OSHA

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Fire Safety
Introduction:
This lecture is discussing in brief: What is fire, classes of fires, different
types of fire extinguishers, how to use each type of extinguisher, methods
of fire extinction and how to extinguish all classes of fires.

The guidance also discusses, fire prevention measures and how to act
correctly in case of emergencies.

What Is A Fire?
Simply fire is a chemical reaction which involves rapid oxidation or
burning of a combustible material.
In the past, we learned that three elements, fuel, heat, and oxygen were
necessary for fire to start and continue burning, hence the fire triangle
concept.
In recent years this concept has been expanded to include a fourth
element, that of chemical reaction, thus creating the fire tetrahedron.

Fig. 1 : Fire Tetrahedron

The following is a brief description of each element and their interaction:

1- Fuel (Combustible Substances):
Combustible substances exist as Solids, Liquids and gases.
Solids: Such as wood, paper, cartons, cloth.
Liquids: Such as M. Gasoline, Solvents, Alcohols.
Gases : Such as Propane, Butane, Hydrogen.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

2- Oxygen:
All combustible substances need oxygen to burn. Oxygen is normally
available in the air in sufficient quantities (21%). There must be at least
16% oxygen present for a fire to burn.
All substances (fuel) will only burn in air if the ratio between the air and
the vapor of these substances lies between certain limits. If too much, or
too little fuel is present, burning will not take place.
These limits are referred to as the lower and upper limits of flammability.

3- Heat (Source of Ignition):

Heat is the energy needed to increase the fuel's temperature to the point
where sufficient vapors are produced for ignition to occur. The source of
ignition which can produce enough energy are:

A- Electricity :
* Electricity is the most common and costly ignition source of fires
and explosions.
* How can Electricity Starts a Fire?
- By overloading an outlets.
- Faulty installation of wiring (Loose connections).
- Damaged wire or cable's insulation.
- Electrical malfunction of motors.

B- Smoking:
* Fires caused by the misuse of smoking materials (cigarettes) is
the second major source of ignition .
* Many of these fires have been the result of smoking materials
dropping into holstered furniture and producing smoky and toxic
smoldering fires.

C- Cutting and Welding (Hot Works):

* Hot works includes brazing, cutting, grinding, welding,
soldering, using torches etc., fires that are ignited by hot
work result from sparks or globules of molten metal that
generated.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

D- Open Flames:
* Open flames include portable torches, cigarettes, lighters,
matches, space heaters etc.

E- Hot Surfaces:
* This category includes those instances where heat is carried by
conduction from the surface of electrical heating equip., boilers,
furnaces, ovens etc. to adjacent combustibles and causes fires.

F- Spontaneous Ignition:
Some materials oxidize and throw off heat. If those materials are
confined, that heat cannot escape, then ignition can result.
Some products that heat spontaneously are animal and vegetable
oils , also paint deposits that contain drying oil may
spontaneously ignite . Also rags contaminated with oil may
ignite spontaneously.

G- Static Sparks:
Static electricity occurs between two objects in contacts.
Electrical charges are produced on the objects when they are
separated. If these charges build up, it will develop enough
energy to jump as a spark to nearby grounded or less highly
charged objects.
These sparks can ignite flammable vapors, flammable gases
or finely dispersed combustible solid materials.

H- Friction:
Friction generates heat, in machinery, loose or worn moving
parts rubbing against each other can generate enough heat to
ignite nearby combustibles.

4-Chemical Reaction:
The chemical chain reaction known as fire, occurs when fuel,
oxygen, and heat are present in the right conditions and amounts.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Classes of Fires:
Fires are classified by the fuel they burn. There are four classes according
to the American system:

1- Class A Fires:

- These are fires involving ordinary combustibles:

- Cloth, wood, paper, rubber, many plastics.
- The most effective extinguishing agent is WATER,
and dry chemical rated for A, B, and C fires.

2- Class B Fires :

- These are fires involving flammable and combustible liquids

such as: Motor Gasoline - Solvents (Acetone) - Alcohols.
- The extinguishing agents include: Foams - Dry Chemicals -
Carbon Dioxide - Halons.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

3- Class C Fires :

- Fires that involves energized electrical equipment where the

electrical non - conductivity of the extinguishing agent is of
great importance.
- The extinguishing agents are: Dry Chemical - Carbon
Dioxide - Halons.
- Water or any fire extinguisher contains water or any agent mixed
with water are not allowed to be used on fires involving live
electrical equipment, since water is a good conductor of electricity.

4- Class D Fires :

- These are fires involving metals such as: Sodium - Potassium

Magnesium.
- Special types of fire extinguishers is used to extinguish such fires

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Fire Extinguishers:
There are six types of Fire Extinguishers:
o Water Fire Extinguishers
o Foam Fire Extinguishers
o Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers
o Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers
o Halon Fire Extinguishers
o Liquid Powder Fire Extinguishers (Kitchen)

This lecture will explain the following fire extinguishers only:

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

A- Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers :

Stored - Pressure Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers :
- This type of fire extinguishers are available in different sizes (3 , 6
& 12 Kgs) and the type of extinguishing agent is (Mono
Ammonium Phosphate) which is suitable for class A , class B and
class C fires.
- It is advisable to avoid using of dry powder fire
extinguishers on fires involving sensitive electrical
equipment such as computers, since the powder particles
will damage those equipment. Carbon Dioxide or Halon fire
extinguishers are advised to be used in this case since they
do not leave any residues after use.

B- Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers:

- This type of fire extinguishers are available in different sizes
(2 kgs - 6 kgs - 10 kgs - 20 kgs - 30 kgs) .
- It is used to extinguish class (B) fires (flammable liquids),
also it is very effective on fires involving electrical
equipment, since it does not leave any residues after use.
- It extinguish fires by replacing some of the oxygen in the air .

C- Halon Fire Extinguishers :

- This type of fire extinguishers (Halon 1211 - BCF) are
available in different sizes (1 kg, 3 kg, 6 kg, 12, kg etc.).
- It is used to extinguish class (A) fires and class (B) fires also
it is very effective on fires involving electrical equipment, it
is recommended to be used to extinguish fires involving
delicate and costly electronic equipment, since it does not
leave any residues after use.
- Halon 1211 (BCF) is discharged as a mixture of vapor and
liquid droplets which gives good projection and long throw.
- Halon as (CFC) have impact on the ozone layer (Ozone
Depletion) and now new substances have been developed to
replace halons such as: FM - 200 & 3M - CFA - 410 .

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

General Rules For Using Portable Fire Extinguishers:

1- Fight the fires in up wind direction.

2- Start fighting the fire from safe distance (2 - 5 m) away from
the flame.
3- Direct the stream to the base of the fire.
4- Sweep the stream from side to side.
5- Do not leave the fire area unless you are sure that the fire is
completely out. If the fire re-ignite, repeat the process.

Fire Prevention Measures:

- The best way to fight fires is to prevent them.
- The following measures are to be taken into consideration
to help preventing Fires:
1- Good housekeeping is the key. Trash should always be
placed in appropriate containers and emptied daily. Clean
work areas are safer than cluttered or dirty one.
2- For those who smoke, smoke only in designated areas and never
leave lit cigarettes unattended. Also never smoke in bed.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

3- Good storage and handling of materials, specially

Flammable materials.
* Store all flammable liquids in tightly, closed containers.
* Store flammable liquids in areas away from sources of
flame, heat or sparks.
* Never smoke around flammable materials.
* Dispose of all flammable wastes in covered metal
containers.
* Only use flammable liquids in well - ventilated areas.
* Clean up all spills of flammable liquids immediately.

4- To prevent Electrical Fires :

* Replace damaged cords or plugs.
* Keep cords away from heat and water.
* Never run cords under rugs.
* Always pull an electrical cord from outlet by
the plug and never by the cord.

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OSHA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
* Make sure electrical connections are tight to
avoid loose connections which might lead to
sparks.
* Always use properly rated fuses.
* Avoid plugging too many cords into an electric outlet.
(Avoid overloading).

5- Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture, and not to use the
heaters on drying clothes.

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