TECHNICAL RESPONSE PLANNING

Fire Pre-Plans

Fire Pre-Plans
International Fire Code 101.3 The purpose of this fire code is to establish the minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practice for providing a reasonable level of life safety and property protection for the hazards of fire, explosion or dangerous conditions in new and existing buildings, structures and premises and to provide for the safety of fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

Fire pre-plans provide useful information for responding to fires in industrial facilities. Identification of pertinent site-specific information and up-to-date visual images can greatly assist firefighters in understanding location of hazards and develop strategy for fire response and rescues, which reduces the potential for injuries and property damage. What are the Objectives of Fire Pre-Plans? Pre-plans can remove many of the uncertainties from your organization's emergency planning strategy and tactical decision-making processes. It can greatly enhance the detail of an emergency response plan, giving the responders every possible advantage in responding effectively to a fire. As a result, your local responder will not enter into an emergency situation blindly. Pre-plans should meet the National Fire Academy standards for Incident Command (ICS), the concepts within the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and industry specific NFPA standards. Why Develop Fire Pre-Plans? Developing fire pre-plans allows companies and facilities to document specific firefighting information in one location. Companies that develop fire pre-plans can lower its liability, both in dollar amounts and potential affected lives. Fire pre-plan details allow for more effective communications and improved responder safety. In addition, the process of developing fire pre-plans identifies foam and water quantities that must be available, and other resources that must be acquired or identified.

The development of a fire pre-plan can greatly reduce the potential for injuries and property damage.

Fire pre-plans enhance and verify: Emergency Procedures Tactical considerations Personnel accountability Contact information for emergency services

Key Elements of Fire Pre-Plans Detailed fire pre-plans provide information that allows firefighters and emergency responders to quickly assess fires and initiate response with minimal delays. The more specific and applicable information responders can obtain prior to an incident, the better equipped they are to respond quickly and effectively. Key elements of the fire pre plan may vary. Buildings, tanks, and processing units each have distinctive properties that should be clearly identified in a fire pre plan. The following are key information for each type of pre-plan. Building Fire Pre-Plan Information General Information: Address and other location details Construction and roofing materials Building use and contents Access/egress points Hours of operation Occupant considerations Fire Protection Equipment Type of smoke detectors Description and location of fire extinguishers Location of fire hydrants Identification of water-based fire protection sources Alarms/Emergency Lighting Description of emergency lighting and alarms Special Hazards Type and location of hazardous or flammable materials in the building Power lines/transformers Railroads or pipelines Building floor plans Emergency exits Utility shutoff locations Evacuation routes Location of hazardous materials Photographs Aerial photograph showing building and surrounding area Ground-level photographs of building
Building fire pre-plans should include aerial photographs that show the building and surrounding area.

Tank Fire Pre-Plan Information Tank Specifications Roof type Capacity Dimensions Surface area Insulation Dike surface area Secondary Containment capacity Drain valve location(s) Exposures Foam Requirements Application method Foam type Foam percentage minimum Foam solution application rate Foam water solution flow rate Application duration Foam dam spacing Supplemental foam hose lines Total water required Total foam concentration required Tank Content Information Product NFPA classification Vapor pressure Flash point Upper explosive limit Lower explosive limit Vapor density IDLH ppm. Auto ignition temperature Water solubility API gravity Physical state Product temperature Special Procedures Notification Procedures Tactics

Tank specifications and product information are key elements to a tank fire pre-plan.

Process Unit Fire Pre-Plan General Aerial and ground photographs Emergency shutdown locations Fire monitor locations Process Information Products handled/produced Worst-case scenario Recovery methods Response Actions Tactics Available Response Equipment Fire Protection Equipment Special Hazards MSDS information An overview of firefighting methods for specific hazardous materials (LPG, flammables, combustibles, etc.) can also be included in a fire pre-plan. Providing this information to first responders is crucial and improves the potential for a successful response. Importance of Sharing Fire Pre-Plans with Response Personnel: The faster the first responders can locate, assess, access, and mitigate the emergency, the sooner the incident will be contained and facility operations restored to business as usual. Industrial fires can escalate quickly and the potential danger to lives and the environment can exponentially increase. Having up-to-date information readily available, and in the hands and heads of those responding to the emergency has been proven to limit the duration of the emergency. Available Formats for Fire Pre-Plans: Paper plans are typically not as effective as a web-based system due to large amount of data required, maintenance requirements, accessibility, and consistency. With database driven, web-based fire pre-plans, responders can search for specific data needed within a matter of seconds, access web cams for real time information, view on smart phones, or download planning information. Utilizing a web based system also allows for seamless maintenance and timely updates. Site and material modifications, as well as other informational changes need to be managed and updated into the fire pre-plan often to ensure a proper response. The plans are only effective if the information is accurate.

Industrial fires can escalate quickly and the potential danger to lives and the environment can exponentially increase.

Are Fire Pre-Plans a Federal Requirement? The purpose of fire pre-plans is to ensure a coordinated and safe response in the event of a fire, and to enhance Emergency Response Plans. The information listed in a fire pre-plan is required by multiple agencies, including OSHA as part of an overall emergency response plan. There has been discussion that NFPA 1620, the standard for pre incident planning, is on track to become a regulatory required standard. However, there are special industrial facility NFPA classifications that require additional detailed information that can be provided in a fire preplan.

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Technical Response Planning Corporation (TRP) develops world-class, Web-based planning systems for emergency, business continuity, security and related planning needs. TRP is a trusted planning partner of many Fortune 100 companies, including BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and General Motors. With more than 10,000 plans deployed on its Web-based planning system, TRP helps businesses to: Develop and maintain consistent and usable plans, Address regulatory compliance deficiencies, Improve plan access, and Simplify plan maintenance and administration.

TRPs staff is comprised of industry and public responders and other professionals dedicated to providing experienced consulting services. To discover how TRP integrates planning best practices with Web-based, database driven technologies to gain control over the planning process, click here to Request a Demo. Or feel free to contact us at: (281) 955-9600 Main Office (281) 955-0369 Fax Email: info@trpcorp.com Web: www.emergency-response-planning.com

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