There are two primary components to maintain a fire-safe construction site:
Phase 1
Development of a relevant Construction Fire Safety Plan (hereafter referred to as “the Plan”). The Plan must be specific to the project means/methods, associated hazards, proposed mitigation, logistics, etc. that will be present on a particular project(s). This Plan may be requested at the time of permit application. In any case, the Plan should be submitted to the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) proactively. The Plan must remain current based on changing site conditions and must remain available at the project location. The qualifications of the responsible party who authors the Plan is at the discretion of the AHJ and will vary based on the complexity of the project.
Phase 2
Implementation of the Plan. Every construction project must identify an individual(s) who is responsible for the implementation of the Plan. This individual(s) is referred to as the Fire Prevention Program Manager(s) (FPPM(s)). Depending on whether the construction project is a new development or is occurring in an existing building, the FPPM(s) will either be employed by the general contractor, owner, or third party. The reasonableness of who is serving in this capacity is at the discretion of the AHJ. Implementation is most often the most important function for achieving compliance with NFPA 241 and, more importantly, construction fire safety.
To learn more about writing an appropriate Plan for your project or how to implement said plan with ever-changing logistics, contact peterh@crcfire.com.