Fire Safety

The Stats
• Fire death statistics 1986-95
throughout the united states
– 2.1 Million Fires Reported Per Year
– 5,100 Average Civilian Deaths
– 28,500 Injuries
– 9.6 Billion Dollars in Losses
 Definitions
• Carbon dioxide (co2)
• Combustible
• Combustion
• Conduction
• Convection
 Definitions
• Fire cause
• Fire prevention code
• Flammable
• Flash point
• Ignition source
• Ignition temperature
 Combustion
• Chemical reaction between
– Combustible material (fuel)
– Oxygen
– Ignition source
• Rapid oxidation of combustible
material accompanied by a release of
energy in the form of heat and light
Types of Heat Energy
• Chemical
– heat of combustion
– spontaneous heating
– heat of decomposition
– heat of solution
Types of Heat Energy
• Electrical
– Resistance Heating
– Dielectric Heating
– Induction Heating
– Leakage Current Heating
– Heat from Arcing
– Static Electricity Heating
– Heat Generated by Lighting
Types of Heat Energy
• Mechanical
– Frictional heat
– Frictional sparks
– Heat of compression
• Nuclear heat energy
– Nuclear Fission and Fusion
 Fire Tetrahedron
• Triangle is out…. Tetrahedron is in…
• Consists of 4 Sides

Oxygen Fuel

Heat Chain of reaction

Three Phases of Fire
• Incipient
– Oxygen content in air not reduced
• Hot smoldering
– Flame may cease to exist if area is
airtight
– Burning reduced to glowing embers
– Dense smoke fills the room
• Free-burning
 Fire Hazards
• Any
– Material
– Condition
– Or act
• That contributes to the start of a fire,
or
• Increases the extent and severity of a
fire
2 Types 0f Fire Hazards
• Common
– Likely to be found in almost all
occupancies
– Not associated with a specific:
• Occupancy
• Process or activity
• Special
– arises from the process or operations
taking place in the space
General Fire Safety
• Housekeeping
– Storage & Disposal of Trash & Debris
– Containers - selected by waste type
• general
• smoking materials
• oily rags
• highly combustible materials
 Waste Containers
• Locate away from
– Heat sources
• Space heaters; Furnaces; Steam pipes
– Flammable & combustible liquids
– Directly under combustible objects
• Exterior cans
– Locate away from buildings so a trash
fire will not spread to the building
Flammable Trash Cans
• Dispose of flammable waste in:
– non-combustible container
– with self closing, tight fitting lid
• Oily or Greasy Materials
– store in trash can with
• airtight lids
• supported by legs so the bottom is several
inches off the floor
 Housekeeping
Outside
• Keep roofs, yards, courts, vacant lots
& open spaces
– Free of wastepaper
– Weeds
– Litter
– Combustible waste & rubbish
 Types Of Fires
• Class A
– wood, cloth, paper, cardboard
• Class B
– flammable or combustible liquids,
gases
• Class C
– energized electrical equipment
• Class D
– combustible metal
Fire Extinguishers
• Ratings
– based on use by untrained operator
– 8 inch deep layer of flammable liquid
• Class A
• Class B
• Class C
• Class D
 Placement
• Readily visible
– Near points of entry & exit
– Protected from vandalism
• Uniformly distributed
– No more than 50 feet travel distance to
fire for class B materials
– No more than 75 feet travel distance to
fire for class A materials
 Placement
• Easily accessible
– Free from blockage
– Near normal paths of travel
– Mounted no more than 5 feet off ground
– Large extinguishers (+40 pounds)
mounted on wheels
 Fire Extinguishers
• Inspect monthly - ensure:
– In proper location and it is accessible
– Discharge nozzle or horn is not obstructed,
cracked or dirty
– Operating instructions on the nameplate are
legible
– Lock pins and tamper seals are in place
– Extinguisher is full and ready for use
– Extinguisher has an inspection tag
 Summary
• Statistics • Fire hazards
• Definitions • General fire
• Combustion safety
principles • Types of fires
• Fire tetrahedron • Portable fire
• 3 phases of fire extinguishers