Fire Prevention Plans

 In this post we will under Fire Prevention Plans  Fire is rapid chemical process in which oxygen combines with another substance in the presence of a source of heat energy. The reaction of these elements is called combustion, and during the reaction, heat, light and flames are given off.

Fire Prevention Plans

Fire Prevention Plans Facts

In 2006, according the NFPA^*, as a Fire Prevention Plans result of fire…

·              3,245 civilians died, 81% occurred in residences

·             16,400 civilians were injured 

·             106 firefighters were killed while on duty

·             More Americans died than from all other natural disasters combined

·             There was $11.3 billion in property loss

Fire Prevention Plans

·           Must be in writing, 

·           Be kept in the workplace, and 

·           Be made available to employees for review

·           In the USA, employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees

1. A fire prevention plan should include:

·        A list of all major fire hazards, 

·        proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, 

·        potential ignition sources and their control, and 

·        the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard;

2. Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials

Cans of paint left open,

not stored or disposed 

of upon completion of

work

3. Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials

4. The name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires

5. The name or job title of employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards

What is the impact of workplace fires?

·   (List number of fires, fatalities, injuries and costs of workplace fires in your country/region.)

Fire Brigades

·           Organizational statement. Prepare and maintain a statement or written policy which establishes: 

·        The existence of a fire brigade; 

·        The basic organizational structure; the type, amount, and frequency of training to be provided to fire brigade members; 

·        The expected number of members in the fire brigade; and 

·        The functions that the fire brigade is to perform at the workplace

Fire Brigades

·           Fire fighting equipment. Maintain and inspect, at least annually, fire fighting equipment to assure the safe operational condition of the equipment 

·           Portable fire extinguishers and respirators inspected at least monthly

Fire Brigades

·           Assure that protective clothing protects the head, body, and extremities, and consists of at least the following components: 

·        Foot and leg protection; 

·        Hand protection; 

·        Body protection; 

·        Eye, face and head protection

Theory of combustion

The Fire Triangle

·       A fire needs three things:

fuel

oxygen

heat

·       Remove any of the three and the fire will extinguish

Types of fire

Class A fires

·       Involve ordinary combustible materials such as:

wood 

cloth

paper

rubber

And many plastics

·       Water is used to cool the burning material below its ignition temperature

·       Leave a residue in the form of as

Types of fire

Class B fires

·       Involve flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as:

Gas

Oil

Mineral spirits

Alcohol

Grease

Hydraulic fluid

·       Smothering or blanketing effect of oxygen is the most effective methods of extinguishing

Types of fire

Class C fires

·       Involve energized electrical equipment such as:

Transformers

Household appliances

Generators

·       These fires can sometimes be controlled by a non-conducting extinguishing agent such as:

Halon

Dry chemical

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

Types of fire

Class D fires

·       Involve combustible metals such as:

Magnesium

Titanium

Aluminium

·       Special dry powder extinguishing agents are required and must be tailored to the specific metal

·       Shooting a stream of water onto a Class D fire may result in an explosion

Types of fire

Class K fires

·       Involve cooking oils or fats

·       Burn hotter than typical combustible liquids rendering a standard Class B extinguisher ineffective

·       Extinguished by a wet chemical extinguisher that converts the burning substance to a non-combustible soap

Types of extinguishersDifferent types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire.

The 3 most common types of fire extinguishers are:

·             Water 

·             Carbon Dioxide

·             Dry Chemical

Types of extinguishers Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers

·    Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust separating the fuel from the oxygen in the air

·    The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire making them very effective at putting out fire

Types of extinguishers

Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers

ABC extinguishers are red and range in size from 5 to 20 lbs

·    “ABC” fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder composed of mono ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate

·    The extinguishers are pressurized with nitrogen

·    A 5 lb dry chemical fully discharges in about 20 seconds

Using a fire extinguisher

·    Remember the acronym PASS

·         Pull

·         Aim

·         Squeeze

·         Sweep

Most importantly…stay calm!

Fire Fighting

Pull the pin

·   This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher

Fire Fighting

Aim at the base of the fire not the flames

·              To put out the fire, you must extinguish the fuel

Fundamental Rules

Do not endanger yourself or others when attempting to put out a fire

Put the powdery stuff on the red stuff

Life beats property every time, never trade a life for property

Know where your team mate is

Know and discuss emergency procedures during the Tailgate Meeting

In the event of a turbine fire, do not be the hero,

 just get out

Always position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire

Final thoughts

Fire prevention should be included in your everyday life

Take fire prevention home with you

Do you have a fire extinguisher at home?

Do you know where your fire extinguisher is and is it properly charged?

Can you get to your fire extinguisher in the event of a fire?

Do you have smoke alarms at your residence?  Have they been tested and batteries changed?

Do you, and your family, know what to do in case of a fire?

Fire Prevention

General Requirements

If required:

·           The employer should provide portable fire extinguishers and should mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury

mounted extinguisher

is blocked with 

maintenance items

General Requirements

·         Only approved portable fire extinguishers should be used

General Requirements

·           Assure that portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times except during use

Selection and distribution

·           Provide portable fire extinguishers provided for employee use 

·           Are selected and distributed based on the classes of anticipated workplace fires and on the size and degree of hazards affecting their use

Selection and distribution

·           Distribute portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class A fires so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 75 feet 

Selection and distribution

·           Distribute portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class B fires so that the travel distance from the Class B hazard area to any extinguisher is 50 feet 

Selection and distribution

·           The employer should distribute portable fire extinguishers used for Class C hazards on the basis of the appropriate pattern for the existing Class A or Class B hazards

Selection and distribution

·           Distribute Class D portable fire extinguishers so that the travel distance from the combustible metal working area to any extinguishing agent is 75 feet

Selection and distribution

·           Portable fire extinguishers for Class D hazards are required in those combustible metal working areas where combustible metal powders, flakes, shavings, or similarly sized products are generated at least once every two weeks

·           Portable extinguishers or stand pipe hose should be visually inspected monthly

Inspection, maintenance and testing

·           Portable fire extinguishers are required to receive an annual maintenance check. 

·           The employer should record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry