Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-24 - General safety and health standards › Part G-3 - FIRE SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT › Section 296-24-61799 - Appendix A-Fixed extinguishing systems, general

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Scope and application.
This
				section contains the general requirements that are applicable to all fixed
				extinguishing systems installed to meet DOSH standards. It also applies to
				those fixed extinguishing systems, generally total flooding, which are not
				required by DOSH, but which, because of the agent's discharge, may expose
				employees to hazardous concentrations of extinguishing agents or combustion
				by-products. Employees who work around fixed extinguishing systems must be
				warned of the possible hazards associated with the system and its agent. For
				example, fixed dry chemical extinguishing systems may generate a large enough
				cloud of dry chemical particles that employees may become visually disoriented.
				Certain gaseous agents can expose employees to hazardous by-products of
				combustion when the agent comes into contact with hot metal or other hot
				surface. Some gaseous agents may be present in hazardous concentrations when
				the system has totally discharged because an extra rich concentration is
				necessary to extinguish deep-seated fires. Certain local application systems
				may be designed to discharge onto the flaming surface of a liquid, and it is
				possible that the liquid can splatter when hit with the discharging agent. All
				of these hazards must be determined before the system is placed into operation,
				and must be discussed with employees.
Based on the known toxicological effects of agents such as
				  carbon tetrachloride and chlorobromomethane, DOSH is not permitting the use of
				  these agents in areas where employees can be exposed to the agent or its side
				  effects. However, chlorobromomethane has been accepted and may be used as an
				  explosion suppression agent in unoccupied spaces. DOSH is permitting the use of
				  this agent only in areas where employees will not be exposed.
(2)
Distinctive alarm signals.
A
				distinctive alarm signal is required to indicate that a fixed system is
				discharging. Such a signal is necessary on those systems where it is not
				immediately apparent that the system is discharging. For example, certain
				gaseous agents make a loud noise when they discharge. In this case, no alarm
				signal is necessary. However, where systems are located in remote locations or
				away from the general work area and where it is possible that a system could
				discharge without anyone knowing that it is doing so, then a distinctive alarm
				is necessary to warn employees of the hazards that may exist. The alarm can be
				a bell, gong, whistle, horn, flashing light, or any combination of signals as
				long as it is identifiable as a discharge alarm.
(3)
Maintenance.
The employer is
				responsible for the maintenance of all fixed systems, but this responsibility
				does not preclude the use of outside contractors to do such work. New systems
				should be subjected to an acceptance test before placed in service. The
				employer should invite the installer, designer, insurance representative and
				others to witness the test. Problems found during the test need to be corrected
				before the system is considered operational.
(4)
Manual discharge stations.
There are instances, such as for mechanical reasons and others, where the
				standards call for a manual backup activation device. While the location of
				this device is not specified in the standard, the employer should assume that
				the device should be located where employees can easily reach it. It could, for
				example, be located along the main means of egress from the protected area so
				that employees could activate the system as they evacuate the work
				area.
(5)
Personal protective
				equipment.
The employer is required to provide the necessary personal
				protective equipment to rescue employees who may be trapped in a totally
				flooded environment which may be hazardous to their health. The equipment would
				normally include a positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus and any
				necessary first-aid equipment. In cases where the employer can assure the
				prompt arrival of the local fire department or plant emergency personnel which
				can provide the equipment, this can be considered as complying with the
				standards.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					  49.17.040 and
					 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order
					 81-32), § 296-24-61799, filed
					 12/24/81.