FIRE SAFETY

Definition of fire
FIRE - chemical reaction between oxygen in the atmosphere and some sort of fuel

The Fire
Three things must be present at the same time to produce fire: 1. Enough Oxygen to sustain combustion

2. Enough Heat to reach ignition temperature

3. Some FUEL or combustible material

Together, they produce the CHEMICAL REACTION that is fire Take away any of these things and the fire will be extinguished

The Fire Triangle

Fire Safety, at its most basic, is based upon the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate

Fire Classifications
Fires are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you might make matters worse. Its very important to understand the five different fire (fuel) classifications

cont..

Fire Classifications
Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plasticssolids that are not metals. Class B: Flammable liquidsgasoline, oil, grease, acetone. Includes flammable gases.

Class C: Electricalenergized electrical equipment. As long as its plugged in.

D

Class D: Metalspotassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium. Requires Metal-X, foam, and other special extinguishing agents. Class K: Fires involving combustible vegetable or animal non-saturated cooking fats in commercial cooking equipment.

Fire Extinguisher Anatomy

DISCHARGE LEVER
PRESSURE GAUGE (not found on CO2 extinguishers) CARRYING HANDLE DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN AND SEAL

DISCHARGE HOSE

DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE

BODY

DISCHARGE ORIFICE

Information on Fire extinguishers

FIRE EXTINGUISHER METHOD OF OPERATION

Stored pressure When lever of an extinguisher is compressed, it opens an inner canister of high pressure gas (Nitrogen / CO2) The high pressure gas forces the extinguishing agent from main cylinder through siphon tube and out the nozzle.

Fire Extinguisher Applications

FIRE CLASS
A Trash Wood Paper

EFFECTIVE EXTINGUISHER TYPES

PRESSURIZED WATER, MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, LARGER SIZE HALON, WET CHEMICAL

Liquids

Grease

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON

Electrical Equipment

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON, WET CHEMICAL

COMBUSTIBLE

D
METALS

COMBUSTIBLE METAL

K Cooking Media

WET CHEMICAL

Fire Extinguisher Types

PRESSURIZED WATER
Class A fires only. 2.5 gal. water at 150-175 psi (up to 1 minute discharge time).
B
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check. 30-40 ft. maximum effective range.
C C

Liquids Grease Liquids Grease

Electrical Equipment Electrical Equipment

Extinguishes by cooling burning material below the ignition point.

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

Class B or C fires. 2.5-100 lb. of CO2 gas at 150-200 psi (8-30 seconds discharge time). Has NO pressure gauge--capacity verified by weight. 3-8 ft. maximum effective range. Extinguishes by smothering burning materials. Effectiveness decreases as temperature of burning material increases.
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

Liquids Grease Liquids Grease

Electrical Equipment Electrical Equipment

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL

Class A, B, or C fires.
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

2.5-20 lb. dry chemical (ammonium phosphate) pressurized to 50-200 psi by nitrogen gas (8-25 seconds discharge time).
B B Liquids Grease Liquids Grease

Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check.

C C Electrical Equipment Electrical Equipment

5-20 ft. maximum effective range.

Extinguishes by smothering burning materials.

HALON
Class A, B, or C fires (smaller sizes ineffective against Class A). 9-17 lb. Halon 1211 (pressurized liquid) released as vapor (8-18 seconds discharge time). Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check. 9-16 ft. maximum effective range. Works best in confined area--ideal for electronics fire due to lack of residue. Extinguishes by smothering burning materials. Fumes toxic if inhaled. Halon is ozone depleting chemical-production halted in Jan 94.
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

Liquids Grease Liquids Grease

Electrical Equipment Electrical Equipment

COMBUSTIBLE METAL
Class D combustible metal fires only. 30 lb. pressurized dry powder optimized for specific combustible metal (also available in bulk containers for hand scooping onto fire to extinguish). 6-8 ft. maximum effective range. To activate, must first open nitrogen cylinder on back to pressurize body. Extinguishes by smothering burning materials.

WET CHEMICAL
Class A, C, and K fires. 1.5 gal. of stored pressure (40 sec. discharge time). 10-12 ft. maximum effective range. On Class K fires, dont use until after fixed extinguishing system has activated. Extinguishes by cooling and forming foam blanket to prevent reignition.
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

Fire Extinguisher Summary

EXTINGUISHER TYPE PRESSURIZED WATER CARBON DIOXIDE MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL HALON COMBUSTIBLE METAL WET CHEMICAL WORKS BY COOLING SMOTHERING EFFECTIVE AGAINST

SMOTHERING SMOTHERING

SMOTHERING COOLING/ SMOTHERING

Fighting the Fire

P
A

Pull the pin Aim low at the base of flames Squeeze the Handle Sweep side to side

S S

Fire protection system

Active fire protection WATER BASE SYSTEM
POWDER BASE SYSTEM GAS BASE SYSTEM

Passive fire protection Smoke Detectors Heat Detectors Flame detectors

Water based system

Hydrant System It consists of the following

components: Sufficiently large water reservoir Fire pump sets (Main and Standby) Jockey pump set Hydrant valves Fire fighting hoses Branch pipe with nozzles

The entire pipeline is kept pressurized with water

Foam system
Firefighting foam is a stable mass of small, air-filled bubbles with a lower density than oil, gasoline, or water. Foam is made up of three ingredients water, a foam concentrate, and air. Foam blankets the fuel surface, smothering the fire and separating the flames from the fuel surface. The fuel is cooled by the water content of the foam

Sprinkler system
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flow rate to a water. operate at a preset temperature, utilizing a fusible link, a portion of which melts allowing the plug in the orifice to be pushed out by the water.

Spray System
It is typical used in high hazard applications where the need to discharge large quantities of water on the areas of fire.

When it is broken up into fine, misty spray and when the entire surface of vaporizing liquid can be covered simultaneously, water spray is effective in extinguishing the flames

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors detect the visible or invisible smoke particles from combustion The two main types are ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors Ionization Detectors Photoelectric Detectors

Ionization Detectors
It contains a small radioactive source that is used to charge the air inside a small chamber. The charged air allows a small current to cross through the chamber and complete an electrical circuit. When smoke enters the chamber, it shields the radiation, which stops the current and triggers an alarm

Photoelectric Detectors
a light source and light sensor are arranged so that the rays from the light source do not hit the light sensor When smoke particles enter the light path, some of the light is scattered and redirected onto the sensor, causing the detector to activate an alarm

HOW FIRE SPREADS THROUGH YOUR WORKPLACE

Fire in enclosed space behave differently to fires in the open air Smoke rising from fire gets trapped by ceiling Smoke spreads in all directions to form a layer over the entire room Smoke will pass through any holes/gaps in the walls, ceilings or floor and finally other parts Heat also get trapped, increasing the temperature

Fight OR Escape
Before attempting to fight any fire with an extinguisher, ask yourself the following questions
N Can I escape quickly and safely from area if I attempt to extinguish the fire? Y N Do I have the right type of extinguisher? Y Is the extinguisher large enough for the fire? Y Is the area free from other dangers such as hazardous materials ? Y EXTINGUISH THE FIRE! N LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! N LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!

COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE

Electrical short circuit and overloading Overheating of electrical appliances Smouldering cigarette Mishandling and storage of chemicals Hot Work Human errors

FIRE PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Check the Workplace

are separate storage arrangements for flammable chemicals, gas cylinders, and waste materials available and clearly marked is combustible waste regularly and safely disposed of if smoking is allowed in the workplace, are there satisfactory arrangements for cigarettes and matches to be disposed of safely and separately from other combustible rubbish are clear fire instructions displayed throughout the workplace is electrical equipment serviced regularly to prevent sparks and fires

Fire Drills
are they carried out regularly and at least once per year (preferably once every 6 months); are non-employees such as residents, pupils, contractors, etc. included; are particular arrangements necessary for the evacuation of people with disabilities, the elderly, the sick, and young children; are they observed by designated staff who report on how long it took to evacuate the workplace, what went correctly and what went wrong, and are faults put right before the next drill; does management keep records of drills and training with details of any problems found and the action taken to put them right.

Training for Employees

are all employees given information, instruction, and training by a competent person on: - fire risks and precautions to be taken to avoid fire, - what to do if they discover a fire, - raising the alarm, including location of alarm call points, - recognising the fire alarm and what to do when it is raised, - calling the fire brigade, - evacuation procedures, including arrangements for members of the public, and people with disabilities, and - escape routes, fire exits, and assembly areas;

Safety Precautions During Evacuation

When traveling through smoke and/or fire, remember to keep low, wrap patients in wet blankets and keep faces covered Do not run! Do not open a door into an area where a suspected fire might be. To check doors:
Brace your shoulder and foot against the door and slowly open it If smoke seeps through, close the door If there is no heat or smoke, proceed to evacuate

Close all doors as you pass Do not allow anyone to return to the area

References
www.nifsindia.net www.ushafire.com www.firesafety.gov www.ceasefiresafety.com www.ilpi.com/safety/extinguishers.html www.communities.gov.uk/firesafety

Thank you