STSC Fire Prevention and Protection in Construction 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.150, what is the maximum travel distance from any point in a building to a fire extinguisher for a Class B hazard?
- 50 feet (Correct answer)
- 75 feet
- 100 feet
- 30 feet
Correct answer: 50 feet
OSHA requires fire extinguishers for Class B hazards to be located no more than 50 feet from the hazard.
Question 2: When welding near combustible materials on a construction site, the hot work permit system requires a fire watch to remain on duty for how long after welding operations cease?
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 15 minutes
- 1 hour
- Until the next shift arrives
Correct answer: 30 minutes
OSHA and NFPA standards require a fire watch to continue for at least 30 minutes after hot work ends to detect smoldering fires.
Question 3: A construction site stores 75 gallons of flammable liquid in a storage room. According to OSHA, this room must have a fire-resistance rating of at least:
- 2 hours (Correct answer)
- 1 hour
- 30 minutes
- 4 hours
Correct answer: 2 hours
OSHA 1926.152 requires flammable liquid storage rooms to have a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance rating when storing more than 60 gallons.
Question 4: Which suppression agent is most appropriate for a Class K fire involving cooking oils in a construction site temporary kitchen?
- Wet chemical agent (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Dry chemical powder
- Water mist
Correct answer: Wet chemical agent
Wet chemical agents are specifically designed for Class K fires involving high-temperature cooking oils and fats.
Question 5: During demolition of an existing structure, the supervisor discovers unknown pipe insulation that may be asbestos. What is the FIRST action regarding fire protection?
- Stop work and assess whether the material could become friable from fire or cutting (Correct answer)
- Continue work but add extra fire extinguishers nearby
- Install a sprinkler system before proceeding
- Apply fireproof coating over the suspect material
Correct answer: Stop work and assess whether the material could become friable from fire or cutting
Fire or cutting of asbestos-containing materials can release fibers; work must stop to evaluate and comply with NESHAP and OSHA asbestos standards before resuming.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a fire prevention plan required by OSHA 1926.150 on construction sites?
- To identify and control fire hazards before they cause a fire (Correct answer)
- To document the number of extinguishers on site
- To establish evacuation routes only
- To assign firefighting duties to all workers
Correct answer: To identify and control fire hazards before they cause a fire
A fire prevention plan focuses on proactively identifying and eliminating or controlling fire hazards before ignition can occur.
Question 7: Temporary heating equipment on a construction site must maintain a minimum clearance of how many inches from combustible materials per OSHA standards?
- 18 inches (Correct answer)
- 12 inches
- 6 inches
- 36 inches
Correct answer: 18 inches
OSHA 1926.154 requires temporary heating devices to be positioned at least 18 inches from combustible materials to prevent ignition.
STSC Fire Prevention and Protection in Construction 4
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.150, what is the maximum travel distance from any point in a building to a fire extinguisher for a Class B hazard?