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Chapter 11
Fire Protection and Prevention
Fire protection includes procedures for
preventing, detecting, and extinguishing fire.
Fire and flame will spread in a building both vertically and horizontally
The spread of the heat, smoke, and toxic gases is possibly the greatest
single danger to life and takes place in much the same manner as does the
spread of fire.
Smoke and toxic gases are responsible for 66% of deaths from fire in
buildings.
On-site early detection of a fire is absolutely essential.
The use of a building—its occupancy—will influence the degree of fire
hazards. The more hazardous the – materials handled in a plant area are,
the more likely is the chance for a – fire to start and rapidly spread.
The contents of a building are usually a more important factor in the start
of a fire than the physical structure of the building.
Very often only a few minutes pass between the beginning of combustion
and the development of a destructive fire
What happens, or does not happen, in the first few minutes of a fire
determines whether it can be controlled or not.
Fire Protection Engineering
Carefully plan and periodically carry out fire drills. Conduct them in a
serious manner under rigid discipline. To eliminate panic in the event
of an emergency and guarantee the smooth functioning of the
emergency plan, carefully develop the plan.
Buildings that are well designed and provided with protective devices and construction
elements intended to act as fire safety features still need a periodic, detailed inspection
program.
In some establishments or plants, the safety and health committee locates and reports fire
hazards.
In large plants, this job is handled by a special subcommittee of the safety committee or by
a person trained to manage fire risk.
The inspector, fire chief, or other individual from the plant who is in charge of fire
prevention and fire protection should establish inspection schedules, determine the
direction-finding of reports, and have a complete list of all items to be inspected.
Training Employees
Because extinguishers are effective only when fires are in their first stages, ensure that extinguishers are
immediately reachable and promptly used by trained personnel.
Extinguishers are only as good as the operators using them. Therefore, thoroughly train key workers on
each shift. Fire extinguisher training is intended to teach employees how to stop small fires from spreading
out of control.
Use demonstrations to instruct employees in the use of extinguishers. At the demonstrations, simulate fire
conditions.
Have an instructor explain the fundamentals of fire fighting and the use of the equipment. Allow employees
to get the “feel” of the extinguisher in small organizations, have everyone in the plant attend and participate
in the demonstrations.
In large plants, train a suitable number of employees so that personnel trained in fire fighting are distributed
throughout the plant.
One of the most difficult decisions any employee faces is whether to fight a fire or to get out safely.
If the following conditions are met, an employee might decide to fight a fire with an extinguisher: (1) there is
a clear exit, (2) the fire brigade or department has already been called, (3) the fire is small, (4) the employee
knows how to use the extinguisher, and (5) the extinguisher is in working order.
An employee should-not fight a fire if (1) the fire is clearly spreading beyond its point of origin, (2) the fire
could block the exit, or (3) the employee is unsure of how to use the extinguisher.
Continue the training of employees with demonstrations, practice drills, and lectures at yearly interval or
more often if a special fire hazard exists. Be sure that employees have printed instructions regarding the use
of fire extinguishers.
Communications
What kind of detection system has been installed and what are the
reasons for choosing this system?
Decisions regarding the fire safety design and construction of the building have the same
objectives as do all fire protection measures, namely (1) life safety, (2) continuity of
operations, and (3) property protection.
Life Safety
Design considerations for life safety must address two major questions:
Continuity of Operations
Continuity of operations, the second major area of building design decision making, must
take into consideration those specific functions conducted in a building that are very
important to continued operation of the business and that can not be transferred to another
location.
Property Protection
One of the most important questions to be asked about the design of buildings with regard
to protection of property is: Is there any specific high-value content that will need special
design protection?
Materials of high value that are particularly vulnerable to fire and/or water damage can
usually be identified in advance of building design.
Fire Extinguisher
How Does a Fire Work?
Fire extinguishers
remove one or more of
the components
Types of Fires
Class A - fires occur in ordinary materials,
such as wood, paper, cloth, carpets, and
rubbish.
Pressurized water
Pressure gauge
Carbon Dioxide
Use on CLASS A,
CLASS B, and
CLASS C fires
Fine powder under
pressure
Pressure gauge
Emergency Procedures
Building Evacuation
• Proceed to nearest exit in an orderly fashion