There are many incidents noted on construction sites every year. Some of them are fatal and cause significant destruction to buildings undergoing renovation or completely new projects. This post will shed some light on the potential reasons that can lead to fire and how to prevent them while working on a project for a public sector construction site.
Fire Risks at the Construction Site
The two major sectors that need utmost attention are the fuel and ignition systems. If necessary, steps are followed in advance, the hazard of fire can be stopped or reduced.
Ignition Hazards
- Electrical Faults
- Hot Working
- Smoking
- Temporary Lighting
- Portable Heaters
Fuel Risks
- Inflammable Building Elements
- Temporary Covering Material
- Combustible Gases & Liquid
- Waste Materials
Fire Safety Tips To Prevent or Dealing
- Emergency Routes & Exits
The basic code to escape from the fire is to pass it safely and reach a secure place. This can be a staircase or a completely secure palace outside the construction site. It also needs to be noted here that the construction site might be surrounded by already developed buildings, and hence, there might be no or partial exit. Especially in urban and congested areas. The exit routes should be clear and directed by the signs to minimise the human life threat.
- Fire Detection and Alarms
If the site is the smallest, a shout of ‘fire’ may be sufficient. While on the small sites, a standalone unit may be acceptable. However, when the site grows in size, the prerequisite extends to entire fire detection and an interconnected alarm system. The elementary requirement is for call points and sounders to let all workers and engineers know about the threat. These systems could be wired or wireless and may need to be adjusted according to the use.
- Fire Extinguishers
The type of fire extinguishers is decided according to the materials present on the site. The six primary fire extinguisher categories are water, foam, CO2, powder, water mist and wet chemical. These are further divided into classes like A, B, C, D, Electrical and F. In addition, this equipment should be placed appropriately in easily approachable places.
- Hot Work Permits
There should be proper safeguards followed when using hot work near combustible stuff. It is suggested to remove the inflammable materials from the place where hot work needs to be done. If this is not possible, wetting the combustible material can be a good idea. Hot work permits should be taken for all the hot work processes. It will help make the workers aware of the hazards. There should be fire checks to ensure that all safety guidelines are being followed.
- Dedicated Smoking Area
As aforementioned, smoking is a possible cause of combustion. As a result, it is critical to establish a designated smoking section in a secure location away from any liquid fuels at a remote location from the building site.
- Watch Out Heaters
Building sites may be freezing, especially in the winter. Temporary heaters are useful to keep the workers warm. These heaters, on the other hand, must be properly built in a safe location and have precautions in place. Heaters should not be covered or turned off while not in use, and they should be maintained away from flammable items.
In a Crux
Adequate site administration is essential, as is the prevention of fires from starting and spreading. These recommendations will, of course, be applicable to a wide range of locations, including public-sector construction sites.