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Fire Safety Checklist for Construction Sites
This checklist covers selected construction regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
under 29 CFR 1926. It applies to temporary worksites associated with construction, alteration, demolition, and repair including painting and decorating.
General Requirements Fire Prevention
Is access to firefighting equipment maintained at all times Is internal-combustion-engine-powered equipment located
at construction sites? [29 CFR 1926.150(a)(2)] YES q NO q so that the exhausts are well away from combustible mate-
rials? [29 CFR 1926.151(a)(2)] YES q NO q
Is firefighting equipment conspicuously located at
construction sites? [29 CFR 1926.150(a)(3)] YES q NO q When internal combustion engine exhausts are piped
outside the building under construction, is a clearance of at
Is firefighting equipment periodically inspected and main- least 6 inches maintained between such piping and com-
tained in operating condition at construction sites? [29 CFR bustible material? [29 CFR 1926.151(a)(2)] YES q NO q
1926.150(a)(4)] YES q NO q
Is stability maintained when combustible materials are
Is a fire extinguisher, rated not less than 2A, or a 55-gallon piled? Are piles lower than 20 feet? [29 CFR 1926.151(c)(1)]
open drum of water with two fire pails provided for each YES q NO q
3,000 square feet of protected building area? [29 CFR
1926.150(c)(1)(i) and (ii)] YES q NO q Are weeds and grass kept down and a regular procedure
provided for the periodic cleanup of the entire area? [29
Is the travel distance to the fire extinguisher or drum of wa- CFR 1926.151(c)(3)] YES q NO q
ter 100 feet or less? [29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(i)] YES q NO q
Note: A 1/2-inch diameter garden-type hose line (100 feet in length Are outdoor combustible materials stored more than 10 feet
or less and equipped with a nozzle) may be substituted for a 2A-rat- from a building or structure? [29 CFR 1926.151(c)(5)]
ed fire extinguisher, provided it can discharge at least 5 gallons per YES q NO q
minute with a minimum hose stream range of 30 feet horizontally.
The garden-type hose lines must be mounted on conventional racks Are indoor materials stored so that they do not obstruct or
or reels and must be able to reach all points in the area. [29 CFR adversely affect the means of exit? [29 CFR 1926.151(d)(1)]
1926.150(c)(1)(iii)] YES q NO q
Are one or more fire extinguishers, rated not less than 2A, Are indoor materials stored, handled, and piled to minimize
provided on each floor? [29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(iv)] the spread of fire and permit convenient access for fire-
YES q NO q fighting? [29 CFR 1926.151(d)(2),(3),(4)] YES q NO q
At construction sites involving multistory buildings, is at Are indoor materials stored so that a clearance of at least
least one fire extinguisher located adjacent to the stairway? 36 inches is maintained between the top level of stored
[29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(iv)] YES q NO q materials and the sprinkler deflectors? [29 CFR 1926.151(d)
(5)] YES q NO q
Are fire extinguishers and water drums protected from
freezing? [29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(v)] YES q NO q Is proper clearance maintained around lights and heating
units to prevent ignition of combustible materials? [29 CFR
If more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids 1926.151 (d)(6)] YES q NO q
or 5 pounds of flammable gas are present, is a fire extin-
guisher, rated not less than 10B, provided within 50 feet? Is a clearance of at least 24 inches maintained around the
[29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(vi)] YES q NO q path of travel of fire doors, unless a barricade is provided?
Note: This requirement does not apply to the integral fuel tanks of [29 CFR 1926.151 (d)(7)] YES q NO q
motor vehicles.
Are materials stored more than 36 inches away from a fire
Are portable fire extinguishers selected according to the door opening? [29 CFR 1926.151(d)(7)] YES q NO q
classes of anticipated fires and size and degree of hazards?
[29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(x) and N.J.A.C. 5:18-3.4(f)1 YES q NO q
Temporary Heating Devices
Are temporary heating devices stored away from flam-
mable and combustible materials? [29 CFR 1926.154(b)
(1),(2),(3),(4)] YES q NO q
This article was originally published on DHHS (NIOSH) site – Publication Number 2004-101
