US EPA

2210707 

Technical Report 

Preventing The Towering Inferno. Fire Safety In The Office 

Stellman, J; Henifin, MS 

1983 

NIOSH/00131470 

Stellman 

98-111 

Fire prevention in offices is presented. Nationwide, 64,000 fires were reported in offices and banks between 1970 and 1974. Much of the resulting death and injury and large money loss could be prevented by appropriate fire safety planning, personnel training, changes in interior design, and installation of warning and sprinkling devices. Essential changes are stricter building codes, inspection, and enforcement. Combustible material inside buildings that support and spread fire, the fuel load, is calculated by every combustible item by weight. Maximum safe fuel load is 15 pounds per square foot. Plastic, when burning, can given off cyanide (57125) from urethane (51796), carbon-monoxide (630080) and hydrochloric-acid (7647010) from vinyls, and large quantities of smoke from added fire retardants. Smoke from plastics is generally 6 times more lethal than smoke from a Douglas-fir. Hidden hazards include plastics that have replaced metals, urea-formaldehyde (9011056) foam as insulation, and plastic conduits covering wiring. The hazards of polychlorinated biphenyls are discussed. The fire risk can be reduced by reducing unnecessary fuel load, furnishing offices with flame retardant items and materials, and not using plastic decorations. Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems are described. Containing flames in the smallest area possible by compartmentalization and equivalence, vertical compartmentalization is examined. Orderly evacuation requires planning and practice. Adequate stairwell exits must be available and a priority evacuation system must be established. Fire drills and regular inspections are the key to preparedness.