Loss Prevention Services
Protecting Our Global Community of Customers

Precautions During
Vacated or Idle Production Periods
INTRODUCTION
Facilities can be idled temporarily or long term for a variety ofreasons. During idle conditions, it is important to maintain key
facility systems to ensure safe conditions for the building andequipment to minimize the risk of property damage.
The checklist below is a guide to identify action items forcompletion before, during, and upon resumption of operations
at your facility. Specific site requirements will vary depending
on conditions. Please contact your loss control consultant or
account engineer at Tokio Marine America to discuss questions
specific to your facility.

I.

Precautions

A. HeatDuring cold weather, maintain sufficient heat in facility buildings to prevent frozen sprinklers or other wet
pipe fire service lines. Heat all areas of a building protected by wet pipe sprinkler systems to a minimumof 40oF (3oC). Temperatures in remote corners should be checked daily. Branch lines near windows or
outside walls are subject to freezing even when the center of the structure is properly heated.

B. Electric Power
1. Maintain lights in service throughout the idle period.
2. Maintain power for fire pumps, fuel burners used for heating purposes, and ventilation fans inflammable liquids rooms that contain storage.
3. Open all power circuits that are not required for emergency use. Use proper lockout procedures on
idled process equipment to prevent unauthorized start-up.
4. De-energize transformers that are not used to provide power for fire pumps or other necessary
equipment and lighting.
5. Eliminate unnecessary electrical equipment and other such ignition sources.

Precautions During
Vacated or Idle Production Periods
C. Inspection Program
1. During freezing weather, check the temperature of the water in gravity tanks and reservoirs daily.
2. Continue the established fire system inspections as outlined in applicable NFPA Standards.
•NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems•

NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®

•NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives•

NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®

•NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives•

NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems3. Maintain all sprinkler systems in service. Consider conversion to dry pipe sprinkler systems in cold
climate areas. Where buildings are of combustible construction, maintain automatic sprinklers inoperating condition.
4. Maintain all fire protection water supplies in service. Schedule periodic maintenance of all fire
protection systems.
5. Conduct briefings with the responding fire and police departments regarding the status and current
condition of the facility. Give tours of the facility to first responders and information on changes inmethods of access to pumper connections, buildings, power distribution, etc.
D. Facility Security Patrols
The safety of vacated and idled facilities depends largely upon constant and competent security service.
Before a facility is idled, it is important to reexamine the security personnel's knowledge of theiremergency duties and the facility’s protective equipment.
1. Provide hourly, recorded security patrols throughout the facility at all times to detect unauthorized
entrance or possible fire conditions. Maintain combination security/fire alarm systems in operating
condition.
Note: Where onsite security cannot be maintained, ensure that intrusion burglary alarm systems are
kept in service.
A daily site tour by facility maintenance / engineering personnel is highly recommended.
2. Closely supervise any yard storage. Maintain all combustible storage at least 50-ft away from thebuildings and twenty-five feet from all fence or perimeter lines and adjacent properties. Maintain any
plastic storage a minimum of 150-ft. from buildings.
If the recommended separation distances are not possible, then remove storage from property.
3. Control weeds and brush to reduce the potential for exposure fires.
4. Maintain perimeter security fencing, lighting, video surveillance as provided for the facility.

Precautions During
Vacated or Idle Production Periods
E. No Smoking
1. Establish No Smoking rules on the property and inside vacated or idle facilities. Communicate
consequences for careless behavior to all employees and contractors on the premises.
F. Fire Doors
1. Keep all self-closing fire doors at vacated and idle facilities closed.
2. Maintain automatic fire doors in proper operating condition and keep communicating openings freefrom obstruction.
G. Flammable Liquids Storage Room Ventilation
1. Keep ventilation fans for flammable liquids storage rooms in operation as long as the room contains
flammable liquids storage.
2. Ensure all containers and cabinets are kept closed to minimize possible flammable vapors or liquid
releases.
3. Flammable liquid systems requiring constant recirculation should be drained and cleaned. For safety,
these systems should be filled with an alternate inert gas (N2) or liquid. Recirculation systems kept inservice during idle production periods should not be left unattended.
H. Maintenance of Fire Systems and Protective Equipment1. Immediately repair any defective yard mains, gravity tanks, reservoirs, fire pumps, hydrants, sprinkler
equipment, and alarm devices. Immediate repair of fixed carbon dioxide and foam systems are
required only if the devices are protecting stored liquids, gases, or process equipment that remains ahazard.
2. At vacated facilities, maintain and test fire extinguishers, hose lines, self-contained breathingapparatus, etc. The property insurance carrier may also continue to make periodic inspections andwater flow tests.
3. Perform hydrostatic tests for underground water mains with pressures operating at less than 125-psi(8.6-gars). The normal interval for testing is five-years.
4. At facilities that have been idled, continue all appropriate testing, recharging, maintenance, etc. of thefire extinguishers, hose, and other portable fire protection equipment.
5. Strictly control cutting and welding operations. Do not allow hot work operations without using theTokio Marine Hot Work Permit system under the supervision of facility security personnel assigned
to a fire watch.

II.

Resume Operations

A. Fire Protection Systems
1. A day or two before an idle facility resumes operations, perform a regular weekly inspection of fire
protection equipment.
2. Give special attention to drain tests, the fire pump, gravity tank, reservoir, all control valves, fixedfoam and carbon dioxide devices.

Precautions During
Vacated or Idle Production Periods
3. If the shutdown or idle production period has been lengthy, arrange for a manufacturer's inspectionof special extinguishing systems (clean agent gas, wet/dry chemical, and foam devices).
4. Do not resume facility production until all fire protection systems and equipment in the area areoperational.
B. Process Equipment
Fuel Fired Equipment (Oil, Gas, Propane)
1. Ensure the burner valves on gas equipment are in the closed position before opening the main gasvalve.
2. Ventilate gas equipment thoroughly.
3. Assign experienced personnel to light-off equipment. Make sure they follow established safe
procedures.
4. For electrical equipment, open the motor control switch at each machine before closing the feeder
switches.
Process Piping and Vessels for Gases and Liquids
Follow established procedures for inspecting and testing piping and vessels prior to pressurization andintroduction of hazardous materials. Flammable, combustible, or toxic liquids and gases are of special
concern, but water and other inert materials can also pose a hazard when re-introduced to idle equipment.
1. Test piping and vessels for leakage prior to charging. Note that using an inert liquid for hydrostatic
testing reduces the risk of violent mechanical failure (pressurized gases expand upon release).
2. Follow established procedures for re-charging process lines before start-up. When introducing
flammable liquids or gases into systems that have been left open to atmosphere, explosive mixtures
can form unless proper inert purge procedures are followed.
NOTES: Keep in mind these guidelines are general in nature. Deviations to established start-up procedures require
advance approval by Corporate Risk Management teams and facility personnel.
After long-term shutdowns (>6-months), a survey by the property insurance carrier may be requested prior to resuming
operations to assist with recommended good practices specific to your facility.
For assistance, please contact our Tokio Marine America Loss Control Department toll free at (888) 525-2942
OrEmail us at TMALossControl@tmamerica.com

A service of the Tokio Marine America Loss Control Department.
TMM is committed to the highest customer trust.
We exist to deliver ANSHIN (safety, security and peace of mind) to our customers by providing the highest quality services.
This information is provided solely as a client service. Tokio Marine Management, Inc. does not represent, warrant, or guarantee the appropriateness, validity or accuracy of this information in every situation.
This information does not necessarily cover every possible condition, protection, hazard, situation or exposure and is not warranted to comply with laws, regulations, codes or standards in every jurisdiction.
This information is representative of reasonable practices in the industry. However, you may wish to investigate whether these recommendations are applicable to your specific operations. Loss control is theresponsibility of your management. | © 2020 Tokio Marine America, All Rights Reserved.
Tokio Marine America (TMA) is the marketing name for Tokio Marine America Insurance Company (TMAIC), Trans Pacific Insurance Company (TPI), and TNUS Insurance Company (TNUS).