These are just basic training slides, may vary from standards Fire Safety www.askmaaz.com 1
Most common causes of fire faulty or misused electrical equipment a build-up of rubbish or waste material (poor housekeeping) smoking cooking heating appliances placed near combustible/flammable materials unsafe storage and use of combustible/flammable materials unsafe storage and use of hazardous materials hot processes arson www.askmaaz.com 2
The fire triangle in order to ignite and burn, a fire requires three elements: fuel heat (a source of ignition) oxygen each element must be present in the correct proportion a fire can be prevented or extinguished by reducing any one of these elements below the critical level, e.g.: shutting off a gas supply tap (starvation) cooling a fire with water smothering flames with a fire blanket (suffocation) www.askmaaz.com 3
Fuel anything that burns is potential fuel for a fire the duration of the fire will depend on the amount of fuel available www.askmaaz.com 4
Heat must be sufficient to raise the fuel to its ignition temperature after fire begins to burn, the source of ignition can be removed, as combustion process releases heat energy to sustain the fire amount of heat required depends on the: combustion point of fuel type of fuel amount of oxygen available www.askmaaz.com 5
Oxygen to sustain a fire, the atmosphere only needs to be 16% oxygen (the air we breathe is around 21%) the intensity of a fire depends on the concentration of oxygen available some chemicals release oxygen when heated, adding to the natural supply www.askmaaz.com 6
Sources of fuel combustibles: paper and cardboard plastics and rubber textiles and soft furnishings wooden items waste products flammables: flammable liquid-based products flammable liquids and solvents flammable chemicals flammable gases www.askmaaz.com 7
Sources of ignition cigarettes, matches and lighters naked flames faulty or misused electrical equipment fixed or portable heaters (electric, gas or oil-filled) hot processes cooking equipment lighting equipment obstruction of equipment ventilation arson www.askmaaz.com 8
Sources of oxygen main source is in the air around us in an enclosed building, oxygen is provided by natural airflow through doors/windows or mechanical air-conditioning/air-handling systems additional sources found in: oxidising chemicals oxygen supplies from cylinder storage and piped systems www.askmaaz.com 9
Hazards and risks hazard anything that has the potential to cause harm risk the chance of that harm occurring and severity www.askmaaz.com 10
Hazards created by fire flames and heat smoke and other products of combustion reduced oxygen structural damage to and collapse of buildings exposed electrical cables www.askmaaz.com 11
Heat intense heat can cause serious injuries/death high temperatures can melt clothing onto skin, causing severe and deep burns breathing in superheated air causes rapid and severe lung damage followed by unconsciousness exposure to excessive heat can cause physiological effects such as heat stress www.askmaaz.com 12
Smoke and products of combustion incomplete combustion produces a variety of byproducts, many of which are toxic and/or corrosive smoke is the most common cause of death in fires: injuries/death through inhalation irritation of the eyes can reduce visibility digestive problems and poisoning if swallowed respiratory and circulatory systems affected if inhaled poisoning if absorbed by the skin many gases produced by fire are highly toxic, e.g. carbon monoxide www.askmaaz.com 13
Reduced oxygen oxygen deficiency can occur in two ways: fires consume large quantities of available oxygen fires produce large quantities of other gases that displace oxygen low oxygen levels can result in disorientation and irrational thinking, which makes escaping more difficult at worst, unconsciousness and death can occur when the brain becomes starved of oxygen www.askmaaz.com 14
Structural damage and collapse heat can have a serious impact on the structure of a building: burning spilling melting expansion if a building collapses, the people inside may be crushed or injured partial collapses may obstruct escape routes www.askmaaz.com 15
Electricity fire can cause damage to electrical cables, leading to short circuits or exposing live electrical conductors exposed wires can cause electrocution through direct contact or contact with water www.askmaaz.com 16
Fire and smoke spread convection conduction radiation direct flame contact www.askmaaz.com 17
Convection main mode of heat transfer in a developing fire heat transferred by the movement of warmed particles in a liquid or a gas: as particles are heated, they become lighter and less dense than air and therefore rise the heated molecules eventually cool, become denser and sink repeated process results in convection currents www.askmaaz.com 18
Conduction heat transferred through matter from particle to particle: particles in heated substance gain kinetic (movement) energy and move about faster these particles interact with other particles nearby, transferring heat to them the process continues, as thermal energy is transferred from hotter parts to cooler parts www.askmaaz.com 19
Radiation uses electromagnetic waves to transfer heat heat transfer by radiation can occur over massive distances radiation is how we receive heat from the sun heat radiation can pass through transparent barriers such as glass for significant levels of heat to be radiated, the temperature of the heat source needs to be high www.askmaaz.com 20
Direct flame contact combustible or flammable materials may come into direct contact with flames, and the fire may travel along, up or through the materials www.askmaaz.com 21
Fire control measures preventative passive active managerial www.askmaaz.com 22
Preventative control measures should always be considered first better to reduce the risk of a fire starting than to deal with the consequences www.askmaaz.com 23
Preventing ignition adopt safe working practices when undertaking hot work provide safe ways of discarding cigarettes allow smoking only in designated areas and prohibit it in all areas of fire risk limit the use of open flames use suitable electrical equipment and test it regularly ensure that all electrical equipment is well ventilated control arson www.askmaaz.com 24
Reducing risks from fuel reduce the amount of flammable materials in the workplace to the minimum required for the operation of the business where possible, replace flammable materials with less flammable alternatives follow safe working practices when working with flammable substances ensure safe storage, transportation and handling of flammable materials ensure that waste products are stored in an appropriate place until cleared ensure that paint, wall coverings, textiles and furnishings are fire resistant www.askmaaz.com 25
Reducing risks from oxygen keep windows and doors closed (balance against employee comfort) use compartmentation and self-closing fire doors close off ventilation systems not in use prevent or strictly control oxygen-rich atmospheres www.askmaaz.com 26
Passive control measures building features that prevent the spread of smoke and heat, e.g.: permanent escape routes refuges with communication systems fire-resistant features, fittings and decor www.askmaaz.com 27
Compartmentation subdividing a building into separate fire compartments in order to: provide a safe refuge for people within the building, where it is not practicable to evacuate everyone at once assist fire-fighting operations minimise property damage www.askmaaz.com 28
Active control measures systems/devices that provide early warning of a fire, control smoke movement or suppress or extinguish a fire in its early stages require some sort of operation (manual/ automatic, electrical/mechanical) to perform function examples: automatic fire detection systems manual call points and alarm systems portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets sprinkler systems www.askmaaz.com 29
Managerial control measures support the active and passive measures, e.g.: develop fire safety procedures undertake training and fire drills develop maintenance systems for safety equipment/fittings undertake regular fire safety inspections require vigilance by those responsible for fire safety use signage to identify escape routes and high-risk areas www.askmaaz.com 30
Means of escape building features and fittings that enable people to move from a place of potential danger to a place of ultimate or relative safety in the event of a fire should take into consideration: the time it takes people to move the time it takes for a fire to endanger the escape route the distance people have to travel to a place of safety features might include: structural protection from fire spread or collapse fire-resistant paints/textiles fire doors and self-closing devices signage and emergency lighting ventilation control systems www.askmaaz.com 31
Fire door www.askmaaz.com 32
Fire door feedback self-closing device or door-release mechanism that operates if the fire alarm activates solid rebate or intumescent strips and cold smoke seals, to prevent flames and smoke passing through the gaps viewing panels made of fire-resistant glass constructed from or coated with flame-resistant materials unlocked during occupancy or have a push bar clearly identifiable by appropriate safety signage easy to open well lit routinely maintained www.askmaaz.com 33
Travel distance/capacity travel distance how far people have to travel to reach an exit, usually measured to a storey exit or another fire compartment or protected area exit capacity how many people can pass through the exit in a given time www.askmaaz.com 34
Protected escape routes separated from other parts of the building constructed from fire-resistant materials sterile spaces www.askmaaz.com 35
Emergency lighting (1) used when main power supply fails should operate automatically and be sufficiently bright to allow people to evacuate the premises quickly and safely degree of illumination depends on nature of premises and its occupants www.askmaaz.com 36
Emergency lighting (2) exit doors and escape routes intersections of corridors emergency exit signs stairways changes in direction/floor level windowless rooms fire-fighting equipment fire alarm call points equipment to be shut down in an emergency lifts www.askmaaz.com 37
Fire safety signs (1) safe condition signs green rectangle with white symbol/text show directions to areas of safety and medical assistance e.g. emergency exit sign fire equipment signs: red rectangle with white symbol/text e.g. at manual call points or next to fire extinguishers mandatory signs: blue circle with white symbol/text action must be taken e.g. sign instructing that fire door is kept shut www.askmaaz.com 38
Fire safety signs (2) hazard signs: yellow triangle with black outline and symbol/text warn of a danger e.g. flammable substance sign prohibition signs: circle with red outline and red line from top left to bottom right behaviour likely to result in danger is forbidden e.g. no smoking sign www.askmaaz.com 39
Safety sign usage www.askmaaz.com 40
Fire detection important to detect a fire as soon as possible after it starts and to warn other people in order to prompt their evacuation in small premises, fire may be detected by building s occupants in some premises, fires may be detected automatically by devices that react to the presence of, for example, smoke, heat or carbon monoxide gas www.askmaaz.com 41
Raising the alarm shouting Fire! breaking glass at manual call point PA systems whistles bells rotary gongs klaxons www.askmaaz.com 42
Fire classes Class A organic solids, such as paper and wood Class B flammable liquids and liquefied solids Class C flammable gases Class D metals Class F cooking fat and oil www.askmaaz.com 43
Extinguishing fires fires are extinguished by reducing one or more of the elements of the fire triangle below the critical point: reducing the heat (cooling) reducing the fuel (starving) reducing the oxygen (suffocating) www.askmaaz.com 44
Fire extinguishers red with identifying labels to indicate type location and number determined by risk assessment work by breaking the fire triangle use a number of different agents water cools foam cools and provides barrier to oxygen reacting with fuel dry powder and carbon dioxide suffocate www.askmaaz.com 45
Water extinguishers red label for fires involving carbon-based solid materials (Class A) remove heat from the fire triangle (cooling) water conducts electricity, so should not be used where there is a risk of electric shock www.askmaaz.com 46
Foam extinguishers cream label for fires involving flammable liquids or liquefied solids (Classes A, B and F) form a film layer over the burning surface, separating the fuel from the flames (starving) nozzle sprays foam evenly, quickly coating fire can use near but not directly on live electrical equipment (beware water run-off) www.askmaaz.com 47
Carbon dioxide extinguishers black label for fires involving electrical equipment (negate chances of electric shock) can be used on fires involving liquids such as paints and oils (with caution) remove oxygen from the fire (suffocation) should not be used in space-restricted enclosed areas ice can form on extinguisher nozzle noisy when discharged www.askmaaz.com 48
Dry powder extinguishers blue label for all common types of fire, including electrical (Classes A, B and F) remove oxygen from the fire interrupting the chain of combustion and preventing reignition extinguish quickly not suitable for use in enclosed spaces cause excessive damage to electrical equipment best used for outside fuel fires www.askmaaz.com 49
Wet chemical extinguishers yellow label for use on deep-fat cooking fires (Class F) create fine mist that cools flames and prevents splashing, then create thick foam that smothers fat and prevents reignition (starving) only work with animal fats and vegetable oils www.askmaaz.com 50
Simple checks is the extinguisher ready to be picked up? is the pressure gauge reading in the green zone? weight has the extinguisher been discharged? are there signs of corrosion/leaks/rust? test engineer s label has the extinguisher been serviced in the last 12 months? are the safety pins in place and the tamper seals intact? are notices of the type/suitability of the extinguisher displayed next to it? www.askmaaz.com 51
Fire blankets sheets of fire-retardant material placed over a fire to suffocate it extinguish small fires before they spread light duty kitchens heavy duty industrial settings (molten materials) should be in vicinity of fire hazards but in a position where they can be safely and easily accessed in an emergency must be checked regularly www.askmaaz.com 52
How to use fire blankets pull the blanket out of its case check the fire is smaller than the blanket hold up the blanket in front of you by the top corners and keep your hands tucked behind it place the blanket over the fire and smother it do not remove the blanket for half an hour (to allow the material to cool down) www.askmaaz.com 53
Fixed fire-fighting systems hose reels dry and wet risers sprinkler systems gaseous systems foam systems www.askmaaz.com 54
Fire safety inspections help to ensure that: owners and occupiers of buildings are continuing to meet their responsibilities under fire safety legislation buildings are fitted with the correct fire safety installations those installations are maintained in an operational condition www.askmaaz.com 55
Fire wardens competent persons who implement fire safety measures and give effect to appropriate procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to relevant persons can be called fire marshals or fire stewards need excellent organisational skills, a level of confidence and a calm head should receive training www.askmaaz.com 56
Day-to-day role of fire wardens monitor general fire safety report unsafe practices/conditions report faults, incidents and near misses discuss evacuation arrangements with staff and offer guidance on procedure remain familiar with escape routes and check accessible take a lead role during fire drills provide feedback on success of fire drills www.askmaaz.com 57
Role of fire wardens when the fire alarm sounds continuously wear high-visibility clothing instruct people to leave via the nearest escape route ensure that all persons have left their designated area help people to leave the premises shut down vital or dangerous equipment be the last person to leave their area and report to any person in charge that it is clear or that they are waiting in a refuge for assistance report to a central assembly point communicate with other wardens/senior warden/ incident controller liaise with fire and rescue service on arrival, if required www.askmaaz.com 58
Role of fire wardens when not in area of responsibility if not safe to move to area, evacuate to central control point report whether or not they have checked their area, so that someone can be allocated or it can be reported to the fire and rescue service www.askmaaz.com 59
Raising the alarm verbally by shouting Fire! activate manual call point PA systems whistles bells rotary gongs klaxons www.askmaaz.com 60
Training for fire wardens fire wardens should have: knowledge of the essential elements of the fire safety strategy specific to the premises awareness of human behaviour in fires knowledge and confidence to encourage others to use the most appropriate escape route understanding of difficulties facing some people in escaping, including disability and injury awareness of special pre-planned evacuation arrangements understanding of fixed fire-fighting equipment in their area www.askmaaz.com 61
Evacuation strategies simultaneous total evacuation small, simple buildings with ambulant occupants staged/phased evacuation tall and/or complex premises, or those impossible to evacuate at one time delayed/progressive horizontal evacuation buildings with non-ambulant occupants www.askmaaz.com 62
Induction briefings new employees employees who have changed location visitors people who may need assistance in an emergency as a minimum, should include: evacuation routes fire safety features how to raise alarm and contact the emergency services actions in the event of fire location and purpose of assembly points special requirements that might demand reasonable adjustments to evacuation plan www.askmaaz.com 63