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 296-24-61703 - General requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) You must
				ensure that fixed extinguishing system components and agents are designed and
				approved for use on the specific fire hazards they are expected to control or
				extinguish.
(2) You must notify
				employees and take the necessary temporary precautions to assure their safety
				until the system is restored to operating order if for any reason a fixed
				extinguishing system becomes inoperable. Any defects or impairments must be
				properly corrected by trained personnel.
(3) You must provide a distinctive alarm or
				signaling system which complies with WAC
				296-800-310, and is capable of
				being perceived above ambient noise or light levels, on all extinguishing
				systems in those portions of the workplace covered by the extinguishing system
				to indicate when the extinguishing system is discharging. Discharge alarms are
				not required on systems where discharge is immediately recognizable.
(4) You must provide effective safeguards to
				warn employees against entry into discharge areas where the atmosphere remains
				hazardous to employee safety or health.
(5) You must post hazard warning or caution
				signs at the entrance to, and inside of, areas protected by fixed extinguishing
				systems which use agents in concentrations known to be hazardous to employee
				safety and health.
(6) You must
				ensure that fixed systems are inspected annually by a person knowledgeable in
				the design and function of the system to assure that the system is maintained
				in good operating condition.
(7)
				You must ensure that the weight and pressure of refillable containers is
				checked at least semiannually. If the container shows a loss in net content or
				weight of more than 5%, or a loss in pressure of more than 10%, it must be
				subjected to maintenance.
(8) You
				must ensure that factory charged nonrefillable containers which have no means
				of pressure indication are weighed at least semiannu-ally. If a container shows
				a loss in net weight of more than 5 percent it must be replaced.
(9) You must ensure that inspection and
				maintenance dates are recorded on the container, on a tag attached to the
				container, or in a central location. A record of the last semiannual check must
				be maintained until the container is checked again or for the life of the
				container, whichever is less.
(10)
				You must train employees designated to inspect, maintain, operate, or repair
				fixed extinguishing systems and annually review their training to keep them
				up-to-date in the functions they are to perform.
(11) You must not use chlorobro-momethane or
				carbon tetrachloride as an extinguishing agent where employees may be
				exposed.
(12) You must ensure that
				systems installed in the presence of corrosive atmospheres are constructed of
				noncorrosive material or otherwise protected against corrosion.
(13) You must ensure that automatic detection
				equipment is approved, installed and maintained in accordance with WAC
				296-24-629.
(14) You must ensure that all systems
				designed for and installed in areas with climatic extremes operate effectively
				at the expected extreme temperatures.
(15) You must ensure that at least one manual
				station is provided for discharge activation of each fixed extinguishing
				system.
(16) You must ensure that
				manual operating devices are identified as to the hazard against which they
				will provide protection.
(17) You
				must provide and assure the use of the personal protective equipment needed for
				immediate rescue of employees trapped in hazardous atmospheres created by an
				agent discharge.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					  49.17.010,
					 49.17.040,
					 49.17.050, and
					 49.17.060. 04-07-161, §
					 296-24-61703, filed 3/23/04, effective 6/1/04. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					  49.17.040 and
					 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order
					 81-32), § 296-24-61703, filed
					 12/24/81.