1926.150(a): Construction Fire Protection Program
Employers must develop a fire protection program for all phases of construction and demolition and provide the firefighting equipment the subpart requires without delay as fire hazards occur. Equipment must be accessible at all times, conspicuously located, periodically inspected and kept working, defective equipment replaced immediately, and a trained fire brigade provided as the project warrants.
Key takeaways
- 1926.150(a) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart F).
- OSHA cited it 78 times in the last 3 years, in 77 inspections, with $166,824 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (21), DE (11), SC (7).
- Related part: 1926.150(a)(4) (37 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.150(a) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1926.150 Fire protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart F). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(a) General requirements. 78 citations
(1) The employer shall be responsible for the development of a fire protection program to be followed throughout all phases of the construction and demolition work, and he shall provide for the firefighting equipment as specified in this subpart. As fire hazards occur, there shall be no delay in providing the necessary equipment. Open (a)(1) 17 citations
(2) Access to all available firefighting equipment shall be maintained at all times. 8 citations
(3) All firefighting equipment, provided by the employer, shall be conspicuously located. Open (a)(3) 16 citations
(4) All firefighting equipment shall be periodically inspected and maintained in operating condition. Defective equipment shall be immediately replaced. Open (a)(4) 37 citations
(5) As warranted by the project, the employer shall provide a trained and equipped firefighting organization (Fire Brigade) to assure adequate protection to life.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.150.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 16 |
Top states: VA (21), DE (11), SC (7), NJ (7), NY (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORP. | DOVER, DE | $35,488 |
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORP | MIDDLETOWN, DE | $30,422 |
| MIGUEL NUNEZ | DOVER, DE | $11,409 |
| LC CONSTRUCTION DELAWARE INC. | CAMDEN, DE | $10,648 |
| GOOD HANDS CONSTRUCTION LLC | PARSIPPANY, NJ | $9,363 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.150(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.150(a).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.150(a)(4) 37 citations
- 1926.150(a)(1) 17 citations
- 1926.150(a)(3) 16 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for a fire protection program on a construction site?
The employer.
What must happen to defective firefighting equipment?
It must be immediately replaced.
Is a fire brigade always required?
The employer must provide a trained and equipped fire brigade as warranted by the project.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.150 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.