Subject: Entertainment Hazards Checklist
Date: 95-02-14 15:30:17 EST
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>Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 19:56:28 -0800
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>From: cntrspy@best.com (Executive Protection Associates)
>Subject: 
>Cc: raul_libunao@hpocia.sj.hp.com
>
> FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY ON LOCATION
>
>                By Michael McCann, Ph.D., C.I.H.
>
>
>
>   Motion picture production, often being done on temporary
>
>locations, presents a number of different type of fire hazards
>
>and risks to life safety compared to routine fire hazards in
>
>commercial buildings.  In many instances local fire departments
>
>might not have the familiarity with these hazards, and local fire
>
>codes might not be adequate for this type of situation.  The
>
>California State Fire Marshal Film Industry Advisory Committee in
>
>1988 produced the Film Industry Fire/Life Safety Handbook to
>
>provide uniform guidelines to fire departments across the state
>
>of California.                    
>
>   This handbook is also very useful to the film production
>
>companies as a source of information on fire hazards and
>
>precautions.  This article discusses some of the basic types of
>
>hazards that can occur during filming on location, whether in
>
>California or elsewhere.  It also contains a Film Fire/Life
>
>Safety Inspection Checklist intended for fire inspectors that
>
>could also be used by production companies.
>
>
>
>Common Hazards
>
>   Common hazards are the types of ordinary occurrences that
>
>might be associated with most commercial film productions.  These
>
>fire and life safety hazards include:
>
>
>
>1. Exiting:  Props, camera equipment, sets, etc. often are strewn
>
>around location sites, thus blocking emergency escape routes. 
>
>This is particularly hazardous when building exits such as
>
>corridors and stairways are blocked by equipment.
>
>
>
>2. Electrical and Lighting:  Electrical and lighting equipment
>
>can be a major source of heat and sparks which can create a fire
>
>if combustibles are in the immediate vicinity.  This is
>
>particularly a problem with improperly maintained wiring,
>
>especially since the temporary nature of many film locations
>
>results in extensive use of flexible cords.  The recent switch to
>
>alternating current (A/C) means many people are not familiar with
>
>its hazards in these situations.
>
>
>
>3. Housekeeping:  The accumulation of sawdust and wood scraps
>
>from pre-production construction, dry vegetation within close
>
>distances to buildings and equipment, improper storage or stored
>
>materials obstructing exits and fire protection equipment, and
>
>combustible materials like sawdust spread on floors are all
>
>examples of poor housekeeping situations which can greatly
>
>increase the risk of fires.
>
>
>
>4. Welding, Cutting and Grinding:  Oxyacetylene and arc welding
>
>operations conducted within 10 feet of combustible materials can
>
>result in fires from flying sparks.  In addition  compressed gas
>
>cylinders can be fire and explosion hazards, and arc welding
>
>equipment has electrical hazards.
>
>
>
>5. Smoking:  Smoking near flammable liquids, pyrotechnics, spray
>
>painting and finishing operations, combustible storage areas, or
>
>inside tents is a significant hazard.
>
>
>
>6. Heated Surfaces:  Hot surfaces such as lighting equipment,
>
>engine mufflers, and catalytic converters on vehicles are a
>
>common source of fires involving dry vegetation, paper, sawdust,
>
>etc. 
>
>
>
>7. Parking:  Motor vehicles on location can become hazards if
>
>parked so that they obstruct fire hydrants, emergency vehicle
>
>access, or pedestrian egress from buildings or tents. In addition
>
>vehicles that contain hazardous ingredients are a risk if parked
>
>near eating areas or other areas where people congregate.
>
>
>
>Special Hazards
>
>    Special hazards are uncommon occurrences specific to a
>
>particular filming location and/or situation that can threaten
>
>fire or life safety.  
>
>
>
>1. Fire Special Effects:  Fires set deliberately for filming can
>
>range from small scale indoor fires to fires involving the
>
>burning of entire structures.  Often scenes involve a stunt
>
>person being set on fire while exiting a burning building, for
>
>example.  Special risks during these sequences can include the
>
>fire getting out of control, heat, poorly maintained fire
>
>generating equipment, poor estimation of amounts of flammable
>
>liquids and gases needed, and the presence of combustibles that
>
>are not part of the scene. 
>
>
>
>2. Flammable Liquids and Gases:  Hydrocarbon fuels, for example
>
>propane, are commonly used on filming sites for special effect
>
>fires and as an energy source and are serious, but often
>
>neglected hazards.  Risks from these include poor storage,
>
>containers not clearly identified, and smoking and other sources
>
>of ignition near where these flammable materials are stored or
>
>used.
>
>
>
>3. Pyrotechnic Special Effects Materials and Explosives:  
>
>Pyrotechnic special effects are considered Class B explosives
>
>(special fireworks), and include  squibs, bullet hits, electric
>
>matches, ignitors, soft detonators, black powder, smokeless
>
>powder, black powder "bombs", black matches, arcing matches,
>
>smoke compositions, flash compositions, flash paper, flash
>
>charges, binary flash compositions, and det-cord.  Lycopodium and
>
>naphthalene are also regulated as flammable solids.  Binary
>
>explosives and ammonium nitrate and fuel oil are regulated as
>
>explosives, with more severe restrictions.
>
>    Special hazards from pyrotechnic special effects and
>
>explosives result from improper storage, transportation, handling
>
>and use; improperly trained special effects operators,
>
>overestimating quantities and poor placement, allowing
>
>unauthorized individuals in the area where these materials are
>
>handled and used, and allowing smoking or other ignition sources
>
>near the storage, handling or use of these materials.  (See
>
>"Special Effects Codes and Standards" at the end of this
>
>article.)
>
>
>
>4. Aircraft, Helicopters and Hot Air Balloons:  Accidents
>
>involving these airborne vehicles have a high risk of fire due to
>
>large amounts of fuel that can burn.  (This is also a risk with
>
>ground vehicles, especially in stunts.)  
>
>
>
>5. Other Special Hazards:  Other types of special fire or life
>
>safety hazards that might be found on a film location include
>
>combustible tent structures, poorly maintained fire lanes,
>
>blocked roads, refueling aircraft and other vehicles without
>
>adequate precautions, spray painting, and improper liquefied
>
>petroleum gas installations on catering trucks. 
>
>                                   Vol. 12 No. 9 Art Hazards News
>
>
>
>    
>
>Film Fire/Life Safety Inspection Checklist
>
>
>
>                                                          YES  NO
>
>I. Access
>
>  A. Fire lanes kept clear (20 feet wide)                  __  __
>
>  B. Hydrants not blocked                                  __  __
>
>  C. Fire department connections clear                     __  __
>
>  D. Standpipe connections clear                           __  __
>
>II. Parking
>
>  A. Special effects trucks parked in designated location  __  __
>
>  B. Refueler vehicles parked in designated locatoins      __  __
>
>  C. All vehicles parked minimum 20 feet from tents        __  __
>
>  D. Cateriing trucks parked in designated locations       __  __
>
>  E. Generator truck parked in designated location         __  __
>
>  F. Water tenders parked in designated locations          __  __
>
>  G. Dry vegetation cleared from desginated parking areas  __  __
>
>III. Exiting
>
>  A. All designated exits kept clear                       __  __
>
>  B. Exits visible                                         __  __
>
>  C. No flammable liquids, LPG or pyrotechnics near an 
>
>     exit                                                  __  __
>
>IV. Pyrotechnic Special Effects
>
>  A. Proper license in possession of pyrotechnician        __  __
>
>  B. Permit on site                                        __  __
>
>  C. Fire department briefed on proposed activity          __  __
>
>  D. Alternative means of protection provided              __  __
>
>  E. Special effects in Class II magazine or 
>
>        Dept. of Transportation carton                     __  __
>
>  F. Fire extinguishment provided by pyrotechnician        __  __
>
>  G. Extinguishment equipment charged and in good
>
>     working order                                         __  __
>
>V. Flammable Liquids and Gases
>
>  A. Proper storage in approved containers                 __  __
>
>  B. Pressure vessels identified as to contents            __  __
>
>  C. Pressure vessels secured                              __  __
>
>  D. Approved hoses and valves for pressurized gases       __  __
>
>  E. Flammable liquids and gases kept away from heat 
>
>     sources                                               __  __
>
>  F. No refueling of equipment while in operation          __  __
>
>  G. Refueling done in remote area                         __  __
>
>  H. Aircraft refuelded in designated site on location     __  __
>
>  I. Supply and receiving vessels bonded together          __  __
>
>  J. No leakage of fuels from generators                   __  __
>
>  K. Spray painting and lacquer application performed 
>
>     safely                                                __  __
>
>  L. Proper ventilation to prevent flammable vapors from
>
>     accumulating                                          __  __
>
>VI. Electrical and Lighting
>
>  A. Cords and connections in good condition (no 
>
>     deterioration)                                        __  __
>
>  B. Extension cords not used as substitute for permanent
>
>     wiring of building                                    __  __
>
>  C. A/C properly grounded                                 __  __
>
>  D. Generators attended and in good repair                __  __
>
>  E. Generators grounded                                   __  __
>
>  F. Cables properly protected, bundled, and kept as clear
>
>     as possible at exits                                  __  __
>
>  G. Combustible materials kept clear of light fixtures    __  __
>
>VII. Welding, Cutting and Grinding
>
>  A. Combustible materials within 10 feet of welding
>
>     relocated or covered                                  __  __
>
>  B. Flammable liquids removed from area where grinding 
>
>     sparks are produced                                   __  __
>
>  C. Fire extinguishers provided on welding set            __  __
>
>VIII. Smoking
>
>  A. Smoking prohibited near pyrotechnic special effects
>
>     storage, or flammable liquids storage and dispensing 
>
>     area                                                  __  __
>
>  B. Designated smoking areas, if any, clearly marked      __  __
>
>  C. NO SMOKING signs prominently visible where smoking
>
>     is prohibited                                         __  __
>
>IX. Miscellaneous
>
>  A. Film permit on site                                   __  __
>
>  B. All sprinkler and standpipe systems fully operational __  __
>
>  C. Extinguishers present and ready for use               __  __
>
>  D. Methods of reporting an emergency available           __  __
>
>  E. Catering trucks provided with fire extinguishers      __  __
>
>  F. Light combustibles in carpenter shop and other
>
>     work areas removed frequently                         __  __
>
>  G. Tent materials flame retardant                        __  __
>
>  H. Fabrics, draperies, etc. flame retardant              __  __
>
>  I. Brush cleared adequately at outdoor filming locations __  __
>
>  J. Open burning in compliance with all regulations       __  __
>
>  K. Helistop clearly delineated and adequately cleared    __  __
>
>  L. Bleachers and grandstands constructed to withstand
>
>     loads imposed                                         __  __
>
>  M. Greens (trees, bushes, etc.), if not fresh or live,
>
>     flame retardant                                       __  __
>
>X. Required Permits and/or Certificates
>
>  A. Film permit                                           __  __
>
>  B. Special effects (pytotechnic or non-pyrotechnic)      __  __
>
>  C. Refueler vehicle                                      __  __
>
>  D. Welding and/or cutting                                __  __
>
>  E. Tent                                                  __  __
>
>  F. Flame retardant                                       __  __
>
>                                  Vol. 12 No. 10 Art Hazards News
>
>
>
>
>
>               SPECIAL EFFECTS CODES AND STANDARDS
>
>                By Michael McCann, Ph.D., C.I.H.
>
>
>
>   A variety of fire prevention organizations are either revising
>
>or preparing codes and standards for Special Effects used in the
>
>entertainment industry.
>
>   The Western Fire Chiefs Association in July adopted changes
>
>to Article 78, Special Effects in Motion Picture, Television,
>
>Theatrical and Group Entertainment Productions, of the Uniform Fire
>
>Prevention Code.  This article covers the classification and
>
>construction of magazines for the storage of high explosives, low
>
>explosives, and pyrotechnics special effects materials for which
>
>a fire permit is required; fire permits; storage requirements;
>
>and use of special effects.  These revisions will appear in the
>
>next edition of the Uniform Fire Prevention Code, which applies
>
>in the Western states.  Similar changes are being proposed for
>
>the fire codes covering other states.  The New York City Fire
>
>Department is also in the process of changing its requirements
>
>for special effects permits and licensing of special effects
>
>operators.
>
>   The Committee on Pyrotechnics of the National Fire Protection
>
>Association (NFPA) is presently is the process of writing a
>
>proposed standard NFPA 1126, Code for the Use of Pyrotechnics in
>
>the Entertainment Industry.  The code would apply to the use of
>
>pyrotechnic special effects in the entertainment industry in
>
>conjunction with motion pictures, television, theatrical,
>
>operatic or other musical productions.  The purpose of this
>
>pyrotechnics code is to protect pyrotechnics operators,
>
>performers and viewing audience; to provide suggested guidelines
>
>to authorities having jurisdiction for such performances; and to
>
>provide suggested guidelines for local permit requirements.  The
>
>code will cover the transport, storage, pyrotechnics operator
>
>qualifications, permits, and precautions to be used with special
>
>effects.
>
>   Further information on this proposed code can be obtained from
>
>Phil Grucci, a member of the NFPA Committee on Pyrotechnics. 
>
>Write: Phil Grucci, Fireworks by Grucci, 1 Grucci Lane,
>
>Brookhaven, NY 11719.  (516) 286-0088.
>
>                                   Vol. 12 No. 6 Art Hazards News
>
>
>
>



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From: cntrspy@iapps.org (Executive Protection Associates)
Subject: Entertainment Hazards Checklist
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