BASIC FIRE - FIGHTING

Perhaps the greatest lesson brought out by the war was that incendiary bombs caused far more loss of life and
property than did High Explosive Bombs. As a result of experience, the prop onion of incendiary bombs to
H.E. bombs in the loads carried by our bombers, was stepped up more and more as the war went to. The
present state of German and Japanese cities shows the result.
The magnitude of such a disaster often blinds the uninformed to the continued need for the elementary fire-
fighting appliances and tech unique described in this pamphlet. Even though no firefighting of any kind is
possible in the area affected by such a catastrophe, there still remain the outer areas, where the weight of
attack" shades off." Here the timely use of even minor appliances in the hands of a well-trained and resolute
population is capable of turning the tide, saving untold destruction of life and property.
HOW FIRE STARTS
Neither liquids nor solids burn, only the vapour given oft· by them when they are heated and then only when
it has been mixed with oxygen and the temperature of this mixture has been raised to a point at which it will
burst into flame.
Three stages are essential to create a fire.
 The heating of the material to the point at which it gives off inflammable vapour.
 The mixing of this vapour with oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere.
 The ignition of the Inflammable vapour mixture

BUILD-UP OF Fire
having got fire, you will get more heat. This
additional heat will drive off an Increased amount
of vapour From the fuel:
it will also increase the amount of hot gases
arising from the fire and draw In from the
surrounding air the e'
From the above it will be seen that to continue
burning a fire needs: FUEL, OXYGEN, HEAT.

A fire is one of the costliest hazards to a building. Follow

these steps to mitigate the risk of a fire in your facility.

FIRE SAFETY/PROTECTION

A fire at your commercial real estate property is one of the most difficult challenges you could face. 

Between medical costs, lost wages, damages to your building, and interruptions to service, fires are one of the costliest
hazards. As recently as 2019, fires in the United States caused nearly $14.82 billion in property loss alone, according
to Statista. That’s why taking steps to recognize hazards—and correcting them—is so important.
Fortunately, a common set of NFPA and local standards can help your team spot warning signs and help you
proactively manage risks — regardless of who occupies your building. Here are a set of recommendations for facility
managers to help get started preparing for fire prevention.

1. Pre-plan

Communication is one of the most powerful fire prevention tools. Whether you manage a multi-tenant structure or
several buildings, you work with a lot of businesses. 
Each of their operations create a unique set of fire hazards, which require a personalized plan. Like any business, their
operations may evolve. Therefore, your facilities staff should maintain regular communication regarding any changes
your tenant makes, including: 

 Adjusted work areas

 New products, services, materials, or operations
 Alternative energy usage 
 Updated policies 
 Increased employee numbers 

When you welcome a new business to your facility, consider asking the leaseholder to sign a contract that outlines
which operational changes require communication with your team. The contract sets expectations from the start, and
helps you maintain awareness of new operations that could increase your facility’s fire risk.

2. Monitor electrical hazards

After your tenants commit to a communication plan, it’s up to your team to maintain the general property and
structures within it. One of those structures is your electrical system. 

Think of your facility’s electrical distribution system as the nerve center of your facility. Just one faulty wire could
cause a million-dollar loss. 

Because local and state electrical codes vary, have a licensed electrician inspect your building’s electrical system at
least every five years or as suggested by your local experts. While a professional contractor should determine the
scope of the inspection, you may want to ask your electrician to:

 Verify that all wiring diagrams and manuals reflect recent building updates.
 Assess your electrical equipment, including motors, transformers, and controls.
 Check fuses, circuit breakers, protective relays, and motor overload relays to ensure each component is in
good physical condition and operating within its load level rating.
 Perform infrared scans to discover early warning signs.
 Document the inspection results. Include the test date, who conducted the test, and equipment tested.

By taking the time to evaluate your electrical equipment on a scheduled basis, you’re choosing an effective, low-cost,
and easy way to reduce your building’s fire risks.

3. Lower heating risks

Like electrical hazards, your building’s heating equipment requires frequent checkups documented by a licensed
contractor. The heating unit should be cleaned, checked for leaks, combustion-tested, and have every control checked.
Other considerations include:

 Avoiding storage of combustibles near heating equipment

 Allowing proper clearance of exhaust vents
 Limiting the use of portable heaters, especially on combustible floors

If your tenants use additional heat-generating equipment, place it away from flammable hazards. The following tips
can lower your risk of a fire caused by portable heaters. 

 Keep space and portable heaters at least 36 inches away from anything combustible (paper, boxes, walls,
woodwork).
 Only plug electric heaters into circuits that can handle the extra load. These types of heaters require much
more power than a light bulb or an electric powered hand tool.
 Only use the fuel designated by the manufacturer of the heater. 
 Allow the heater to cool down before refueling. Store the fuel away from the heater.
  Don’t leave space heaters unattended, including overnight.

4. Check fire extinguishers

Once you’ve identified the structural and operational risks within your facility, it’s time to safeguard your building if a
fire ignites. Portable fire extinguishers are an effective first line of defense against smaller fires—as long as you
maintain them, place them strategically, and use them properly.

With different operations taking place throughout your property, make sure you have the correct extinguishers within
your building. Below are the types of fires your extinguishers can handle based on their rating:
 Class A: ordinary materials like cloth, wood, and paper
 Class B: combustibles and flammable liquids
 Class C: electrical fires
 Multipurpose: labeled A-B, B-C, or A-B-C. Can handle the types of fires listed above.

After you secure the properly rated extinguishers for your building’s risks, place them where they’re easily visible and
protected from damage. Below are a few placement considerations based on your facility:

 At least one fire extinguisher within 100 feet of any operation on a site
 At least one 2A-rated extinguisher on each floor of a multi-story building
 At least one 2A-or-higher rated fire extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet 
5. Test sprinkler requirements
If fire extinguishers are your first line of defense, sprinkler systems are your building’s last layer of protection. Bottom
line, fire sprinkler systems save lives by cooling and wetting surfaces, depriving the fire of fuel sources and preventing
flashover.
Prior to a new business officially moving in, ensure that your fire sprinkler systems meet the design requirements of
their expected occupancy. A licensed fire protection contractor can help you review the following areas:
 Your building’s current water supply
 The potential hazard level of the building and protection requirements 
 The type of sprinkler heads and piping needed
As a building owner, your structures vary and so will your requirements. In these cases, refer to the NFPA 13, which
includes industry benchmarks for commercial facilities. 

It’s worth noting that the most common cause of sprinkler failures is intentional or inadvertently closed valves. For
this reason, you should ask your local fire marshal to conduct a quarterly two-inch drain test and inspect your water
control valves to ensure they remain open. 

Annual tests can give you and your tenants the peace of mind that your extinguishers and sprinklers will work when
you need them most. If these devices can help stop the spread of even one fire, it could save millions of dollars. That’s
time well spent.

6. Stay fire-ready

Reducing fire risk is a team effort. It takes commitment from you, your tenants, and local experts to find a plan that
works for your building. As with any risk, the possibility of a fire always exists, therefore it’s best to combine the
strategies above with tailored property coverage for your building.  

What to do when you detect a fire in a building?

o 3A

Think fast! There’s a fire in your building. What are the first three things you do? 
Always remember the Three A’s in case of a fire: Activate, Assist, Attempt. 
 ACTIVATE – the building alarm system (if it has not already been activated) and notify the fire department by
calling 911.
Or, have someone else do this for you while you… 
 ASSIST – any persons in immediate danger, or those incapable of escaping immediate danger on their own.
Assist anyone who may need help to exit the building, without putting yourself at a risk.
Only after these two steps are completed, should you –
 ATTEMPT – to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. 

Fire Safety Best Practices in the Workplace

Fire is one of the biggest threats in the workplace. There is no existing device that can predict fire and no definite
assessment on a fire that has not yet happened. It is all about perfect fire safety planning that focuses on fire safety
best practices to ensure an efficient escape from fires dangers. To prepare for these unforeseen events, there is a need
to comply with fire safety requirements for persons conducting a business

Best Practices for Fire Safety

The number of ways to minimize the risk of fire in your workplace is endless. Here are some of the practices worth
noting down:

1. Install "no smoking" signs and strictly implement it. If the office has smoking areas, disposing of cigarettes properly
should be imposed to the employees.

2. Declutter. The best places for a fire to take control over are those with piles of waste and clutter. With good
housekeeping at your own workplace, there should be minimal risk of fire.

3. Store flammable liquids in metal containers. Oily or solvent-soaked rags should be used with caution and disposed
of properly.

4. Familiarize the firefighting equipment in your business and the location for each. Fire extinguishers in your
workplace have designated installation positions near exit doors and fire-prone areas. Employees should be able to
spot them easily.

5. Store chemicals in a safe compartment. Read the information sheet about hazard warnings to ensure safe storage
and usage.

6. Electrical wirings and fixtures should be kept in order. Avoid using too many electronics in one socket and
minimise the use of adapters to eliminate the hazard of faulty electrical connections.

7. Prepare a list of all emergency contact numbers and make it accessible to everyone in the office.

8. Conduct fire safety drills for all employees. Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher is crucial in the workforce.
Make sure workers are able to identify the different types of fire extinguishers and are able to function properly
through the training provided

 Evacuate the Building

The first thing to do when a fire occurs is to make sure employees can get out of the building safely. An evacuation
plan has to be set out for every employee to familiarise and practice through a fire drill. Every department should be
oriented about its specific route towards the fire exit. When you happen to discover the fire first, use this step-by-step
guide in responding efficiently:

 Stay calm
 Alert everyone in the building or the fire safety officers to supervise the evacuation
 Call the fire brigade through 000
 Leave the building by following the evacuation route
 Assemble at the evacuation area and stay there until advised otherwise
When the fire brigade arrives, give details of the fire incident

Fight the Fire When Needed

Fighting the fire is a choice to make when it is still controllable and only when you know how to use a fire
extinguisher. When doing so, make sure there is a clear pathway to escape. A complete evacuation plan should help
employees identify the fire extinguishers and their locations. Stay calm, assess the situation, and call for help. Being
confronted by fire is all about making quick decisions and ensuring safety.

Suppress the Flames

If your clothes catch fire when trying to escape or fight it, drop and roll over to extinguish it. This should be part of the
fire safety practices aside from learning how to identify the different types of fire extinguishers. The ability to
suppress fire depends on how you practice it. Make sure to attend all the fire drills conducted in your workplace or
risk your life in the event of a fire.

The process of establishing a good fire safety plan in the workplace takes time and effort and it's worth looking into
Fire Safety Best Practices, but it is worth the investment when it's a matter of your business and employees.

 Hydrant System

Fire hydrant system is a safety measure or emergency equipment required in buildings that comprises a series of
components that when assembled together provide a source of water to assist fire 

A fire hydrant is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural
areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water supply to assist in
extinguishing a fire. It works effectively in improving the fire fighting capacity of a place where it is installed. Apart
from fire fighting purpose, these hydrated systems are also used in several other applications such as water transfer,
irrigation etc.

Such systems fight with the fire using well designed water distribution system that includes water tank and fire pumps.
It also has distributed piping system which is connected all over the building using the pipes, nozzles and hydrants.
The main purpose of using fire hydrant system is to give best possible source of water to each corner of the building.
It helps in protecting the building by simply making control on fire during an emergency.

 
What We Do?

NT Agni Solutions provide you a best fire protection solution designed with quality, reliable and durable materials.
We have a team of engineers with high experience in designing, installing, inspecting and testing hydrant system for
wide range of commercial and industrial applications. Our designed fire hydrant systems have the power to keep your
building away from damages during the fire. Water is supplied through the system as a straight stream to quiet the
combustible fire.

 We emphasize on providing the most suitable fire protection solution that ensures to meet the needs of our clients. All
systems are designed complying the national and international standards and codes.

Advantages of Fire Hydrant System

Fire hydrant system is an effective means of extinguishing the fire in the building that can result to heavy devastation.

The system has the ability to fight the fire from the long distance due to its large piping system.

As it covers each point of the building, so it has more penetration capability as compared to other fire protection
systems. In simply words, high accessibility is its main advantage.

Hydrant valves are placed at different places throughout the building, leaving no corner in the premises unprotected.

In fire hydrant system, large quantity of water is pumped out from the water tank with such a force and speed so that it
can reach to the fire affected area. The capacity of these water tanks depends on the height and floor area of building
like residential, commercial or industrial, and nature of hazard as well.

 Such type of safety measure and water supply equipment is an essential requirement in some buildings where the
chances of getting fire is higher. When the components are combined together with the source of water, it becomes a
weapon to fight with the fire. The performance of a hydrant system completely depends on the quality and efficiency
of the components used to design the system.

 This system requires inspections and tests at the regular interval of time to determine that the system is in a proper
state and is working properly. At NT Agni Solutions, a team of engineers will inspect and survey the installation in the
building to make sure the accurate operation of the system.

How to be a firefighter

is no easy task. It requires hard work, long hours of training, dedication and a sincere desire to help others. The
firefighting career field is very competitive, too. You'll be up against hundreds, possibly thousands of applicants
depending on the department. How will you stand out and where do you start?

The firefighting career field is very competitive.

1. MEET BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER

In order to become a firefighter, you will need a valid driver's license and meet the age requirement of 18 years old.
For those younger than 18, you can look into limited involvement as a junior firefighter. There also will likely be a
maximum age, usually between 28 and 35 years old, depending on the department you’re applying to.

2. MEET (AND EXCEED) EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

At the very minimum, you'll need to obtain a high school diploma or GED. Many firefighters earn a degree in fire
science to advance their career. It's also wise to become an EMT. Having both a fire and EMS background will
improve your odds of being hired. Some departments might even require an EMT certification; larger departments
may require a paramedic’s license.

3. GET IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION

Becoming a firefighter requires passing a physical ability test. The CPAT events are stair climb, hose drag, equipment
carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, ceiling breach and pull. Prepare yourself for the
physical nature of the job as well as the demands of the test.

4. STAY OUT OF TROUBLE

At one point in your life, you've probably done something you're not proud of. How you've acted to rectify your
mistakes will be important when applying to become a firefighter. FireRescue1 columnist Mike Pertz, who founded a
website aimed at helping others become firefighters, recently wrote an article on this very subject.

If you are asked about your past record during an interview, do not lie. Instead, take ownership for your mistakes.
Explain to the hiring panel how you've changed and what you've done to change. Also, be up front about your driving
record – include dates, locations and outcomes of tickets and accidents

5 KEEP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA NOSE CLEAN

If you use Facebook or other social media platforms, be mindful of what you post, repost, comment on and like.
Expect all potential employers to scan your social media presence. If there’s embarrassing, immature, risqué or
otherwise inappropriate posts on your pages, remove them. Ask your friends to remove any such posts involving you
from their pages. In some cases, it makes sense to close out your accounts.
6. PROVE YOUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

This is often overlooked, but the required background check covers credit score. Bad credit will hurt you. Be
disciplined about improving your score if need be.
7. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Working in public safety is all about community service. Volunteering your time for a great cause is one way to prove
you're ready to serve your community. And it doesn't matter if it's fire-related or non-fire related. There's a lot of great
opportunities out there for you to make a difference. The American Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity are two
excellent options.
8. PASS THE WRITTEN EXAM

Study, study, study. And, when in doubt, study some more. The written exam consists of multiple-choice questions
and is divided into categories. Check out these test-taking basics to give yourself the best chance at passing with flying
colors.
9. PREPARE FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

You can't study for this one. This evaluation will look at your mental and emotional stability to withstand the stresses
associated with firefighting.

10. GRADUATE A FIRE ACADEMY

Getting your state entry-level firefighter certifications, such as Firefighter I and II, is a great move. You’ll still need to
attend a department’s academy once hired, but this gives you a leg up and helps you learn the book and practical skills
of the job. Joining a volunteer fire department is one way to get into an academy.

11. ACE THE INTERVIEW

Why do you want to be a firefighter? we know. But you better prepare for this question. Here are four additional
questions you'll be sure to get in a firefighter interview – how you answer will influence a panel's hiring decision. This
is your time to shine and stand out.

The requirements to become a firefighter can seem daunting. Stay up to date on firefighter employment and hiring
information with these resources:

HOW FIRES ARE CAUSED

INCENDIARY AGENTS

So far as property is concerned, war records show that fire from Incendiary bombs caused anything from 10 to 100
times as much damage as high explosive, the proportion varying according to the target and the method of attack. The
most effective incendiary was the small magnesium bomb dropped in very large numbers with the idea of . saturating"
the largest area and so overwhelming the Fire Service. There is little doubt that bombs of this kind will be the Mario
incendiary weapon for a long time to come. Thus, the fire-fighting problem should be much the same in any future
war Ali it was in the last. The medium and large incendiary bombs have the advantage that they may individually start
a fire which will need to be tackled from the beginning by the Fire Service, with its full-sized appliances; but this
advantage is outweighed by the fact that bombers can only carry a comparatively small number of these bombs. Such
bombs are only likely to be used against special targets, and not for ‘full-scale’ fire- raising attack on a built-up area.

INCENDIARY BOMB FILLINGS

It can be accepted, then, that unless some new and more efficient filling is discovered, thermite in a bomb with a
magnesium wall (as in the German I kilo type), is likely to hold its own. For the larger bombs the fillings will
probably be a mixture, with pelrol or oil as the main ingredient. Phosphorus. as such, makes an inefficient incendiary.
but may be added to incendiary mixtures so as to ignite the filling if the fuse fails and the bomb breaks up on impact,
or if the filling is in any way exposed to the air. Incendiary bombs are not the only cause of fires in an air attack. The
blast, and sometimes the earth·shock, caused by High Explosi\'c bombs, often start serious fires by scattering burning
coals, etc., from domestic fires on to carpets, woodwork, and other combustible materials.

ATOMIC BOMBS

A great additional risk is caused by the fire-raising effects of the Atomic bomb. Heat Flash" is a very short-lived wave
of intense heat related over a considerable distance in all directions at the moment of burst. It will start fires over a
very wide area. The combustible content of many buildings is liable to catch fire simultaneously on all floors.

At Hiroshima, buildings, strong enough to stand up against the blast, were completely gutted because they contained
inflammable and combustible materials. Atomic bomb are also likely to start fire on a wide scale In the same way as
H.E. bombs.
we must realize that this Country), bad though the damage was, got off very lightly compared to Germany and Japan.
There is not a single person who has seen the fire damage In elder of those countries. who has not been appalled at the
sight of what fire can do once it has been allowed to get out of hand.

Fire Safety Measures in Buildings for Fire Prevention

As important as unblocked exits are to fire safety, people finding the exits is an equally important safety measure in
your buildings. NFPA 101 requires exit signage and lighting be continually illuminated and easily seen, even in a
power outage. Exit signs must be bright and free from obstruction, emergency lighting units functional, and exit signs
and lighting backup batteries should be fully charged and reliable.
Fire alarm systems go hand in hand with exiting the building during a fire or other emergencies. These fire prevention
systems in buildings include the fire alarms themselves, all components that make them work, those that feed into the
alarms, and those that are connected to them (fire sprinklers, smoke detectors, heat detectors, evacuation systems,
etc.). They detect and alert people to many different life-threatening and property-damaging hazards besides fire, from
carbon monoxide poisoning and leaky pipes to severe weather and active shooters (NFPA 3000), therefore, it is
critical that they function 100% of the time.
Practice Good Daily Habits for Building Fire Prevention
There are countless areas in the workplace where fire hazards can cultivate. Whether you own or manage grocery
stores, distribution centers, retail stores, or restaurants, fire safety prevention depends on diligence, training, and good
habits.
 daily fire prevention and safety measures to minimize fire hazards:
1. Trash/waste is properly stowed in trash/recycling bins, not piled up in any area, especially doorways.
2. Extension cords are not in permanent use; those that are should be industrial grade and grounded.
3. All power strips are UL listed with built-in circuit breakers.
4. Cigarette butts and containers are away from the building, shrubbery, and flammable materials.
5. Combustible materials/liquids are stored securely in approved cabinet per NFPA/OSHA regulations.
6. Electrical appliances are GFCI protected; nothing hot is on without someone in attendance.
7. Nothing is hanging from fire sprinkler piping or sprinkler heads.
8. Fire pump rooms/riser rooms are 100% free of anything other than fire protection equipment.
9. All supplies/stock/merchandise are at least 3 ft. from heating units and ductwork.
10. All fire extinguishers are fully charged, not damaged, and readily accessible; none are missing.
Preventative Inspections & Maintenance for Fire Protection Systems
Caring for the lives of your buildings’ occupants is your number one priority. Since you can’t predict when a fire
might threaten those lives, preventative fire protection system inspections are your best deterrence against a faulty
system that may not operate properly when needed.
There are also hefty fines for not following NFPA 72 inspection standards and your local Authorities Having
Jurisdiction (AHJ) regulations, as well as the International Code Council (ICC) codes and those of your insurance
company.
Preventative, regularly scheduled inspections are required for:
 Fire sprinkler systems
 Backflow preventer assemblies
 Fire suppression systems
 Kitchen hood suppression systems
 Fire alarms
 Fire extinguishers
 Alarms, monitors, detectors
These inspections will discover anything that is not in working order so maintenance can be performed. Keeping your
fire protection systems functional is essential to building fire prevention and stopping fire before it spreads

Fire sprinkler system

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate
pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. Although
historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings are now
available at a cost-effective price. [1] Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40 million
sprinkler heads fitted each year. Even though Fire Sprinkler Systems are a Life Saving System and are not designed to
protect the building, 96% of buildings that had fires and were completely protected by fire sprinkler systems were
controlled by the fire sprinklers alone.

Backflow Prevention Assembly

Backflow prevention assemblies can reduce or eliminate backflows by segregating drinking and non-potable water
piping. This is done either by providing an air gap or by installing a backflow prevention assembly (BPA) between the
two plumbing systems.

Air Gap

 Vertical, physical separation between the end of a water supply outlet and the flood-level rim of a receiving
vessel
 Separation must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet and never less than one inch
 Effective against backpressure backflow and back-siphonage and may be used to isolate health or non-health
hazards. 

Reduced-Pressure Backflow Assembly (RBPA

 Includes two independently acting, spring-loaded check valves with a hydraulically operating, mechanically
independent, spring-loaded pressure differential relief valve in between
 Effective against backpressure backflow and back-siphonage and may be used to isolate health or non-health
hazards. 
 Required to be testable

Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)

 Consists of an independently acting, spring-loaded check valve and an independently acting spring-loaded, air
inlet valve.
 May be used to isolate health or non-health hazards, but is effective against back-siphonage only. 
 Required to be testable

Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA

 Consists of two independently acting, spring-loaded check valves

 Effective against backpressure backflow and back-siphonage, but should be used to isolate only non-health
hazards
 Required to be testable
 If you manage a property or own a business, you probably have heard about the importance of fire protection
systems, but do you know the difference between a sprinkler system and a suppression system? Do you know
how fire suppression systems work or how to choose the right fire protection system for your establishment?
It is imperative that you understand what fire suppression systems are and which work best in different
scenarios. The wrong fire suppression system has the potential to cause more harm than an actual fire.
 A fire suppression system is an engineered group of units that are built to extinguish fires through the
application of a substance. Most commonly, a fire suppression system has built-in components that detect
fires at the beginning stages through heat, smoke, and other warning signals. These are attached to an alarm
system that will alert you when the fire has been detected and initiate steps for action to further suppress the
fire. The majority of fire suppression systems will automatically release the application of an external
 substance to extinguish the fire after the detection and/or alert. However, some fire suppression systems have
a manual application release.

Fire Suppression Systems

These Automatic Kitchen Suppression Systems come in two variants, namely - Ceasefire Watermist Based Fire
Suppression System (Enviro Series) and Ceasefire Wet Chemical Based Fire Suppression System (Ultra Series). Both
these systems are technological breakthroughs that are based on highly advanced heat sensing tube based detection
that offers far superior and uniform detection than conventional fire suppression systems. Combined with powerful
Watermist and Wet chemical as extinguishing agents respectively, the two systems are designed to quell any kind of
kitchen fires.

The Ceasefire kitchen firefighting systems also come in Pre-Engineered (Modular) options that bring the premium fire
suppression technologies that were until now available only to the top-end segment commercial kitchens to the middle
and lower segment kitchens as well. This breakthrough has been possible by Ceasefire's extensive knowledge,
experience and infrastructure in the domain. 

Ceasefire’s revolutionary kitchen suppression systems are industry leaders for the quality, functionality and
technological advancement. These are customizable basis the length of the kitchen hood and provide 24 hour
automatic protection to commercial and industrial kitchens like hotels, restaurant, fast food chains, retail food courts,
catering facilities, schools, religious premises and more. Commercial kitchens are under tremendous pressure to
deliver time bound meal services, continuously for long hours of day. Hence, are more susceptible to fire accidents.
The Ceasefire kitchen firefighting systems are specially developed keeping these challenges into consideration and
designed for quicker flame knockdown and faster suppression.  

Fire alarms

A fire alarm system warns people when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide or other fire-related emergencies are detected.

These alarms may be activated automatically from smoke detectors, and heat detectors or may also be activated
via manual fire alarm activation devices such as manual call points or pull stations. Alarms can be either motorized
bells or wall mountable sounders or horns. They can also be speaker strobes which sound an alarm, followed by a
voice evacuation message which warns people inside the building not to use the elevators. Fire alarm sounders can be
set to certain frequencies and different tones including low, medium and high, depending on the country and
manufacturer of the device. Most fire alarm systems in Europe sound like a siren with alternating frequencies. Fire
alarm electronic devices are known as horns in the United States and Canada, and can be either continuous or set to
different codes. Fire alarm warning devices can also be set to different volume levels.

Fire extinguishers
 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.
 There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored-pressure and cartridge-operated. In stored pressure
units, the expellant is stored in the same chamber as the firefighting agent itself. Depending on the agent used,
different propellants are used. With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used; water and foam
extinguishers typically use air. Stored pressure fire extinguishers are the most common type. Cartridge-
operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge,
exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. This type is not as common, used primarily in areas such
as industrial facilities, where they receive higher-than-average use. They have the advantage of simple and
prompt recharge, allowing an operator to discharge the extinguisher, recharge it, and return to the fire in a
 reasonable amount of time. Unlike stored pressure types, these extinguishers use compressed carbon
dioxide instead of nitrogen, although nitrogen cartridges are used on low temperature (–60 rated) models.
Cartridge operated extinguishers are available in dry chemical and dry powder types in the U.S. and in water,
wetting agent, foam, dry chemical (classes ABC and B.C.), and dry powder (class D) types in the rest of the
world.

Types of extinguishing agents

Dry chemical
This is a powder-based agent that extinguishes by separating the four parts of the fire triangle. It prevents the chemical
reactions involving heat, fuel, and oxygen, thus extinguishing the fire. During combustion, the fuel breaks down
into free radicals, which are highly reactive fragments of molecules that react with oxygen. The substances in dry
chemical extinguishers can stop this process.

 Monoammonium phosphate, also known as tri-class, multipurpose, or ABC dry chemical, used on class A,

B and C fires. It receives its class A rating from the agent's ability to melt and flow at 177 °C (351 °F) to
smother the fire. More corrosive than other dry chemical agents. Pale yellow in color.
 Sodium bicarbonate, regular or ordinary used on class B and C fires, was the first of the dry chemical
agents developed. In the heat of a fire, it releases a cloud of carbon dioxide that smothers the fire. That is,
the gas drives oxygen away from the fire, thus stopping the chemical reaction. This agent is not generally
effective on class A fires because the agent is expended and the cloud of gas dissipates quickly, and if the
fuel is still sufficiently hot, the fire starts up again. While liquid and gas fires do not usually store much
heat in their fuel source, solid fires do. Sodium bicarbonate was very common in commercial kitchens
before the advent of wet chemical agents, but now is falling out of favor as it is much less effective than
wet chemical agents for class K fires, less effective than Purple-K for class B fires, and is ineffective on
class A fires. White or blue in color.
 Potassium bicarbonate (principal constituent of Purple-K), used on class B and C fires. About two times as
effective on class B fires as sodium bicarbonate, it is the preferred dry chemical agent of the oil and gas
industry. The only dry chemical agent certified for use in ARFF by the NFPA. Colored violet to
distinguish it.
 Potassium bicarbonate & Urea Complex (AKA Monnex), used on class B and C fires. More effective than
all other powders due to its ability to decrepitate (where the powder breaks up into smaller particles) in
the flame zone creating a larger surface area for free radical inhibition. Grey in color.
 Potassium chloride, or Super-K, dry chemical was developed in an effort to create a high efficiency,
protein-foam compatible dry chemical. Developed in the 1960s, prior to Purple-K, it was never as popular
as other agents since, being a salt, it was quite corrosive. For B and C fires, white in color.
 Foam-compatible, which is a sodium bicarbonate (BC) based dry chemical, was developed for use with
protein foams for fighting class B fires. Most dry chemicals contain metal stearates to waterproof them,
but these will tend to destroy the foam blanket created by protein (animal) based foams. Foam compatible
type uses silicone as a waterproofing agent, which does not harm foam. Effectiveness is identical to
regular dry chemical, and it is light green in color (some ANSUL brand formulations are blue). This agent
is generally no longer used since most modern dry chemicals are considered compatible with synthetic
foams such as AFFF.

Foams
Applied to fuel fires as either an aspirated (mixed and expanded with air in a branch pipe) or nonaspirated form to
create a frothy blanket or seal over the fuel, preventing oxygen reaching it. Unlike powder, foam can be used to
progressively extinguish fires without flashback.

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), used on A and B fires and for vapor suppression. The most common type in
portable foam extinguishers. AFFF was developed in the 1960s under Project Light Water in a joint venture between
3M and the U.S. Navy. AFFF forms a film that floats out before the foam blanket, sealing the surface and smothering
the fire by excluding oxygen. AFFF is widely used for ARFF firefighting at airports, often in conjunction with purple-
K dry chemical. It contains fluoro-tensides[26] which can be accumulated in the human body. The long-term effects of
this on the human body and environment are unclear at this time. AFFF can be discharged through an air-aspirating
branchpipe nozzle or a spray nozzle and is now produced only in pre-mix form, where the foam concentrate is stored
mixed with water. In the past, as solid charge model was produced, the AFFF concentrate was housed as a dry
compound in an external, disposable cartridge in a specially designed nozzle. The extinguisher body was charged with
plain water, and the discharge pressure mixed the foam concentrate with the water upon squeezing the lever. These
extinguishers received double the rating of a pre-mix model (40-B instead of 20-B), but are now considered obsolete,
as parts and refill cartridges have been discontinued by the manufacturer.

Water types
Water cools burning material and is very effective against fires in furniture, fabrics, etc. (including deep-seated fires).
Water-based extinguishers cannot be used safely on energized electrical fires or flammable liquid fires.

Wet chemical and water additives

Wet chemical (potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, or potassium citrate) extinguishes the fire by forming an air-
excluding soapy foam blanket over the burning oil through the chemical process of saponification (a base reacting
with a fat to form a soap) and by the water content cooling the oil below its ignition temperature. Generally, class A
and K (F in Europe) only, although older models also achieved class B and C fire-fighting capability in the past,
current models are rated A:K (Amerex, Ansul, Buckeye and Strike First) or K only (Badger/Kidde).

 Wetting agents: Detergent based additives used to break the surface tension of water and improve
penetration of class A fires.
 Antifreeze chemicals added to water to lower its freezing point to about −40 °C (−40 °F). Has no
appreciable effect on extinguishing performance. Can be glycol based or loaded stream

Halons, Halon-replacement clean agents and carbon dioxide CO2

Clean agents extinguish fire by displacing oxygen (CO2 or inert gases), removing heat from the combustion zone
(Halotron-1, FE-36, Novec 1230) or inhibiting the chemical chain reaction (Halons). They are referred to as clean
agents because they do not leave any residue after discharge, which is ideal for protecting sensitive electronics,
aircraft, armored vehicles and archival storage, museums, and valuable documents.

 CO2, a clean gaseous agent which displaces oxygen. Highest rating for 20 lb (9.1 kg) portable
CO2 extinguishers is 10B:C. Not intended for class A fires, as the high-pressure cloud of gas can scatter
burning materials. CO2 is not suitable for use on fires containing their own oxygen source, metals or
cooking media, and may cause frostbite and suffocation if used on human beings.
Class D dry powder and other agents for metal fires
There are several class D fire extinguisher agents available; some will handle multiple types of metals, others will not.

 Sodium chloride (Super-D, Met-L-X, M28, Pyrene Pyromet*) contains sodium chloride salt, which melts
to form an oxygen-excluding crust over the metal. A thermoplastic additive such as nylon is added to
allow the salt to more readily form a cohesive crust over the burning metal. Useful on most alkali
metals including sodium and potassium, and other metals including magnesium, titanium, aluminum,
and zirconium.
 Copper-based (Copper Powder Navy 125S) developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1970s for hard-to-control
lithium and lithium-alloy fires. The powder smothers and acts as a heat sink to dissipate heat, but also
forms a copper-lithium alloy on the surface which is non-combustible and cuts off the oxygen supply.
Will cling to a vertical surface. Lithium only.
 Graphite-based (G-Plus, G-1, Lith-X, Chubb Pyromet) contains dry graphite that smothers burning
metals. The first type developed, designed for magnesium, works on other metals as well. Unlike sodium
 chloride powder extinguishers, the graphite powder fire extinguishers can be used on very hot burning
metal fires such as lithium, but unlike copper powder extinguishers will not stick to and extinguish
flowing or vertical lithium fires. Like copper extinguishers, the graphite powder acts as a heat sink as well
as smothering the metal fire.
 Sodium carbonate-based (Na-X) is used where stainless steel piping and equipment could be damaged by
sodium chloride-based agents to control sodium, potassium, and sodium-potassium alloy fires. Limited
use on other metals. Smothers and forms a crust.
Fire extinguishing ball
Several modern "ball" or grenade-style extinguishers are available on the market. The modern version of the ball is a
hard foam shell, wrapped in fuses that lead to a small black powder charge within. The ball bursts shortly after contact
with flame, dispersing a cloud of ABC dry chemical powder which extinguishes the fire. The coverage area is about
5 m2 (54 sq ft). One benefit of this type is that it may be used for passive suppression. The ball can be placed in a fire-
prone area and will deploy automatically if a fire develops, being triggered by heat. They may also be manually
operated by rolling or tossing into a fire. Most modern extinguishers of this type are designed to make a loud noise
upon deployment.[39]
This technology is not new, however. In the 1800s, glass fire grenades filled with suppressant liquids were popular.
These glass fire grenade bottles are sought by collectors. [40] Some later brands, such as Red Comet, were designed for
passive operation and included a special holder with a spring-loaded trigger that would break the glass ball when a
fusible link melted. As was typical of this era, some glass extinguishers contained the toxic carbon tetrachloride.
Condensed aerosol fire suppression
Condensed aerosol fire suppression is a particle-based form of fire extinction similar to gaseous fire suppression or
dry chemical fire extinction. As with gaseous fire suppressants, condensed aerosol suppressants use clean agents to
suppress the fire. The agent can be delivered by means of mechanical operation, electric operation, or combined
electro-mechanical operation. To the difference of gaseous suppressants, which emit only gas, and dry chemical
extinguishers, which release powder-like particles of a large size (25–150 µm) condensed aerosols are defined by the
National Fire Protection Association as releasing finely divided solid particles (generally <10 µm), usually in addition
to gas

Alarms, monitors, detectors

are designed to discover fires early in their development when time will still be available for the safe evacuation of
occupants. Early detection also plays a significant role in protecting the safety of emergency response personnel.
Property loss can be reduced and downtime for the operation minimized through early detection because control
efforts are started while the fire is still small. Most alarm systems provide information to emergency responders on the
location of the fire, speeding the process of fire control.

To be useful, detectors must be coupled with alarms. Alarm systems provide notice to at least the building occupants
and usually transmit a signal to a staffed monitoring station either on or off site. In some cases, alarms may go directly
to the fire department, although in most locations this is no longer the typical approach.

These systems have numerous advantages as discussed above. The one major limitation is that they do nothing to
contain or control the fire. Suppression systems such as automatic sprinklers act to control the fire. They also provide
notification that they are operating, so they can fill the role of a heat detection-based system if connected to
notification appliances throughout the building. They will not, however, operate as quickly as a smoke detection
system. This is why facilities where rapid notice is essential, even when equipped with sprinklers, still need detection
and alarm systems.