As we have discussed many times in the SAFTENG social media groups, there seems to be an increase in catastrophic fires associated with large-scale construction. The IFC is attempting to address these devastating losses through some new code requirements in CHAPTER 33 FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION. The code requires a site safety plan with 13 specific topics to cover and requires a DAILY INSPECTION by the “site safety director.” But here is the kicker…
If the daily inspection is NOT performed it will result in the issuance of a notice of violation to the site safety director in accordance with Section 112.3. Upon the third offense, the fire code official is authorized to issue a STOP WORK ORDER in accordance with Section 113, and work shall not resume until satisfactory assurances of future compliance have been presented to and approved by the fire code official.
I wish the language did not make the “site safety director” the one to whom the notice would be issued, but it is for now. The previous versions of the code named the “Site Superintendent” as the one responsible. The code does define the role and responsibilities of this “site safety director”.