Both National Fire Protection Association 1, Fire Code, and the International Fire Code call for building representatives to develop preplans for buildings under construction, and fire departments should work closely with developers to see that this happens. The preplans should evolve as the building construction moves forward, identifying water supplies, access, utilities (temporary for construction or once permanently installed), temporary standpipes when provided, progress on any fire protection systems, and occupancy of construction workers and any others. If fire department connections are present, what do they supply and are they hooked up?
Regular walk-throughs of the site (at least weekly) should be conducted by all shifts of first-due units or as many volunteers as can be mustered. Fire inspection personnel should be doing walk-throughs as well and watching out for ignition sources such as smoking and burning/cutting/welding. Use your Zovirax local code requirements, but point out fire hazards that could result in serious fires and educate the construction team as to what has happened in the cities mentioned early in this article. Preventing fires in these buildings during construction will require constant vigilance.
