SECTION 8.1 – GENERAL
SECTION 8.1 GENERAL
Subsection 8.1.1. Application
Application
8.1.1.1. This Part applies to fire safety for buildings, parts of buildings, facilities, adjacent buildings or facilities and associated areas undergoing demolition operations.
Subsection 8.1.2. Requirements
Building services
8.1.2.1. (1) Except as required in Sentence (2) and except for water supplies for firefighting, building services shall be terminated at a point located outside the building or part thereof under demolition.
(2) The service provider whose service connections will be affected shall be notified before any action mentioned in Sentence (1) is taken and, if it is necessary to maintain any service, it shall be
(a) relocated as necessary, and
(b) protected from damage.
Firewatch
8.1.2.2. (1) During periods when demolition operations create a fire hazard to parts of the building not under demolition or to neighbouring occupied spaces or neighbouring properties, a firewatch shall be conducted.
(2) If a firewatch is required, the demolition site shall be toured by firewatch personnel at least once each hour.
(3) Facilities shall be provided to enable firewatch personnel to
(a) ensure that a fire warning is sounded to notify occupants, and
(b) communicate with the fire department.
(4) Firewatch personnel shall be equipped with portable illumination and protective equipment.
(5) Before demolition of a building or part of a building is commenced, a safety plan for the demolition site shall be prepared and implemented.
(6) The demolition safety plan shall include
(a) the designation and organization of site personnel to carry out fire safety duties, including a firewatch when required,
(b) the emergency procedures to be followed in case of fire, including
(i) ensuring that a fire warning is sounded to notify occupants,
(ii) notifying the fire department, and
(iii) confining, controlling and extinguishing the fire,
(c) the requirement to train site personnel to carry out fire safety duties, including a firewatch and the emergency procedures referred to in Clause (b),
(d) the procedures to control fire hazards in and around the demolition site, including procedures to mitigate risks to parts of the building not under demolition or to neighbouring occupied spaces or neighbouring properties, and
(e) the maintenance of fire fighting facilities.
(7) If a demolition involves a building that is required to have a fire safety plan that complies with Section 2.8, the fire safety plan shall take into account changes to the building arising from the demolition in accordance with Sentences 2.8.2.1.(4) and (5).
Storage of combustibles
8.1.2.3. (1) Combustible salvage, waste material and rubbish shall not be accumulated on site in such quantity or such location as to cause a fire hazard.
(2) If temporary chutes are installed on the exterior of a building, the chutes shall
(a) be of noncombustible material, or
(b) be installed a distance of at least 3 m from any opening in the building face.
Burning of rubbish
8.1.2.4. Rubbish shall not be burned on the premises unless permitted in accordance with Article 2.4.4.4.
Hot work equipment
8.1.2.5. The installation, operation and maintenance of hot work equipment shall be carried out in accordance with Section 5.17.
Standpipe systems
8.1.2.6. (1) Where a building being demolished floor by floor is equipped with a standpipe system, the system, together with fire department connections, valves, couplings and hose, shall be maintained in operable condition on all storeys below the one being demolished, except for the storey immediately below it.
(2) If no fire department standpipe connection exists in a building under demolition that is 4 storeys or more in building height, a temporary standpipe connection shall be provided.
(3) If no standpipe system exists in a building under demolition that is 8 storeys or more in building height, a temporary standpipe shall be provided.
(4) Standpipe systems shall be kept in such condition that they may be connected near street level, to a fire department pump, so as to supply water to every outlet on each floor.
(5) In a building under demolition that is over 84 m in height, the primary water supply serving the standpipe system, including fire pumps, shall be maintained in operating condition.
Access for fire fighting
8.1.2.7. (1) During demolition, fire fighting access routes shall be maintained in accordance with Section 2.5.
(2) Unobstructed access to fire hydrants, portable extinguishers and fire department connections for standpipe and sprinkler systems shall be maintained during demolition.
(3) If a demolition site is fenced so as to prevent general entry, provision shall be made for access by fire department equipment and personnel.
(4) Elevating devices shall be accessible for the use of firefighters for buildings under demolition that are more than 36 m in building height, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey.
Portable extinguishers
8.1.2.8. (1) Portable extinguishers shall be provided in buildings under demolition in accordance with Subsection 6.2.6. as if the buildings were graded for ordinary hazard under Subsection 6.2.5.
(2) In addition to the other requirements of this Code, if a building is under demolition, portable extinguishers shall be provided in unobstructed and easily accessible locations in any areas
(a) where hot work operations are carried out,
(b) where combustibles are stored,
(c) near or on any internal combustion engines,
(d) where flammable liquids and combustible liquids or gases are stored or handled,
(e) where temporary fuel-fired equipment is used,
(f) that are designated for smoking, and
(g) where bitumen heating equipment is used.
(3) The extinguishers required by Sentence (2) shall have a minimum rating of
(a) 3A:20B:C on moveable equipment, and
(b) 4A:40B:C in all other locations.
(4) Portable extinguishers required in Sentences (1), (2) and (3) shall be maintained in conformance with Section 6.2.
Smoking prohibited
8.1.2.9. Smoking shall not take place in, on or near a building under demolition, except as provided in Subsection 2.4.3.
Ignition sources
8.1.2.10. (1) Devices capable of producing ignition, internal combustion engines, temporary heating equipment and associated devices shall be kept at a safe distance from combustible material so as not to cause ignition.
(2) The clearance between combustible material and temporary heating equipment, including flues, shall comply with
(a) the minimum clearance, if any, shown on certified heating equipment, or
(b) the minimum clearance specified in the Building Code, if no minimum clearance is shown on the heating equipment.
Temporary enclosures
8.1.2.11. Fabrics and films used to temporarily enclose buildings shall be securely fastened to prevent them from being blown against heaters or other ignition sources.
Provisions for egress
8.1.2.12. Unless otherwise approved, at least two exits shall be accessible and usable at all times.
Fire warning
8.1.2.13. A means shall be provided to alert site personnel of a fire and such means shall be capable of being heard throughout the building or facility.
Safety of tanks, piping and machinery reservoirs at demolition sites
8.1.2.14. (1) Tanks, piping and machinery reservoirs at a demolition site that contain combustible liquids or flammable liquids or that are likely to contain flammable vapours shall be drained and, except as permitted by Sentence (2), removed prior to the demolition of the building.
(2) Where it is impracticable to remove tanks, piping or machinery reservoirs from the building prior to demolition, such equipment shall be
(a) drained and purged with inert materials before demolition is commenced,
(b) clearly identified before demolition is commenced, and
(c) removed from the building as soon as conditions permit.
(3) Tanks, piping and machinery reservoirs referred to in Sentences (1) and (2) that once contained combustible liquids, flammable liquids or flammable gases shall be purged with inert materials prior to demolition to prevent an explosion.
Fire separations in partly occupied buildings
8.1.2.15. Where part of a building continues to be occupied, the occupied part shall be separated from the part being demolished by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 h.
Protection during shutdown
8.1.2.16. (1) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), where a fire protection system is provided, the fire protection system shall remain operational throughout the demolition area, where reasonably practical.
(2) When any portion of a fire protection system is temporarily shut down during demolition operations, alternative measures shall be taken to ensure that protection is maintained.