8.3 Fire Protection Outage Permit Systems
Portable fire extinguishers are located throughout all UTMB facilities according to the type of fire they can extinguish. There are four types of fires: Class A, B, C and D.
Types of Fires and Extinguishing agents
Category
Characteristics
Extinguishing Material Must . . .
To Extinguish . . .
Class A
Involves typical combustible materials such as wood cloth and paper
Cool
use water or multi-
purpose dry chemical
Class B
Involves flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as solvents, greases gasoline and lubricating oil
remove oxygen or stop the chain reaction
use carbon dioxide, dry chemicals and Halon
Class C Involves energized electrical equipment (Note: De-energized electrical equipment is a Class A fire.) be a non-conducting agent use carbon dioxide, a multi-purpose dry chemical or Halon Class D Involves combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, lithium and titanium. be a special one designed for particular material and situation know the specific extinguishing agent required before using the metal.
Fire doors are held open only with magnetic hold-open devices. The fire doors are used to separate:
· hazardous areas from each other, such as laboratories from patient-care areas;
· buildings such as Children’s Hospital and John Sealy Hospital;
· stairwells and laundry rooms from other areas.
Smoke doors:
· are designed to divide buildings into smaller compartments to provide refuge from smoke during a fire; for example John Sealy is divided into four smoke zones on each floor which close automatically when the fire alarm system sounds;
· are designed to allow travel in either direction;
· should be held open only with magnetic hold-open devices.
8.3 Fire Protection Outage Permit Systems
An outage permit system has been developed to ensure that fire protection systems, including sprinklers, Halon and alarm systems are not turned off or left off without the knowledge and approval of EHS. Before any system can be deactivated or reported as being back in service, contact EHS at ext. 24190.