Fire

Consequences of fires
Health
•Asphyxiation – due to fire
consuming oxygen
•Toxic poisoning – due to products of
combustion
•Burns – internal due to smoke
inhalation
external due to radiant heat
 Consequences of fires

Safety
•Structure failure – Crushing injuries

•Electrocution – due to exposed

conductors
•Slips, trips and falls – due to poor
lighting / blocked routes
 Fire Triangle

EN

FU
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FIRE

HEAT
 Fire Triangle

EN

FU
YG

LE
OX

FIRE

HEAT
 Flammable range

Lower flammable limit Upper flammable limit

Fuel

Air
Flammable range
Too Lean Too Rich
 Fire Triangle

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FU
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FIRE

HEAT
 Flash Point vs Fire Point

Flash Point
“The minimum liquid
temperature at which
there is sufficient
flammable vapour that
when mixed with air is
capable of temporary
ignition under prescribed
circumstances”
Flash Point Test
 Temperature and Fire

• Temperatures
Temp oC – Auto-ignition point
Auto Ignition
– Fire point

– Flash point

Fire Ignition
Flash source
 Flammability and Combustion
Flammable and combustible fuels are materials that can burn. The
main difference between the two is that flammable liquids/gases can
catch fire and burn easily at normal working temperatures, whereas
combustible liquids require higher than normal temperatures to ignite.
The technical classification of these liquids is based on their flash
points
Flammable is a material that can easily catch fire under normal
circumstances and with the help of minimal ignition source. Just a
spark is sufficient enough. An ideal example of a flammable
substance is propane. Flammable products are normally liquids and
gases
Combustible materials can include anything that will burn, but more
energy is required for a combustible material to burn. A simple spark
is definitely not enough. Paper or wood can be ideal examples of
combustible materials. Combustible materials are often solids but can
be liquids and gases
 Flammability

Flammable
• May become hot and then easily ignited and capable of burning
rapidly; Inflammable.
• Any liquid with a flashpoint of between 21 and 55oC. Example is
diesel

Highly flammable
• Any liquid that has a flash point of less than 21oC. Example is petrol.

Extremely flammable
• Gaseous substances that are easily ignited when in contact with air. Extremely
Flammable

Example is acetylene
 Classes of Fuel Sources

Class A Class B Class C

Class D Class F
Source: Rivington.
 European Fuel Classifications

Class A Solid materials (wood, paper, rags etc.)

Class B Flammable liquids (petrol, white spirit,

paints)
Class C Flammable gases (LPG e.g. butane,
propane and acetylene)
Class D Metal fires (sodium, lithium, manganese,
and aluminium)
Class F Fires involving cooking fats and oils
 Fire Triangle – summary
• Fuel Sources
– Class A: Solids
– Class B: Liquids

at

fu
he
– Class C: Gases

el
– Class D: Metals
oxygen
– Class F: Cooking Oils/Fats
• Heat (Ignition)Sources
– Mechanically generated sparks
– Electrically generated sparks
– Naked flames
– Hot surfaces
– Exothermic reaction
• Oxygen
Fire Extinction – Cooling
Fire Extinction – Smothering
Fire Extinction – Starvation
 Fire Extinction

• Cooling removing the heat

• Smothering removing the oxygen
• Starvation removing the fuel
• Interfering oxidisation reaction
 Fire spread

• Convection
• Conduction
• Radiation
• Direct burning
Principles of Heat Transmission

Means of fire spread

(Methods of Heat Transfer)
•convection
•conduction
•radiation
•direct burning
 Convection

Spread of smoke through a

building
Conduction
 Radiation
(infra red – invisible)
 Radiation
Inverse square law
 Direct Burning

Here fire spread is by physical flame

contact with the nearby material.

As a material burns, it has potential for

the flames from the combustion process
to touch and ignite other materials nearby.
 Dangers of LPG Cylinders

• Fire and explosion

• Frostbite

• Asphyxiation

• Manual handling
 Storage
• Secure
– well vented (not normally in buildings)
– appropriate warning signs
• Physically and mechanically protected
– weather
– valve caps
• Full and empty containers
– stored upright
– mechanically restrained
– separated full from empty
– clearly marked
• Compatible materials only stored together
– e.g. oxygen not stored close to acetylene
• Provision of suitable and adequate FAFFE
– foam or powder
Safe storage of LPG?
Safe system of work?
 Emergency warning systems

• Shouting ‘Fire!’
• Break glass points
• Public Announcement systems
• Whistles
• Bells
• Rotary gongs
• Klaxons
 Fire plans
• Should be produced and attached to the fire risk
assessment
• A copy should be posted in the site

Show:
1. Escape routes
2. Exits
3. Stairs
4. Fire-resisting doors, walls and partitions
5. Places of safety
6. Location of fire warning call points and sounders or
rotary gongs
7. Location of emergency lights and fire fighting
equipment
8. Names of designated fire/emergency team
Benefits from having regular fire drills
• Complying with the legal requirement
• To provide instruction to employees on action
to be taken in the event of such an emergency
• Checking that the alarm can be heard by
everyone within the workplace
• Testing the effectiveness of the evacuation
procedure (especially for disabled employees
and visitors)
• Familiarising new employees with the alarms,
procedure escape routes and assembly points
• Providing an opportunity for fire marshals, (and
others), to practice their designated roles
 Means of Escape

Means of Escape is a continuous

protected route from nearby the place
of work to a place of safety

• Number
• Travel distances
• Stairs
• Passageways and doors
• Exit and directional signs
• Emergency lighting
 Travel Distances

General guidance
• Maybe changed to suit circumstances
depending on the level of risk

• 25m in higher fire risk area

Where more than one
• 45m in normal fire risk area
escape route is provided
• 60m in lower fire risk area

• 12m in higher fire risk area

Where only a single escape
• 25m in normal fire risk area
route is provided
• 45m in lower fire risk area
 Types of Portable Fire
Extinguisher
COLOUR CLASS CLASS
MEDIA METHOD CLASS ‘B’ CLASS ‘D’ ELECTRIC CLASS ‘F’
CODE ‘A’ ‘C’

WATER Red Cools Yes No No No No No

SPRAY
Cream Smothers Yes Yes No No No No
FOAM

Smothers &
DRY Yes & Special Yes - Low
Blue Chemical Yes Yes No
POWDER Isolate Powders Voltage
interference

Chemical,
WET
Yellow smothers & No No No No No Yes
CHEMICAL
cooling

Yes -
CARBON
Black Smothers Yes Small Yes No Yes No
DIOXIDE
Fires
 Fire Extinguishers - Siting

• On escape route
• Nearby identified fuels
• At a suitable height
• Conspicuous
• Where possible in groups called fire points
• Where possible in recesses if mounted on wall
• Same position - different floors
• Readily available - max 30 m
• Protected against the weather
• Training requirements
 Summary: main requirements for a safe means of
escape in the event of a fire
• Means for raising the alarm
• Ideally at least two escape routes in different directions
• Each within maximum travel distances
• Escape routes have suitable fire integrity
• All fire doors open easily and self-close
• Escape routes are clearly marked
• All routes to be of sufficient width
• All routes are kept clear of obstruction
• FAFFE is located along routes as required
• Emergency lighting is provided where necessary
• There is a designated, appropriate assembly point
• Provision of fire marshals
• Regular fire drills
• Building plans to include record of emergency escape
routes
 Ladders

Thank you
for
your Attention