Penryn Fire Protection District

Annual Inspection Newsletter

 2012 Annual Business Inspection Newsletter

Why do we perform Inspections?

It’s the law. State and local fire codes require every business receive a fire inspection regularly. Those inspections will greatly reduce the occurrence of injury and fire in your business.

A note regarding how inspections are taking place….

Commercial Inspections are vital to the district of Penryn. Businesses, Places of Assembly all will be inspected. We want you to be successful in your business and we want the firefighters to go home safely after an incident.

The following plan is taking place in our district in three stages. You may have already seen us at your business. We have already been to 98% of the businesses and have educated most on the 2010 California Fire Codes. We have collected all businesses, places of assembly, and other commercial establishments, names, emergency contacts, along with emergency contact phone numbers. Secondly, we will be around to perform what is called a “Target Hazard Survey”. The Target Hazard Survey consists of information regarding the building, closest hydrant, electrical and gas shut off, its contents, and the health and safety information for firefighters. All Surveys will be collected, placed in a folder and stored in our emergency response units. Thirdly we will be conducting a business inspection later in the year.

What can you do?

The best way to prepare for your upcoming inspection is to follow the prevention measures outlined in this brochure.

How can we help?

The Penryn Fire Prevention Officer is trained and skilled in the current fire code requirements and will be glad to answer any questions that you may have regarding your upcoming inspection.

What we are looking for……

Good Housekeeping:

Remove trash daily to a dumpster that is away from your building, covered and locked.

Keep Exits, hallways, corridors and isles clear of storage and clutter.

Ensure EXIT signs are up and illuminated. If a door is blocked, it should be marked on the outside “THIS DOOR BLOCKED”.

Keep outside brush and weeds away from the building.

What to Expect….

A Uniformed Penryn Fire Inspector will:

• Visit your facility during normal business hours (if in doubt ask for the inspectors credentials).
• Always be courteous and considerate of your time.
•  Comply with the best time to conduct the required inspection.
• Always clearly state inspection results in writing with a re-inspection date if necessary.

Business Owner Self-Inspection Guidelines

By following these self-inspection guidelines, you decrease the chances that a fire will destroy your business. These fire safety inspections focus on maintaining a safe work environment and keeping your business in business!

Remember …the inspections are for Fire Safety and Life Safety. They are for you and the firefighters who will arrive when needed and go home safely that day or night.

Access

      The address on the building shall be visible from the street, numbers shall contrast with their background, and suite numbers shall be above front entry and contrast with background.  Rear doors shall be labeled with address and suite number.  Current keys shall be provided for the Fire Department Knox Box where used.

Exits

      When a keyed lock is used at the front entry/exit, provide a sign over the front door stating “This Door Must Remain Unlocked during Business Hours”

      With the exception of the front entry/exit, all locking hardware must be single-action,requiring only one motion to unlock the door and exit. The use of thumb-turn deadbolts are allowed only when inner-connected to the door handle.

Exit doors shall not be locked, chained, bolted, barred, latched or otherwise rendered unusable. Manually operated flush/surface bolts are prohibited.

      Remove storage and obstructions from all exits, aisles, corridors, and stairways.

When the building is equipped with illuminated exit signs, they shall be maintained at all times.

Fire Protection Systems:

A 2A:10BC fire extinguisher is required in any office area and may serve a maximum of 3,000 square feet with a travel distance no greater than 75 feet. Larger rated fire extinguishers are required as determined by the fire department for areas such as warehouses, workshops, etc.

Fire extinguishers shall be wall mounted 3.5 to 5 feet from the floor in the path of egress. Fire extinguishers are to be readily accessible and visible at all times.

All fire extinguishers are required to be serviced annually and shall have a service tag with the State Fire Marshal’s seal attached to extinguisher dated within the past year.

A Class K fire extinguisher is required for commercial cooking applications. The extinguisher is to be mounted on the wall no higher than 31/2 feet from the floor in the path of egress with a travel distance no greater than 30 feet from the cooking appliances.

Where required, a hood-and-duct fire suppression system for commercial cooking applications requires semi -annual service (every six months).

If the building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, tenant improvement work may require alterations to the sprinkler system. The system requires quarterly maintenance and state certification every five years.

If a fire alarm system is in the building, annual service from a state licensed fire alarm company is required.

Make sure your employees know where the fire extinguishers are, know how to use them and have annual training on each of them.

Electrical

    The use of extension cords as a substitute

     for permanent wiring is prohibited. Household two-wire extension cords are prohibited. Commercial, UL Listed, Three-wire grounded extension cords shall be used only with portable appliances: large fixed appliances and machinery must be plugged directly into their own wall receptacle. Surge protectors may be used for electronic equipment with cords no longer than six-feet. Surge protection may not be piggy backed.

No heating devices may be plugged into an extension cord or surge protector.

No appliances that state “For Household Use Only”.

All electrical receptacles shall be provided with cover plates.

Maintain a 30-inch clearance in front of all electrical panels.

Repair or replace worn, damaged, or frayed electrical cords.

Combustible materials shall not be stored in mechanical, water heater or electrical rooms.

The Box which contains the main electrical disconnect should have marked in letters no less than 3 inches in size “Main Electrical Disconnect”. If there is a back up generator or  Solar Power source, the box should be marked under “Main Electrical Disconnect” “Warning” “Back up Electrical Source“.

Flammable Liquids/Hazardous Materials

      Under the new 2010 California Fire Code, (section 105) a permit for the use, storage, and handling of flammable liquids in excess of five gallons is required from the fire department. Flammable and combustible liquids must be stored in their original unopened containers. Once opened, flammable liquids must be stored in approved safety containers. Storage in excess of ten gallons must be in an approved flammable liquids storage cabinet.

      A business plan must be on file at the Placer      County Health Department – Hazardous Materials Division, for the use, storage, and handling of hazardous materials. A fire department/county permit may be required.

Fire Department Connections

Starting in January 2012, all FDC’s will be marked with the address of the building it supplies water to.

General Fire Safety

Reduce storage of combustible materials to 18 inches below the level of sprinkler heads or 24 inches below the ceiling in non-sprinkler buildings.

Repair or replace all holes in walls/ceilings (e.g. missing ceiling tiles) in fire-resistive construction.

Provide a 30-inch minimum clearance between heat-producing appliances and combustible materials.

No Smoking inside any area of a commercial establishment which contains combustibles. “No Smoking Sign” posted? Designate smoking areas away from combustible pathways or planter bark. Outside areas, where smoking is permitted provide non-combustible receptacles that are approved.

Pay attention to housekeeping issues. Don’t clutter exits, stairways, and storage areas with waste paper, empty boxes, and other fire hazards.

Do you have an emergency action plan?

Make sure your employees know what to do in case of an emergency.

In case of fire, have an evacuation area to meet at, and be able to account for all employees.