Fire Prevention During Demolition
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- During demolition, maintain existing standpipe and firefighting connections as long as possible. They are your best fire suppression tool until the structure is substantially dismantled.
- Accumulated debris in a partially demolished building is a massive fuel load. Remove debris regularly and do not allow it to accumulate beyond manageable levels.
- Cutting operations during demolition (oxy-fuel, abrasive saws) require hot work permits and fire watches, just like new construction. The fire risk is often higher due to exposed combustibles.
- Dust from demolition — especially wood and drywall dust — can be combustible. Control dust with water sprays and remove accumulations to reduce explosion and fire risk.
- Temporary fire extinguisher placement must be adjusted as demolition progresses. As sections of the building come down, extinguisher locations change — keep coverage within required travel distances.
Ask the crew
Are the standpipe connections still active in our demolition area, and are fire extinguishers repositioned for the current work zone?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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