DIRECTOR'S ORDER #58: STRUCTURAL FIRE MANAGEMENT Approved: A. Durand
Jones Effective Date: January 19, 2004 Sunset Date: January 19, 2008 This is a renewal of Director's Order 58, which was first approved
January 19, 2001. Together with Reference Manual 58 (RM-58), Director's
Order 58 superseded and replaced National Park Service Guideline 58,
"Structural Fire" (Release No. 1, June 1987), and any other previously
issued policy or procedural statements relating to structural fire
management. Contents The purpose of this Director's Order is to supplement the structural
fire policy articulated in National Park Service Management Policies by
setting forth the operational policies and procedures necessary to
establish and implement structural fire management programs throughout the
national park system. Since 1990, structural fires have caused significant damage to National
Park Service property. These fires have also resulted in deaths and
numerous injuries. Professional structural fire management programs are
essential to the protection of human life, personal property and
irreplaceable cultural resources. Structural fire management is defined as the protection of people,
content, structures, resources, and the landscape surrounding the
structure from the effects of fire. At the park level, a fully implemented
and documented structural fire prevention program is the most effective
way to achieve that goal. II. Authority Authority to issue this Director's Order is contained in the National
Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. §1 through 4), and the delegation of
authority contained in Part 245 of the Department of the Interior Manual
(DM). III. Management Policies The sections of National Park Service Management Policies that address
structural fires include: 5.3.1 Protection and Preservation of Cultural Resources:
The National Park Service will employ the most effective concepts,
techniques, and equipment to protect cultural resources against theft,
fire, vandalism, overuse, deterioration, environmental impacts, and other
threats, without compromising the integrity of the resources. 5.3.1.1 Emergency Management: Measures to protect or
rescue cultural resources in the event of an emergency, disaster, or fire
will be developed as part of a park's emergency operations and fire
management planning processes. Designated personnel will be trained to
respond to all emergencies in a manner that maximizes visitor and employee
safety and the protection of resources and property. 5.3.1.2 Fire Detection, Suppression, and Post-fire Rehabilitation
and Protection: The NPS will take action to prevent or minimize
the impact of wildland, prescribed, and structural fires on cultural
resources, including the impact of suppression and rehabilitation
activities. In the preservation of historic structures and museum and library
collections, every attempt will be made to comply with national building
and fire codes. When these cannot be met without significantly impairing a
structure's integrity and character, the management and use of the
structure will be modified to minimize potential hazards, rather than
modifying the structure itself. Subject to the previous paragraph, when warranted by the significance
of a historic structure or a museum or library collection, adequate fire
detection, warning, and suppression systems will be installed. "Pre-fire
plans" will be developed for historic structures and buildings housing
museum or library collections, designed to identify the floor plan,
utilities, hazards, and areas and objects requiring special protection.
This information will be kept current and made available to local and park
fire personnel. Park and local fire personnel will be advised of the locations and
characteristics of cultural resources threatened by fire, and of any
priorities for protecting them during any planned or unplanned fire
incident. At parks with cultural resources, park fire personnel will
receive cultural resource protection training. At parks that have wildland
or structural fire programs, cultural resource management specialists will
receive fire prevention and suppression training and, when appropriate,
will be certified for incident management positions commensurate with
their individual qualifications. 9.1.8 Structural Fire Protection and Suppression:
Superintendents will manage structural fire activities as part of a
comprehensive interdisciplinary effort to protect resources and promote
the safe and appropriate public enjoyment of those resources. Fire
prevention, protection, and suppression will be primary considerations in
the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and operation of
all facilities. Structural fires will be suppressed to prevent the loss of
human life and minimize damage to property and resources. The Service's
Structural Fire Protection and Suppression Program will provide, through
Director's Order #58 and Reference Manual 58, additional policy,
standards, operational procedures, and accountability to meet the diverse
needs and complexities of individual parks. The goal is to ensure that all
national park areas receive an appropriate level of fire protection,
provided in a safe and cost-effective manner by qualified personnel.
Each superintendent will complete a structural fire assessment and
develop a structural fire plan to meet park needs. Structural fire
protection and suppression capabilities will be maintained in accordance
with those plans. Prevention priorities will focus on occupied structures
and cultural resources, with emphasis placed evenly on code compliance,
early warning detection, suppression systems, and employee training and
awareness. Fire prevention through code-compliant new construction, upgrading of
existing structures, standardized and regularly scheduled fire
inspections, and properly installed and maintained detection and
suppression systems will be the primary means of addressing and correcting
NPS structural fire deficiencies. Where these measures are not sufficient
to meet park needs, aid agreements will be entered into with non-NPS
entities capable of providing requisite fire suppression. Support from
neighboring fire protection organizations is encouraged, and
superintendents should enter into appropriate agreements whenever possible
to enhance fire-fighting capabilities. Development of a park fire brigade
will be considered only when all other options have been explored and
found unacceptable. 9.4.2 Museum Collections Management Facilities: Park curatorial
facilities should be adapted to the needs of each park. They may share
space in visitor centers or administrative office buildings, or be housed
in completely separate buildings. Incorporation with maintenance facilities
should be avoided because of the heightened danger of fire, chemical spills,
and similar accidents. Curatorial facilities will meet each collection's
special requirements for security, fire suppression, and environmental
controls. IV. Operational Policies and Procedures A. Life safety is, and will at all times be, the first priority in all National Park Service fire management activities. B. The National Park Service is committed to protecting all resources entrusted to its care, and will focus on preventing fires and minimizing the damage resulting from fires. This will be accomplished with the clear understanding that life safety is the first priority. C. To implement Management Policies governing structural fire
management, the National Park Service will administer its structural fire
program in a manner that will:
D. All National Park Service structural fire activities will comply
with the requirements of:
Director's Orders #12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact
Analysis, and Decision-making; #28: Cultural Resource Management; #48:
Concessions Management; and #50B: Risk Management, must also be
considered. E. The Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection will prepare and issue a reference manual (RM-58) to help National Park Service managers and field staff understand and implement Departmental and Service policies applicable to structural fire management. RM-58 will contain detailed procedures emphasizing life safety, fire prevention, and suppression activities; it will also include training and certification requirements. F. The Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection will appoint the National Park Service Structural Fire Program Manager. The Program Manager will provide leadership and direction to ensure effective Service-wide implementation and administration of the program, and will disseminate information regarding advances and developments in structural fire and fire technology. G. The Superintendent of each park will designate a park structural fire coordinator , whose training and certification requirements will be identified in RM-58. The park structural fire coordinator will ensure that RM-58 is available in sufficient quantities to serve the needs of structural fire management staff within the park, and will ensure that fire management staff is adequately versed in the policies and procedures contained therein. H. A comprehensive Structural Fire Condition Assessment (FPCA) will be conducted on all buildings Service-wide in order to provide guidance to superintendents implementing structural fire programs. I. The National Park Service hereby adopts, and will enforce as minimum standards, the most current version of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1), Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), and all other associated codes and standards. The purpose of these codes is to prescribe minimum requirements necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire safety, and to protect property from the hazard created by fire. J. National Park Service-adopted standards may be at variance with state and/or local fire safety codes. Where conflicts arise between codes and standards, the Service will adhere to the more stringent requirement(s). The Service recognizes that not all structures will be in full compliance with the more stringent standards; but it is the Service's goal to bring all structures into compliance. K. Regional Directors are hereby designated as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), as defined in NFPA 1, within their respective regions. AHJs will be the individual responsible for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure regarding structural fire. This authority may be re-delegated to the regional structural fire management officer. The AHJ will be responsible for resolving conflicts between codes or standards. L. Fire may be used to remove a structure when all safety, health, economic, and environmental considerations have been met and it has been determined that it is beneficial to the park for providing the training of fire suppression forces. Specific guidelines for using fire to remove structures will be defined in Reference Manual 58. V. Program Requirements To further implement Management Policies governing structural fire
management activities, and to comply with the principles, policies, and
recommendations of the "Review of National Fire, Aviation and Emergency
Response" report (May 18, 1998, National Park Service), the Service adopts
the following program requirements: A. Structural Fire Management Planning Once the structural fire management plan is approved by the
superintendent, the plan will be reviewed by the regional AHJ to ensure
that the plan:
2. The installation, inspection, and maintenance of all fire detection
and suppression equipment will be performed and documented in accordance
with statutory and regulatory requirements, applicable NFPA standards, and
Director's Order #50B. 3. Changes recommended by Structural Fire Management Plans that involve historic structures or historic landscapes will comply with State Historic Preservation Office requirements. B. Safety and Health
3. Structural fire prevention positions require:
4. Structural fire apparatus will comply with standards set forth in NFPA 1901 standards. C. Structural Protection from Wildland Fire Structural Fire Management will ensure integration with Wildland Fire
Management, Facility Management and Cultural and Natural Resources on
issues of vegetation management needed for the protection of structures.
D. Cultural Resources E. Natural Resources F. Concessions G. Reporting H. Investigation I. Training, Qualification, and Certification J. Interagency Coordination K. Park Program Review L. Preparedness M. Funding ---- End of Director's Order
---- |