CHAPTER 2

FIRE SAFETY & PREVENTION SYSTEM

Upon the completion of this course, students

should be able to:
Explain clearly the electrical and mechanical
system (CLO1, C5).
Adhere the safety procedures,rules and
regulations by authority in the building services
(CLO3, A5).

Fire is mainly caused due to three

factors:
Negligence.

Carelessness.
Sabotage.

Figure 2.1:
Fire Causes (1997 2002) in Carolina,

 Fuel can be any combustible material Solvents, gases &

solids.
Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they
FUEL

burn.
The
higher theoftemperature,
the easier and quicker they burn.
A component
air.
Oxidizers: Oxygen or other substances capable of releasing

OXYGE
N

oxygen to a fire.
Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent
oxygen.
Energy necessary to increase temperature of the fuel to a

HEAT

point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to

occur.

The heat simply travels in rays similar to sunrays, in straight lines

away from the fire.

o

The heat from the rays can be absorbed by combustible materials

which cause them to heat up and perhaps ignite.

The main principle of radiation is: the closer the material is to the fire
the more radiated heat it will receive.

This is the process in which thermal energy can transfer through a

solid or liquid that is under the influence of a thermal stress or
gradient.

In most building materials it is a molecular process by which thermal

energy can travel like a sound wave along a solid.

There are 3 modes of energy transfer possible:

Thermal conduction by atomic and molecular vibration.

Thermal conduction due to radiation.

Thermal

conduction

conduction).

due

to

mass

transfer

(gaseous

Figure 2.3:
Thermal conduction routes within a building structure

This type of heat transfer occurs only in liquids and gases.

The heat from the fire can heat the air, to a very hot temperature.

Hot air will always rise and it will flow under the ceiling of a room

spreading the heat from the fire.

o

This is the main way in which a fire spreads throughout a house.

When a fire is burning large amounts of hot gases and smoke are
produced.

These will travel through the house in hot air currents often igniting
more combustible materials causing the fire to spread.

Figure 2.4:
Radiation feedback from hot gas layer at ceiling to
combustible materials below

CLASS A
Fire that result from in ordinary combustible such as wood, paper, fabric
and other ordinary materials.
CLASS B
For fire involving flammable liquids such as petrol, oil, diesel, paint and
etc.
CLASS C
Fire caused by flammable gases such as butane, Methane and etc.
CLASS D
Class D fires involve flammable metals such as magnesium, aluminium,
titanium, sodium and potassium.
CLASS E
Fire involving electrical apparatus. Combustion of circuit breaker, wires,
outlets, and other electrical equipment.
CLASS F
Class F fires involve cooking fat and oil.

CLASS A Ordinary Combustible

CLASS B Flammable Liquid

Keep storage and working areas

Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly

free of trash. Place oily rags in

closed,

covered containers.

containers.

CLASS C Flammable Gases

Dont

refuel

gasoline-powered

equipment in a confined space,

especially in the presence of an

open flame such as a furnace or
water heater.
Dont

refuel

gasoline-powered

equipment while its hot.

self-closing,

spill-proof

Store flammable liquids away from

spark-producing sources.
Use flammable liquids only in wellventilated areas.

CLASS D Flammable Metals:

Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium generally take a very hot
heat source to ignite.
However, once ignited they are difficult to extinguish as the burning reaction

produces sufficient oxygen to support combustion, even under water.

CLASS E Electrical Equipment
Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report any
hazardous conditions to your supervisor.
Utility light should always have some type of wire guard over them. Heat from an
uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles.
Dont misuse fuses. Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the

circuit.
Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strange. Unusual
odors can be the first sign of fire.
Dont overload wall outlets. Two outlets should have no more than 2 plugs.

WATER

FIRE

FOAM

FIRE

EXTINGUISHER:

EXTINGUISHER:

The cheapest and most widely

More expensive than water,

used fire extinguishers. Only

but more versatile. Specially

Used for CLASS A fire.

used for CLASS A (liquid) &

DRY-POWDER FIRE

CLASS B (oil). Foam spray

EXTINGUISHER:

extinguishers

are

not

Used for CLASS A, B & C

recommended

for

fires

(Gases). Best for running liquid

involving electricity, but are

fires (Class B). Will efficiently

safer

extinguish Class C gas fires, but

inadvertently sprayed onto

beware coz can be dangerous to

live electrical apparatus.

extinguish a gas fire without first

isolating the gas supply.

than

water

if

CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER:

Mainly used for CLASS E

(electric) fire. Also suitable for

extinguish fire of CLASS B fire, but has no post fire security

and the fire could ignite.

WET CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER:

Is suitable for the following types of fires:
Class A Paper, textiles, wood, most plastics and
rubber
Class F Cooking oils or fats
METAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER:

A specialist fire extinguisher for use on CLASS D fire metal fires such as sodium, lithium, manganese and
aluminium when in the form of sward or turnings.

1.

Have a plan set in advance. All rooms in your house should have two
means of

2.

escape.

Draw a picture showing the escape routes for every room and explain it
to everyone.

3.

Upper floor windows should have hook-on fire escape ladders or rope
ladders.

4.

Assign one older person to be responsible for each child.

5.

Plan on a meeting place outside.

6.

Have practice fire drills every three months, especially if there are small
children or disabled persons in your home. Some of your drills should
take place at night.

7.

All members of the family should know how to call 911 to give the house
address and tell the person on duty that there is a fire.

1. Act immediately but stay calm. Wake up anyone who may still be
asleep, and shout, "Fire! Everyone out!" Don't waste time getting
dressed or searching for valuables. Once outside the house, do not go
back in.
2. Sleep with bedroom doors closed. Doors offer protection from heat
and smoke and slow a fire's progress. If in your escape you must go
from room to room, close each door behind you.
3. Feel every door before opening it. Place the back of your hand on the
crack between the door and the door frame; if it's hot, do not open the
door. Even if the door is cool, open it cautiously. Stay low in case
smoke or toxic fumes are seeping around the door. If heat and smoke

4.

If you use a window for your escape, be sure the door in the room is

closed tightly. Otherwise, the draft from the open window may draw
smoke and fire into the room.
5.

If you must go through smoke, crawl under it on your hands and

knees. However, do not crawl on your belly, because some heavier

toxic gases settle in a thin layer on the floor.
6.

If you are unable to escape from a room because of a fire on the

other side of the door, stuff clothing, towels, or newspapers in the
door's cracks to keep smoke out of your refuge.

7.

Remember "STOP, DROP, ROLL" if your clothing catches fire. The

moment it happens, stop where you are. Drop to the ground, and
cover your mouth and face with your hands to protect them from the
flames. Then roll over and over to smother the flames.

1. Learn your building's evacuation plans. Know the location of fire

alarms, and learn how to use them.
2. If you hear instructions on your building's public-address system, listen
carefully and do just as you're told.
3. Never take an elevator when leaving a burning building. Instead, go
directly to the nearest fire and smoke-free stairway.
4. If you cannot get to a fire stairway, go to a room with an outside
window.
5. If there is a working phone, call the fire department emergency number
and tell the dispatcher where you are.
6. Stay where rescuers can see you through the window, and wave a

7. If possible, open the window at the top and bottom. Be ready to shut
the window quickly if smoke rushes in.
8. You may need to be patient; the rescue of occupants of a high-rise

Figure 2.5:
An escape Route for single
storey building.

building can take several hours.

1. Property losses.
2. Human life death, injured, homeless, trauma, etc.
3. Government need budget for extra care on prevention fire, fire-

fighting equipment and replace a new residential area.