FIRE SAFETYNEBOSH Certificate

FIRE SAFETY - Aims to minimise consequences of firesPREVENTIONmake sure fires dont startPRECAUTIONSminimise the damage from firePROCEDURESaction to take in the event of fire

HAZARDS OF FIREflames and heattoxic/combustible smoke and gasesstructural failure of buildingsoxygen depletion

FIRE TRIANGLE - principles of combustion

Sources of fuelOXIDISING AGENTFLAMMABLE SOLIDFLAMMABLE LIQUIDFLAMMABLE GAS

SOURCES OF IGNITION - examplesRadiant or convected heat from heatersfrictionhot surfaces chemicalsparkssmoking

electricity [static or mains]internal combustion enginestools Flame

conductionconvectionradiationPrinciples of heat transmission and fire spread

Spread of fireConduction - spread of heat energy through solids;Convection - heat transfer through a fluid or gas, involving expansion and movement;Radiation - emission of heat energy through electromagnetic radiation in the infra-red part of the spectrum, which is then absorbed by matter to varying degrees

Extinction of fires Remove one element or more of fire triangle, by:starving it of fuel;smothering it to exclude oxygen;cooling it to reduce temperature.Fire-fighting revolves around these principles

Causes of firesArsondiscarded cigarettes and matchesfaulty plant & equipmentflammable liquids & materials storage & usehot processesheating appliancescombustible wastes

Arson accounted for 41% of the 43,600 fires that occurred in non domestic premises in 1999[source: Home Office]

Chart1

0.27

0.46

0.2

0.07

Fatalities by cause of death UK 1999

Sheet1

burns27%

overcome by gas and smoke46%

burns and overcome by gas and smoke20%

other7%

100%

Chart2

0.31

0.68

Causes of fires, Home Office 1999

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malicious41%

accidental59%

Sheet3

Art School molotovs

Elements of fire prevention and control

Interaction of fire legislation

The Building Regulations 1991: Approved Document B Fire safetyCovers means of escape; internal fire spread (linings and structure); external fire spread; access and facilities for the fire service.Requirements do not apply retrospectively, but will apply to new buildings, or modifications, etc to existing buildings

BS5588 parts 1 11Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings

Escape routes horizontal and verticalNumber of escape routesTravel distances within each storeyWidth of exits and escape routesNumber of persons per floorFire compartmentationFire resistance

BS5588-11:1997 Escape distances

Fire compartmentation in buildingslaboratoryclassroomofficeClassroom protected fromhigher fire risks in laboratory.Office and classroomsimilar level of risk no barrier.Fire escape route from various rooms areprotected.

Means of escape A route that can be followed by an occupant, unaided or without risk from fire, that will lead to safetyclear marking of route, H&Safety (Signs & Signals) Regs 1996 + BS 5499: 1990 Fire safety signs, notices and graphic symbols, parts 1 & 3

Escape [2]Calculated Time available for escape greater than Time needed for escapetime available calculated on assessment of time from fire start and its making escape route unsafe;time taken for everyone to evacuate once the fire has been discovered & warning given.More than one route - 25m(HR), 32m(Norm sleeping area), 45m(NR), 60m(LR);One route - 12m(HR), 16m(NR sleeping), 18m(NR except factories), 25m(incl. Factories), 45m(LR).

Escape [3]Protected and unprotected zonesEscape distances [18m hazardous processes, 45m offices]Fire compartmentsFire doors - self-closers, smoke seals, etc

Number & width of exits - Escape [4]There should be enough available exits of adequate width, from every room, storey or building. Adequacy is assessed on:doorways min. width 0.75m for upto 40 people/minute;doorways min. width 0.8m for wheelchair users;doorway min. width 1m for upto 80 people/minute;where more than 80 people/minute need to escape, the min. width should be increased by 0.075m for every additional 15 people.Calculate above on the people in the building divided by the time available for escape

Building fabric - Building Regs 1991, Approved Document B

0.5 or 1 hour fire resistance of doors, walls and ceilings materials from which escape routes constructed;Fire resistance of load bearing elements of structure;Compartmentation, to reduce spread of fire, complementary to construction of escape routes;Other - external fire spread, fire service access, ventilation

EVACUATION PROCEDURE - the recommended order of business1.evacuate the building by the fastest route2.sound the fire alarm3.call the fire brigade4.assemble at the designated location

FIRE DRILLSlegal requirementeffective means of escapetraining exercisepractice evacuating the building by the fastest route and use of assembly pointstest emergency proceduresrole of fire marshals to aid evacuation and prevent re-entry

Fire Precautions Act 1971All premises meeting certain criteria must have a valid fire certificate;hotels, boarding houses > 6 people, or bedrooms above/below ground floor;workplaces, ie. Factories, OSRP premises20+ in workplace at one time, or;10+ above ground floor, or;explosives or HFs stored or usedCert. Issued subject to adequacy of escape routes, alarm systems, fire fighting equipment, etc

Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regs 1997 (99)Require provision and maintenance of measures to detect, fight and warn of fires, ensure safe evacuationNow, with MHSWR, require FRAs for premisesRevising FRAs ensures steady improvement, and covers buildings not included in FPA 71 and fire certificates

Building management of fire risksGood housekeeping by those responsible for managing buildings is a combination of:Following fire risk assessment/Fire Certificate recommendations;Constructing compartments, fire escape routes, and installing fire detection and alarm systems as necessary;Reducing potential for fuels and ignition sources to mix;Maintaining readiness to evacuate safely through organising staff, instruction and training, conducting fire drills and reviewing performance of people and systems.

BS 5839, part1:2002 - Fire detection and alarm systems

Manual - ie. People, who trigger the alarm system by activating a break-glass

Automatic - detectors placed carefully and sensitive to heat, smoke or combustion products

BS5839 part 1: 2002 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildingsPurpose of fire alarm systems protection of life and property;System categories:MManual systems;L [1 5] incorporate automatic fire detection to some degree, for the protection of Life;P [1 2] incorporate automatic fire detection to protect Property.

Fire alarmsTriggered by automatic smoke or heat detectors or person activating a break-glassAudible warning, klaxon or bell (can also be visual [flashing lights] for deaf, or vibrating pagers for deaf/blind)can be shouting fire! or hand-bell in small premisesDetection & alarm systems to comply with BS5839: part 1

Classification of Fires - BS EN 2A - Free burning materials, paper, wood, plastics etc.B - Flammable liquids, petrol, meths, solvents etc.C - Flammable gases, methane, hydrogen etc.D - Metals, potassium, sodium, magnesium etc.Electricity can be involved in any class of fire

Water extinguishersRed bodySuitable for use on Class A Fires, wood and paper etc. Not suitable for combustible liquids, cooking fats etc. Not safe to use on fires involving electricity; Extinguishes by cooling

Foam extinguishersCream body (Old type) or Red Body with Cream label.Suitable for Class A and B Fires. Not suitable for use on firesinvolving electricity; Extinguishes by cooling and sealing thesurface of a burning liquid.

Powder extinguishersBlue body (Old type) or Red body with blue label.Best on Class B fires but safe to use on any type of fire.Works by chemically interfering with the combustion reaction

Carbon dioxide [CO2] extinguishersBlack body (Old type) or red body with black label (New type).Best on Class B and C fires but safe to use on any type of fire;Safe to use on fires involving electricity; Extinguishes by reducingoxygen levels and cooling.

Other fire fighting equipmentHose reelsFire blanketsAutomatic sprinklersCarbon dioxide/Halon systemsDrenchers

HFL & LPG Regs - definitionsHFLs - flashpoint (below 32o C) and combustibility. Test methods in schedules 1 & 2 of Regs.

LPG - commercial butane, commercial propane, or combinations thereof.

StorageSuitable fixed storage tanks in safe positions; suitable closed vessels in open air and protected from direct sunlight; or closed vessels in storerooms in safe position or fire resisting structure; or in workroom in fire resisting cupboard which is fire resisting structure.MarkingEvery storeroom, cupboard, bin, tank, and vessel used for storing HFLs should be clearly and boldly marked Highly Flammable or Flashpoint below 32oCWhere this is impracticable, such a warning is to be placed as near to storage as possible.

Precautions against spills and leaksConveyed through factory in vessels designed to prevent spills.Process use to be kept as low as r.p.Steps taken to prevent storage tanks from leaking.Spills should be drained off to a safe place.Sources of ignitionNo ignition sources shall be present where a dangerous concentration of vapours from hfls is expected to be present.

Example references:Fire Precautions Act 1971 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 [as amended] Building Regulations 1991, Approved Document B Fire Safety [not retrospective]BS5588 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings [parts 1-11]BS5839 pt 1:2002 Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings

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