                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 FIRE PRECAUTIONS (§ 45.2-914)

A. An examination for fire shall be made after every blasting operation.

B. No person shall smoke or use an open flame within 25 feet of any location
used to handle or store flammable or combustible liquids or where an arc or
flame could cause a fire or explosion.

C. Any area surrounding a flammable liquid storage tank or electrical substation
or transformer shall be kept free of combustible material for at least 25 feet
in every direction. Each such storage tank, substation, or transformer shall be
posted with readily visible fire hazard warning signs.

D. Any structure or area used for storage of flammable materials shall be
constructed of fire resistant material; kept well-ventilated, clean, and
orderly; and posted with readily visible fire hazard warning signs.

E. Every fuel line shall be equipped with a shut-off valve at its source. Each
such valve shall be readily accessible and maintained in good operating
condition.

F. Every battery charging area shall be well-ventilated and posted with warning
signs prohibiting smoking or open flames within 25 feet.

G. Oil, grease, flammable hydraulic fluid, and other flammable materials shall
be kept in closed metal containers and separated from other materials so as to
not create a fire hazard.

H. Combustible materials, grease, lubricants, paints, and other flammable
materials and liquids shall not be allowed to accumulate where they could create
a fire hazard. Provision shall be made to prevent the accumulation of such
material on any equipment, at any storage area, and at any location where the
material is used.

I. Electric motors, switches, lighting fixtures, and controls shall be protected
by dust-tight construction.

J. Precautions shall be taken to ensure that no spark or other hot material
results in a fire when welding or cutting. No welding or cutting with an arc or
flame shall be done in any excessively dusty atmosphere or location.
Firefighting apparatus shall be readily available when welding or cutting is
performed.

K. Precautions shall be taken before applying heat, cutting, or welding on any
pipe or container that has contained a flammable or combustible material.

L. Every oxygen or acetylene bottle shall be (i) stored in a rack constructed
and designated for the storage of such bottles with their caps in place and (ii)
secured when not in use. Such bottles shall not be stored near oil, grease, or
other flammable material.

M. Every oxygen and acetylene gauge and regulator shall be kept clean and free
of oil, grease, and other combustible materials.

N. Every belt conveyor shall be equipped with a control switch to automatically
stop the driving motor of the conveyor in the event that the belt is stopped by
slipping on the driving pulley as a result of breakage or other accident.

O. The area surrounding every main fan installation or other mine opening shall
be kept free from grass, weeds, underbrush, and other combustible materials for
25 feet in every direction.

P. Every internal combustion engine, except a diesel engine, shall be shut off
prior to fueling.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 45-85.9; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-39; 1978, c.
729; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.267; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.