1) This Section applies to buildings, parts of buildings, and associated areas undergoing
construction or demolition operations, including
renovations.
2) The degree of application of this Section to each
construction or demolition project shall be determined as part
of the fire safety plan prior to the commencement of operations.
(See Appendix A.)
1) Prior to the commencement of construction or
demolition operations, a fire safety plan conforming to Section 2.8. shall be prepared for the site.
2) The fire safety plan shall include
a)the designation and organization of site personnel to carry out fire safety duties, including a fire watch service if applicable,
b)the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire, including
i)sounding the fire alarm,
ii)notifying the fire department,
iii)instructing site personnel on the procedures to be followed when the alarm sounds, and
iv)firefighting procedures,
c)measures for controlling fire hazards in and around the building (see Appendix A), and
d)a maintenance procedure for firefighting facilities (see Appendix A).
1) Fire safety at construction sites and demolition
sites shall conform to this Section.
1) Unobstructed access to fire hydrants, portable
extinguishers and to fire department connections for
standpipe and sprinkler systems shall be
maintained.
2) Where practicable, access routes for fire
department vehicles shall be provided to construction and
demolition sites. (See Appendix A.)
3) Where a construction or demolition site is fenced
so as to prevent general entry, provision shall be made for
access by fire department equipment and
personnel.
1) In addition to the other requirements of this
Code, portable extinguishers shall be provided
a)adjacent to cutting or welding operations,
b)in areas where combustibles are stored,
c)near or on any internal combustion engines,
d)adjacent to areas where flammable liquids or gases are stored or handled,
e)adjacent to temporary oil-fired or gas-fired equipment, and
f)adjacent to bitumen heating equipment.
2) The extinguishers required by Sentence (1) shall have a minimum rating of
a)2-A:10-B:C on moveable equipment, and
b)4-A:40-B:C in all other locations.
1) Where a standpipe system is to be
installed in a building under construction, the system shall be installed
progressively in conformance with Subsection 3.2.5.
of the BCBC.
2) Where a building being demolished floor by floor is equipped with a standpipe
system, the system, together with fire department
connections and valves, shall be maintained in operable
condition on all storeys below the one being demolished, except for the storey immediately below it. (See Appendix A.)
1) Cutting and welding operations shall conform to
Section 5.2.
1) In areas of a building where construction operations are taking place, at least one
exit shall be accessible and usable at all times.
2) In buildings being demolished, at least one stairway shall be maintained in
usable condition at all times.
1) A system shall be provided to alert site personnel
of a fire.
2) The system required by Sentence (1) shall be capable of being heard throughout the building.
1) Except as required in Sentence (2) and except for water supplies for firefighting, building services shall be shut off and gas and fuel lines shall be capped in a building being demolished.
2) Temporary electrical installations shall be
installed in conformance with the British
Columbia Safety Standards Act and pursuant regulations.
1) Internal combustion engines shall be located so
that their exhaust discharges not less than 500 mm from
combustible materials.
2) Where exhaust from internal combustion engines is
piped to the outdoors, a clearance of not less than 150 mm
shall be maintained between the exhaust pipe and any
combustible material.
3) The clearance between combustible materials
and temporary heating equipment, including flues, shall be in conformance with Part 6 of the British Columbia Building Code or in conformance
with the minimum clearances shown on certified heating
equipment.
1) Fuel supplies for heating equipment and internal
combustion engines shall conform to
a)CAN/CSA-B139-M, “Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment,” or
b)the British Columbia Safety Standards Act and pursuant regulations.
1) Tanks, piping and machinery reservoirs at a
demolition site that contain combustible liquids or flammable liquids or that are likely to contain flammable
vapours shall be drained and, except as permitted by Sentence (2), removed prior to the demolition of the building.
2) Where it is impracticable to remove tanks, piping
or machinery reservoirs from the building prior to demolition, such equipment shall be conspicuously identified and removed as soon as conditions
permit.
3) Tanks, piping and machinery reservoirs referred to
in Sentences (1) and (2) that once contained combustible liquids, flammable liquids or flammable gases shall be purged with inert materials
prior to demolition to prevent an explosion. (See Appendix A.)
1) Where part of a building continues to be occupied, the occupied part shall be
separated from the part being demolished or constructed by a
fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 h.
1) A watch, with tours at intervals of not more than
1 h, shall be provided throughout demolition sites when
there are occupants in the portion of the building not being demolished.
2) Except where a building is provided with a fire alarm system or similar equipment, a
watch, with tours at intervals of not more than 1 h, shall
be provided when a portion of the building is occupied while construction operations are taking place.
3) Facilities shall be provided to enable the watcher
referred to in Sentences (1) and (2) to communicate with the fire department.
1) Smoking shall be permitted only if Subsection 2.4.2. is complied with.
1) Combustible liquids and flammable liquids shall be stored and used in conformance with Part 4.
2) Bitumen heating equipment at a construction site
shall be provided with metal covers.
3) Bitumen heating equipment at a construction site
shall be under constant supervision when in
operation.
4) Mops that have been used for spreading bitumen
shall be kept outside the building in a safe location when not in use.
1) Fabrics and films used to temporarily enclose buildings shall be securely fastened to prevent them from being blown against heaters or other
ignition sources.
1) Combustible refuse in sufficient quantities to
constitute a fire hazard shall be moved to a safe
location. (See also Subsection 8.2.5. of the British
Columbia Building Code).
1) During demolition operations, measures shall be
taken to protect the public in conformance with CSA S350-M,
“Code of Practice for Safety in Demolition of Structures,”
and this Section.
1) Except as provided in Article 5.6.2.2., before excavation begins, all existing gas, electrical,
water, steam and other services shall be shut off, capped
and labelled so as to permit them to be easily identified
outside the limits of the excavation.
2) The service company whose service connections will
be affected shall be notified before any action mentioned in
Sentence (1) is taken and, if it is necessary to maintain any service, it
shall be
a)relocated as necessary, and
b)protected from damage so as to keep the public safe.
1) Existing gas, electrical, water, steam and other
services are permitted to be left within the area of the
excavation provided that
a)before work begins, the service company concerned has approved the proposed method of operation,
b)the location of the services is determined before excavation commences,
c)a suitable method of excavation is adopted that will ensure that the services are not damaged, and
d)the services are provided with suitable temporary supports.
