| (a) Purpose. To establish guidelines for the protection from
fire and smoke of the Texas Capitol, the Capitol extension, and the General
Land Office and their occupants. To create a safe environment for persons
performing construction work in the buildings and for the public.
(b) Oversight. The policy will be administrated by the Capitol
fire marshal at the direction of the executive director and the State Fire
Marshal's Office.
(c) Standard Procedures. The Capitol fire marshal shall:
(1) perform regular inspections of the premises to identify
and correct conditions within the buildings which may create fire safety concerns;
(2) oversee routine testing of all fire alarm systems,
smoke management systems, and fire suppression systems. Such tests shall be
performed at least annually and as often as needed to assure full operation
of all systems in an emergency;
(3) perform regular assessments of all fire evacuation
plans and schedule regular training and drills for building occupants;
(4) advise the executive director of any unsafe conditions
which exist and cannot be routinely corrected;
(5) assure that all trash receptacles are constructed
of fire resistant material approved by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or
Factory Mutual System (FM);
(6) routinely collect and keep on file Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS) listing hazardous materials in State Preservation Board
controlled buildings and maintain an accessible file of MSDS sheets.
(d) Fire watch procedures.
(1) Purpose. To provide safety guidelines for state personnel
and outside contractors who will be performing work involving open flames,
sparks, generation of high temperature, or highly combustible materials within
or near the buildings.
(2) Guidelines. In instances in which construction or
repairs involve open flames, sparks, or the use of highly combustible materials,
a fire watch will be established. The most current fire safety procedures
and standards will be applied. Personnel and contractor must meet the requirements
established in NFPA 51-B as a minimum, but other currently accepted fire safety
procedures shall also apply. Basic procedure shall include but are not limited
to the following.
(A) The area shall be cleared of all removable combustible
materials.
(B) The floor shall be swept clean within a minimum of 10 feet
of the work area.
(C) The wall and floor opening in the area will be appropriately
sealed to prevent spread to adjacent areas.
(D) The ducts to the areas will be sealed or shut down.
(E) Fire watchers shall have adequate fire extinguishing equipment
readily available and shall be trained in their use.
(F) Fire watchers shall be trained in the use of the building
alarm systems. They shall be familiar with the facilities and with the fire
evacuation plan.
(G) The fire watch shall be maintained after the completion
of the work for a period of time adequate to assure that no risk remains.
(H) The work site shall be inspected by the fire watcher(s)
at two-hour and four-hour intervals following the completion of work.
(3) Permits and supervision.
(A) Projects and contracts of less than $100,000. The Capitol
fire marshal shall issue a permit for any activity involving a potential fire
hazard and shall implement appropriate fire watch procedures. A permit signed
by the fire marshal shall serve as authorization to proceed. The fire marshal
shall designate trained fire watchers to oversee the activity.
(B) Contracts of $100,000 or more. The contractor shall submit
a proposed fire protection program for the review and approval of the Capitol
fire marshal. The program shall include fire watch procedures as well as routine
fire prevention procedures in compliance with this policy and commonly accepted
fire prevention standards. Upon approval of the fire protection program by
the Capitol fire marshal, the contractor shall assume the responsibility for
the implementation and oversight of the program with periodic review by the
fire marshal. The contractor shall issue fire watch permits and assume responsibility
for enforcing this policy.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §111.21 adopted to be effective May 7, 1992, 17 TexReg 2979; amended to be effective April 12, 1994, 19 TexReg 2197; amended to be effective April 30, 2000, 25 TexReg 3527 |
