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A fire prevention plan (FPP) is a plan that specifies what your establishment is doing to prevent fires and control their damage. An FPP will note fire prevention information relating to fire hazards, potential ignition sources, available fire protection equipment, and hazardous materials storage and handling procedures at your location. It also calls for the control of accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials, as well as the maintenance of equipment such as to control heat sources or to detect fuel leaks. In this way, a fast-developing fire, rapid spread of toxic smoke, or an explosion will not occur.
The FPP is not required to provide fire evacuation procedures, but it may. Typically, however, fire evacuation procedures are found in a separate plan, known as the emergency action plan (or EAP).
Scope
Technically, 29 CFR 1910.39 only applies to those companies who are required to have an FPP by a particular OSHA standard. Even if not specifically required to do so, however, developing an FPP is a good way to ensure the health and safety of workers.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.39 — Fire prevention plans
- 29 CFR 1910.157 — Portable fire extinguishers
- 29 CFR 1910.1047 — Ethylene oxide
- 29 CFR 1910.1050 — Methylenedianiline
- 29 CFR 1910.1051 — 1,3-Butadiene
- 29 CFR 1926.60 — Methylenedianiline
Key definitions
- Fire prevention plan (FPP): A plan required by certain OSHA regulations to address how an employer will prevent fires and control their damage.
Summary of requirements
Employers must:
- Determine whether an FPP is required, based on whether other OSHA Standards require an FPP at your establishment. Those standards include 1910.157, 1910.1047, 1910.1050, 1910.1051, and 1926.60.
- If an FPP is required:
- Determine all the major fire hazards at the establishment.
- Determine all the potential ignition sources and their control at the establishment.
- Determine the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard.
- Determine the procedures for properly handling and storing hazardous materials, controlling accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials, and regularly maintaining safeguards installed on heat producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible material.
- Determine who is responsible for controlling fuel source hazards and maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires.
- Develop and implement the required plan elements.
- Keep the FPP in writing at your workplace, and make it available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.
- Inform employees upon initial assignment to a job of the fire hazards to which they are exposed.
- Review with each employee those parts of the FPP necessary for self-protection.
- Instruct employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires.
- Instruct employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards.
- Ensure the FPP procedures are being followed.