Industrial Fire Brigades

Bureau of Workers’ Comp

PA Training for Health & Safety
29 CFR 1910.156 (PATHS)

Subpart L

Requirements for Organization, Training and

Personal Protective Equipment

PPT-091-01 1
 Topics

 Requirements
 Levels of Fire Fighting and
Duties
 Training and Education by
Level
 Training Topics
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Respiratory Protection
 Bibliography
 Contact Information

PPT-091-01 2
 29 CFR 1910.156 Applicability

Applies to:

 Fire Brigades
 Industrial Fire Departments
 Private or Contractual type fire departments

PPT-091-01 3
 1910.156 Applicability

Additional resources to
aid your planning:

PPT-091-01 4
 PPE Requirements

Personal Protective
Equipment requirements
apply only to members of
fire brigades performing
interior structural fire
fighting (appropriate PPE
may be provided to those
performing exterior fire
fighting as well).

Does NOT apply to airport

crash rescue or forest fire
fighting operations.

PPT-091-01 5
 Organizational Statement

Prepare and maintain a statement or written policy

establishing:
 Existence of a fire brigade
 Basic organizational structure
 Type, amount and frequency of training
 Expected number of brigade members
 Functions the fire brigade is to
perform

Statement shall be available for inspection by Assistant

Secretary of Labor and by employees or their designated
representatives (sample statement located in NFPA 600
Appendix A).

PPT-091-01 6
Operational Areas for Brigade

Hot Zone: area immediately surrounding and

including fire area
Warm Zone: next area outside Hot Zone; buffer
zone between Hot and Cold Zones.
Cold Zone: Surrounds Warm Zone and is safe
from fire’s effects

Locations of specific hazards

denote levels of training and
levels of fire fighting for which
members are trained.

PPT-091-01 7
 Levels of Fire Fighting

29 CFR 1910.156, Subpart L, Industrial Fire

Brigade Levels

 Incipient Stage Industrial Fire Brigade Member

 Advanced Exterior Industrial Fire Brigade
Member
 Interior Structural Industrial Fire Brigade
Member
 Industrial Fire Brigade Leader

All others, not trained or assigned, will evacuate

PPT-091-01 8
 Levels and Duties
Incipient Stage: Fire is in early stage, not beyond what can be
handled by portable extinguisher or hose line flowing up to 125
gallons per minute (GPM).

NFPA 600 considers this stage exceeded when the use of Self-
Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or thermal protective
clothing (TPC) is needed or member is required to crawl to stay
below heat and smoke. (Exertion level is considered.)

PPT-091-01 9
 Levels and Duties

Incipient Stage Fire Fighting. Conducted inside or

outside a building or enclosed structure but fire is not
beyond incipient stage.

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 Levels and Duties

Advanced Exterior: Performed outside, requires

containment, control and suppression of exterior site-
specific hazards. Usually using hose lines. SCBA and TPC
could be required.

Advanced Exterior Fire Fighting: No entry by members.

• Use extinguishers, standpipes,
reinforce operating sprinklers, hose
streams applied from outside flowing up
to 300 GPM, master streams and devices.
• Offensive/defensive action within the
“Hot” Zone.

PPT-091-01 11
 Levels and Duties

Interior Structural: Fire suppression, rescue inside

buildings or enclosed structures beyond incipient stage.

Interior Structural Fire Fighting: Interior operations within

the “Hot” zone SCBA and TPC;
o Search and rescue,
o Handline application flowing up to 300 GPM,
manual application of master
streams or similar devices for
specialized agents;
o Salvage and overhaul.
o Offensive operations.

PPT-091-01 12
 Levels and Duties

Team Leader: serves as Chief to operation as well

as overall manager for the Fire Brigade system.
Establishes an administrative and operational
system for the conduct of the brigade.

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 Interior Structural Fire Fighters

Must be physically capable. No one is

permitted with:
 Known heart disease
 Epilepsy
 Emphysema
Unless with a physician’s certificate
of fitness
Fitness requirements effective when
assigned:
 Before September 15, 1980:
September 15, 1990
 On or after September 15, 1980:
December 15, 1980
PPT-091-01 14
 Training and Education
 For all members consistent with duties and
functions before performing duties
 Fire Brigade Leaders and instructors provided
with training and education more
comprehensive than general membership
 Members trained frequently
enough to perform duties
safely: annually

PPT-091-01 15
 Training and Education

 Interior Structural Fire Fighting members:

education or training at least quarterly with
hands-on annually
 Quality of training consistent with and similar
to recognized training schools

PPT-091-01
16
 Training Topics

 Special hazards of storage and

use of flammable liquids and
gases
 Toxic chemicals
 Radioactive sources

PPT-091-01 17
 Training and Education

Team Leaders: training and education consistent

with duties:

o Fire Fighting
o Emergency Response
o Incident Management
o Life Safety
o Property Conservation
o Business Interruption

PPT-091-01 18
 Training Topics

 Water reactive substances to

which they may be exposed
 Advised of any changes
occurring related to special
hazards
Employer shall develop and
make available to brigade
members written procedures
and standard operating
procedures describing actions
in situations involving special
hazards

PPT-091-01 19
 Suggested Training Topics

May be quarterly modules:

• Hazard Identification

• Fire Detection and

Suppression Systems

PPT-091-01 20
 Suggested Training Topics

May be quarterly modules:

• Protective Equipment
and Respiratory Equipment

• Suppression: Strategy
and Tactics

PPT-091-01 21
 Fire Fighting Equipment
 At least annually: maintained and inspected
 At least monthly: portable fire extinguishers
and respirators
 Damaged/unserviceable equipment shall be
removed from service and replaced

PPT-091-01 22
 Protective Clothing

Does not apply to those using fire extinguishers

or standpipe systems in the Incipient stage
Does apply to those who will perform Advanced
Exterior and Interior Structural Fire Fighting

PPT-091-01 23
 Protective Clothing
 Purchased/ordered after
July 1, 1981 shall meet
requirements of this
paragraph
 All members performing
Interior Structural Fire
Fighting shall wear
appropriate PPE
 After July 1, 1985, employer
shall assure all protective
clothing is worn when
performing Interior
Structural Fire Fighting
PPT-091-01 24
 Foot/Leg Protection
Achieved by either:
 Fully extended
boots providing leg
protection, or
 Protective shoes or
boots worn in
combination with
protective trousers
 Protective boots
shall meet
requirements of
1910.136 for Class
75 footwear
PPT-091-01 25
 Foot and Leg Protection
 Footwear shall be water-
resistant for at least 5
inches above bottom of
heel and equipped with
slip-resistant outer soles.
 Tested per paragraph (1) of
Appendix E and provide
protection against
penetration of midsole by a
size 8D common nail when
at least 300 pounds of
static force is applied to
nail.

PPT-091-01 26
 Body Protection
Coordinated with foot and leg
protection to ensure full body
protection.
Achieved by one of the
following:
 Fire-resistive coat per
paragraph (e) (3) (ii) this
section plus fully extended
boots per paragraph (e) (2)
(ii) and (e) (2) (iii), or
 Fire-resistive coat with
protective trousers per
paragraph (e) (3) (ii)
PPT-091-01 27
 Body Protection
Performance, construction and testing at least
equivalent to NFPA standard No. 1971 with following
permitted variations:
Tearing strength: of outer shell shall be minimum of
8 pounds in any direction when tested;

PPT-091-01 28
 Body Protection

Discoloration: outer
shell may discolor but
not separate or melt
when in air lab oven at
500oF for 5 minute
period.

When cooled, char

length shall not exceed
4.0 inches and after-
flame shall not exceed
2.0 seconds

PPT-091-01 29
 Hand Protection

Protective gloves or glove system against cut,

puncture and heat penetration
Tested per NIOSH 1976 publication, “The
Development of Criteria for Fire Fighter’s Gloves;
Vol. II, Part II: Test Methods”

PPT-091-01 30
 Gloves

Glove materials: resist surface cut by blade with

an edge with a 60o included angle and a .001 inch
radius

Under an applied force of 16 lbf at a slicing

velocity of greater or equal to 60 in/min

Materials for palm and palm side of fingers shall

resist puncture by a penetrometer under an
applied force of 13.2 lbf and at velocity greater or
equal to 20 in/min, and

PPT-091-01 31
 Gloves

Temperatures inside palm and gripping surface of

fingers shall not exceed 135oF when gloves or
glove system are exposed to 932oF for five (5)
seconds at 4 psi pressure

Exterior glove material: flame resistant per

paragraph (3) of Appendix E, 29 CFR 1910.156.

Maximum allowable afterflame shall be 2.0

seconds and maximum char length shall be 4.0
inches

PPT-091-01 32
 Coat

When fire-resistive coat

does not provide
protection for wrists,
gloves shall have
wristlets or at least 4
inches in length to
protect wrist area when
arms are extended
upward and outward
from body

PPT-091-01 33
 Head Protection

Device with ear flaps and chin strap meeting

performance, construction and testing per “Model
Performance Criteria for Structural Firefighters’
Helmets” (August 1977)

PPT-091-01 34
 Eye and Face Protection
 Compliant with 1910.133 when
performing operations where
hazards of flying or falling
materials are present
 Accessories to protective head
devices (face shields) are
permitted when they meet the
requirements of 1910.133
 Full facepieces, helmets or hoods
of breathing apparatus meeting
1910.134 shall be acceptable as
meeting these requirements

PPT-091-01 35
 Respiratory Protection

Provided to and used by each brigade member

required to use a respirator

Must meet requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134

Worn when:
 Working inside buildings, or
 Confined spaces where toxic products of
combustion or an oxygen deficiency may be
present
 Situations involving toxic substances

PPT-091-01 36
 SCBA

May be equipped with either a “buddy-breathing”

device or quick disconnect valve even if these
devices are not certified by NIOSH
The use of these shall not damage apparatus nor
restrict air flow to user

PPT-091-01 37
 Compressed Air Cylinders
Approved self-contained
compressed air breathing
apparatus may be used with
approved cylinders from other
approved self-contained
compressed air breathing
apparatus, provided such cylinders
are of:
 Same capacity and
 Pressure rating
 All air cylinders used with SCBA
shall meet DOT and NIOSH
criteria
PPT-091-01 38
 SCBA
Must have a minimum service-life of 30 minutes
per NIOSH under 42 CFR 84 except for Escape
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (ESCBA)
used only for emergency escape purposes.

PPT-091-01 39
 Positive-Pressure SCBA

 SCBA ordered or purchased after July 1, 1981

for Fire Brigade members performing interior
structural fire fighting are of the pressure-
demand or other positive-pressure type

 Effective July 1, 1983 ONLY pressure-demand

or other positive-pressure SCBA shall be worn
by fire brigade members performing interior
structural fire fighting

PPT-091-01 40
 Positive-Pressure SCBA

 This does not prohibit use of SCBA that can be

switched from a demand to a positive-pressure
mode.
 Unit shall be in the positive-pressure mode
when members are performing interior
structural fire fighting operations.

PPT-091-01 41
 Bibliography
National Fire Protection Association, (NFPA)
1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169:

 NFPA 600, Standard on Industrial Fire Brigades

 NFPA 1021, Standards for Fire Officer Professional
Qualifications
 NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department
Occupational Safety and Health Program
 NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Clothing for
Structural Fire Fighting
 NFPA 1972, Standard on Helmets for Structural
Fire Fighting

PPT-091-01 42
 Bibliography

 NFPA 1973, Standard on Gloves for Structural

Fire Fighting
 NFPA 1974, Standard on Protective Footwear
for Structural Fire Fighting
 NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-
Contained Breathing Apparatus for Structural
Fire Fighting
 NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety
Systems (PASS) for Fire Fighters
 NFPA, “Industrial Fire Brigade, Principles and
Practices,” current edition

PPT-091-01 43
 Bibliography

Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.156,

Subpart L, Fire Brigades and Appendices.

IFSTA (International Fire Service Training

Association), 930 N. Willis, Stillwater, OK 74078:

“Industrial Emergency Services Training: Incipient

Level” and

“Industrial Exterior and Structural Fire Brigades”

PPT-091-01 44
 Contact Information

Health & Safety Training Specialists

1171 South Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
(717) 772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov

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Questions

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