KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Maritime Studies

Fire 1
1

Total loss of vessels as a result of the fire

other fire and explosion

10% 20%
22%
weather
collision
14%

18% 16%
machinery aground

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 The Dangers of Marine Fires

1. The nature of the place (presence of flammable

materials and sources of heat or naked flames in
close proximity).

2. Lack of extinguishing mediums except sea water.

3. Persons cannot be kept away from fire except in

total evacuation.

4. Lack of qualified personnel like fire brigade

personnel on land.

Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations for maritime safety

are governed by the Safety Of Life At Sea,
better known as SOLAS.

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 Rules and Regulations

The national maritime authorities, and

classification societies may require additions
to SOLAS requirements.

Rules and Regulations

The three governing bodies for the safety of

life at sea are:

 SOLAS Convention

 National Maritime Authorities

(The Flag State)

 Classification Societies

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 What is fire?
Oxidation

Oxidation process is a chemical process in which the

material combine with oxygen, and during this process,
energy is usually released in the form of heat, and the
process of the fire is only a quick oxidation process
which unite burning material by very fast rate with
oxygen and produce heat and light
7
we can sense it.

States of Matter

The three states of matter are:

 Solid state
 Liquid state

 Gas state

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 States of Matter

The occurrence of the oxidation process must be

material particles are completely surrounded by
molecules of oxygen but the material particles in the
solid and liquid states completely detached and need
for more energy to go and so the material in gaseous
or vapor condition is only able to carry out the process
of oxidation and combustion.
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General Definitions
1. Flammability
2. Flash Point
3. Ignition Point
4. Spontaneous Combustion (SIT)
5. Self-Ignition Point
6. Flash-Over Temperature
7. Flashback
8. Oxidizing Materials
9. Back-Draft Explosion
10. Explosion
10 11. Detonation

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 Flammability
Non–Combustible Material are:
the material that does not burn or emitting fumes
inflamed in sufficient quantities enough for its self-
ignition when heated up to about 750°C.

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Non – Combustible Material

750 °c

Combustible Material

23 °c
Flammable Material
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 Flash Point

Is the lowest temperature at which a

liquid gives off sufficient gas to form a
flammable gas mixture near the surface
of the liquid.
It is measured in the laboratory in
standard apparatus using a prescribed
procedure

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Flash Point

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7
 Examples of Flash Point for some liquid

Liquid Flash Point (°C)

Ether Below -40

Gasoline Below -30

Petroleum +35 / +55

White spirit +40

Diesel oil Above +60

Lube oil Above +100

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Ignition Point

The temperature at which a product will give

sufficient vapour that can be ignited and will
continue to support combustion after the
application of an outside source of ignition.

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8
 Examples of Ignition Point
Physical condition Material Temp. (°C)
Acetylene 305
Hydrogen 560
Gas Methane 595
Carbon 650
monoxide
Diesel oil 220
Petroleum 230
Liquid Gasoline 250
Methanol 455
Wood 200 – 400
Solid Material Paper 185 – 350
Coal 250 - 350

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Spontaneous Combustion (SIT)

Is the ignition occur as a result of the activity

of molecules of the material and its ability to
evaporation form a risky mixture of vapor
material and oxygen and occur union process
and oxidation which leads to higher the
temperature (reaction product) which
increases the rate of evaporation and
oxidation until the material reaches the self
ignition point.
.

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9
 Spontaneous Combustion (SIT)

Ignition of a substance, such as oily rags or hay, caused

by a localized heat-increasing reaction between the
oxidant and the fuel and not involving addition of heat
from an outside source.
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Self-Ignition Point

is the lowest temperature at which the

material will released an amount of vapor
combine with the oxygen in the air form a
risky mixture which able to start a self-
ignition without a source of ignition.

Self-ignition temperature range of 149 ºC

to 538 º C.

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10
 Flash-Over Temperature
Flashover is the sudden involvement of a room or an area in flames from
floor to ceiling caused by thermal radiation feedback
Flashover occurs when the majority of the exposed surfaces in a space are
heated to their a self-ignition temperature and emit flammable gases .
Flashover normally occurs at 500 °C for ordinary combustibles.

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Flashback

Is the fire occur due to the burning of the

flammable material trace at a point away
from the source then the flame return back
to the source through the trace

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 Oxidizing Materials
Are the materials that release oxygen as a
result of the interaction when heated and
interact with other substances and this
materials include hypochlorite and chlorate and
nitrate and chromate such as sodium,
potassium, magnesium and titanium, each of
them carrying a sufficient quantity of oxygen to
support combustion, and are emit oxygen also
when the substance disintegrate as in the case
during combustion. Therefore it is difficult to
extinguish the fires, but these materials using
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dry powder.

Back-Draft Explosion
Is the explosion occur when the place of fire closed
for the purpose of starving, and the heat temperature
is high (up to 1000 ° C), and less oxygen ratio under
the combustion limit (less than 10%) and the material
reach only smoking stage (Smouldering) if the
availability of oxygen as a result of ventilation the
explosion of so-called Back-Draft Explosion happens.

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 Back-Draft Explosion

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Explosion

is the ignition coupled with strong pressure ,

temperature and light, and a rapid develop
of double ignition occur as a result of the
presence of the substance in the fragmented
situation and the presence of a sufficient
amount of oxygen

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 Detonation
If the develop of ignition rate has become
bigger than the sound speed, at this moment
a Pressure wave generated which cause heat
compression wave at the front of the wave
that caused the ignition.
The pressure of explosion reach up to 150,000
bar and the rate of spread of the ignition of
more than 6 km / second.

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The Chain Reaction

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 Quick response is the most important
action when fighting a fire!

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The fire Triangle

In order for there to be a fire , there has to be an
unbroken chain reaction between three components:

 Combustion material
flammable material to emit vapor and ignite

 Oxygen
To combine with the material vapor and done
oxidation process

 Heat
To raise the temperature of the flammable material
30 to Ignition temperature.

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 The fire Triangle

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The Combustion Process

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 Fire Fighting
If any side of the fire triangle
is missed, the fire can not happen.

If the fire occurred and one side of the fire

triangle is removed, the fire should die.
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Remove the Heat

Cooling

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 Cooling

Cooling is the most suitable method for

extinguishing a fire of class A

Class A
Relatively low flash point
Water spray is the best method of extinguishing
Fairly easily cooled below flash point
Temperature must be reduced to below ignition
point.
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Cooling

Cooling is the most suitable method

extinguishing a fire of class A

Temperature must be reduced below ignition

point.

 wood
 cloth
 paper
 rubber
 many plastics
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 COLLING

COLLING

Cap. M. Abd
Elmonem

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 COLLING

Remove the Oxygen

Smothering

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 Smothering
There is approximately 21% oxygen in the
atmosphere and combustion will begin to
diminish for most products when the oxygen
content is reduced to about 14%.
The fire will die out when the oxygen content is
reduced to 12%.
CO2 and Foam extinguishers are usually
considered to be the most effective at
reducing the amount of oxygen.
CO2 is often available in central systems but one
should be aware of danger of suffocating the
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fire fighter.

Smothering

21
Smothering

Smothering

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 Remove the combustion material
Starving

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Starving
The fire will extinguish when the burning
material is removed or the supply of fuel is
cut off.

The practice on board ship

 Throwing the burning material over board
 Closing valves to stop the supply of oil or
gas

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 Starving

Breaking Chain Reaction

Fire is a chemical reaction between combustible

material vapor and oxygen.
Once you break the sequence of the process of the
chemical reaction of the fire, the fire can be
extinguished quickly.
Some substances contribute toward reducing this
reaction, this substances is called inhibitors.
These materials are attacking the molecular structure
of the material formed during the chemical fire
during a rapid sequence and that is affecting the
ability of the flame production.
Halon and dry powder break the chain reaction.

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 Fire Fighting Terms
Cooling:
is the process of depriving the fire of heat,
e.g. by applying substance such as water
that will absorb heat from the fire and
thereby reduce the fire’s temperature below
the critical level needed to sustain the fire.

Smothering:
is the process of depriving the fire of oxygen
needed to sustain the combustion process

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Fire Fighting Terms

Starvation:
is the process of depriving the fire of fuel i.e.
combustible materials.

Interference:
is the process of applying extinguishing agents
to the fire that inhibit the chemical reaction at
the molecular level.

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 Explosive Limits

Too-Lean Condition

Too- Rich Condition

Explosive Range

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Explosive Limits
A hydrocarbon gas mixture and air cannot be
ignited and burned unless its composition lies
within a range of gas-in –air concentration ,
known as the “ Flammable Range ” or “
Explosive Range ”
The lower limit of this range is known as Lower
Explosive Range (LEL) or Lower Flammable
Range (LFL)
This level means that hydrocarbon
concentration has an insufficient amount of
hydrocarbon gas to support and propagate
combustion.
52 The mixture is “ Too Lean ”

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 Explosive Limits
The upper limit of this range is known as upper
Explosive Range (UEL) or upper Flammable
Range (UFL)
This level means that hydrocarbon
concentration has an insufficient amount of
air to support and propagate combustion.
The mixture is “ Too Rich ”.

Between these two areas, the mixture is

flammable and results in a fire or explosion,
if ignited.

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Explosive Range ( UEL – LEL) B

15 F

D (UEL)
HC % 10

E
E

H
C (LEL)
A
0 11 21

54 Oxygen %

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 Explosive Range ( UEL – LEL)

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MIXTURE
ABOVE UPPER Explosive LIMIT - Too (over) RICH

BELOW LOWER Explosive LIMIT - TOO LEAN

Explosive Limits
(Percentage Volume of Hydrocarbon in air)

GAS UPPER LIMIT LOWER LIMIT

Methane 14.0 5.3

Ethane 12.5 3.0

Propane 9.5 2.2

Butane 8.5 1.9

Pentane 7.8 1.5

Hexane 7.5 1.2

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57

Explosive Range for some petroleum products

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 Heat Spread
When a fire occurs, heat is transported to all
neighboring, and set fire to combustible
material.

The heat spread upwards in seconds, sideways

in minutes and downwards in hours.

The spread of heat may be divided into 3

processes:
Heat Conduction
Heat Radiation
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Heat Convection (Heat Flow)

Heat Conduction
Heat Conduction is a process in which the heat
is spread from one molecule to another
molecule.

The closer the molecules are, the faster the

material conducts.

Metal = Good heat conduction

Gas = Poor heat conduction

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 Heat Conduction
the conduction Is a heat
transfer through the
molecules of material,
Heat can reach from cargo
hold to another by
conduction

by cooling the surfaces

surrounding the fire using
a water spray can disable
and stop the spread of fire

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Heat Radiation
Heat Radiation is a process of emitting heat
waves.
This heat can be absorbed by other objects at a
distance .
In some cases combustible material can
absorbs so much heat that it ignites.

Solids can ignite when exposed to large

amount of heat radiation, gases do not.

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 Radiation
The heat transfer from its
source through the vacuum.
Heat transferred from its
source in straight lines and
when hat a body it will absorb
or reflect it, When the body
absorb the heat , the body
temperature will rises and
therefore the body is emit a
vapors and ignites.

So you have to wear the

protective clothing when
approaching a place of the
fire also the water spray
reduces the effect of radiation
emanating from the fire heat.
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Heat Convection
Heat Convection or Heat Flow
is a process in which warm or heated
molecules start moving.

The warm molecules are lighter than cold

molecules and will therefore rise.

Because of this, it is important to avoid heat

flow through ventilation ducts….etc

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 Heat Spread

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Convection

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 Classification of Fire

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Types of Fires

Fires Are Classified

by the type FUEL
they burn.

The 4 Types are

 Class A

 Class B

 Class C

 Class D

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 Class AA Fires

Wood
Paper
Plastic
Rags

Class B Fires
Gasoline
Oil
Grease
Paint
Stalin
Propane
Peotone
Natural

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Class C Fires
Electrical Fires

 Office Equipment
 Motors

 Switchgear

 Heaters

Class D Fires
Metals

 Potassium
 Sodium
 Aluminum
 Magnesium

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 Classification of Fire

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Fire Classes
A Trash Wood Paper C Electrical Equipment

 wood
 cloth • energized
 paper electrical
 rubber equipment
 many plastics

• gasoline COMBUSTIBLE • magnesium

B Liquids Grease
• oil • sodium
• grease • potassium
• tar • titanium
•

•
oil-based
paint
lacquer
D •
•
zirconium
other
flammable
• flammable METALS metals
gases

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Fire Classes (cont.)
CLASS K FIRES

K Cooking Media • Recently recognized by NFPA 10.

• Fires involving combustible

vegetable or animal non-
saturated cooking fats in
commercial cooking equipment.

methods for extinguishing a fire

Whatever the type of fire that you face does not allow
for a fire to stands between you and exits to escape

Type of fire Combustible materials Best extinguishing agent

Class "A” Cloths – paper - wood Water

Class "B” Flammable Liqids Foam

Class "C” Electrical Fires CO2

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Class "D” Metals Fires Dry Powder

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 More than one type of fire
together in the same place
A & B Fire type
Water spry – Foam – CO2 in the closed spaces

A & C Fire type

CO2 – Dry Powder

B & C Fire type

CO2 – Dry Powder
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Extinguishing Agents

Water
CO2
Foam
Dry Powder
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 Water
Water is the best agent for cooling and heat
reducing for the following reasons:∙
 Water is always available to ships from the
sea.

 Water has high inherent temperature, so it

needs a large amount of heat to raise water
temperature.

 Water temperature cannot be raised above

100°C under the normal atmospheric
79 pressure.

Water
 When the water absorbs heat, it’ll form
water vapor which expands to 1,700 of its
size to the size of a liquid .
Vapor will fill the space instead of oxygen
and that will help in smothering the fire.

 Water is non-toxic and safe to use in many

types of fires.

 Water can be directed from a distances.

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

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 Disadvantages of water
agent on ships
 Some materials burn if contacted with water, such as
sodium and potassium.

 Seawater spoil the cargo near the scene of the fire

especially food.

 Water helps the corrosion of iron and copper and

cause damage to electrical equipment.

 Salt water does not dry quickly and leave remnants of

salts.
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Disadvantages of water
agent on ships
 The effect of seawater on fires molasses (treacle) is
very dangerous; it produces toxic vapor when mixing
with sea water.

 Acids concentration reduces by adding water slowly

but if the water was allowed to flow or rush to acids
(especially sea water), it cause heat raising and
growling and then produce toxic gases.

 If the water contact with carbide material, that will

produce explosive and flammable gases and high
temperatures.
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 Disadvantages of water
agent on ships
 If the water sprayed on the fire rising from the coal or
alcohol, the rising steam from them must Discharge
quickly because it has a flammable and explosive
gases.

 If a drop of water entered into the hot oil, it turns to

steam and this rapid expansion can lead to the spread
of fire and the use of water in the form of direct jet
nozzle, it helps to increase the expansion area of the
burning oil fire

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submerge a Cargo hold or tank by

water
It may be forced to submerge a burning
cargo hold or tank as a means to extinguish
the fire in it.
When using this method the following
considerations must be taken into account:

Submerge of the upper parts of the ship such as the
middle decks reduce the stability of the ship because
it represents excessive weights above the ship’s
center of gravity.


Submerge a place outside of the center longitudinal
line will cause the ship tend to list to one side.
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42
 submerge a Cargo hold or tank by
water

Submerge low place of the ship under its center of
gravity increases the stability, but creates a free
surface.


All types of Submerge reduce the ship’s buoyancy
and her floatation and create a free surface and this
decreases the stability.


If ship stability reaches zero or negative stability,
she will list to one side and if the fire area in the
higher side of the ship, the fire will spread to that
part, and if increased the water used to fight the fire
then the ship may capsize.
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submerge a Cargo hold or tank by

water

If the burning material is oil or oil liquid, the oil
submerge method is not suitable at all, because the
Burning oil will float
above the water surface and burn the upper parts of
the tank.


If the fire extinguisher by submerge method, the
water suction cause problems because the suction
arrangement inside the cargo hold normally blocked
and filled by cargo materials, and
if using portable vertical pump, practically, the
pump does not suction from a depth of more than
7.6 meters so must therefore be lowered into a
86 cargo hold or the tank.

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 A free water surface will impair
the stability of the ship

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 Extra scuppers and drainage
is required on the ro-ro deck

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 Fire fighting is causing a list
because of free water surfaces

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Successful fire fighting ?

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 Carbon Dioxide

Advantages
1. CO2 is Heavier 1.5 times than air and settles on the base of
fire. because of CO2 weight and the pushing into cargo hold
bottom or into the burning place its effect will increase and
by the continuous pushing the air will force to go up.

2. CO2 is an inert gas so it does not burn and smothering the fire
very effectively.

3. CO2 spreads in all directions and isolates the air, so it reduce

the amount of oxygen and extinguish the fire.

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Carbon Dioxide

Advantages

4. CO2 do not spoil the cargo and be suitable for most types of
fire except that release oxygen during Combustion (class D).

5. CO2 does not conduct electricity and does not cause rust.

6. when flooding expands 450 times than the volume of liquid.

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 Carbon Dioxide

Disadvantages:

1. CO2 inherent temperature is relatively low and therefore its

cooling effect is limited.

2. CO2 is a suffocating gas, so need evacuating for the place

before using it.

3. CO2 has heavy weight because it is store in a liquid state, so

the portable CO2 extinguisher is limited in size

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Carbon Dioxide

Disadvantages:

4. CO2 is flooding to the place of fire and when CO2 ratio of 30%
to 40% of oxygen, the fire does not continue Ignition

5. it is not recommended to use of steam and carbon dioxide

together in the fire because the carbon dioxide enters cargo
hold with low temperature and the steam will higher its
temperature and reduces its effect

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 Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is used efficiently to

extinguish these fires:

1. extinguish the fire of oil and grease.

2. Electrical and electronic equipment such as motors,

generators and navigational equipment and the computer.

3. Hazardous materials or semi-hazardous solid such as plastic

except that contains its own oxygen.

4. Machinery spaces and Engine room and paint stores.

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The use of Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is used efficiently to

extinguish these fires:

5. Cargo holds when they are fitted with a fixed installation

system

6. Ship’s Galley

7. The places contain expensive cargo

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 Contraindications carbon dioxide use

 Carbon dioxide is not effective when used with materials

containing its own oxygen, such as sodium, magnesium, and in
fact, when carbon dioxide is used in the magnesium fire it reacts
with the magnesium produce carbon and oxygen and
magnesium oxide, so the fire will be saturated with a new
oxygen and carbon as new flammable material.

 In order to be fully effective when using gas to extinguishing

fires in open areas, the fire-fighting must be with the wind
direction and be control at low-level and in sweep motion for
the whole place of the leak and fire.

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The possibility of re-ignition

 Carbon dioxide cooling capabilities are limited compared with
water and so when used must be used with another agent for
cooling, but if there were electrical equipment with electricity,
another non-conductor agent is used with carbon dioxide

 When carbon dioxide is used to flood a fire sector, must not

allow to the air to inter to that sector and use of water to cool
the place from the outside. If the sector was opened before the
fire completely extinguished and cooled the place will reignite
of explosive

100
.

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 Foam

101

Foam
A cover of the bubbles, which extinguishes the fire mainly by
smothering or isolate the air and can be produced chemically or
mechanically

Chemically:
Aluminum sulphate solution in the presence of a balanced
agent such as soap and as a result of a chemical reaction a
bubbles are obtained containing carbon dioxide and foam are
formed eight times the size of the solution

Mechanically:
Mixing compounds in the form of protein powder materials
from hooves, blood, water, air resulting of bubbles of foam.
The stocks of chemical foam can damage and decreases in
performance, so it needs to be tested
102
and re-charging if require.

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 Foam

The expansion ratio

 Chemical Foam, about 7 to 16 times the size of foam solution

used

 Mechanical Foam, shall be 1 : 150 ratio of the volume of foam

solution

 In case of high expansion Foam, shall be 1: 1000 ratio of the

volume of foam solution

103

The advantages of using foam in

firefighting
 Effectively smothering agent and has a cooling effect on the fire.

 The foam form isolating cloud works to stop the rising of the
flammable vapors and thus limit the flame spread to the
surrounding areas.

 Contains water so it can be used in some class A fires

 It is effective in extinguishing oils fires as it is lighter than oil

and flammable liquids

 It can be produced from fresh water or salt water or heavy water

or Light water.

 Foam solution is not heavy and therefore its equipment does not
take a large space.
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 The disadvantages of using foam in
firefighting
 Because it contains water, it is not allow for use in Electricity
fires (Class C)

 such as water cannot use Foam in metal fires(Class D).

 Foam quantities on board ship are limited.

 Quickly damaged with time and should therefore be checked

periodically to make sure the continuation of its validity.

 When using the Foam in flammable liquid, it should sprayed

lightly and without pressure so as not to spread the fire or aim
the foam jet to a vertical surface near the fire so where the foam
flowing from it to the fire and extinguish it.
105

Dry Powder
Are chemicals in the form of powder

Types of dry chemical powder:

(1) Sodium bicarbonate

It is the most commonly used type because it
is economical and easy to obtain.

(2) Potassium bicarbonate

it is more expensive than sodium bicarbonate,
it is effective in extinguishing fires containing
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liquid fuel.

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 The advantages of using Dry
Powder in firefighting
The use of chemical dry powder:
∙ inflamed oil and grease.
∙ Electrical equipment.
∙ Galley and all outlets ventilation.
∙ machinery spaces and paint stores.

The advantages of using powder:

∙ it is not conductors of electricity.
∙ extinguish the fire by more than one way, such as smothering
and stop the chain reaction.

Disadvantages of using powder:

∙ accumulate on burned surfaces composed of burnt layer which
cannot be removed.
∙ expensive price and quick damage.
107

International shore
connection

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 International shore connection specifications

Dimension Description
Outside
178 mm
diameter
64 mm Inside diameter
Bolt circle
132 mm
diameter
4 holes 19 mm in diameter spaced equidistantly
on a bolt circle of the above diameter, slotted to Slots in flange
the flange periphery
Flange
14.5 mm minimum
thickness

each of 16 mm diameter, 50 mm in length Bolts and nuts

109

Connection to the ships fire main line

with international shore connection

110

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