FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING AND

MANAGEMENT
 FIRE
GOOD SERVANT
BAD MASTER
 The seriousness is not felt till the effects are
experienced
 Most of the fires are caused by careless and
ignorance
 Destroys everything in one stroke
 The industry should identify the the fire
hazards and plan for the prevention, control
and protection
 WHAT IS FIRE?
 Fire is a chemical reaction in which a combustible
material combines with oxygen in the atmosphere
to give out heat and light.
 When a substance undergoes chemical change by
combining with oxygen, it liberates heat. This
process is called OXIDATION
 The process of oxidation accompanied by the
evolution of heat is called COMBUSTION
 Fire is the visible light energy as flame liberated
by the reaction
 RATE OF CUMBUSTION
 The rate of combustion varies from substance to
substance
 SLOW COMBUSTION :- A chemical reaction
accompanied by slow evolution of heat but not
light (Eg:- Cotton waste burning in ill
ventilated space)
 RAPID COMBUSTION:- A chemical reaction
accompanied by the rapid evolution of heat and
appreciable amount of light.(Eg:- Petroleum )
 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION:-Combustion
by by absorbing atmospheric oxygen at normal
temperature without application of external heat
(Eg:- Paint scrap, saw dust exposed to steam,
phosphorus in contact with wood)
 CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE
STARTING AND MAINTAINING A FIRE

 FUEL (REDUCING AGENT)

 OXYGEN (OXIDISING AGENT)
 HEAT (EXTERNAL ACTIVATING AGENT)
 CHAIN REACTION
 When the above conditions join together a fire
takes place
 To extinguish the fire remove any one or more of
the above conditions
 FIRE EXTINGUISHING TECHNIQUES

 STARVATION:- Remove the fuel/Shift the

combustible material from the neighbouring
place(Closing the valve, stopping the pump etc.)
 SMOTHERING:- Deprive oxygen supply by
diluting or introducing inert media.
 BLANKETING:- Cut off oxygen and cut off
flame from the burning surface.
 COOLING;- Reduce the temperature of the fire
below that is necessary for continued combustion.
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES
 CLASS A :- Fires involving ordinary
combustible materials such as paper, textiles dry
grass etc.
 CLASS B:- Fires involving flammable liquids
such as oil,petrol, paint etc.
 CLASS C :- Fires involving flammable gases
such as methane,butane, propane, LPG etc.
 CLASS D :- Fires involving metals such as
sodium, potassium, magnesium. Aluminium etc.
 STAGES OF FIRE
 INCIPIENT STAGE:- Products of
combustion not visible. No visible smoke, flame
and heat.
 SMOULDERING STAGE:- Product of
combustion visible as smoke. Flame and heat not
observed.
 FLAME STAGE:- Actual fire is seen. Heat
follows instantaneously.
 HEAT STAGE:- Uncontrolled heat rapidly
expanding.
 SOURCES OF IGNITION
 OPEN FLAMES:- Gas cutting/Welding
 FRICTION:- Bearings/Rollers
 ENTANGLEMENT:- (of foreign substances)
 SMOKING/MATCHES:-
 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:-
(Wiring,Cables,Transformers, Motors)
 STATIC ELECTRICITY:-
 LIGHTNING
 EXOTHERMIC RUNAWAY REACTION
 HOT SURFACES
 OVERHEATED MATERIALS
 SPONTANEOUS IGNITION
 ENGINE EXHAUST
 FIRE CONTROL SRATEGY
 FIRE PREVENTION
 (SAFETY SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES)
 FIRE PROTECTION
 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
 ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

 STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION

 MEANS OF ESCAPE
STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION

 SELECTION OF SUITABLE
MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTIONS
 To prevent the start of fire
 To slow down the growth rate of fire
 To prevent the unrestricted spread of fire
 To avoid structural failure
SELECTION OF MATERIALS
 Non combustibility
 Flammability
 Heat release
 Smoke emission
 Fire resistance
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
FIRE DETECTING SYSTEMS
FIRE QUENCHING DEVICES
 FIRE DETECTORS
 SMOKE DETECTORS
 (Ionisation &Optical detectors)
 HEAT DETECTORS
 (Fixed,Rate of rise of temp)
 FLAME DETECTORS
 (Infrared & Ultraviolet)
FIRE QUENCHING DEVICES
 Portable fire extinguishers
 (Water,Foam,DCP,CO2)
 Fixed installations
 (Dry and Wet risers,Sprinklers, water spray
systems external hydrant points)
 Fixed installations flooding CO2,Inert
gas,Foam)
 PREVENTION OF FIRES IN THERMAL PLANTS

 Proper Housekeeping
 Prevention of accumulation of coal/lignite
dust/combustible waste.
 Quenching of lighted materials before disposal
 Proper lubrication of all moving parts to prevent frictional
heating
 Work permit systems for gas cutting/welding
 Wetting the coal/lignite to prevent spontaneous
combustion.
 Arresting all the oil leaks immediately
 Periodically checking the electrical installations such as
protective devices, electrical joints, earthing arrangements
 Removal/Safe disposal of dry vegetation
 FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT
PROACTIVE APPROACH
ENGINEERING CONTROL MEASURES
 Safe Design
 Safe Construction
 Safe Transportation/handling of materials
 Safe Selection
 Safe Erection & Commissioning
 Safe Protection
 Safe Operation & Maintenance
 FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT
PROACTIVE APPROACH
PROCEDURAL CONTROL MEASURES
Human Performance
(Induction,Training,Motivation,Supervision,
Discipline,Information,Instruction)
Work Methods/Procedures/Permit Systems
Provision/Usage of PPE
 FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT
REACTIVE APPROACH

 Emergency Plan
 Emergency Equipment
 First Aid Treatment
 Fire Fighting Systems