Fire Safety Course Notes

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

MODULE ONE - BASIC FIRE KNOWLEDGE

The Fire Triangle

Fire needs three essential ingredients to start:

heat, oxygen and fuel. Try to keep these 3 from HEAT

coming together and you will reduce the risk of fire.

OXYGEN FUEL

Produce a fire risk assessment for your workplace by following

these important steps:

Step 1 - identify the fire hazards.

Step 2 - identify people at risk.

Step 3 - evaluate the risks.

Step 4 - record your findings.

Step 5 - review and revise.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

The Consequences of Fire

Fire needs heat from an ignition source, oxygen and fuel

to start.

Fires spread rapidly and become incredibly hot in a short

space of time.

When a fire takes hold flammable gases will self-ignite and

cause explosions.

Fire can burn skin and lung tissue.

In a fire, smoke and toxic fumes can be killers.

Fire can cause structural damage to buildings.

Fire Resistance

Keep all routes clear of obstruction.

Ensure fire exits are never blocked.
Ensure fire doors are never wedged open.
Ensure that notices remain on display.
Keep all fire fighting equipment in the right place and never abuse it.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

Fire Doors and Exits

Familiarise yourself with the all escape routes in

the building.

Fire exits must be kept clear.

Fire exits should be clearly marked by signs. FIRE

EXIT

Never prop open fire doors.

Fire resisting doors, walls, ceilings and floors must be

maintained.

Action in the Event of a Fire Alarm

Do not stop to collect personal belongings.

Close all windows and doors if time permits.

Any housekeeping staff should make sure any of their

materials are not causing an obstruction in corridors.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

Leave the building by the nearest available exit and do not

use lifts.

Go directly to the fire assembly point and stay there until

told it’s safe to re-enter the building by a fire officer or other
appropriately appointed official.
Assembly point

Action in the Event of a Fire

Do not open closed doors to rooms where there is a fire.

Only tackle a fire if it is safe and you know what you are
doing. Never tackle a fire on your own.

Close doors and windows if you have time.

FIRE

In a fire situation, raise the alarm. BREAK GLASS

Leave the building by the nearest exit and stay at the assembly
point until told otherwise.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

MODULE TWO - BASIC FIRE KNOWLEDGE PLUS

Fire Extinguishers and How to Use Them

Only use a fire extinguisher if you have been trained.

There are four main types of fire extinguisher;
water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam.

Water extinguishers are not suitable for electric or oil fires. WATER

They are best suited to solid fuel fires like wood, paper, and
so on.

CO2
Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be used on most fires, but
they’re particularly good for fires with electrical equipment.

Powder extinguishers are safe to use on most fires – gas, DRY

solid and liquid fuelled. Multipurpose powders work best on POWDER

solid burning fires. But standard powders, only work well on

burning liquids.

AFFF (foam) extinguishers are good for use on most fires

– solids and liquids. But like the water extinguisher, don’t use
FOAM

foam on electrical fires. Electricity can be conducted back up

the spray on some foam extinguishers.

Fire blankets are good for chip pan fires or people with burning
FIRE
clothes. BLANKET

You should only tackle chip pan fires if you have had special
training.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

When using an extinguisher, use the entire contents.

When using an extinguisher, keep between the fire and the

escape route.

Classes of Fire

Class A are solid fuel fires; often burning

organic matter, such as wood or paper.

Class B fires are fuelled by liquids like petrol, or liquefiable

solids like paints or fats that are solid at room temperature
and melt when heated.

Class C or gas fires should not be tackled.

Class D or flammable metal fires must be dealt with by

specially trained personnel.

Class F fires can be fought using a fire blanket or a special

Class F fire extinguisher.

In addition to these five classes, you should also be aware

of electrical fires. When dealing with these fires you should
avoid using water based extinguishers which could cause
electrocution.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

Fire Resisting Construction

The actual means or route of escape must be protected

for 30 minutes, (though it can be more in some situations.)
This gives people inside the burning building more time to
escape.

Fire resisting doors, walls, ceilings and floors are used to

compartmentalise fire.

Fire resisting doors are positioned to help protect escape

routes. They reduce the spread of fire by separating fire
risks from your means of escape.

Doors which protect the means of escape in case of fire

should be fitted with intumescent strips and smoke seals.
Both strips and seals will be found on the sides and tops of
the doors.

Law

New legislation called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)

Order was effective from October 2006. This order requires
any person with some control over a business premises to
take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire.

They must also make sure any occupants can escape

safely if a fire breaks out.

The fire.gov.uk website has a self assessment form to

help you assess the level of risk in your workplace. FIRE.GOV.UK
The responsible person must:

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

Carry out a fire risk assessment to identify risks and hazards,

or they must nominate someone to do so.

WATER

Eliminate or reduce the fire risk as far as possible and

provide fire precautions to deal with any remaining risk.

Put in place additional fire safety measures, create an EME

RGE
NCY

emergency plan and document your findings and review N

PLA MENTS
DOC
U

the findings as necessary.

People With Disabilities

Braille notices or large print versions of fire instructions

may be required and a deaf alerter system may need to be
installed.

Staff training for employees who are blind, deaf or have

other needs should be considered and assistance may
be required in the event of evacuation.

Refuges are used to prevent wheelchairs obstructing escape

routes while other people get out.

Escape route doors, passageways and ramps should

provide wheelchair access and exit.

Special procedures must be in place to help disabled people

sleeping overnight in a premises.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

MODULE THREE - NIGHT STAFF

Final Check of Premises and Walk Arounds

Common hazards to look for include:

a. paper near fires
b. cigarettes on floors or seating
c. lit candles
d. items pushed too close to open fires
e. electrical equipment left on
f. un-emptied bins
g. any other perceived risk.

Patrols should be carried out at regular intervals in the night.

The whole building should be inspected and checks recorded.

Check all fire resisting doors are closed properly, and provide
a proper fire resisting barrier.

The walkaround should include operating all doors which

provide means of escape in case of fire. That means you
PUSH BAR TO OPEN

should operate the panic bolts and walk out onto the external
escape.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

If the door has a self closing device like an electromagnetic

device, check it has worked and the fire doors are closed.
If it hasn’t, close the doors manually. Then make sure it is
reported correctly.

Check all extinguishers are in place and undamaged

and check all lighting, such as illuminated fire exits.

Action in the Event of Fire and Alarm

FIRE

In a fire situation you must raise the alarm. BREAK GLASS

Attempt to fight the fire only if you have been properly trained
and it is safe to do so.

Call the fire brigade.

Direct people out of the building.

Assist the fire brigade when they arrive.

Record a fire log of the incident.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

MODULE FOUR - FIRE MARSHAL

Duties

Marshals will help to coordinate the evacuation. They will take

a head count at the assembly point to ensure that everyone
has safely escaped from the premises.

The senior fire marshal will take control of the situation and
will organise a call to the Fire Service immediately by ringing
999 (or 112).

All marshals must put on a fluorescent jacket.

Ground and lock all passenger lifts – there are many different
types, so familiarise yourself with the lift in your building.

DO NOT silence the alarm.

When the fire service arrive, tell them where the alarm is
located.

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 Fire Safety Course Notes

Make sure no-one re-enters the building until the Fire Service
allow it.

Obtain the list of all staff, or in a hotel, obtain the guest list
and check that all people are accounted for.

Don’t re-set the fire alarm unless specifically asked to by the

Fire Service, otherwise follow their advice.

Check for any deaf or disabled people who may need assistance.
You must be aware of them and their location in your premises.

Advise the fire service of anyone unaccounted for.

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