Means of Egress &

Fire Protection
• General Requirements
• Emergency & Fire Prevention
Plans
• Classification of Fires
• Fire Extinguishers
• Sprinkler Systems
• Advantages/Disadvantages of
Fire Extinguisher Types
Subpart E of OSHA’s 1910 Standard Concerns
Safe
and Efficient Means of Leaving a Building or
Facility
in an Emergency

Egress: A place or means

of going out.

Subpart E contains:
• definitions
• general requirements that are
fundamental to safe and
efficient egress from facilities
• detailed requirements to ensure
qualitative/quantitative factors
are covered
Why is Important to Properly
Mark Exits & Know The Way
Out?
Although fire is the most obvious
reason,
there are others:

Toxic Vapors

Natural Disasters Radiation

Exposure
 Still … more hazards include:

Explosions

Smoke

Actions or threats by terrorist

groups, mentally ill persons,
or political radicals
Each hazard can be compounded
by:
• Panic and confusion
• Poor visibility
• Lack of information
and/or
• Misinformation

These factors frequently cause more

injuries and fatalities than the hazard
itself!!!
Subpart E - Means of Egress
Derived from NFPA 101-1970, Life Safety Code
(NFPA - National Fire Protection Association)

It is written for general applicability

The requirements in Subpart E are general and do
not deal specifically with specialized facilities or
out of the ordinary uses of the facilities.
 Definitions (1910.35)

Means of Egress:
A continuous and unobstructed
way of exit travel from any point in
a building or structure to a public
way and consists of three separate
and distinct parts:
-- the way of exit access
-- the exit
-- the way of exit discharge
 Definitions (1910.35)
A means of egress
includes:
- room spaces
- doorways
- hallways

- corridors
- passageways
- escalators - balconies
- courts - lobbies
 Means of Egress:
General Requirements (1910.36)
• This subpart contains general
fundamental requirements essential to
providing a safe means of egress from fire
and like emergencies.
• These are minimum requirements.
• They do not apply to exits from vehicles,
vessels, or other mobile structures.
 Means of Egress:
General Requirements (1910.36)
• Fundamental Requirements:
All buildings, new and old, intended for
human occupancy shall have …
– exits sufficient for prompt and convenient
escape in an emergency
– exits of a certain design that do not
depend solely on any single safeguard
– structures that do not cause danger to
occupants during periods of escape
 Means of Egress:
• Fundamental Requirements:
All buildings, new and old, shall have:
– no locks or devices to prevent an exit in
an emergency except in specialized
facilities (mental, penal, or corrective
institutions where attendants are on duty)
– clearly visible and understandable means
to egress
– doorways and passageways that are
clearly marked “Not an Exit” to prevent
them from being mistaken for exits
 Means of Egress:
• Fundamental Requirements:
All buildings, new and old, shall have:
– adequate and reliable illumination for all
exits in every building or structure
equipped with artificial illumination
– fire alarm systems (when a fire may not
provide adequate warning to occupants
of a building)
– emergency provisions that shall not cause
a hazard under normal occupancy (i.e.,
enough exits)
 During Construction & Repair
•The occupants of the building shall be protected
to the same extent as if construction or repair
were complete.
•The activity shall not create any additional danger
or handicap egress beyond normally permissible
conditions of the
building.
 During Maintenance
• Every exit, way of approach to
an exit, and way of travel from
the exit in to the street or open
space shall be free of all
obstructions … or impediments
to full instant use.
• Every automatic sprinkler system, fire detection
and alarm system, exit lighting, fire door, and other
item or equipment shall be continuously in proper
operating condition.
 Means of Egress, General
(1910.37)
An exit shall consist only of the approved
components. Exit components shall be constructed as
an integral part of the building or shall be
permanently affixed thereto.

What does this mean?

Do not replace parts to exit doors, signs,

lighting etc. with parts that did not come with
them.
 Fire Resistance
The measure of fire resistance is the
fire resistance rating. This is the time
in hours that materials or assemblies
have withstood a fire.

When an exit is protected by separation from other

parts of the building, the separating construction shall
meet the following requirements:
• Three stories or more - 1 hour fire resistance
• Four or more stories - 2 hour fire resistance
• Openings must be protected by approved self-closing
fire doors
 Means of Egress (1910.37)
• Rules to observe:
– Level exits are limited to the use of no more than
100 persons; inclined exits - 60 persons
– The capacity at an exit (means of egress) shall be
sufficient for occupant load of a space served
– Occupant load is the maximum number of persons
that may be in a space at any time
– Exits must be readily accessible at all times
 Means of Egress (1910.37)
• Rules to observe:
– Access to an exit shall NOT be through a bathroom
or other room subject to being locked (except where
the exit serves only that room)
– Access to exits shall be clearly recognizable
– Exit doors shall not be disguised, covered, concealed
or decorated in such a way to confuse their purpose
– Mirrors must not be placed on or near exit doors
– Exit routes shall never be toward a high hazard
location, unless effectively shielded
– Minimum width of any way of exit access is 28 inches
 Exterior Exit Routes
•Are permissible, under certain conditions
•May include flat roof tops, enclosed courtyards,
balconies, etc.
•Have specific requirements:
– Smooth, solid, level floors
– Guard rails on open sides above ground level
– Covered by roof if snow or ice could accumulate
– Permanent, reasonable straight route of travel
– No obstruction to use of exterior access route
– No dead ends longer than 20 feet
 Discharge from Exits
• Must discharge directly to the street, yard, court,
or other open space leading to the street
• The discharge area (including the street) shall be
large enough to accommodate all who leave the
building from the exit
• Stairs and other exits shall be so arranged as to
make clear the direction of exit to the street
 Means of Egress - A Wrap-up
• Must have a minimum ceiling height of 7’6”
• Lights from the ceiling shall be at least 6’8” from the floor
• If an exit is not level, stairs or ramps must be used
• Exit alarms installed to restrict the improper use of an
exit shall not prevent the emergency use of the exit
• Furnishings & decorations cannot obstruct an exit
• Every exit shall be marked by a clearly visible sign with the
word EXIT in plainly legible letters at least 6” high (and
3/4” wide letters)
 Means of Egress - A Wrap-up
• Exit signs shall be illuminated either by an internal
or external means by a “reliable” light source
giving a value of not less than 5 foot-candles
on the illuminated source
• When the way to an exit is not readily apparent,
signs or markings similar to exit signs shall be
provided with the
direction to the exit
 Emergency & Fire Prevention
Plans (1910.38)
•More than 10 employees - must be in writing
•Must include:
– Escape procedures
– Escape route assignments
– Critical operations shutdown
procedure
– Rescue & medical duty
assignments
– Means of reporting fires & emergencies
– Identification of responsible persons for further info
– Procedure to account for all personnel
Alarm System (1910.165)
• Established by employers to the
requirements of OSHA 1910.165
• Alarm should be audible or seen by
all people in the plant
• Should have auxiliary power supply
• Alarm sound be distinctive (recognizable
as a signal to evacuate)
• Signals performance of emergency
action operations
 Evacuation
•Types of evacuation must be
in emergency action plan
•Employees must know their
roles in each type of emergency
•Refuge/Safe areas should be determined and identified
in the emergency action plan
•Exterior safe areas may include
– Parking lots
– Open Fields
– Streets
•Employees must clear area for emergency operations
 Emergency Training
• Employees must be trained before implementing
emergency plans
• Training for each type of disaster response is
necessary (so employees know what to do)
• Employer shall review emergency plan with each
employee when:
– the plan is developed
– employee responsibilities or actions change
– the plan is changed
Personal Protection

•Essential to personnel exposed to

hazardous substances
•Employees may be exposed to a wide
variety of hazardous substances in
an emergency
•Employees must be adequately protected
in those situations (especially those
assigned to get employees out and/or
stay behind)
 Medical Assistance
• Employers are required to have:
-- personnel trained to render first aid
-- eye wash stations (where employees are
exposed to corrosive materials)
-- the ready availability of medical personnel
for advice and consultation on matters
of employee health (health care does
not need to be provided, but medical help
must be available to resolve problems
 Fire Prevention Plan
Must include the following elements:

1 - List of all major work place hazards

(including proper handling and storage procedures,
potential ignition sources,and type of fire equipment
or systems to control a fire involving them)
2 - Names or job titles of equipment maintenance
personnel
(and those responsible for ignition prevention or
control systems)
3 - Names or job titles of those responsible for control of
fuel source hazards
 Fire Prevention Plan
Plans must also include:
•Housekeeping of flammable & combustible waste
materials and residues
•Employee review of the fire prevention plan
•Availability - by placing the plan in the workplace
•Employee training - to apprise them of the fire hazards
of materials & processes to which they are exposed
•Maintenance of equipment and systems that produce
heat to prevent accidental ignition of combustible
materials
 Fire Detection Systems - 1910.164
- Only approved devices/ equipment may
be used
- Shall be restored to normal operating
condition as soon as possible after test
- Must be maintained in an operable condition except during
repairs or maintenance
- Must be tested and adjusted as often as needed to maintain
proper reliability and operating conditions
- Servicing, maintenance and testing must be done by a
trained person knowledgeable in the operations and
functions of the system
- Protect outdoor equipment from corrosion
 Fire Detection Systems - 1910.164
- Detection equipment must be located and/or protected from
mechanical or physical impact
- Systems shall be designed to operate in time to control or
extinguish a fire
- Must be designed and installed to provide a warning for
emergency action and safe escape of employees
- The number, location, and spacing of
fire detectors must be based on
design data obtained from:
- Field experience
- Tests
- Surveys
- Mfg. Recommendations
 Employee Alarm Systems - 1910.165
- Shall:
- Provide warning for necessary
emergency action & safe escape
- Shall be perceived above ambient
noise or light levels by all employees
in the affected workplace areas
- Must be distinctive & recognizable as a signal to
evacuate
- Employer shall explain to each employee the preferred means
of reporting emergencies (manual pull boxes, public
address system, radio, telephone, etc.)
- All devices must be approved
 Employee Alarm Systems - 1910.165
- All employee alarm systems must be
restored to normal operating condition
as promptly as possible after test or
alarm
- Shall be maintained in operating condition
(except when undergoing repair/maintenance)
- Shall be tested for reliability/adequacy every 2 months
(for non-supervised alarm systems)
- Supervised employee alarm systems must be test annually
for reliability and adequacy
- Servicing, maintenance and testing must be done by trained
persons
HOUR 3 QUIZ . 4. Exterior safe areas include all of the
1. A means of egress is defined as a following, except:
continuous and unobstructed way of exit a. Parking lots
travel from a specific point in a building b. Open Fields
or structure to a public way and consists of c Alley ways
three separate and distinct parts. d Streets
True_______ False_________
5. A fire involving energized electrical
2. Exterior exit routes have specific equipment is classified as a:
requirements. These are: a. Class A fire
a. No dead ends longer then 10 feet b Class B fire
b. Open, irregardless of the weather c Class C fire
c. Smooth, solid, level floors d Class D fire
d. Guard rails on all sides above
ground level.

3. Emergency and fire prevention plans

must be in writing if an employer has
more than 10 employees.
True________ False__________
 Hour 3 Quiz - Answers
• 1. False. Means of egress must be from any point
in a building or structure - not a specific point.
• 2. C.
• 3. True.
• 4. C.
• 5. C.