fire fighting - latest news in kenya science...

FIRE FIGHTING

BUREAU VERITAS

Presentation

2 May -2013 Fire Fighting

FIRE

► Millions of shillings are lost annually as a result of direct, indirect, and unknown losses resulting from fires,i.e. Nakumat supermarket in Kenya was burned down in 28th January 2009.


WHAT IS FIRE?

►Fire is a manifestation of uncontrolled combustion.

►So what is combustion?


THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

► Combustion is a chemical chain reaction involving fuel, heat and oxygen with the evolution of more heat in the form of flame or incandescence.

Fuel + O2 CO2 + SO2 + H2 O + Light

Heat


Elements of Fire

►The three elements, essential for a fire to start and propagate are represented in the Fire Triangle

CLASSIFICATION OF

FIRES


CLASSES OF FIRE

►There are four (4) classes of fire namely –

►Class A – Fires resulting from the combustion of ordinary solids e.g. wood, paper, textiles and certain plastics.

►Class B – Fires resulting from the combustion of flammable liquids and gaseous fires e.g. Thinners, Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene, Oils, etc


Classes of Fire (cont’d)

►Class C – Fires resulting from the combustion of energized electrical equipment.

►Class D – Fires resulting from the combustion of combustible metals e.g. Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium etc


Common Causes of Fire

►Ignorance e.g. overloading of electrical plugs

►Thoughtlessness – use of flammable liquids near naked flames or smoking.

►Carelessness – Disposal of cigarette butts

►Malicious ignition – Arson

►Explosion – ignited petrol vapour gas

►Chemical reaction – limes and water or acids

►Friction – shafting allowed to run hot

Fire Prevention


FIRE PREVENTION

► Prevention of fire is guided by the fire triangle.

► Can you control the fuel? Heat? Or Oxygen?

Fire prevention deals with managing the fuel and the heat.


Methods of Fire Prevention

► Removal of any one of the elements of fire means – No fire!

► Some of these measures include: -

a) Substitution – Replacing of flammable material with relatively safe materials.

b) Storage – Careful handling of inflammable materials

c) Ventilation – Storage rooms should be provided with ventilation to prevent accumulation of vapours.


d) Elimination – Of ignition sources, open flames, cutting and welding torches, furnaces, matches and heaters. No smoking.

e) Removal of incompatibles – Materials that can contribute to a flammable liquid fire should not be stored with flammable liquids. E.g. oxidisers and organic peroxides.

f) Flammable Gases – Flammable gases pose similar hazards as flammable liquids and their vapours. Also consider toxicity, reactivity and corrosivity. Some evolve toxic fumes when burned.


OSHA ACT 2007 Legal Aspects of

Fire ► The OSHA Act.2007

(Section 78) Prevention of fire

► (1)All stocks of highly inflammable substances shall

► be kept either in a fire-resisting store or in a safe place outside any occupied building:

► Provided that no such store shall be so situated as to endanger the means of escape from the workplace or from any part thereof in the event of a fire occurring in the store.


Safety provisions in case of fire

► (5) No person shall smoke, light or carry matches,

► lighters or other flame producing articles, or smoking

► materials, in any place in which explosive, highly flammable

► or highly combustible substances, are manufactured, used,

► handled or stored and the occupier shall take all practicable

► steps to ensure compliance with the foregoing provisions of

► this subsection, including the display at or as near as possible

► to every place in which this subsection applies, a clear and

► bold notice indicating that smoking is prohibited in that place.


► (3)Where in any process or operation any highly

►flammable liquid is liable to be spilled or to leak, all

►reasonably practicable steps shall be taken to ensure that any highly flammable liquid, which is spilt, or leaks shall be

►contained or immediately drained off to a suitable container or

►to a safe place, or otherwise treated to make it safe.etc

EARLY MANAGEMENT OF

FIRES

FIGHT OR FLIGHT!


Early Management of Fire

Class of

Fire Burning Material

Most

Indicated PFE

Required

colour of PFE

Class A Wood, paper, cloth etc Water Red

Class B Diesel, petrol, kerosene etc Foam (AFFF) Cream

Class C Energized electrical

equipment & gas fires CO2 Black

Class D

Combustible metals e.g.

potassium, sodium,

magnesium etc.

Dry Powder Blue

Early Management of Fire


P.A.S.S. Method

Pull the pin

This will allow you to squeeze the handle in order to discharge the

extinguisher


P.A.S.S. Method

Aim at the base of the fire

Aiming at the middle will do no good.

The agent will pass through the flames.


P.A.S.S. Method

Squeeze the handle

This will release the pressurized

extinguishing agent


P.A.S.S. Method

Sweep side to side

Cover the entire area that is on fire.

Continue until fire is extinguished.

Keep an eye on the area in case of

re-lighting.


When NOT to Fight a Fire!

►Remember to keep an exit to your back

►Only fight a fire in the incipient stage


Most Important Slide!

NEVER fight a fire if any of the following apply:

• Don’t have the proper extinguisher or equipment

• Fire has spread beyond its point of origin

• Your instincts tell you GET OUT


•If you hear an alarm

•DO NOT

•assume it is a drill,

•your life may depend on it!

Emergency Procedures

In the Event of Fire

Pull nearest alarm station

Immediately exit the building


EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

Emergency Action Plans should include details on –

► Routes for workers to use and procedures to follow

► Account for all evacuated employees

► Include procedures for evacuating disabled employees

► Address evacuation of employees who stay behind to shut down critical plant equipment

► Include preferred means of alerting employees to a fire emergency


E.A.P (cont’d)

► Provide for an employee alarm system throughout the workplace.

► Require an alarm system that includes voice communication or sound signals such as bells, whistles or horns.

► Make the evacuation signal known to employees.

► Ensure emergency training.

► Require employer review of the plan with new employees and with all employees whenever the plan is changed.


NEED AND PURPOSE OF REGULAR FIRE DRILLS

i) To ensure that people in danger act in a calm and orderly manner

ii) That officers appointed carry out their allotted duties to ensure the safety of all those concerned.

iii) All means of escape provided are known and used in accordance with practised plan

iv) That evacuation is speedy and orderly.


TYPES OF ALARM SYSTEMS

a) Electrical alarm of break glass type

b) Telephones

c) Manual bell/siren

d) Whistles

e) Oral ”Fire! Fire! Fire!”


► Learn at least two escape routes, and emergency exits from your area

► Never use an elevator as part of your escape route

► Learn to activate a fire alarm

► Learn to recognize alarm sounds

► Take an active part in fire evacuation drills

EVACUATION ROUTES

Questions?

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