SOP 511.03: Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 1 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

I. Introduction and Summary:

Each Facility shall establish a Fire Emergency and Prevention Program that will
address potential fire hazards and the prevention of fires in order to maintain a fire safe
environment for all staff, visitors, and offenders.

II. Authority:

A. Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Board Rule: 125-2-2.01;

B. State of Georgia Minimum Fire Safety Standards and Modifications, current

editions;

C. O.C.G.A. § Title 25 Fire Protection and Safety;

D. Applicable NFPA Life Safety Standards and Training;

E. Applicable CAC/ACA Life Safety Standards; and

F. ACA Standards: CTA-3-C-01, 1-CTA-3C-02, and 1-CTA-3C-03, 4-4124 and 4
4212.

III. Definitions: None.

IV. Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures: This policy is applicable to all
State and County Correctional Facilities and Offices. (including Central Office where
the Office of Professional Development-Georgia Corrections Academy is located)

A. Fire Safety/Emergency Evacuation Program:

1. A written Fire Safety/Emergency Evacuation Plan shall be prepared by the

Warden/Superintendent of each facility which addresses any specific problems
that may exist at that facility (for example, hazardous materials storage,
medical units, GCI Industrial Operations, etc.).

2. Evacuation plans will be posted in all housing units and areas accessible to the

public, to include visitation and administrative areas.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 2 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

3. Post orders will include evacuation plans, where applicable.

4. Provisions shall be made so that offenders can readily notify staff of an

emergency. This can be accomplished by posting staff in close proximity to
housing units to allow for verbal communication.

5. All new staff and offenders shall receive emergency procedures instructions

during the orientation process. Documentation of the orientation will be on
file at each office/property.

6. All staff will receive annual training with respect to their duties during a fire

emergency.

7. Procedures shall be established to allow staff to start the release of locks

necessary for emergency evacuation or rescue and initiate other required
emergency actions within two minutes of a fire alert.

8. There will be annual coordinated training involving the facility staff and

personnel of the Fire Department legally committed to serving the facility.

9. Monthly fire drills shall be conducted on a non-routine basis in all occupied

buildings, with each shift conducting at least one drill per month. Drills should
be conducted with emphasis placed on orderly evacuations rather than upon
speed. Simulated drills will be conducted in areas of a facility that pose a
special hazard to security. Fire drills will be documented on Attachment 3,
Monthly Fire Drill Report. Drills for emergencies other than fire shall be
conducted quarterly.

B. Emergency Exits:

1. All exit doors leading outdoors from each housing unit shall be color-coded

red in all Prisons and Facilities, using a minimum 2-inch disk.

2. All exit doors shall be free of obstructions, at all times.

3. All stairs shall remain unobstructed and shall not be used for storage.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 3 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

4. Manual and electric locks on exit doors shall be maintained in working order.

5. Keys for manual locks to means of egress shall be maintained in working order

and will be identifiable by sight and touch.

6. All monthly tests of emergency locks and keys shall be documented.

C. Fire Safety Equipment:

1. The following equipment, when provided, shall be maintained, tested and

inspected monthly with all test results documented on Attachment 1, Fire and
Life Safety Inspection Report and maintained on file at each office/property.
All deficiencies will be documented and a request for service made to the
Facility Maintenance Engineer. In cases of deficiencies in the Fire Alarm
System, or Fire Suppression System, the affected area(s), will be immediately
placed on a 30-minute Fire Watch. The Correctional Officer/Staff Member,
shall make rounds in the affected area(s), and ensure that no fire hazards exist.
Documentation will be made on Attachment 4, 30-Minute Fire Watch Log, in
black ink, and in the assigned building/area logbooks, in red ink. The Fire
Watch will remain in effect, until repairs have been made to the system.

a. Smoke detectors;

b. Fire alarm systems; and

c. Emergency lighting.

D. Emergency generators shall be operated weekly and operated under a load monthly

with all test results and factory required maintenance documented. Documentation
should include the following information: date and time of test, names of staff
conducting the test, and time of day the test was concluded.

E. Fire Fighting Equipment:

1. All fire extinguishers will be inspected monthly by a staff person who has

completed the 24-hour Correctional Fire Inspectors Class. The inspector will

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 4 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

record their initials on the extinguisher inspection tag. Each facility shall
maintain an inventory of all extinguishers which will include the following
information: the extinguisher location, serial number, the extinguisher
identification number, type and size of the extinguisher, six (6) year service
date, and the hydrostatic test date. The required annual inspection will be
conducted by staff or vendors who possess a certification card and registration
number issued by the State Safety Fire Commissioner. Uncertified Staff are
permitted to conduct a daily visual test on each shift.

2. All fire extinguishers that have been discharged will be refilled as soon as

possible and returned to the proper location.

3. ELSA (Emergency Life Support Apparatus) escape breathing apparatus shall

be inspected on each shift for serviceability. All ELSAs with fiber glass
wrapped cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested every five (5) years.

4. All fire hoses will be pressure tested annually.

5. All fire hydrants on State property shall be numbered and flow tested annually.

The hydrant shall then be color coded as required by the National Fire
Protection Association to reflect the gallons per minute each hydrant is capable
of flowing. Color coding for the hydrants:

a. Blue - Rated capacity of 1500 GPM or greater;

b. Green - Rated capacity of 1000 - 1499 GPM;

c. Orange - Rated capacity of 8500 - 999 GPM; and

d. Red - Rated capacity of less than 500 GPM.

6. Facilities shall contract with a certified vendor to inspect Food Service hood

extinguishing systems every six months.

7. All sprinkler systems will be flow tested annually by the Fire Services Section

inspectors.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 5 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

8. All fire-fighting equipment shall be placed at appropriate locations throughout

the facility and shall be accessible to all staff, offenders, visitors, and
contractors. During the weekly, monthly and semi-annual inspections, the
designated inspector shall be responsible ensuring accessibility.

F. Facility Fire Safety Officers and Fire Inspectors:

1. The Warden/Superintendent will appoint a Facility Fire Safety Officer at each

facility and one will be appointed at Central Office.

2. All Facility Fire Safety Officers and Facility Fire Inspectors must complete the

24-hour Correctional Facility Fire Inspectors training class.

3. It is the responsibility of the Facility Fire Inspector to conduct inspections of

all facilities/properties, and reporting those findings to the
Warden/Superintendent.

4. Weekly and Monthly fire inspections will be conducted by the Fire Safety

Officer. The Facility Fire Safety Report, Attachment 1 of this SOP will be
completed by the Fire Safety Officer, noting all fire violations observed during
the weekly and monthly inspection. A copy of the Monthly Facility Fire Safety
Report will be forwarded to the Warden/Superintendent who will maintain a
copy on file at the office/property for review.

5. The Fire Safety Officer shall be responsible for compliance with all items listed

in Attachment 2, Duties of the Fire Safety Officer.

6. The Shift OIC shall be responsible for completing Attachment 3, Fire Drill

Report. All Fire Drill Reports shall be kept on file at each Facility or Office
and available for review at all times.

7. At each GDC Office/Property that is staffed 24 hours a day, a monthly fire drill

is required. For shifts that are staffed with two or more keys, keys may
alternate months.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|Policy Name:Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program|
|Policy Number: 511.03|Effective Date: 9/6/2018|Page Number: 6 of 6|
|Authority:
Commissioner
|Originating Division:
Facilities Division
|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access
|

V. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Fire and Life Safety Inspection Report
Attachment 2: Duties of Facility Fire Inspector
Attachment 3: Monthly Fire Drill Report
Attachment 4: 30-Minute Fire Watch Log

VI. Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:

Upon completion, Attachments 1, 3, and 4 shall be maintained until resolution of any
discrepancies, kept for five (5) years after that, and then destroyed. The official copy
shall be maintained at the office of Fire Services and Life Safety. Attachment 2, shall
be maintained until obsolete or replaced. The official copy shall be maintained at the
office of Fire Services and Life Safety.