with white tabs/red printing)

• Contact telephone numbers of all supervisory staff. Some form of immediate notification to management is required.
• List of names of persons requiring assistance to evacuate structure, including their individual locations and area of refuge, if assigned.
• List of all hazardous areas or dangerous goods. Content amount, exact location with a diagram pinpointing items within a building floor plan. Product classification for each part of building where products of different classification are stored, method of storage, including aisle widths for rack storage, maximum permitted height of storage for the building or part of building, maximum permitted size of individual storage areas, and sprinkler system criteria are all requirements in declaration of storage.
• Method to control a fire emergency and to recover radioactive materials and equipment containing radioactive materials safely and efficiently.
• Location of primary and alternative resources of radiation survey instruments.
• Aerial diagram of property and building listing surrounding streets, lane ways, hydrant(s), compass of North, and fire department connections.
• Floor plans of every floor including parkade, penthouse, and roof.
• Documents, including diagrams, showing the type, location, and operation of the fire protection systems as well as all building systems eg. gas/water shutoffs etc.
• Complete instruction for supervisory staff on how to reset building fire alarm systems.
• Instructions to operate and re-set elevator.

NOTE: Fire Department does not re-set fire alarm systems.

Section 2 - Occupants Instructions

• CAN/ULG 5536-97 - Alternate measures for occupant safety
• Emergency procedures to be used in case of fire, including
• Sounding the fire alarm
• Notification of the fire department
• Evacuation procedures
• Fire drill procedures
• Designation responsibilities of fire safety director or supervisory staff.
• Fire fighting equipment use instructions for extinguishers and fire hose.
• How dangerous goods are to be stored and handled.
• Maximum permitted height of storage for the building or part of building, method of storage, including aisle widths for rack storage, product classifications for each part of building where product of different classification are stored, and maximum permitted size of individual storage are required information for employees.
• Alternate measures for occupant safety - see Appendix B

Section 3 - Maintenance Records

• A copy of all records of inspections and maintenance check sheets for 2 years.

APPENDIX B

B.1 ALTERNATE MEASURES FOR OCCUPANT FIRE SAFETY

B1.1  In the event of any shutdown of fire protection equipment or parts thereof, the Fire Department and building occupants/owner should be notified.  Instruction should be posted as to alternate provisions or actions to be taken in case of an emergency.  These provisions and actions should be acceptable to the Chief Fire Official and be in accordance with the accepted Fire Safety Plan.

B1.2  An attempt to minimize the impact of inoperative equipment should be made (i.e. where portions of a sprinkler, fire alarm system and standpipe system are taken out of service, the remaining portions will be maintained.  Assistance and direction for specific situations should be sought from the Fire Department and be in accordance with the accepted Fire Safety Plan.

B1.3  Procedures to be followed in the event of shutdown of any part of a fire protection system are as follows:

1. Notify the Fire Department and the monitoring station.  Give your name, address and a description of the work and when you expect it to be completed.  The Fire Department should be notified in writing of shutdowns longer than 24hr.
2. Post notices on all floors by elevators and at entrances, stating the work and when it is expected to be completed;
3. Have staff or other reliable person(s) patrol the affected area (s) at least once every hour; and
4. Notify the Fire Department, the monitoring station, and building occupants/owner when work has been completed and systems are operational.