What standard provides guidance in protecting buildings under construction or renovation from fire hazards?

by Nils Deacon, Manager, Inspections and Rating Services

NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations provides specific requirements for fire and hazard mitigation for structures under construction or renovation.

The Standard covers the following: Temporary construction, equipment, and storage; processes; and utilities. Also covered are fire protection, safe practices for construction and alterations, roofing, demolition, and underground operations. nfpa.org

As pointed out by NFPA, it takes concerted effort by building contractors, code officials, and other stakeholders including insurance companies, to encourage and require utilization of guidance provided by the Standard.

An example of proactive management could be reducing reliance on hot work. Hot work includes “burning, welding, or a similar operation that is capable of initiating fires or explosions. Activities involving flame, spark production, or heat. Welding and allied processes including arc welding, oxy–fuel gas welding, open-flame soldering, brazing, thermal spraying, oxygen cutting, and arc cutting.” nfpa.org

Alternatives to hot work can be use of screwed, flanged, or clamped pipe; manual hydraulic shears; mechanical bolting or pipe cutting; and compressed air-actuated fasteners. nfpa.org

Construction debris and sources of ignition