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Th e
Component Manufacturing dverti$er
Robert Glowinski is the President & CEO of the American Wood Council (AWC).
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$er
March 2020 #12248 Page #110
Lessons Learned from the Bound Brook Fire and the Importance of Construction Fire Safety
7-alarm fire in Bound Brook, New Jersey, in mid-January destroyed six buildings and caused approximately $52 million in damages. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire was arson, and the perpetrator was arrested soon after. Nonetheless, in the investigations of these building-under-construction fires, even those involving arson, it is generally found that adherence to established best practices could easily have prevented such significant losses.
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It’s no secret that construction sites have large quantities of combustible materials, such as packing materials, plastics, paneling, paints, flammable gases, and even some non-flammable gases such as oxygen (used in welding), that can intensify a fire. The American Wood Council (AWC) cannot stress enough the importance of following best practices when it comes to construction site fire safety and having a plan in place should anything happen. AWC administers the multi-participant Construction Fire Safety Coalition specifically to bring together experts who can help establish fire safety protocols that can greatly mitigate the risk and damage of these fires. The first step to improved construction site fire safety is identifying potential risks and hazards. Open flames, sparks, and other sources of ignition need to be monitored closely. Flammable liquids and gases need to be stored properly; shavings, sawdust, and other construction waste need to be removed and disposed of daily. Compartmentalization, erecting fire walls and fire barriers, can interrupt airflow and slow fire spread should ignition occur. Smoking should be prohibited everywhere on a construction site, especially in areas near combustibles, and “no smoking” signs should be displayed clearly. If smoking must be permitted, it should have its own designated area away from the structure(s) under construction and combustible materials and be equipped with proper receptacles to dispose of lighted materials. Electrical fires can be prevented by unplugging equipment when not in use and having any temporary wiring installed and maintained by licensed electricians according to code. Once site risks are identified, then it’s time to implement fire safety strategies. Reducing all sources of ignition and controlling the availability of fuel, such as sawdust, paper, and cardboard, greatly reduce the threat of a fire.
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