CSE376 SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Lecture 7 – Fire (Explosion )

Protection and Prevention

Learning Objectives
 To understand the general principles of fire safety.
 To understand the technologies for the fire control in
work environment. 1

FUNDAMENTAL OF FIRE

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 Fire Triangle
Fuel
• Gas or vapor within certain
limits of concentration , mist,
dust of combustible materials

Oxygen
• Air, oxidizing agent, chlorine

Ignition source
Three elements of Fire • Flames, sparks, self heating
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FIRE DAMAGE:
 Loss of life
 Burns by heat
 Shock by explosion
 Intoxication by poisonous gases
 Loss of properties/ property devaluation
 Loss or interruption of production
 Loss of man-hours due to sick leave
 Raised insurance premium
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Control of Fire
Extinguish a Fire
1. Removal of Fuel (Starvation)
2. Removal of heat (Cooling)
3. Removal of oxygen (Smothering)
4. Inhibit the chemical reaction in the flame by
the use of an agent (Interrupt)

Control of Fire
Control
1. Atmospheric control: adjust the concentration
of fuel and oxygen to give a non-flammable
mixture.
2. Elimination of ignition source (not always work
due to spontaneous ignition possibility,
presence of oxidizing agents, dense vapor could
sink and spread to distance ignition source).

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 FIRE PROTECTION
“Fire Protection” is defined as the design features, systems or
equipment in a building, structure or other fire risk, to reduce
danger to persons and property by detecting, extinguishing or
containing fires.
 Means of escape
 Structural fire precautions
 Smoke control
 Fire services installations
 Fire inspections/maintenance
 Training and fire drill 7

MEANS OF ESCAPE
 Designed based on the probable behavior of fire.
 Assume fire starts at one point, spread through
doorways, corridors, stairways and any other
openings.
 Primary danger in early stages is the smoke and
toxic gases.
 Early stage
 Second stage: horizontal spread
 Third stage: vertical spread
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FIRST PRINCIPLES: PROVISION OF
ALTERNATE MEANS OF ESCAPE
 The speed of travel of persons escaping from a fire to a place of
safety is assumed as 12 m/min. This speed is considerably slower
than a normal walking pace, but takes account of the loss of
mobility that can occur in the vicinity of fire and smoke.
 Escape from a room is based on a flow rate of 40 persons per
minute per unit width of the exit of 0.530 m. Travel distances are
based on an evacuation time of 2.5 minutes to a place of safety (in
HK, it is the stairway).
 A place of safety can be a final exit, a separate compartment with
alternative exits, a protected stairway, a protected lobby adjoining
a stairway or, for a limited period of up to 5 minutes, a protected
corridor. 9

THE FIRST PHASE: THE EARLY STAGE OF FIRE

 Small rooms: the number of occupants will be so small and
the distance to the doorway so short that there is little risk
that the occupants will not be able to escape through a
single
 Large rooms: there is always a risk of confusion should a fire
break out because of the greater number of persons who
may be involved. There is also a greater risk that a fire
breaking out within the room may trap some of the
occupants unless there is an alternative exit. For this reason
large rooms designed to accommodate over 60 persons
should have more than one exit.
 The size and number of exits should be adequate for the
discharge of occupants in a short time. 10
 CORRIDORS
 A serious situation may arise should a fire start in a
corridor, since it may not be detected before
smoke cuts off the escape route from nearby
rooms. For this reason corridors which serve any
room with only one exit should have wall and
ceiling lining materials of sufficient fire resistance.

exit exit

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CORRIDORS

exit exit

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AUDIO/ VISUAL ADVISORY SYSTEM

Visual flash light Exit sign

Audio alarm 13

THE SECOND PHASE: HORIZONTAL

SPREAD OF FIRE
Consider first a fire starting in a small room and spreading
from that room to a main corridor.
The occupants of the room in which the fire originates
should find no difficulty in escaping. However, there is a
risk that smoke may enter the corridor through the open
door in such quantities as to cut off the escape of
occupants of the other rooms.

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THE SECOND PHASE: HORIZONTAL
SPREAD OF FIRE
As a fire may break out in anyone of the rooms it is
desirable that escape should be possible along the corridor
in either direction. As a general rule, therefore, on all floors
above the ground floor, corridors should lead to at least
two stairways placed well apart.

exit exit

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ROOMS WITH ALTERNATE

DIRECTION OF ESCAPE
Maximum distance between smoke control/fire doors
across escape route is 30 m.
Maximum direct distance from any point to the nearest
protected stairway, protected lobby, separate compartment
or final exit is 30 m.
One door from any room should be within 18 m of the
nearest protected stairway, protected lobby, separate
compartment or final exit.
Additional smoke control doors will be required if the
length of corridor exceeds 30 m between separate fire
compartments, protected stairways or lobbies. 16
DEAD END CORRIDORS
 If escape along corridors should be possible in either
direction, stairways will be placed at the extremities of
corridors.
 Dead-end conditions should be avoided in the design of new
construction, but may be unavoidable in the context of the
adaptation or remodeling of existing buildings.

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DEAD END CORRIDORS

 Maximum direct distance to a room exit from any point in a
room is 12 m.
 Maximum number of persons in dead-end is 120.
 Minimum clear width of corridor to be 1.6 m.
 No room or area of high fire risk may be situated in a dead-
end.
 No room should contain an inner room.

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THE THIRD PHASE:VERTICAL SPREAD
OF FIRE
Stairway arrangement above ground floor level
When a fire starting in one room has spread along the corridor
and entered both stairways. Should occupants of the floor or
floors above react slowly, their escape routes to the ground will
be cut off by smoke and subsequently fire spreading up stairways
and other vertical shafts. In order to reduce this risk to a
minimum it is essential that stairways be protected as shown.

Bad

Good
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STAIRWAYS AND DEAD-END

Bad

Good

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 ALTERNATE ESCAPE ROUTES

Bad Good

Room A is dangerous.
Adding a fire door in the staircase allows room A to have an
alternate escape route.

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NO OF EXITS
• Exit widths of
standard single and
double internal
doors, based on an
evacuation rate of
40 persons per
minute for 2.5
minutes

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STAIRWAYS WIDTHS

Minimum clear width of stairways where there are 2 23

stairways

STRUCTURAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Limiting the use of combustible materials.
The use of fire resisting construction.
Restricting the spread of smoke and flame both on and
within the construction.
Precaution limiting the spread of fire from building to
building.
Usually the fire resistance requirement is between half
an hour to two hours.

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 STANDARDS OF FIRE RESISTANCE

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FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS

 Compartmentation concept
 Fire door
 Electro-magnetic door holder
 Fire shutter
 Fire curtain
 Smoke curtain
 Exit signs/ Directional exit signs

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PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION - STRUCTURAL

The structural fire protection is mainly achieved by enclosing areas (fire

compartments) with fire-rated structural elements such as walls,
doors, fire shutters and others. In case of fire, the fire-rated walls and
doors are able to contain the fire/smoke inside the compartment
without spreading to other areas within a certain period of time. This
will allow sufficient time for people inside the building to evacuate
safely to a place of safety.

Automatic
Door closing 27
device

Fire doors

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Electro-magnetic Door Holder

Fire doors must always be kept closed.

FSD allows FSI controlled fire doors.
Closed automatically when fire alarm activated.
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Electro-magnetic Door Holder

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VISUAL FIRE ALARM

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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Water Foam Dry Power Carbon Dioxide

Clean Agent

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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Mandatory inspection by registered contractor at least once a year.

Need to weigh the gas cartridge and content of FE.
Hydraulic test once every 5 years.
Stringent requirements and documentation on the annual
inspection. Read the FSD Fire Protection Notice NO. 11.
FIRE SERVICE (INSTALLATION AND EQUIPMENT)
REGULATIONS 1997.
Register contractors:
http://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/home/eng/source/FSIC_list_eng.pdf
Approved equipment:
http://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/home/eng/accep_eq.html 33

Proper use of fire extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher

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 FIRE BLANKET AND FIRE SAND

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Use of fire blanket

• Pull tapes to release

• Drape the blanket over the flames to seal off heat
• Switch off heat
• Leave in position until cool
Fire Blanket

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CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE:
 Europe
 Class A: Solid carbonaceous materials
 Class B: Flammable liquids or liquefiable solids
 Class C: Flammable gases or liquified gases
 Class D: Metal fires
 Electrical fires
 US
 Class A: ordinary combustible materials
 Class B: Flammable or combustible liquids or flammable
gases, greases and similar materials
 Class C: energized electrical equipment
 Class D: Specific combustible materials 37

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS’ APPLICATIONS

FE type Paper, textile, Flammable liquid, Electrical appliances, Metal
wood, plastic solvent, fuel, grease motor, switch, electronics

CO2 √ √

Water √

Powder √ √ √ √

Clean Agent √ √ √

Foam √ √

Blanket √

Sand √
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 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FE type Notes Typical size

CO2 Asphyxiate, withdraw to open air after 4.5 kg

use

Water Never for electrical equip or 9 liter

flammable liquid

Powder May reduce visibility 5 kg

Clean withdraw to open air after use 1 to 18 kg

Agent
Foam Never for electrical equip 9 liter

Blanket 1.2 m x 1.2 m 39

DON’T USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS…

 if you do not know how to use it.

 when you do not know what material is burning.
 when you have no route of escape.
 when the fire is out of control.
 Wrong type of FE make the fire worse.
 FE only put out small fire.

More details at 40
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/source/safety/File2012.pdf
 HOSE REEL

Hose
reel

Alarm Jet
Bell nozzle
Gate
Valve
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Breakglass unit

Hose reel
 Occupants can use hose reel to fight fire before firemen
arrived on site.
 One needs to break the breakglass unit / callpoint, not only
to sound the alarm, but also to switch on the fire pump so
that the hose reel get water supply.
 In the beginning of a fire, hose reel are fed from a local
water tank usually located next to the fire pumps.
 When firemen arrived, they will connect the street hydrant
to the FS inlet of the building, hose reel can have water
supply both from local tank and street mains.
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HOSE REEL SYSTEM
Priming
Tank

FS
FS Inlet
Pumps

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FIRE HYDRANT SYSTEM

 Fire hydrant is a mandatory FSI in all

buildings in HK. Only old buildings escape
this requirement.
 It is a big pipe usually installed in
stairways and is only used by firemen.
 Some old buildings still have dry fire
hydrant, ie they don’t have water tank and
water inside it at all. It got water only
when firemen connect the FS inlet to
street hydrants.
 Nowadays most of the hydrants are wet
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and integrated with hose reel system.
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FIRE PUMPS

FS Inlet
FS
Pumps
Duty and standby fire pumps 46
room
Use of hose reel

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SPRINKLER SYSTEM

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 SPRINKLER ACTIVATION

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Sprinkler System

 An automatic wet pipe system that detects the presence of

fire and fight fire using water spray.
 The pipes usually hang under ceiling or high place.
 Sprinkler pipes are normally pressurized and fitted with
sprinkler heads evenly distributed throughout the entire
area of protection.

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 Sprinkler System

 Sprinkler heads are thermal sensitive elements (such as

glass bulb or fusible metals). When the temperature of a
sprinkler head exceeded 68°C, the liquid inside the glass
bulb is over pressure and the bulb will burst releasing
water from the sprinkler pipe.
 The star shape metal plate help to distribute the water as a
spray for more efficient fire fighting.

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SPRINKLER SYSTEM

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 Explosion
Proof
Equipment

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FIRE PREVENTION

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FIRE PREVENTION

" Fire Prevention " is defined as the concept of preventing

outbreaks of fire, or reducing the risk of fire spreading and of
avoiding danger from fire to persons or property.
• Proper handling of flammable substances
• Proper handling of naked flames or work processes
• Proper maintenance of machinery /equipment
• Good housekeeping
• Proper maintenance of FSI / exit routes
• Fire drills / trainings
• Emergency plans 55

PROPER HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE

SUBSTANCES

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PROPER HANDLING OF NAKED FLAMES OR
WORK PROCESSES

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PROPER MAINTENANCE OF
MACHINERY/EQUIPMENT

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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PROPER MAINTENANCE OF FSI/EXIT

ROUTES

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FIRE ESCAPE ROUTE PLAN

C D

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Fire drill / training

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COMMON PROBLEMS OF FIRE SAFETY

Blocked Smoke detector 63

COMMON PROBLEMS OF FIRE SAFETY

Obstruction in common area

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COMMON PROBLEMS OF FIRE SAFETY

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Wedging open of fire doors

Action in case of FIRE

Emergency
prepareness

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 PolyU’s “Action in case of Fire”
(a) Do not panic;

(b) Sound the fire alarm by activating the break-glass

alarm switch in the corridor;
(c) If time permits phone the Campus Security Control Centre by dialing

2766 7999 (emergency line), or

2766 7666 / 2766 7177 (24 hours)
(d) Switch off power/fuel supply to machinery and plant;
(e) Close doors and lock up if time permits;
(f) Do not use the lifts, use the stairs and leave the building
as quickly as possible;
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(g) Do not return for valuables or for any reason until area is declared safe by
firemen or the Senior Facility Manager (FMO)

On Hearing Sounding of fire alarm

(a) Leave the building as quickly as possible and go

via the stairs to the ground level or to the podium
level and gather in the assembly point;
(b) Urge and assist other people in the building to
leave if necessary.

Only tackle the fire if you are absolutely

sure that danger is not imminent. Fire
hose reels and/or portable fire
extinguishers can usually be found in
corridors or lobbies. 68
 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS / PLANNING

1. To carry out fire hazard assessment for the Lab:

• Source of ignition, fire load, properties of
chemicals involved(e.g. toxicity/ fume / smoke)
2. To take measures to reduce fire
hazards as identified:
• Fire Protection Systems /
Equipment, periodic
inspections (using checklist
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to defects and remedy )

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS / PLANNING

3. To develop a good-for-the-lab procedures to be
taken in case of fire taking into consideration of
the specific activities to be carried out:
• Radiation, isolation of gas and electricity
supply
• High voltage equipment, extraction fans
4. To make sure everyone is aware of:
• Procedures to be taken in case of fire, escape route,
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• Use of first-aid fire fight equipment
MORE ABOUT FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS…

 Codes of Practice for

Minimum Fire Service
Installations and Equipment
and Inspection, Testing and
Maintenance of Installations
and Equipment [April
2012revision] (Current
Edition)
(Link:
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/fire_protec
tion/notices/code.html )

For prescribed ‘premises’

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MORE ABOUT FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS…

 A Guide to the Factories and Industrial

Undertakings (Fire Precautions in Notifiable
Workplaces) Regulations [January 2009 revision]
 This guide should be read in conjunction with
"A Guide to the Factories and Industrial
Undertakings Ordinance (Sections 6A & 6B)
which imposes general duties on proprietors
and persons employed with regard to the health
and safety at work in industrial undertakings.
(Link: https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/os/A/Fire_Eng.pdf )

For prescribed ‘notifiable Workplaces’

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 REGULATIONS
 Chapter 59V Factories & Industrial Undertakings (Fire Precautions In
Notifiable Workplaces) Regulations
 Chapter 59AB Factories & Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous Substances)
Regulations
 Chapter 95 Fire Services Ordinance
 Cap. 95F Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation
 Chapter 123 Buildings Ordinance
 Chapter 295 Dangerous Goods Ordinance
 Chapter 502 Fire Safety (Commercial premises) Ordinance
 Chapter 509A Occupational Safety an Health Regulation
 Chapter 572 Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance
 Chapter 573 Karaoke Establishments Ordinance 73

CONCLUSION
You should have learnt :
 Fire and related principals
 Control of fire during building design
 Fire Services Installations
 Fire drill, training
 Emergency preparedness

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