The University of Chicago
Safety Manual
Fire Safety Programs

Please note that this program has a glossary.  The glossary contains the definitions for various terms used in the program.   These terms are highlighted in bold print the first time they appear in the body of the program.

Policy

All portable fire extinguishers shall be distributed, maintained, inspected and tested in accordance with this policy.

The appropriate department shall be responsible for coordinating the fire extinguisher program in accordance with this policy.  Residence Halls and Commons, International House, Real Estate Operations, and Safety and Environmental Affairs in conjunction with Facilities Services are responsible for their appropriate buildings.

Authority and Responsibility

Residence Halls and Commons and the International House are responsible for:

1. Scheduling and coordinating with a licensed contractor the required annual maintenance and hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers; 
2. Replacing inoperable portable fire extinguishers upon discovery;
3. Upon being notified, replacing portable fire extinguishers with appropriate types when fire loads and/or occupancies change;
4. Performing the required monthly inspection on portable fire extinguishers as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA);
5. Notifying Safety and Environmental Affairs in the event of a change in building fire loads or occupancy;
6. Retaining all records for portable fire extinguisher testing and inspection; and
7. Making a report available for a Safety and Environmental Affairs representative to review during the annual fire/general safety review.

Real Estate Operations is responsible for:

1. Scheduling and coordinating with a licensed contractor the required annual maintenance and hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers; 
2. Replacing inoperable portable fire extinguishers upon discovery;
3. Upon being notified, replacing portable fire extinguishers with appropriate types when fire loads and/or occupancies change;
4. Performing the required monthly inspection on portable fire extinguishers as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA);
5. Notifying Safety and Environmental Affairs in the event of a change in building fire loads or occupancy;
6. Retaining all records for portable fire extinguisher testing and inspection; and
7. Making a report available for a Safety and Environmental Affairs representative to review during the annual fire/general safety review.

Facilities Services – Operations and Maintenance is responsible for:

1. Replacing portable fire extinguishers with appropriate types when fire loads and/or occupancies change;
2. Replacing inoperable or missing fire extinguishers upon being notified after an annual fire/general safety review with extinguishers located at ATS Central Inventory;  
3. Replacing inoperable portable fire extinguishers upon discovery; and
4. Notifying Safety and Environmental Affairs in the event of a change in building fire loads or occupancy.

Facilities Services – ATS Central Inventory shall be responsible for:

1. Exchanging portable fire extinguishers when Operations and Maintenance personnel bring an inoperable or discharged fire extinguisher in to replace;
2. Exchanging portable fire extinguishers when a work request from Safety and Environmental Affairs locates a missing fire extinguisher during the annual fire/general safety review; and
3. Providing Safety and Environmental Affairs with a monthly report for reordering purposes.

Safety and Environmental Affairs is responsible for:

1. Conducting the annual inspections of fire extinguishers for Facilities Services, Residence Halls and Commons, and Real Estate Operations buildings;
2. Scheduling and coordinating with a licensed contractor the required annual maintenance and hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers within Facilities Services, Residence Halls and Commons and Real Estate Operations buildings;
3. Performing the required monthly inspection as required by the OSHA within Facilities Services' buildings;
4. Surveying the entire campus for extinguisher selection and distribution during fire/general safety reviews; and
5. Notifying the responsible University department or licensed contractor in the event an extinguisher is inoperable, missing or the type of unit is inadequate.

 Licensed Contractors are responsible for:

1. Performing annual maintenance and hydrostatic testing when scheduled by the appropriate group;
2. Performing monthly maintenance when scheduled by the appropriate group; and
3. Making a report available for the appropriate group when the annual inspection is complete.

Monthly Inspection

All portable fire extinguishers provided shall be placed into a monthly inspection program.  The monthly inspection shall be performed by the appropriate department for their responsible facilities.

The monthly inspection shall include a check of the following items:

1. Confirm the extinguisher is in its proper location;
2. Confirm the extinguisher is not obstructed;
3. All seals and pins are in place and have not been removed or tampered with;
4. If applicable, check gauge to ensure that the pressure is within the operable range;
5. Examine the extinguisher for obvious signs of physical damage, leakage, corrosion or clogged nozzles; and
6. Ensure that a current service tag is present on extinguisher.

When the appropriate department personnel discovers that the extinguisher is damaged, missing or inoperable, they shall remove the extinguisher from service and replace it with an extinguisher of the same rating and size.  If the extinguisher is obstructed, the appropriate department personnel shall contact the person whose materials are obstructing the extinguisher and have them remove the materials immediately, or make arrangements to relocate the extinguisher.

Upon completing the monthly inspection, the appropriate department personnel shall date and initial the backside of the service tag.

Annual Maintenance

All portable fire extinguishers shall have an annual maintenance check completed by a contractor or by an in-house service that is licensed by the City of Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau and/or the State of Illinois.  All maintenance and hydrostatic testing performed by the service shall be in accordance with Chapter 10 "Portable Fire Extinguishers" of the National Fire Protection Association.

The scheduling of annual maintenance inspections is the responsibility of Safety and Environmental Affairs.

Exchange Program

Portable fire extinguishers located within Facilities Services managed buildings shall utilize the University of Chicago Portable Fire Extinguisher Program.  The extinguishers can be exchanged by contacting the appropriate department responsible for the extinguisher program.  To contact the appropriate department, use list the following chart.

Selection

When selecting a fire extinguisher, one must be familiar with the classes of fires and the fire loading in order to provide the appropriate type of extinguisher.

Classes of Fire

The following descriptions of the classes of fires will help determine what type of extinguisher is needed to extinguish a specific type of fire. 

Class A fires involve ordinary combustible such as paper, cloth, wood, rubber and some plastics. 

Class B fires involve flammable liquids such as gasoline, thinners, oil-based paints and greases. 

Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment such as computers, copy machines, television sets and video equipment. 

Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zinc and potassium. 

Class K fires involve kitchen fires that contain cooking oils, and greases.

Fire Loading

The following is a description of the three degrees of fire loading within the occupancy. 

Light (Low) Fire Load:  An Occupancy in which Class A combustible materials including furniture, window treatments and its contents is of minor quantity.  Small amounts of Class B flammable liquids such as duplicating and cleaning solvents are included provided that they are kept in closed containers and stored properly.

Ordinary (Moderate) Fire Load:  An occupancy in which Class A combustibles, Class B flammable liquids and Class C energized electrical equipment are in greater amounts than expected under a low hazard.  These locations include dining areas, storage areas and parking garages and assembly halls.

Extra (High) Fire Load:   An occupancy in which the total amount of Class A combustibles, Class B flammable liquids and Class C energized electrical equipment present is over and above those classified as moderate hazard.  Theses occupancies and areas include laboratories, cooking areas, trade shops and warehouses.

Extinguisher Types

Pressurized Water:  The pressurized water extinguisher is the most popular type of extinguisher used for extinguishing Class A fires.

Carbon Dioxide:  The carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is primarily used in areas where the potential for Class B and Class C fire loads exist.

Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical:  The dry chemical fire extinguisher is used in areas where Class A, Class B or Class C hazards are encountered.

Extinguishing Agents for Combustible Metals:  There is no single extinguishing agent or powder that will control or suppress all combustible metal fires.  The type of extinguishing agent in a particular area is based on the type of combustible metals being used.

Extinguisher Labels

All fire extinguishers shall have a label affixed to the front of the extinguisher showing operating instructions and the extinguisher rating.

A pictogram or letter-shaped symbol can be used for identifying the extinguisher's rating.

Distribution of Portable Fire Extinguishers

The following chart gives the travel distances a person should not exceed in order to obtain a fire extinguisher.

Extinguisher Mounting

All portable fire extinguishers shall be installed on brackets or mounted in wall cabinets.  Extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so that the top of the extinguisher is not more than five feet from the floor.  Extinguishers having a gross weight exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so the top of the extinguisher is not more than three and one half feet above the floor.  The bottom of the extinguisher in either case shall not be less than four inches above the floor.

Where the extinguisher is likely to be obscured, a sign shall be installed marking the location of the fire extinguisher.  The sign shall be visible from a distance of at least 50 feet if the extinguisher cannot be relocated.

 Section 4 Index

 Table of Contents

Safety and Environmental Affairs
Issued: 01/24/96
Revised: 08/08/07