Module 3

Fire Prevention and Protection

Fire Triangle
The fire triangle or combustion triangle is a simple model for understanding the necessary
ingredients for most fires.
The triangle illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel, and an oxidizing agent
(usually oxygen). A fire naturally occurs when the elements are present and combined in the
right mixture. A fire can be prevented or extinguished by removing any one of the elements in
the fire triangle. For example, covering a fire with a fire blanket blocks oxygen and can
extinguish a fire. In large fires where firefighters are called in, decreasing the amount of oxygen
is not usually an option because there is no effective way to make that happen in an extended
area.
Fire Development and its Severity
Stages of fire Development
Ignition: Fuel, oxygen and heat join together in a sustained chemical reaction. At this stage, a fire
extinguisher can control the fire.
Growth: With the initial flame as a heat source, additional fuel ignites. Convection and radiation
ignite more surfaces. The size of the fire increases and the plume reaches the ceiling. Hot gases
collecting at the ceiling transfer heat, allowing all fuels in a room to come closer to their ignition
temperature at the same time.
Fully developed: Fire has spread over much if not all the available fuel; temperatures reach their
peak, resulting in heat damage. Oxygen is consumed rapidly.
Decay (Burnout): The fire consumes available fuel, temperatures decrease, fire gets less intense.
Fire Severity refers to the effects of a fire on the environment, typically focusing on the loss of
vegetation both above ground and below ground but also including soil impacts.
Effect of Enclosures
An enclosure fire has different burning characteristics and HHR profiles as it passes through
each stage of its life. The overall impact on the surroundings depends upon the integrated effect
of these characteristics during the life of the fire.
Fires can develop in many different ways depending on the availability of fuel and air. In newer,
more energy-efficient home construction, a fire often becomes ventilation-limited for a period of
time prior to its subsequent progression to a fully developed fire.
The heat release rate (HRR) in large scale room fire tests is affected by the enclosure. The
potential effects include radiative feedback from the hot gas layer, the heated walls and ceiling,
and obstruction of sufficient supply of fresh air into the test room. In very large spaces the effect
is insignificant, but in practice enclosures are usually small enough so that the increase of the
HRR is not negligible.

Early Detection of Fire

Early Fire Detection is a major element of disaster risk reduction. It prevents loss of life
and reduces the economic and material impact of disasters. To be effective, Early
Warning Systems need to actively involve the individuals at risk, facilitate staff
education and awareness of risks, effectively disseminate messages and warnings and
ensure there is a constant state of preparedness.
Classification of Fire
The 5 main classes of fires are categorized by what caused the fire or what the fire uses as fuel,
and are as follows:
Class A: solid materials such as wood or paper, fabric, and some plastics
Class B: liquids or gas such as alcohol, ether, gasoline, or grease
Class C: electrical failure from appliances, electronic equipment, and wiring
Class D: metallic substances such as sodium, titanium, zirconium, or magnesium
Class K: grease or oil fires specifically from cooking
Understanding the 5 different classes of fires can help you determine the biggest fire risks at your
facility, depending on the fuels and fire hazards present as well as how best to prepare in case of
a fire emergency.
Fire Extinguishers and Classification
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires,
often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one
which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard,
etc.), or otherwise requires the equipment, personnel, resources and/or expertise of a fire brigade.
Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an
agent that can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-
cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common.
No single extinguisher can be used to tackle every fire, and because each type of fire
extinguisher has different classes of fire on which it is effective, selection can be a minefield.
The first step is to look at what materials are present in the area to be protected from fire. These
can be divided into six categories of fire involving different substances:
Class A, combustible carbon-based solids eg paper, wood or textiles
Class B, flammable liquids eg paraffin, petrol, diesel or oil (but not cooking oil)
Class C, flammable gases, eg butane, propane or methane
Class D, burning metals, eg aluminium, lithium or magnesium
Fires caused by electrical equipment (indicated by an electric spark symbol and not the letter E)
Class F, fats and cooking oils.

Electrical Safety, Product Safety

Technical Requirements of Product safety
Product safety is the ability of a product to be safe for intended use, as determined when
evaluated against a set of established rules. All consumer products must be safe and meet
consumer guarantees under the product safety laws.There should be some safety standards.
These standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes etc.