Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Rules of behaviour
Preface
Extinguishing agents
Fire spread
Breathing apparatus
Preventie
Functional leadership
Tactics
Dangerous goods
Fire investigation
Offshore supplement
Bibliography
ISBN 90-804788-2-2
Geproduceerd door / produced by: Computer Aided Presentations, Heenvliet, The Netherlands.
Extinguishing agents
FIRE FIGHTING AGENTS
The fire fighting principle is based on disturbing
the fire process.
This is possible by breaking down one of the
elements of the fire triangle:
Use of water
Extinguishing agents
The amount of water necessary to put out a fire is
approx. 4 l/min/m2.
To extinguish a Class A fire usually a spray type
nozzle will have a large enough effect to get the
highest cooling effect.
On liquids with a flashpoint > 29 C. water can be
used as extinguishing agent because the cooling
effect stops the discharge of gasses from the
product.
On liquids with a flashpoint < 23 C. water cannot
put out the fire.
The radiation of the flames can be limited however
by using a spray nozzle.
Cooling
Extinguishing agents
Disadvantages of the system are:
z Limited reach
z Relatively expensive
z Nozzle of portable system is extremely
dangerous
Foam
Extinguishing agents
Foam consists of 94 to 99% water.
This cools the upper layer of the liquid.
Extinguishing agents
Water soluble products will break down other
types of foam because the water from the foam is
absorbed by the product.
Alcohol resistant foam has a number of chemical
stabilizers which create, when the foam is
applied, a thick layer of polymers between the
product and the foam.
This foam is easy to recognise because the
viscosity is higher than with other types of foam.
Extinguishing agents
Carbon dioxide
Extinguishing agents
Halon
FM200
Working principle:
z Negative catalyst
z Concentration used is 7 9 %
z Storage capacity is low
Advantages of FM200:
z Low concentration needed to extinguish
z Not harmful to humans (as gas)
z Can be used on Class A, B and electrical
equipment
Disadvantages of FM200:
z Not environmentally friendly
z Gasses are harmful after contact with high
temperatures
Extinguishing agents
Fire spread
FIRE SPREAD
Fire spread is possible when there is sufficient
fuel and oxygen available.
Outdoors a fire mainly moves with the wind.
With flames and smoke heat and flammable
gasses will also be transported.
A fire can spread when nearby flammable sub-
stances in the direct vicinity are being heated up.
Heat transport
Combustible products
Fire spread
Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
(CO and CO2)
Hazardous gasses
Flashover
z Combustible products
z Dissection products
Fire spread
Ignition of gas is only possible when the concen-
tration of this gas, in air, is within certain levels and
thus has a certain mixture.
A flashover can only occur, within the limitations
of the explosive level.
The amount of combustible gas depends on the
intensity and type of fire process of the fire. The
amount of air depends on the ventilation in an
area.
Fire spread
Flashover indicators
Safety
Fire spread
Backdraft
Fire spread
This can still occur even when the fire is appar-
ently out and the compartment has cooled down.
Foam rubber, in particular, can smoulder for a long
time, producing flammable gasses. Whenever
flammable gasses remain in the compartment,
they can be ignited. Cold smoke explosions occur
in this way.
Fire spread
Actions by Fire fighters
Fire spread
BLEVE
BLEVE means:
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion.
Fire spread
The escape of product from a cylinder filled with a
compressed gas can be of great risk during a fire.
no
cool for half an hour
no
does the surface stay wet?
yes
no
is the cylinder cold?
Fire spread
Breathing apparatus & working in
a hot and humid environment
SAFETY WHEN USING BREATHING
APPARATUS
A breathing apparatus wearer brings him or
herself in potentially dangerous situations.
Smoke and heat can make tasks difficult and
they may also have to deal with stressful
situations such as searching for casualties, which
increase the problems.
After the OSC has briefed the fire team and given
them their task the OSC finally checks the team
members.
The OSC checks the fire team to ascert their
outfit is ok and if mask and regulator are properly
in place.
The OSC also checks the availability and working
of the flashlight, radio and fire hose.
The OSC finally checks and writes down the
pressure in the cylinder of each team member
before they go into action.
Strain
The use of air from the BA-set depends on a
number of factors: the intensity of the work, the
level of training, the level of fitness of the person
and the amount of stress that is apparent.
In order to calculate the amount of air that is
being used we use an average air consumption of
40 litres per minute. As a safety precaution 55 bar
of air is considered spare and is not being used.
The remaining amount is considered work
pressure. The amount for usage is calculated
with the following formula:
Start pressure cylinder spare pressure = work
pressure
Start pressure 300 bar spare pressure 55 bar =
work pressure 245 bar
Pressure on return
Hose
Safety line
Radio
Axe/master key
COMMUNICATION
Between team members
CASUALTIES
Alerting a casualty
Triage
Radiation
Vaporisation
Evaporation
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
Precautions
Construction
A-class division
B-class division
C-class division
F-class division
Preparation
Fire drill
Task needs
Individual needs
Functional leadership
Task functions
z Setting standards.
z Maintaining discipline.
z Building team spirit.
z Praising, motivating and giving a sense of
purpose.
z Ensuring communications within the group.
z Training the group.
Individual functions
Functional leadership
Planning
Functional leadership
When controling an operation special attention
must be given to the toxic atmosphere generated
as a result of the incident as this is a risk to
unprotected personnel.
The restarting of systems such as ventilation may
cause further problems i.e. re-ignition therefore
precautions must be taken.
Following the fire plans checks need to be made
for regularly checking the scene for re-ignition.
Briefing
Control
Supporting
Functional leadership
Informing
Evaluating
Decision making
Functional leadership
Delegate
Summary
Functional leadership
Tactics
COMMON TYPES OF FIRES AND
ASSOCIATED TACTICS
Small fires discovered in the early stages are
relatively easy to deal with by a member of the
crew using a small extinguisher. Speed, calm
approach and skill are all required by that person
to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Rescue
Tactics
Fire fighting inside the ship
Tactics
Attack is best made from the same level or from
below the fire, otherwise if forced to enter above
the fire, then the team will have to move through
the hot gases being produced.
In such a case the team needs to move quickly to
break through the heat barrier, and take care that
their escape route is not going to be cut off, if the
fire continues to grow.
An assessment should be made before
attempting to enter in such a fashion and first
begin with cooling the fire gases.
Remember that steam and hot gases may be
driven out onto the fire team; therefore the team
must stay low and to the side of the passage of
hot products until a difference in temperature is
noticed.
A back up hose line must be in place at the entry
point to safeguard the escape route of the team
working below.
Tactics
Horizontal ventilation is the means using natural
flow of the air across the ship. It can be more
difficult to control, however the basic procedure is
to provide an exhaust outlet for the hot gases on
the leeward side, a fraction in time before the
upwind inlet vent is opened.
Accommodation fires
Tactics
Engine room fires
Tactics
For CO2 total flooding systems the main
considerations are as follows:
z Stop ventilation.
z Close all doors, shutters and dampers.
Tactics
Boiler uptake fires
Cargo fires
Tactics
The other holds should also be monitored for
possible spreading through conduction. If safe
entry is possible to adjacent holds, removal of
goods away from the connecting bulkhead, or if
this is not possible cooling water should be
considered to prevent heat transfer.
Container fires
Tactics
Oil tankers and gas carrier fires
Tactics
Isolation of the gas line is the only sensible
solution. The use of fixed water spray systems
will cool the area surrounding the fire preventing a
possible BLEVE.
Check if the cooling system is effective and
supplement with extra cooling as necessary,
special attention must be given to flames
impinging on other vessels and surfaces.
The first reaction is to stop the leak manually.
Tactics
Dangerous goods at sea
DANGEROUS GOODS AT SEA
This chapter deals with the safe handling of
incidents involving hazardous materials, whether
as part of goods in transit, or hazardous materials
used in the normal operation of the ship.
Class 1 Explosives
Sub divisions:
1.1 Has a mass explosion hazard.
1.2 Has a projection hazard but not mass
explosion hazard
Class 2
Gasses (general)
Class 2.1
Flammable gases
Class 2.2
Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Class 2.3
Toxic gases
Class 3
Liquids (flammable liquids having a flash point of
ess than 61C)
Class 4
Solids
Class 4.
Flammable solids
(self-reacting substances and desensitized
explosives)
Class 4.2
Substances liable to spontaneous combustion in
contact with air
Class 4.3
Substances, which, in contact with water, emit
flammable gases
Class 5
Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
Class 5.1
Oxidizing substances
(oxidizing substances not necessarily
combustible but cause or contribute to
combustion of other material by giving oxygen)
Class 5.2
Organic peroxides
Organic peroxides are liable to exothermic
decomposition initiated by heat, contact with
impurities, friction or impact may have one or
more of the following characteristics:
z Explosive decomposition
z Burn rapidly
z React dangerously with other substances
z Sensitive to impact
z Cause damage to eyes
Class 6.1
Toxic substances
III
Solids > 50 - 200 > 200 - 1000 > 2 - 10
Class 6.2
Infectious substances
Class 7
Radioactive material
Class 8
Corrosive substances
By chemical action these substances will cause
severe damage to living tissue, damage or
destroy other goods or the means of transport.
Packing groups:
I Very dangerous.
(full thickness tissue damage with less than 3
min. exposure)
Class 9
Miscellaneous
In order to deal with an incident involving a
hazardous material, first the product has to be
classified, the appropriate product information
retrieved and the correct emergency schedule
from the IMDG identified.
Fire at Sea
Fire in port
Fire Investigation
The investigation begins at the initial reports of a
fire. The incident log details chronologically the
events and the actions, which will assist in the
compiling of the report or assist an investigator
from an external agency to build up a picture of
the course of events.
Every effort should be made to interview
witnesses as soon as possible after the incident;
this together with comparing different versions of
events will give the most accurate account.
Fire Investigation
The expert investigator
Fire Investigation
The report
Fire Investigation
Offshore supplement
INTRODUCTION
The production platform has many similarities to
an oil refinery, but the potential dangers are com-
pounded due to the limited space and the hostile
environment the sea presents.
DETECTION SYSTEMS
Gas detection equipment
Flame detectors
Offshore supplement
Smoke detection
Heat detectors
Offshore supplement
FIXED FIRE PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
Water protection systems
Offshore supplement
Foam Systems
Halon systems
Offshore supplement
STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION
Firewalls and load bearing members are passive
fire protection and give protection for a defined
time.
They protect against heat, smoke and flame for
the defined time indicated in the construction
design practices and SOLAS.
TACTICAL APPROACH IN
OFFSHORE FIRE FIGHTING.
Emphasis must be placed on the pre-determined
Contingency plan designed for the installation.
These plans are designed to quickly and safely
detect, control and extinguish the fire without
undue risk to the personnel.
Contingency plan
Offshore supplement
Fire fighting operations are coordinated with the
control room, which are systematically controlling
fuel flow to the fire or release using remote
operated shut down valves and/or emergency de-
pressurisation systems.
Gas releases
Offshore supplement