【Fire Study】American Fire Supervision and Management

Abstract: Boston, Massachusetts representative example, describes the main contents of its fire supervision and management of basic processes, including building license, burning behavior of materials control, fire safety design, fire safety violations investigated, special assignments and dangerous Supervision of key locations, etc., analyzes characteristics from the aspects of regulatory basis, operation flow, department linkage, and multiple participation. Combining with China's national conditions and drawing lessons from US practices, it proposed suggestions for adjusting regulatory content, optimizing supervision methods, and playing a multi-agent role.

Keywords: firefighting; fire supervision; American fire

At present, there is a lack of systematic research on the supervision and management of fire protection in the United States. A few documents also remain at the macro level and concept. The author attempts to provide guidance for the reform of China's fire supervision and management by analyzing the fire control in Boston.

1 Overview of Fire Control in Boston

There are no fire extinguishing, fire prevention, training and equipment ( including emergency medical care ) , human resources, emergency preparedness ( city ​​emergency command center ) , and professional rescue six departments under the Boston Fire Department. There are 35 fire stations and 1 611 occupations. Fire-fighting personnel, including 1,467 fire-fighting and rescue personnel, 68 dispatched and dispatched police officers, 76 civilians , and 25 professional firefighters per 10,000 persons.

Boston occupies an important position in the history of American fire. In 1631 , the first fire prevention decree was issued in the Americas. In 1718 , the fire fighting organization of neighboring mutual aid emerged and gradually developed into a volunteer fire brigade. In 1851 , the city fire alarm system based on telegraph technology was first created . The Boston Fire in 1872 caused 492 in 1942. The death of the Coconut Grove nightclub fire directly promoted the development of the US fire protection system and fire protection codes. Boston attaches great importance to fire prevention. In 2009 a fire zero death, 2O10 2O11 years and years, only 1 person 2 people died in the fire, the city is the nation's lowest death rate of fire. The Fire Department of the Boston Fire Department is responsible for directing the city's fire prevention work. Its main fire surveillance business can be divided into 10 categories.

1 . 1 Use permission for new building construction

In Boston, all newly built residential and industrial and commercial buildings must obtain a “ Certificate of Occupancy ” issued by the Surveillance Service before they are put into use . The U.S. certificate of use of a house is a permit issued by the local government or the administrative department of construction to which it belongs. Prove that a building complies with the relevant laws and regulations concerning construction and safety, public health, etc., and have the conditions for putting it into use.

The consent of the Boston Fire Department is a precondition for the issuance of a house use permit by the Regulatory Services Authority. Specific procedures:

(1) The owner or developer submits an application to the Supervising Service Bureau, who fax the application form to the Fire Department's Certificate of Occupancy Office ;

(2) The fire station informs the owner or developer to submit the relevant declaration materials directly to the fire station;

(3) After the declaration and certification materials are in place and meet the requirements and all field tests are completed ( for the acceptance and testing of some projects, the fire department must send a witness on site ) , the Boston Fire Department signs the opinion and agrees that the Bureau of Surveillance Services issues the use permit. certificate.

1 . 2 Building interior decoration, decoration materials and furniture combustion performance control

According to the Boston Fire Protection Code, all industrial and commercial enterprises, public gathering places, public institutions, hotels, and combustible and flammable decorations, decoration materials and furniture used in a multi-family residential building, as well as mattresses in hotels and university dormitories ( including spring mattress) combustion properties must meet specific criteria. Before installation and use, the owner must submit an application to the Material Division of the Fire Prevention Department (Chemist) and samples of the above-mentioned materials, products, and relevant supporting documents. After the materials section tests the combustion properties , the owner issues a license file.

1 . 3 Fire Safety Supervision of Construction Engineering

The Construction Safety Unit is responsible for supervising the implementation of fire prevention measures at new, modified, and expanded construction sites. Through on-site supervision and inspection, it identifies and corrects unsafe behavior and is responsible for inspections: (1) Whether the site has obtained the corresponding construction permit and whether it is construction site significant position setting construction permits bulletin board, and constructed in accordance with the extent permitted; (2) applying butoxy site fire water supply risers is easy to use, whether there is clearly marked; (3) application: process whether related specifications, standards .

1 . 4 Fire Design Drawing Audit

Fire Engineering Division (Fire Protection Engineering Unit) is responsible for vetting new, reform, expansion of the small building fire protection design process, the engineer made the fire (Fire Protection Engineer) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF qualified professionals. In the preliminary design stage, the location of fire truck lanes, pump adapters, and fire hydrants were mainly reviewed; during the design phase of the construction drawings, the review included smoke prevention, fire alarms, automatic sprinkler and other fire extinguishing systems, fire water supply risers, and fire pumps. The design of the fire water supply and the location of the public gathering place. At the same time, the Fire Engineering Section is also responsible for reviewing fire safety strategies and evacuation plans involved in performance-based fire safety.

1 . 5 House smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector check

1 January 1975 implementation of the "Massachusetts Building Code" provides. Newly built and remodeled residential buildings must be fitted with appropriate smoke detectors. The Massachusetts General Law requires that residential buildings of 5 households or less built before 1975 must also install qualified smoke alarms when they are sold or transferred. March 2006 31 F 1 onwards. "Massachusetts ⋯ like Law" and regulations. For homes using fossil fuels or enclosed garages, carbon monoxide alarms must be installed regardless of the age of construction or the size of the building. The General Inspection Unit is responsible for inspecting smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in homes in accordance with the application of the owner or real estate agent, and issuing qualified certification documents to qualified persons.

1 . 6 Fire Alarm System Supervision

The Internal Fire Protection System (Internal Systems) is responsible for supervising and inspecting the fire alarm system and sending personnel to witness the acceptance test. All fire alarm systems must be licensed before installation. The application materials include the business license of the construction company and the identity documents of the construction workers. It also includes: (1) Design drawings for the fire alarm system. The drawing can only indicate the location of fire alarm equipment. , room number, shall not display other electrical systems; (2) instructions for installation and use of fire alarm products; (3) calculation of power supply load of fire alarm system, including all detection triggers and alarm settings; (4) briefly describe the design content of fire alarm system And the scope of work.

After the completion of the fire alarm system, a single acceptance must be submitted. The application materials include the inspection certificate issued by the professional fire alarm service company and the commitment letter signed by the owner and the designer and notarized. If the Boston Fire Department site test fails, the owner must also provide a test certificate issued by a third party when applying for a retest.

1 . 7 Laboratory Fire Safety Registration

Prior to April 1 each year, use or store hazardous chemicals in the laboratory must be registered with the department laboratory Boston Fire Department (I aboratoryRegistration) declare the registration. The applicant must sign the form of the standard and promise the laboratory;

(1) Comply with standards such as "Boston Code for Fire Prevention" and NFPA 30 { Specifications for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, NFPA 45 "Standards for Fire Safety of Chemical Laboratory";

(2) Maintain and maintain various types of fire protection facilities according to standards;

(3) Acquire corresponding annual review and permit for storage and use of chemical dangerous goods;

(4) The 24-hour dedicated person is on duty or installs the Repository Box for use by the fire brigade , including floor plans, emergency keys or access cards, and contact information for emergency contacts . )

1 . 8 Fire safety violation investigation

The Legal Unit is responsible for investigating violations of fire regulations. There are two situations:

(1) For the illegal conduct that may lead to criminal charges, the Abatement Order shall be issued , the parties must rectify within the prescribed time limit, and the fire department shall review within 15 days ( if it may threaten the safety of people, the review period will be shorter ) , If the parties fail to rectify and eliminate the illegal activities within the prescribed time limit, the Boston Fire Department will go to the Housing Court ( Mainly dealing with the matters between the lessor and the lessee, including the maintenance of the house, rental period, construction and fire regulations and other In the field of affairs ) filed criminal proceedings.

(2) For violations that may face fines, a "non- Critical Viotation Notice" (Non - Critical Viotation Notice) is issued to indicate the behavior of the illegal fire code and inform the parties of their rights and responsibilities. If the party accepts the fine, he or she will be required to make the payment; if he chooses to appeal, he will fill out the appeal application attached to the notice and mail it to the required address. The Boston Fire Department will inform him of the time and place of the hearing.

1 . 9 Special Dangerous Operations Fire Safety Supervision

The Special Hazards Division is responsible for civil blasting, liquid fuel storage in buildings, open flame operations, painting, nail art, pyrotechnic shows, film and television special effects using dangerous goods, temporary buildings and tents , mobile dining cars, self-help fueling, and transport of dangerous goods. Fire safety review. For example, in recent years, appearing nail shop, because storage of flammable liquids such as acetone or alcohol, the fire department would like to accept the declaration and annual license; Again, since July 2011, Boston City Hall to allow Meals on Wheels business, but business The person must obtain multiple permits from the departments of sanitation, food safety and fire protection. The Boston Fire Department has established a special fire safety standard that requires it to obtain an open fire permit, a dangerous goods storage permit, and a standard exhaust fume hood. Application of automatic fire extinguishing facilities with fire extinguishers.

1 . 10 Fire safety supervision in special places

The Special Occupational Inspection Section (General 0ccupancy) conducts regular inspections of special-purpose sites. Among them, hotels, hospitals, theaters, schools, and kindergartens are checked every quarter. Prisons, educational institutions, correctional facilities, etc. are inspected once a year, and special night-searchers regularly check bars, clubs, and restaurants. Another function of the division is to supervise the regular cleaning of the flue in the place of business to prevent the fouling of the flue. The Fire Bureau, together with the Bureau of Supervision Services and the Bureau of Health, jointly developed occupational standards for "flue cleaners" and "flue inspectors". These two types of personnel must pass examinations organized by organizations approved by the Fire Bureau to take up posts and fire to them every year. Bureau registration registration. The fire department will conduct random inspections of its practice. Once it is found that it fails to perform its duties according to the standards, it will suspend or even revoke its registration qualifications and impose a fine.

2 Characteristics of Boston Fire Surveillance

2 . 1 according to law, a clear program

In the United States, firefighting affairs belong to the local authority, and the fire control actions carried out by local fire departments are all authorized by state and local government laws and regulations. The fire supervision in Boston covers a wide range of topics, including traditional construction inspections, acceptance inspections, pre-opening inspections, and supervision of “new things” such as nail shops and mobile dining cars. All aspects of social life, but each has a clear basis of laws and regulations and strict organizational implementation procedures. The Massachusetts General Act, the Massachusetts Code, the Massachusetts Fire Regulations, the Massachusetts Building Code, and the Boston Fire Code all have clear rules and procedures for the Check the Boston Fire Department website.

2 . 2 flexible and practical

The Boston Fire Department has a variety of forms of supervision, ranging from direct review and inspection by firefighters to off-site registration and registration. For large-risk operations and important single firefighting facility acceptance, firefighting personnel must conduct on-site inspections, or witness the owners, construction and installation companies to conduct tests and acceptances on the spot; other projects are simplified through registration and filing while clarifying the main responsibility of the project. Procedures are implemented to increase efficiency and facilitate the parties. For example, according to the “Building Fire Fighting System Testing Procedures”, firefighters must physically witness the testing of backup generators , fire pumps, fire water supply risers, and smoke control systems during the acceptance of construction projects . Other items are mainly based on the parties’ declarations and commitments. However, if spot checks result in violations of fire safety regulations, they will be fined, suspended, or even revoked.

2 . 3 Departmental linkage and multiple participation

The Boston Fire Department did not regard the inspection and acceptance of fire protection for new, modified or expanded projects as an independent administrative license, but instead integrated the “major department” comprehensive supervision mechanism as part of the issuance of the “house use permit”. The Supervision Service Bureau “has a window. "Acceptance, licensing. In the process of reviewing licenses and registrations, the Boston Fire Department assumed the responsibility of multiple owners such as owners, construction companies, maintenance companies, etc., to give full play to the role of social firefighting technicians and service organizations, and to pass the design staff and owners a notarized commitment. The book is used as a condition for the declaration of fire engineering design approval and acceptance; when the fire alarm system is completed and accepted, it must also submit the system test qualification certificate issued by the firefighting technical service agency. At the same time, actively cultivating social forces to provide professional fire safety services, such as building a career platform for flue cleaning operators with other departments, guiding social organizations to carry out skills training and qualification examinations, and the fire department is responsible for registration and spot checks, which will lead to more effective and effective prevention and control. Flue fire.

2 . 4 Reasonable fees, open and transparent

The vast majority of Boston's supervisory inspections, examination permits, and registrations are charged, which is a common practice in the US fire department. For example, the annual minimum fee for public gathering places is 100 USD ( nominal capacity is 50 to 99 people ) , and the maximum is 4 100 USD ( rated capacity is 14,000 people or more ) , and the quarterly and annual inspection of hotels and hospitals is charged at 85 USD each time . For dangerous operations, the fire department will also send personnel and vehicles to conduct compulsory paid on-site monitoring. The aforementioned charges all have strict legal basis. The "Massachusetts General Law" stipulates that citizens or legal persons apply for their own interests ( such as production and operation and other profit-making activities ) to apply for services of the state government agencies for registration, license issuance, and examination licenses. , Or use the state government's buildings, facilities, have to charge fees, specific standards must be reviewed and publicized by the legislative body.

3 Reference to China's fire control reform

Since the party’s 18th National Congress, the central government has proposed a “four comprehensive” strategic layout, emphasizing that “deepening the reform of the administrative system and changing government functions is a powerful motive force and an important guarantee for the promotion of development.” “The general requirement is to simplify and decentralize the Manage integration, optimize service collaboration and advancement." Fire safety is related to the safety of the people, economic development, and social stability. In the new historical period, we actively learn from foreign experience, innovate the concept of fire control supervision, reform the supervision mechanism and methods, serve the economic and social development, serve the public venture, and innovate. It is an important and urgent task. It is necessary to solve the three issues of supervision content, supervision methods, and governance subjects.

3 . 1 Reasonably determine the scope of regulatory content

Fire safety prevention is first. Firefighting design audits and acceptances are of great significance in preventing and reducing fire hazards, construction firefighting facilities and other congenital fire hazards. American cities (town) fire departments implement different oversight inspections and fire safety design (Fire Inspection / Code enforcement), according to the National Fire Administration statistics, 34. The fire department of 20 implemented supervision and inspection and fire design review, and the proportion of 13 states exceeded 50 . Massachusetts highest (95. 26) OO, Boston is located. Since the congenital fire hazard once formed is difficult to rectify and the social harm is large, when determining the content of fire control, the relationship between pre-examination, approval, and post-event supervision must be differentiated and dealt with. The limited content ( not all ) of important issues such as fire prevention distances and building firefighting facilities must be adhered to in advance approval and advancement at the customs gate. Not only must it be managed, but also it must be managed well, and must be strictly controlled at the source to effectively serve market players and the general public. Creating a safe fire protection environment is the most direct expression of the economic and social development of fire fighting services. Regarding the internal fire safety management affairs that should be borne by the unit itself, the fire department should not intervene, but strengthen the post-mortem supervision. Through strengthening the supervision and spot checks and the investigation of the responsibility for fire, supervise and urge the social organization to perform the main responsibility of fire safety.

3 . 2 Scientific adjustment of supervision methods

The U.S. fire supervision and management procedures are open and transparent, facilitating social supervision. At present, the reform of the fire control supervision mode must be to improve efficiency, optimize service, and be honest and transparent. No matter whether it is prior approval or follow-up supervision, it must be implemented in accordance with the law, formulate scientific supervision rules, procedures and standards, publicize to the public, and make market participants Ming Xiao is responsible and law-abiding. The fire department must strictly limit the discretionary power and strive to solve problems such as many links, long time, and large randomness. To break the supervision is to review, check, fines, seizures of ideas, and actively promote the comprehensive supervision of the department to fully implement random checks to avoid difficult to achieve a full range of investigation. It is necessary to innovatively use administrative guidance, credit supervision, and other methods to explore the new model of “Internet + supervision” and actively rely on information technologies such as big data and the Internet of Things to accelerate the open sharing and interconnection of fire safety information among departments.

3 . 3 Take advantage of multi-element governance

In the United States’ social firefighting governance system, governments, departments, market players, and intermediary organizations all have positions, responsibilities, and responsibilities. Given that our country’s social firefighting management has long emphasized the structural problems of one-way government control, we must now highlight the socialization of firefighting work within the framework of the rule of law and encourage and guide social forces to participate extensively in firefighting safety management, technical services, and voluntary services. The multi-central governance advantages of the society and the market, using legal, administrative, economic, cultural, and other multi-dimensional governance methods, to achieve a positive interaction between the multiple main body of social fire control governance, and then comprehensively enhance the social fire prevention and control capabilities. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that the development of China's fire-fighting professional and technical talents and technical service institutions is seriously lagging behind, and there is a big gap between developed countries and development space. It is a major growth point in the modernization of social fire control systems and governance capabilities. The government and the fire department must strengthen the service functions by creating a level playing field, cut down the interest chain, make them better and faster, and serve the community in fire control.

The information in this article comes from the Internet and was reorganized and edited by China Rescue Equipment Network.