1960_20.pdf

The Alternate Standard for Fire Safety in Airport Traffic Control Towers

29 CFR 1960.20

hereas, the agreement contained herein will provide a level of protection for occupants of airport traffic control towers equivalent to that of egress standards under 29 CFR Part 1910; and hereas, this agreement was reached in cooperation with employee and, management representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration;

herefore, in keeping with this agreement, we the undersigned have affixed our signatures to this Alternate Standard for Fire Safety in Airport Traffic Control Towers, 29 CFR Part 1960.20, in Washington, D.C., on this the 6th day of May, 1998.

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IV. The Alternate Standard.

(a) Scope and Application. This standard applies to all federally owned or operated ATCTs. It sets forth-minimum requirements essential to providing a safe means of exit in case of fire and other emergencies.

(b) Definitions.

"Authorized Person" means an employee who has been specifically assigned by the employer to assure compliance with this standard.

"Base Building" means a structure including links and vestibules, which connects with the ATCT and which may house administrative personnel, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), or passenger-related functions.

"Cab" means the primary operating space in the ATCT situated at a desired elevation above ground level and physically oriented relative to the primary runways, so as to obtain the best unobstructed view of the airport aircraft primary movement areas (taxiways, runways, and flight approaches and departures).

"Class A Finish" means any material classified at twenty-five (25) or less on the flame spread test scale and 450 or less on the smoke test scale described in 6-5.3.1 of NFPA-101.

"Class B Finish" means any material classified at more than twenty-five (25) but not more than seventy-five

(75) on the flame spread test scale and 450 or less on the smoke test scale described in 6-5.3.1 of the NFPA-101.

"Emergency Action Plan" means a plan for a workplace, or parts thereof, describing what procedures the employer and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire or other emergencies.

"Emergency Exit Route" means the route that employees are directed to follow in the event they are required to evacuate the workplace or seek a designated refuge area.

"Exit" means a portion of a means of egress, which is separated from all other spaces of the structure by construction or equipment to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge.

"Exit Access" means a portion of a means of egress which leads to an entrance to an exit.

"Exit Discharge" means a portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way.

"Fire Resistive" means the ability of materials or assemblies of construction to withstand

22 5/14/99 exposure under standard fire test conditions for a prescribed temperature and period of time without structural failure.

Fire resistive construction is that type of construction in which the walls, partitions, and structural members are of noncombustible materials, which will withstand exposure to fire for a specified period of time without structural failure.

"Hazardous Areas" means rooms or areas that pose a degree of hazard greater than that normal to the general occupancy of the structure, such as those areas used for storage or use of combustibles or flammable, toxic, noxious, or corrosive materials, or use of heat-producing appliances.

"High Hazard Areas" means areas in structures used for purposes that involve highly combustible, highly flammable, or explosive products or materials that are likely to burn with extreme rapidity, or that may produce flame, poisonous fumes or gases, explosive or irritant hazards, including highly toxic or noxious alkalies, acids, liquids or chemicals; also those uses that cause division of material into fine particles or dust subject to explosion or spontaneous combustion, and uses that otherwise constitute a high fire hazard because of the form, character, or volume of the material used.

"Link" means connecting passageway between an ATCT and a base building. Links are typically one occupied level in height with direct access to the exterior of the structure.

"Means of Egress (Exit Routes) " means a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way and consists of three (3) separate and distinct parts: the way of exit access, the exit, and the way of exit discharge. A means of egress comprises the vertical and horizontal ways of travel and shall include intervening room spaces, doorways, hallways, corridors, passageways, balconies, ramps, stairs, enclosures, lobbies, escalators, horizontal exits, courts, and yards.

"Noncombustible" means the materials or assemblies that can not burn. Noncombustible construction is that type of construction in which the walls, partitions, and structural members are of material which inherently can not burn but does not qualify as fire resistive construction (i.e., the construction does not qualify as fire resistive because unprotected structural members may be damaged by heat generated by a fire).

"NFPA-101" means the 1997-code for safety to life from fire in buildings and structures.

"Protected Noncombustible Construction" means a construction in which all bearing walls or bearing portions of walls, exterior or interior are of noncombustible materials having a fire resistance of at least one-hour and are stable under fire conditions; roof and floor construction and their supports have one hour fire resistance; and stairways and other openings through floors are enclosed with partitions having one hour fire resistance.

"Smoke Proof Enclosure" means a stair enclosure designed so that the movement into the smoke proof enclosure of products of combustion produced by a fire occurring in any part of the structure is limited.

"Tower," means an enclosed, independent structure or portion of a building with elevated portions for support of equipment or occupied for observation, control, operation, signaling, or similar limited use and not open to the general public. An ATCT is a tower used for aircraft control and related activities.

"Tower Occupant Load" means the total number of persons permitted to OCCUPY a tower or portion thereof at any one time.

"Type I Construction" means a construction whose structural members, including walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs, are all of approved noncombustible or limited-combustible materials and have fire resistance ratings in accordance with NFPA 220, Table 2, 443 or 332.

"Type II Construction" means a construction not qualifying as Type I Construction in which the structural members, including walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs, are of approved noncombustible or limited-combustible materials and have fire resistance ratings in accordance with NFPA 220, Table 2, (222), (111), or (000).

“Type IV Construction” means a construction in which exterior and interior walls and structural members that are portions of such walls are of approved noncombustible or limited-combustible materials. Other interior structural members, including columns, beams, arches, floors, and roofs, are of solid or laminated wood without concealed spaces and comply with the provisions of NFPA 220 Sections 3-4.2 through 3-4.6. In addition, structural members shall have fire resistance ratings not less than one hour.

(c) Exit Route Compliance Alternatives.

(1) General. Every ATCT facility shall be so constructed, arranged, equipped, maintained, and operated as to protect its occupants from fire, smoke, fumes, toxic emissions during the period of time reasonably necessary for escape from the building or structure in case of fire or other emergency. The FAA shall ensure that each ATCT where construction begins after January 2001, with a total occupant load of twenty-five (25) or more occupants, has two (2) separate exit routes which begin at the base of the cab and extend to ground level.

(2) (i) Within one hundred and eighty days (180) from the effective date of this standard, the FAA shall submit in writing a list of all ATCTs indicating the alternative selected from paragraph (c) (3) or whether a request for a variance will be made. (ii) For each ATCT for which a variance has been requested, written details, and rationale for the request must he submitted within one year from the effective date of this standard.

(3) Alternatives. The FAA shall ensure that compliance with the exit route requirements of this standard are achieved by using one of the following alternatives:

(i) Alternative A. For each ATCT having a single exit route and a total occupant load of less than twenty-five

(25) occupants, the following requirements must be met (within one year from the effective date of this standard):

(A) The tower is not used for living or sleeping purposes;

(B.) The tower is of Type I, Type II, or Type IV construction;

(C) The interior finish of the tower is Class A or Class B;

(D) There are no combustible materials in, or under the immediate vicinity of the tower, except for necessary furniture and office supplies; and

(E) There are no high hazard areas in, or under the immediate vicinity of the tower.

(ii) Alternative B. For each ATCT constructed before the Year 2001, having a single exit route and a total occupant load of twenty-five (25) or more must meet the following requirements (within one year from the effective date of this standard):

(A) The tower shall be of protected noncombustible construction except as follows:

(1) All high hazard areas are constructed in accordance with paragraph (j) of this standard.

(2) All vertical shafts shall be constructed in accordance with paragraph (d)(3) of this standard.

(3) Fully sprinklered towers are permitted to be constructed of noncombustible materials.

(4) Protected noncombustible construction is not required for steel beams in the upper cab areas.

(B) The single exit shall be protected by a smoke proof enclosure constructed in accordance with NFPA-101, and must have a two (2) hour fire resistance rating throughout the enclosure. Exception: Exterior walls where the horizontal distance to the nearest structure is more than ten (10) feet. Additionally, the exterior walls of a tower must have at least a one hour fire resistance rating extending a vertical distance of fifteen (15) feet from the roof of an adjoining base building (or terminal), unless such a roof has at least a one hour fire resistance rating.

(C) The smoke proof enclosure shall extend from the tower cab to the point where at least two (2) exits are available. Exception (1). A single exit permitted for smoke proof enclosures which discharge directly outside the.

structure or to a public way. Exception (2). A single exit is permitted for those base buildings consisting of a single story above ground and having less than 350 square feet.

(d) Structural Requirements.

(1) Stairways. All stairways shall comply with 29 CFR 1910.36, except that, stairways located in smoke proof enclosures may be not less than twenty-eight (28) inches wide when measured from handrail to

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handrail. Circular stairs are exempt from the requirements for stairs.

(2) Interior finishes. All finishes of ATCTs must comply with NFPA-101, 6-5 for Class A or Class B flame spread ratings. Carpeting shall riot be mounted on walls or ceilings.

(3) Vertical Shafts Including Smoke Proof Enclosures.

(i) All shafts in towers shall be enclosed with protected noncombustible materials in accordance with NFPA-101 requirements and with at least a two (2) hour fire resistive rating. All related material and construction shall have an equivalent fire resistive rating.

(ii) Shafts for elevators shall conform to the requirements of the American Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Escalators, and Dumbwaiters (ANSI A17.1.)

(iii) Shaft openings must be constructed in accordance with NFPA-101, 6-2.4.

(4) Fire Walls, Partitions, and Fire Stops. Must be constructed and used in accordance with NFPA-101, 6-2.

(e) Fire Detection and Alarm Systems. Each ATCT must be provided with a fire detection and alarm system in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.164 and 1910.165.

(f) Fire Suppression Equipment. Suitable fire suppression equipment must be available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.157. Extinguishers shall not be considered to be equivalent to an automatic sprinkler system for purposes of omitting the requirement for protected noncombustible construction required by this standard.

(g) Compliance Program.

(1) The FAA shall establish within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the effective date of this standard, a written program describing the alternative selected from paragraph (c) above to be used to comply with this standard.

(2) The written program shall include the following:

(i) The alternative provisions selected for exit routes;

(ii) A description of the worksite and the modifications to be made to comply with this provision;

(iii) Engineering plans and studies used to determine methods selected for achieving compliance with this provision;

(iv) A detailed schedule for implementation of the provisions; and

(v) Other relevant information.

(3) If the FAA has not achieved compliance with the selected exit route provision (one year from the effective date of this standard), the FAA shall then assess the effectiveness of the modifications already in place, and establish any additional measures to ensure that employees are provided equivalent protection until compliance can be achieved.

(4) The written program shall be submitted upon request to the Assistant Secretary, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the Assistant Secretary, and affected employee or authorized employee representatives.

(5) The plans required by paragraph (g) (2) shall be revised and updated at least annually to reflect the current status of the program.

(h) Emergency Action Plan.

(1) Application. The FAA shall ensure that a written emergency action plan is developed within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this standard for every ATCT. This plan must cover those designated actions the FAA and its employees must take to ensure safety from fire and other emergencies. The plan shall be made available in each facility in a location which is readily available for review and use by facility personnel.

(2) Elements of the Plan. The plan shall include, at a minimum:

(i) Emergency escape procedures and emergency exit route assignments;

(ii) Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical facility operations before they evacuate;

(iii) Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;

(iv) Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are assigned to perform them;

(v) The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and

(vi) Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.

(vii) A plan or diagram of designated emergency egress routes shall be posted in a place readily available to employees.

(3) Training.

(i) Before implementing the emergency action plan, the FAA shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.

(ii) The FAA shall provide emergency action plan training for each employee within one hundred and eighty

(180) days of the effective date of this standard and annually thereafter. Training must also be provided:

(A) Whenever the employee's responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change, and

(B) Whenever the plan is changed.

(4) Written Plan Availability.

(i) The written plan shall be kept at an easily accessible location at the workplace and made available for employee review.

(ii) The written plan shall be submitted upon request to the Assistant Secretary, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the Assistant Secretary, and ATCTs employees or authorized employee representatives.

(i) Fire Prevention Plan.

(1) Application. The FAA shall develop and implement within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this standard a written fire prevention plan for every ATCT.

(2) Minimum Requirements. The fire prevention plan, at a minimum, shall include the following elements:

(i) A list of the major workplace fire hazards, and their proper handling and storage procedures, potential sources of ignition and their control procedures, and the type of fire protection equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them;

(ii) Job titles of personnel responsible for maintenance of equipment and system installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires; and

(iii) Job titles of personnel responsible for control of fuel source hazards.

(iv) The written plan shall be kept in an easily accessible workplace location and available for employee review.

(3) Housekeeping. The FAA shall control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency. The housekeeping procedures shall be included in the written fire prevention plan.

(4) Training. The FAA shall provide fire prevention training within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the effective date of this standard and at least annually thereafter for all ATCT employees. At a minimum, the training must cover the fire hazards of the materials and processes to which employees are exposed.

(j) High Hazard Areas. High hazard areas must be separated by enclosure or sectioning from the rest of the tower by fire resistive walls or partitions, ceilings, and floors. Openings in the separating construction shall be protected with fire doors and fire dampers having a fire resistance rating equivalent to the separation.

(k) Fire Drills. The FAA shall establish a fire drill program for each ATCT and ensure that each ATCT employee participates, at least annually, in a fire drill.

(l) Training Program. (i) The FAA shall provide each employee with training within one hundred and eighty days from the effective date of this standard, at the time of the employee's initial assignment to the ATCT, and at least annually thereafter.

(ii) The FAA shall assure that each employee is trained in the following:

(A) The content of this standard and its appendices;

(B) The types of situations which could result in emergency evacuation;

(C) The components of the emergency action plan as required by paragraph (h) of this standard.

(D) The components of the fire prevention plan as required by paragraph (i) of this standard.

(iii) The FAA shall make readily available to all ATCT employees a copy of this standard and its appendices.

(iv) The FAA shall provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the Assistant Secretary.

(m) Record-keeping. The FAA shall establish and maintain an accurate record at each facility of the following:

(1) Training Program. The FAA shall maintain for each employee a written record of all training provided in response to this standard.

(2) Emergency Action Plan. The FAA shall maintain a written record of the emergency action plan and any modifications to the plan.

(3) Fire Prevention Program. The FAA shall maintain a written record of the fire prevention plan and any modifications made to the plan.

(4) Compliance Plans. The FAA shall maintain a written record of all compliance plans relevant to abatement of emergency egress hazards.

(n) Compliance Status and Abatement Certification.

(1) Existing ATCT Construction. The FAA shall provide for each facility, and make available at the facility, a biannual update for all existing ATCTs including at least the following information:

(i) The location of the ATCT, including mailing address;

(ii) The name of the authorized person;

(iii) Status of the abatement;

(iv) Completion date; and

(v) Request for a Petition for Modification of Abatement, if the required abatement date can not be achieved.

(vi) Certification by the authorized person that abatement has been completed and that the ATCT is in compliance with this standard.

(2) ATCT Towers Scheduled for Replacement. The FAA shall provide for each facility and make available to the Secretary a semi-annual update for all ATCTs scheduled for replacement with at least the following information:

(i) The location and mailing address of the ATCT being replaced and the location of the replacement facility;

(ii) The name of the authorized person;

(iii) Any written interim procedures which will be followed during the replacement period;

(iv) The date that the replacement facility will be operational;

(v) The disposition of the facility replaced; and

(vi) Certification by the authorized person that the replacement ATCT meets the requirements of this standard.

(vii) Certification by the authorized person that the interim protective measures are in place for the ATCT being replaced.

(o) Effective Dates. This standard shall become effective on July 1, 1998.

(1) All towers where construction begins after January 2001 and with twenty-five (25) or more occupants with two (2) separate means of egress;

(2) Paragraph (c) (2) (i) compliance is required by January 1, 1999. Paragraph (c) (2) (ii) compliance is required by July 1, 1999.

(3) Alternative A. Compliance is required (by July 1, 1999); and

(4) Alternative B. Compliance is required (by July 1, 1999)

(5) Written Compliance Program. Compliance with this paragraph is required by January 1, 1999.

(6) Emergency Action Plan.

(i) Written Plan. Compliance with this paragraph is required by October 1, 1998 for every ATCT.

(ii) Training. Compliance with this paragraph is required by January 1, 1999 for every ATCT employee.

(7) Fire Prevention Plan.

(i) Written Plan. Compliance with this paragraph is required by October 1, 1998 for every ATCT.

(ii) Training. Compliance with this section is required by January 1, 1999 for every ATCT employee.

(8) Training Program. Compliance with this paragraph is required by January 1, 1999.

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