Chapter 12 Table of Contents. View the entire chapter in a PDF format. Please use the pdf for printing.

Definitions (Section 4)
 

Confined space. A space that has all of the following three characteristics:

1. It is large enough and so configured that a person can bodily enter and perform assigned work
2. It has limited or restricted means for entry or exit
3. It is not designed for continuous human occupancy

See Chapter 6, "Confined Space," for additional information. Fires in confined spaces are of special concern for reasons of both life safety and fire fighting capability.

Exit pathway. Also referred to as a life safety egress system. The components of a pathway required to obtain access out of a building in an emergency. Components may include exit doors, corridors and aisleways, stairways, emergency lighting, and emergency signage.

Fire. Fire in general refers to the chemical process known as combustion. Within the context of fire protection, the word fire refers to unintended, unwanted, and uncontrolled combustion.

Fire, incipient. A very early-stage fire that can still be approached by site personnel without risk of injury and that can therefore be controlled by fire extinguishers or direct smothering. Some types of fires, such as those initiated by flammable liquids or high-voltage arc, may not have an incipient stage.

Fire Department. The SLAC Fire Department consists of Station 7 of the Palo Alto Fire Department, located on the SLAC site and consisting of a company of two firefighters and a fire captain on continuous duty. Stanford University and SLAC are both located on unincorporated county land. Stanford University contracts with the City of Palo Alto on behalf of SLAC to provide fire department services sufficient to meet DOE requirements.

Fire extinguisher. A portable device for providing first aid protection against incipient fires

Fire hazard analysis. A DOE-required document prepared by a qualified fire protection engineer

Fire protection engineer. DOE defines a fire protection engineer as a person with an engineering education and several years experience applying fire protection principles to engineering design. Possession of a state fire protection engineering license is considered sufficient certification, although alternate means of demonstrating qualifying status are specified by DOE. (DOE-STD-1066-99 contains a full definition of the term fire protection engineer as used by DOE (Department of Energy Standard 1066, “Fire Protection Design Criteria” [pdf] (DOE-STD-1066-99)).)

Fire protection system. A site or building system designed to mitigate the effects of fire. Fire protection systems are distinguished as either active or passive. Active systems include fire alarm and fire suppression systems, as well as the site fire water distribution system and associated hydrants. Most but not all active suppression systems at SLAC are wet-pipe sprinkler systems. Passive fire protection systems consist primarily of rated fire barriers within structures. Fail-safe devices such as fire dampers and door hold-open mechanisms are considered to be part of the passive fire protection system, even though they may have direct connections to the active building fire alarm system.

Flammable and combustible liquids. Flammable liquids are volatile hydrocarbon liquids capable of producing flammable concentrations of vapors at room temperature. Combustible liquids are liquids capable of producing flammable vapor concentrations when heated. Flammable and combustible liquids are classified in NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. Handling of these substances is also addressed in Chapter 40, "Hazardous Materials".

- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30-2008, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (NFPA 30-2008). See the “SLAC Research Library Community Pages” for available standards. NFPA standards are available online from a SLAC login; some hard copies are also available.

Highly protected risk (HPR). A DOE concept borrowed from the insurance industry (where a risk is an insured property). A highly protected risk is a facility with fire safety requirements characterized by a high level of fire protection design, systems, and management controls. Requirements for highly protected risks are put forward by HPR insurers based on extensive experience, research and testing.

Hot work, fire prevention. Activities involving open flames and/or spark-producing operations including welding, brazing, sweating, oxyacetylene cutting, spark-producing mechanical metal-cutting operations, and the use of open flames from any non-stationary device that has not been listed or approved for the purpose by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The term fire prevention hot work is used to differentiate this activity from electrical hot work, which involves work on energized electrical circuits.

Life safety egress system. See exit pathway.

Nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL). A testing laboratory recognized by the SLAC fire marshal as providing valid listing services for safety approval of equipment, devices, or systems used in buildings. In general, the fire marshal recognizes laboratories on the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) NRTL list (See “Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM): Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)”). Requests for recognition of a specific listing by a laboratory not on this list are addressed on an individual basis. Equipment that has the potential to pose a fire hazard (including most electrical equipment) must be approved for use at SLAC. In general, equipment that is listed for its intended use by an NRTL is considered approved for use by the fire marshal and the appropriate citizens committees. (See Chapter 8, "Electrical Safety".)

Sprinkler system. A building water distribution system used for the sole purpose of extinguishing fires. DOE requires sprinklers in most SLAC buildings. Sprinkler systems at SLAC are designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13, "Installation of Sprinkler Systems". The vast majority of sprinkler systems at SLAC are wet-pipe sprinkler systems. Wet-pipe systems are normally pressurized with water. Individual sprinklers activate and release water when directly exposed to the heat of a fire.

- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13-2007, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems” (NFPA 13-2007). See the “SLAC Research Library Community Pages” for available standards. NFPA standards are available online from a SLAC login; some hard copies are also available.

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