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U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 8

FAM/FAH Template

15 FAM 840
PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR FIRE
EQUIPMENT
(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
(Office of Origin: OBO)

15 FAM 841 RESIDENTIAL SMOKE ALARMS

(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
a. Post must install smoke alarms in all residential units occupied by U.S.
Government personnel. Install one single-station smoke alarm in each sleeping
room; one in each corridor serving the sleeping rooms; and one at the top of
the stairs on each level leading to the sleeping rooms. Mount these smoke
alarms on the ceilings by the door or on the side walls. When placed on the
walls, place them no more than 30.5 cm (12 inches) from ceilings, but no
nearer than 10 cm (four inches) to the ceiling to avoid dead air space in the
corner formed by the ceiling and wall. Post must not install single-station
smoke alarms in nonresidential (office buildings, warehouses, maintenance
facilities, and similar buildings) that require a full-fire alarm system. The Office
of Fire Protection, in the Directorate for Operations, in the Bureau of Overseas
Buildings Operations (OBO/OPS/FIR) will provide residential smoke alarms
based on information entered in the Real Property Application (RPA) database.
b. Occupants must check smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries following
the manufacturer’s recommendation.

15 FAM 842 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
Post must properly place and administer a maintenance program for fire
extinguishers in all U.S. Government-owned and -leased buildings and in all
residential units occupied by U.S. Government personnel. (See 15 FAM Exhibit
842 for extinguisher type and placement instructions.) OBO/OPS/FIR will provide
one extinguisher per residence, based on information entered in the RPA. In U.S.
Government-owned and -leased office buildings, extinguishers will be provided
based on established fire codes and standards; refer to 15 FAM 811.2, Authorities,
for further information. Every fire extinguisher must be visually inspected monthly
for operable condition and, at a minimum, serviced once each year. Inspection
and maintenance dates must be recorded either on the extinguisher inspection tag

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U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 8
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or electronically. (Refer to Tab G-2 of the OBO Fire Protection Guide in OBO/FIR
Publications, for inspection and maintenance instructions.

15 FAM 843 EMERGENCY LIGHTING

(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
a. In new office buildings, emergency lighting is normally installed in the ceiling
light grid. In all other office buildings where the U.S. Government is the sole
occupant, post must place and maintain emergency lights in all exit corridors
and in stairwells of multilevel office buildings. In U.S. Government-
owned/capital lease (GO/CL) structures with multifamily residential units (four
or more), post is responsible for installing emergency lights in exit stairwells on
each landing and in other areas recommended by the Office of Fire Protection,
in the Directorate for Operations, in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings
Operations (OBO/OPS/FIR). Emergency lights must be tested monthly and
dates must be recorded either in a manual or electronic log.
b. Post is responsible for procuring local emergency lighting units that match the
specific country voltage requirements and should coordinate with OBO/OPS/FIR
for funding and fire/life safety code requirements.

15 FAM 844 EXIT SIGNS

15 FAM 844.1 New Office Buildings and Major

Renovations
(CT:OBO-28; 03-20-2012)
a. Exit signs must meet the standards of the International Building Code (IBC).
These standards require that exit signs be:
(1) Self-illuminated by an internal light source or illuminated by an external
light source that is capable of providing uninterrupted lighting during power
outage;
(2) Provided in sufficient number to establish and maintain clearly marked
exits and stairways;
(3) Manufactured in contrasting face colors with lettering of specified size; and
(4) Installed on the ceiling or wall above the exit doorway (pictorial
illustrations are found at Tab C-1 of the OBO Fire Protection Guide).
b. Signs installed during renovations, additions, or modifications to facilities
should be similar to existing signs to maintain continuity and ease of visual
recognition.

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U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 8
FAM/FAH Template
15 FAM 844.2 Existing Buildings
(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
a. The Department of State uses a standard emergency sign when illuminated
signs meeting International Building Code (IBC) standards are not required.
This sign, referred to as the international emergency exit sign, is pictographic
(illustrated by picture) and luminous (i.e., absorbs light and glows in the dark).
(Pictographic signs are illustrated at Tab C-1 of the OBO Fire Protection Guide.)
b. International emergency exit signs are not required in buildings equipped with
functional illuminated signs meeting IBC standards. They may be installed in
addition to illuminated signs to supplement this coverage.

15 FAM 844.3 Procurement and Funding

(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
Upon request, OBO/OPS/FIR will provide exit signs to post. Post will be
responsible for installation.

15 FAM 844.4 Exit Sign Types and Placement

(CT:OBO-28; 03-20-2012)
a. The two basic types of signs, with placement guidelines, are:
(1) Exit signs placed on exit doors; and
(2) Directional exit signs placed above non-exit doors or on corridor walls to
indicate the most direct route for emergency exiting.
b. Warning signs must clearly state what action to take, such as stating that
elevators must not be used in emergencies and indicating the direction of the
nearest exit stairway.

15 FAM 845 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

(CT:OBO-28; 03-20-2012)
a. Post will be responsible for inspection, testing, routine maintenance, and repair
of installed fire-protection systems. The Bureau of Overseas Buildings
Operations (OBO) will support these activities by providing technical training,
policies, and guidance. This work is defined under routine maintenance and
repair in 15 FAM 621.
b. OBO will support fire-protection system needs that are beyond post capability.
Normally, post personnel perform these repairs with guidance and material
provided by OBO. For extensive repair and upgrade of fire protection systems,
OBO initiates the projects.

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U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 8
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c. OBO will provide fire-protection system replacement and spare parts for U.S.-
manufactured fire-protection systems.

15 FAM 846 EGRESS

15 FAM 846.1 Unlocking Exits During Business Hours

(CT:OBO-28; 03-20-2012)
Exit doors that are equipped with locks to provide after-hours security must
remain unlocked during business hours to ensure that they are usable as exits.
They must be marked with exit signs and posted with additional signs stating
when they are to remain unlocked. Post must establish a policy to ensure that
these doors remain unlocked during business hours as a standard operating
procedure. Exit doors with “thumb-turn” type locks must not impede egress and
must be clearly marked with signs illustrating the correct operation to lock and
unlock them. (See Tab C-1 of the OBO Fire Protection Guide for illustrations.)

15 FAM 846.2 Emergency Egress and Security Doors

(CT:OBO-28; 03-20-2012)
During an emergency evacuation of a building, it is vital that occupants get out
quickly and safely. Security locks on doors in the path of egress must allow for
unimpeded access to the exit without significant delay. The time delay on these
locks must not exceed 15 seconds. Bureau of Diplomatic Security-approved
security hardware sets (SHW) are the only approved door locks for office building
doors. Slide-bolt type locks are not authorized to be installed on any emergency
egress door. (See 12 FAH-5, Appendix G, for proper application.) Doors in this
category include corridor doors, inner lobby doors, and other doors that provide
eventual egress to the building exterior.

15 FAM 847 THROUGH 849 UNASSIGNED

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U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 8
FAM/FAH Template

15 FAM Exhibit 842

Fire Extinguisher Type and Placement
(CT:OBO-41; 12-24-2013)
LOCATION AND
EXTINGUISHER TYPE PLACEMENT

Office Buildings

10# ABC Dry Chemical Place in the corridors of the building so that
the travel distances to the extinguisher does
not exceed 23m (75 feet) from any point on
each floor. (See Tab G-2, Figure 2 of the OBO
Fire Protection Guide for illustrations.) NOTE:
In controlled access areas (CAAs), post may
randomly select up to 35 percent of stock and
any unit may be physically inspected or x-
rayed prior to placement into a CAA space.
Industrial Buildings

10# ABC Dry Chemical To be used in warehouses, fuel storage, and

gasoline/diesel pumping stations. Maximum
travel distance to an extinguisher should not
exceed 15m (50 feet).
Computer Server Rooms
and Communication Areas

10# ABC Dry Chemical Place one extinguisher in each computer server
room/communication area. NOTE: Carbon
dioxide (Co2) or other clean agent type
extinguishers are not required for these areas.
Residential Units

10# ABC Dry Chemical Place one extinguisher in a visible location in or

near the kitchen area.

For other applications or direction, see the OBO Fire Protection Guide or contact
the Office of Fire Protection, in the Directorate for Operations, in the Bureau of
Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO/OPS/FIR).

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