DSS103: Preplanning and Working with Firefighters with Glen Saraduke - Part 1

As first responders, firefighters often suffer the highest amount of loss when a dust explosion occurs. When facilities handling combustible dust work with an AHJ (authority having jurisdiction), they can get their dust hazard analyses (DHAs) accepted more quickly and keep everyone – firefighters and employees – safer.

Glen Saraduke, principal owner of Saraduke Technical Services based out of Lakewood, Colorado, recently held a Dust Safety Academy training session about successfully working with firefighters and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). As a former firefighter and fire marshall, he has extensive experience in this area.

“I have a warm place in my heart for firefighters and whenever I do a project, I really try to think about how they’re going to respond and do they have all the right information?” he says. “Because I know when an incident happens, any kind of incident, I’m not going to be there. A DHA report isn’t much use to them when they pull up on scene. So we work really hard to try to include them in the process.”

DHAs- an Overview

DHAs are required by the Fire Code as well as NFPA 652. They can be simple or complex, depending on the operations involved, and need to be updated every five years. Existing facilities that never had a DHA before were mandated to complete one by September 7, 2020, or at least have one scheduled.

There is no firm definition of who is qualified to conduct a DHA, but the consensus is that the person should have credentials and experience in that particular industry. Fire departments typically require a licensed P. Eng or someone on the team to take responsibility for the project in accordance with state laws.

“Emergency planning and response is (also) a part of NFPA 652,” Glen says. “It’s not a large piece of the text in the code, but it is a requirement.”

How the Permit System Works

Any time a process changes, the Fire Code requires the owner or operator to submit plans and provide a code analysis and appropriate calculations. These changes can be as simple as a new production line or large as a brand new building.

“If you’re doing any kind of egress calculations or, in case of a DHA, there may be calculations associated with deflagration venting, for example,” Glen says. “Then there’s an approval process, so those plans go in and they get approved and then the inspectors come out and inspect those things.”

Why Work Closely with Building and Fire Departments?

Glen admits that some clients balk at the idea of working closely with building and fire departments.

“(They) say, “Hey, we don’t like when these guys come out to our facility. They write us up. They can cause problems. We’d like them to stay away.” Really, it’s the wrong attitude, in my estimation.”

In his experience, transparency with the fire authorities is essential because they will be the ones responding to fires or explosions at the facility. If they don’t understand what’s at a facility and where the hazardous materials are, it puts both property and personnel at risk.

Glen recalled one incident where firefighters responded to a dumpster fire at a facility handling reactive metals. Unaware that there was titanium powder in the dumpster, they used water on it and caused an explosion that resulted in death and injuries. Pre-planning and working together would have allowed the fire department to know which receptacles contained reactive metals and avoid the tragedy that followed.

When pre-planning, questions like the following need to be answered:

What is the building layout?
Where is the Knox box?
Where are the vehicle access points located? Are there any dead ends?
Where are the fire hydrants?
What hazardous materials are manufactured or generated? Where are they stored and what are the quantities?
Where is the main fire alarm panel?
Where are the shut-off valves for utilities?
Who are the facility emergency contacts?

When developing a new or updated pre-planning strategy, Glen recommended the following steps:

Schedule a walk-through with the fire marshal and fire department.
Review their current information- does it match your actual or proposed operations?
Update any old or inaccurate information by sending them the appropriate documentation.
Review every year.
Encourage all employees to develop a relationship with the fire department to work as a team and prepare for emergency events.

Conclusion

When asked about upcoming safety technologies, Glen said that drones are currently being used for video surveillance on hazmat incidents, but the goal is to design ones that can suppress fires and investigate incidents without endangering firefighters.

“But that’s the future,” he clarified. “It doesn’t negate that we need to do pre-planning.”

If you would like to discuss further, leave your thoughts in the comments section below. You can also reach Glen Saraduke directly:

Email: [email protected]

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