DR.D. Y.

PATIL COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AKURDI,PUNE

INTRODUCTION TO FIRE

PROF: PROF. MADHAVI KARANGLE

SUB CODE: 2019CM102

SUBMITTED BY:

1MA101- Parth Bawale

1MA112- Pranit Merchant

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 INDEX

SR.NO. TOPIC PAGE NO.

1 FIRE DETECTORS 3
2 FIXED-TEMPERATURE HEAT DETECTORS 3-5
3 RATE-OF-RISE HEAT DETECTORS 6-7
4 SMOKE DETECTOR 7-13
5 WHY ARE FIRE, SMOKE, HEAT, GAS DETECTORS 14
REQUIRED?
6 WHERE DO WE USE FIRE/SMOKE DETECTORS? 14-15

7 INSTALLATION 16-17
8 BUILDING WISE REQUIREMENT OF FIRE 18
DETECTORS
9 REQUIREMENTS 19-20
10 SMOKE DETECTOR MAINTENANCE 20-21

11 FIRE/SMOKE/GAS/HEAT DETECTOR COMPANIES 22

12 RATES 23

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 INTRODUCTION TO FIRE

WHAT IS FIRE?
Fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs
between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel. The products from the chemical reaction are
completely different from the starting material.

Example: wildfire.

When forest fuels burn, there is a

chemical combination of the oxygen in
the air with woody material, pitch and
other burnable elements found in the
forest environment.

Combustion is a chain reaction chemically similar to photosynthesis in reverse.

The combustion process or fire is sometimes called rapid oxidation

Example : Matchstick,

The match is a common ignition

device.Friction creates sufficient heat to
ignite the phosphorus on the end of the
match.Combustion occurs and the
match flames.

The fuel must be heated to its ignition temperature for combustion to occur. The reaction will keep
going as long as there is enough heat, fuel and oxygen. This is known as the fire triangle.

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THE FIRE TRIANGLE

Oxygen, fuel and heat are needed for fire to occur. This is known as the fire triangle.

Combustion is when fuel reacts with oxygen to release heat energy. Combustion can be slow or
fast depending on the amount of oxygen available. Combustion that results in a flame is very fast and is
called burning. Combustion can only occur between gases.

Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the "fire triangle." Add in the fourth
element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron." The important
thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the
fire will be extinguished.

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THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON

The fire tetrahedron represents the addition of a component in the chemical chain reaction, to the three
already present in the fire triangle. Once a fire has started, the resulting exothermic chain reaction sustains
the fire and allows it to continue until or unless at least one of the elements of the fire is blocked. Foam can
be used to deny the fire the oxygen it needs. Water can be used to lower the temperature of the fuel below
the ignition point or to remove or disperse the fuel. Halon can be used to remove free radicals and create a
barrier of inert gas in a direct attack on the chemical reaction responsible for the fire.

Combustion is the chemical reaction that feeds a fire more heat and allows it to continue. When the fire
involves burning metals like lithium, magnesium, titanium, etc. (known as a class-D fire), it becomes even
more important to consider the energy release. The metals react faster with water than with oxygen and
thereby more energy is released. Putting water on such a fire results in the fire getting hotter or
even exploding. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are ineffective against certain metals such as
titanium. Therefore, inert agents (e.g. dry sand) must be used to break the chain reaction of metallic
combustion.

In the same way, as soon as one of the four elements of the tetrahedron is removed, combustion stops.

HEAT

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Most of us use the word ‘heat’ to mean something that feels warm, but science defines heat as the flow of
energy from a warm object to a cooler object.
Actually, heat energy is all around us – in volcanoes, in icebergs and in your body. All matter contains heat
energy.
Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids
and gases. Heat energy can be transferred from one object to another. The transfer or flow due to the
difference in temperature between the two objects is called heat.

Rights: Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management

Heat energy is in volcanoes and ice

Heat energy is all around us – in volcanoes and in ice. All matter contains heat energy.

Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids
and gases. Heat energy can be transferred from one object to another. The transfer or flow due to the
difference in temperature between the two objects is called heat.

For example, an ice cube has heat energy and so does a glass of lemonade. If you put the ice in the lemonade, the
lemonade (which is warmer) will transfer some of its heat energy to the ice. In other words, it will heat up the ice.
Eventually, the ice will melt and the lemonade and water from the ice will be the same temperature. This is known as
reaching a state of thermal equilibrium.

Moving particles

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Matter is all around you. It is everything in the universe – anything that has both mass and volume and takes
up space is matter. Matter exists in different physical forms – solids, liquids and gases.

All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms, molecules and ions. These tiny particles are always in
motion – either bumping into each other or vibrating back and forth. It is the motion of particles that creates
a form of energy called heat (or thermal) energy that is present in all matter.

The particles in solids are tightly packed and can only vibrate. The particles in liquids also vibrate but are
able to move around by rolling over each other and sliding around. In gases, the particles move freely with
rapid, random motion.

Particles in collision
Tiny particles in solids, liquids and gases are always in motion. It is the motion of particles that creates a form of
energy called thermal (heat) energy that is present in all matter.

Transferring heat energy – particles in collision

At higher temperatures, particles have more energy. Some of this energy can be transmitted to other particles
that are at a lower temperature. For example, in the gas state, when a fast moving particle collides with a
slower moving particle, it transfers some of its energy to the slower moving particle, increasing the speed of
that particle.

With billions of moving particles colliding into each other, an area of high energy will slowly transfer across
the material until thermal equilibrium is reached (the temperature is the same across the material).

Changing states by heat transfer

Faster moving particles ‘excite’ nearby particles. If heated sufficiently, the movement of particles in a solid
increases and overcomes the bonds that hold the particles together. The substance changes its state from a
solid to a liquid (melting). If the movement of the particles increases further in the liquid, then a stage is
reached where the substance changes into a gas (evaporation).

Three ways of transferring heat energy

All heat energy, including heat generated by fire, is transferred in different ways:

Convection transfers heat energy through gases and liquids. As air is heated, the particles gain heat energy
allowing them to move faster and further apart, carrying the heat energy with them. Warm air is less dense
than cold air and will rise. Cooler air moves in below to replace the air that has risen. It heats up, rises, and
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is again replaced by cooler air, creating a circular flow called a convection current. These currents circle and
heat the room.

Convection
Convection transfers heat through the air. As the air heats, it rises. Cooler air below moves in, heats up and
rises. As the risen air cools, it becomes denser and falls. This circular flow of air creates a convection
current.

Conduction transfers heat energy in solids. The moving particles of a warm soild material can increase the
heat energy of the particles in a cooler solid material by transferring it directly from one particle to the next.
Since particles are closer together, solids conduct heat better than liquids or gases.

Conduction
Conduction moves heat through a material. It keeps a fire going by spreading the heat through solid
material.

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Radiation is a method of heat transfer that does not require particles to carry the heat energy. Instead, heat
is transferred in infrared waves (part of the electromagnetic spectrum). Heat waves radiate out from hot
objects in all directions, travelling at the speed of light, until they hit another object. When this happens, the
heat energy carried by the waves can be either absorbed or reflected.

Fire illustrates the three different methods of heat transfer. For example, the firebox will heat up due
to convection. The air above the fire will be warm due to convection. You can warm your hands near to the
flames due to radiant heat transfer.

Radiation
Radiation is the heat that we feel coming from a fire. It warms the air using heat waves that radiate out from
the fire in all directions until it is absorbed by objects.

An effect of heat – expansion

When gases, liquids and solids are heated, they expand. As they cool, they contract or get smaller. The
expansion of the gases and liquids is because the particles are moving around very fast when they are heated
and are able to move further apart so they take up more room. If the gas or liquid is heated in a closed
container, the particles collide with the sides of the container, and this causes pressure. The greater the
number of collisions, the greater the pressure.

Sometimes when a house is on fire, the windows will explode outwards. This is because the air in the house
has been heated and the excited molecules are moving at high speed around the room. They are pushing
against the walls, ceiling, floor and windows. Because the windows are the weakest part of the house
structure, they break and burst open, releasing the increased pressure.

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OXIDIZER

The oxidizer is the other reactant of the chemical reaction. In most cases, it is the ambient air, and in
particular one of its components, oxygen (O2). By depriving a fire of air the fire can be extinguished, such as
when covering the flame of a small candle with an empty glass. To the contrary, if air is blown over a wood
fire (as with bellows), the fire is activated by the introduction of more air.

Some chemicals, such as fluorine gas, perchlorate salts such as ammonium perchlorate, or chlorine
trifluoride, act as oxidizers, sometimes more powerful ones than oxygen itself. A fire based on a reaction
with these oxidizers can be very difficult to put out until the oxidizer is exhausted; that leg of the fire
triangle cannot be broken by normal means (i.e., depriving it of air will not smother it).
In certain cases such as some explosives, the oxidizer and combustible are the same (e.g., nitroglycerin, an
unstable molecule that has oxidizing parts in the same molecule as the oxidizeable parts).

Reaction is initiated by an activating energy — in most cases, it is heat. Several examples include friction, as
in the case of matches, heating an electrical wire, a flame (propagation of fire), or a spark (from a lighter or
from any starting electrical device). There are also many other ways to bring sufficient activation energy
including electricity, radiation, and pressure, all of which will lead to a temperature rise. In most cases, heat
production enables self-sustainability of the reaction, and enables a chain reaction to grow. The temperature
at which a liquid produces sufficient vapor to get a flammable mix with self-sustainable combustion is called
its flash-point.

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CHEMICAL REACTION IN THE COMBUSTION PROCESS
Fuels can be solids, liquids or gases. During the chemical reaction that produces fire, fuel is heated to
such an extent that (if not already a gas) it releases gases from its surface.

Only gases can react in combustion. Gases are made up of molecules (groups of atoms). When these
gases are hot enough, the molecules in the gases break apart and fragments of molecules rejoin with
oxygen from the air to make new product molecules – water molecules (H2O) and carbon
dioxide molecules (CO2) – and other products if burning is not complete.

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

How things ignite

Heated molecules are loosened, moving apart to form a gas. The gas molecules combine with oxygen in the
air resulting in burning.

The heat generated by the reaction is what sustains the fire. The heat of the flame will keep remaining
fuel at ignition temperature. The flame ignites gases being emitted, and the fire spreads. As long as there
is enough fuel and oxygen, the fire keeps burning.

Fuel + oxygen (from the air) = combustion products (mainly CO2 + H2O) + heat energy.

Complete combustion:

In complete combustion, the burning fuel will produce only water and carbon dioxide (no smoke or
other products). The flame is typically blue. For this to happen, there needs to be enough oxygen to
combine completely with the fuel gas.

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) + heat → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) + heat

methane + oxygen + heat → carbon dioxide + water + heat

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Many of us use methane gas (CH4), commonly known as natural gas, at home for cooking. When the gas is
heated (by a flame or spark) and if there is enough oxygen in the atmosphere, the molecules will break apart
and reform totally as water and carbon dioxide.

Rights: 123RF Limited

Burning showing complete combustion

In complete combustion, the burning fuel will produce only water and carbon dioxide (no smoke or other
products). The flame is typically blue.

Incomplete combustion:
If there is not enough oxygen available during a chemical reaction, incomplete combustion occurs, and
products such as carbon (C) and carbon monoxide (CO) as well as water and carbon dioxide are produced.
Less heat energy is released during incomplete combustion than complete combustion.

In incomplete combustion, the burning flame is typically yellow or orange and there is smoke.

Rights: Scion

Burning showing incomplete combustion

Incomplete combustion produces products such as carbon (C) and carbon monoxide (CO) as well as water
and carbon dioxide. The burning flame is typically yellow or orange and there is smoke.
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STAGES OF FIRE:
The stages of fire growth can be divided into categories as follows:

1. TRADITIONAL OR LEGACY FIRES

2. MODERN CONTENT FIRES

TRADITIONAL OR LEGACY FIRES

 Traditional Fire growth in a room can be divided into three distinct stages: the growth stage
(incipient), the fully developed stage (free-burning), and the decay stage (smoldering).

 Growth Stage (incipient)

During the growth stage a fire increases in size from small flames to full fire that involves the entire
room. It may take several seconds to several hours for this to occur. Fire Growth is dependent on
Combustible content (fuel load). Oxygen supply (ventilation openings). Size of room. Insulation of
room.
During the growth stage, flammable gases released by the burning material collect at the ceiling level
and mix with oxygen. The heated gases are pushed under pressure from the fire area into uninvolved
areas. When this mixture ignites, flashes of flame can be seen in this layer of smoke. This condition
is known as rollover. Rollover should serve as a warning that the fire area may flashover. As the fire
progresses through the growth stage and into the fully developed stage the potential for flashover
exists. Flashover is defined as the sudden involvement of a room or area in flames from floor to
ceiling caused by thermal radiation feedback. Radiation feedback from the ceiling and walls heats
the smoke and gases given off by the burning materials and the combustible contents of the room.
When the contents have been heated to their ignition temperature, sudden and simultaneous ignition
of the area can occur.

 Fully Developed Stage (free-burning)

In the fully developed stage the entire room and contents are involved in fire. If no efforts were made
to extinguish the fire, the fire would continue to burn until the available fuel and/or oxygen in the
room or area was consumed. Because of limited ventilation, most structure fires are air regulated, not
fuel regulated. This means that fires will move into the decay stage due to insufficient oxygen.
Outside fires are fuel regulated. How long and to what extent an outside fire burns is controlled by
the amount of fuel available, not oxygen.

 Decay Stage (smouldering)

As available oxygen is consumed, the fire moves into the decay stage. Although some oxygen
remains in the fire area, visible flames have started to diminish, and the fire continues to smoulder.
High heat and smoke conditions remain and the potential for a backdraft is present. A backdraft is a
smoke explosion which can occur when additional oxygen is introduced into a smouldering fire and
the heated gases enter their flammable range and ignite with explosive force. Firefighters must
realize that a backdraft produces violent shock waves which can shatter windows, blow down
firefighters and collapse walls.

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 MODERN CONTENT FIRES

 Modern content fires are largely comprised of hydrocarbons and synthetics which rapidly consume
the available oxygen in the air as they burn at a greater rate than legacy content fires.

 Modern content fires quickly become ventilation limited fires due to their higher fuel load. An
additional contributing factor is the energy efficient construction of buildings, which limit the
amount of available oxygen within the fire area.

 Modern content fires enter an early decay stage due to the limited available oxygen, producing heavy
smoke and varying heat conditions.

 The needed oxygen to support rapid fire expansion can be provided by improper ventilation tactics or
if the windows fail. If indications of an early decay stage exist upon arrival, uncontrolled and/or
uncoordinated ventilation can have tragic implications for both civilians and operating members.

 The progression of modern content fires differs from the traditional fire development curve as
follows. (Figure 2)  Incipient stage  A rapid Growth stage that consumes the available oxygen
very quickly.  Since modern content fires rapidly consume the available oxygen within the fire
area, they enter into an earlier oxygen limited Decay stage when compared to traditional or legacy
fires, and will remain in the Decay stage if no additional oxygen is added to the fire area.  When
units encounter this earlier decay stage, they shall control the ventilation of windows and maintain
control of the door to the fire area. These actions will limit the in-flow of additional air into the space
so as not to provide additional oxygen to the fire. The fire will pull the in-flow of any additional air
towards the fire area. Wind blowing in towards a ventilation opening will increase the air flow
towards the fire area. If additional oxygen is admitted to the heated atmosphere through ventilation
openings, the following can occur: The fire regains its energy, increases its heat release rate and
enters into a rapid second growth stage, generating more heat and increased smoke production. This
may be followed by a ventilation induced flashover and transition into the fully developed stage. It
ends in a second decay stage as the fuel load is depleted or the fire is extinguished.

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FIRE BEHAVIOUR:
Fires behave differently. Some burn slowly and evenly; others are extremely hot, burning fiercely and
quickly. Different fires have different coloured flames. Some fires start easily; others don’t. Some fires
produce deadly gases that could kill you if not ventilated.

Log fire
Fires are different depending on the variables involved. This log fire is a controlled fire, designed to radiate
heat.

The behaviour of the fire often depends on the fuel. Other factors or variables may include where the fuel is
situated and how near it is to other fuels, the weather (especially wind and relative
humidity), oxygen concentration and, in the case of outside fires, the shape of the terrain.

Fuel

 Type: Different fuels catch fire at different temperatures. It takes a certain amount of heat energy to
change any particular material into a gas (if it is not already). Then it takes more heat energy to
trigger the reaction with oxygen. The amount of heat produced depends on the molecules that make
up the fuel. The most flammable fuels are hydrocarbons (contain carbon and hydrogen) that
recombine with oxygen quite easily to form carbon dioxide, water and other gases.

 Size: How quickly a fuel catches fire and burns relates to the surface area or the size of the fuel. For
example, large pieces of wood take a lot longer to absorb heat energy to ignition temperature. A twig
catches fire easily because it heats up easily.

 Surface area: The bigger the area of the surface of the fuel, the more oxygen molecules
can collide with the surface. The more oxygen molecules that collide per second with the fuel, the
faster the combustion reaction is.
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You can increase the surface area of a solid by breaking it up into smaller pieces. If you chop or break up
wood into small pieces, it will ignite and burn more quickly than larger pieces of wood. People often start
fires with kindling (small pieces of wood) that they criss-cross to allow greater surface area and lots of
oxygen getting in and around.

Differences in surface area

You can increase the surface area of a solid by breaking it up into smaller pieces. If you chop up wood into
small pieces, it will ignite and burn more quickly than larger pieces of wood.

A powder has the largest surface area and will have the fastest reaction rate.

Wildfire
Fires are different depending on the variables involved. A wildfire is uncontrolled, often intense and spreads
rapidly.
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  Heat produced: How much energy is released in the reaction and how quickly the fuel burns
depends on what the fuel is made up of. Different compounds react with oxygen differently – some
contain lots of heat energy while others produce a smaller amount. The reaction with the oxygen may
happen very quickly or more slowly.

 Amount: The amount of fuel available to burn is known as the fuel load. The bigger the fuel load,
the more intense the fire will be in terms of heat energy output.

 Moisture content: If the fuel isn’t dry enough, it won’t burn. The less moisture in the fuel, the more
likely it will ignite and burn.

Oxygen availability

The amount of oxygen available will affect the rate of burning. A low concentration of oxygen will slow the
burning right down.

An example of dangerous fire behaviour that can occur in a situation where there is a low concentration of
oxygen is called backdraught. This is when an enclosed fire has used up most of the oxygen and is just
smouldering. If there is a sudden influx of oxygen (like someone opening a door or window), the fire will
immediately explode into flame.

Weather

 Relative humidity: This reflects the amount of moisture in the air. If relative humidity is low, it will
contribute to the drying of fuels. If it is high, fuels will absorb moisture from the air, making ignition
more difficult.

 Wind: This is a major factor in determining fire spread. Wind affects the rate of oxygen supply to
the burning fuel (controlling combustion) and it tilts the flame forward so that unburned fuel receives
energy by radiation and convection at an increased speed. Wind can also dry out the fuel.

 Rainfall: This also has an effect on wetting fuels, but absorption of moisture is dependent on fuel
size. Fine fuels absorb moisture more quickly than coarse fuels. Lack of rain (precipitation) is the
biggest factor affecting the drying process of fuels.

 Increased temperatures: These will dry out potential fuel so that there will be less preheating of
fuels to reach ignition temperature.

Terrain
The terrain (shape of the land) has significant influence on wildfire behaviour. Steep slopes may increase
fire speed because fuels (scrub and vegetation) are preheated ahead of the fire through convection and
radiation.Rugged terrain with narrow valleys, sharp ridges and irregular slopes affect the direction and rate

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of fire spread. For example, narrow valleys can funnel winds, increasing the rate of spread of a fire due to
convection.

The direction a slope is facing will depend on how much sun it gets. This will affect the amount of drying
the fuels get. The drier the fuel, the faster it will burn.

Fig. Showing terrain effect in fire behavior

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FIRE LOAD:
What Does Fire Load Mean?

"Fire load" is a term used to describe the potential severity of a fire within a specified space. It is therefore a
form of hazard assessment and is used to determine the level of fire risk that exists within a defined area.

Fire load inspections require the assessment of all materials within the space in order to determine that
space's overall flammability. This includes both the material being used in the structure itself and any
flammable objects and substances that may be stored in it.

Explains Fire Load

A building’s fire load is a calculated value. The specific calculation used varies by region and context. In the
United States, the standard for determining fire load during the building design process is NFPA 557. The
generic U.S. calculation for determining fire load within a given space uses the metric system, and describes
fire load as being equal to the mass in kilograms of all material in that space, multiplied by the value of these
materials in calories (kilojoules per kilogram), divided by the area of the space in square meters.

This yields the equation: Fire load = (Mass * Calories) / Area

Various fire safety standards used by occupational safety authorities in the United States and elsewhere are
designed to reduce the fire load that exists in areas that are regularly occupied by workers. These include
both explicit fire-protection standards, such as those that require certain flammable materials to be kept in
storage, as well as standards which are designed to reduce the presence of hazards that may increase fire
risks indirectly. OSHA’s housekeeping standards, for example, require workplace safety procedures which
simultaneously reduce the risk of workers tripping on items in their environment and limits the amount of
potentially flammable material distributed throughout the workplace.

There is no fixed value for when a fire load is "low enough." A workplace's fire load is always somewhat
dependant on the material characteristics that are inherent to that type of workplace—a paint factory would
be expected to have a larger fire load than a swimming pool, for instance. Whether an employer is keeping a
sufficiently low fire load is therefore determined by whether or not their fire load deviates significantly from
the load that would be expected within their particular industry.

Example:

Specific heat of Granite is 790 J/g K.

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Table showing - Calorific Value of different building materials

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CLASSES OF FIRE:
While fire can seem like one big threatening force, it’s important to know that there are actually several
classes of fires. A fire’s class can determine how quickly it burns, how dangerous it is, and the best way to
suppress or put it out. The 5 different classes of fires each have their own best approach to put them out
safely and effectively.

The 5 Different Classes of Fires

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.
Let’s break down each of the 5 different classes of fires more thoroughly.

Class A Fires: “Ordinary” Fires

Class A fires are the most common of the 5 different classes of fires. They occur when common combustible
materials like wood, paper, fabric, trash, and light plastics catch fire. These accidental fires are ubiquitous
across a variety of industries, so it’s recommended to have adequate protection against “ordinary” fires in
addition to other condition-specific fires.
Despite being “ordinary”, don’t rule this class of fire as low-risk. If there’s an abundance of fuel present,
these fires can intensify quickly. It’s best to put out a Class A fire quickly before it spreads using water or
monoammonium phosphate.

Class B Fires: Liquids & Gases

Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, especially fuels like petroleum or petroleum-based
products such as gasoline, paint, and kerosene. Other gases that are highly flammable are propane and
butane, which are common causes of Class B fires. The best way to deal with these types of fires is by
smothering them or removing oxygen using foam or CO2 fire suppression equipment.
Be aware that Class B fires do not include grease fires or cooking fires, which belong to their own class,
Class K.

Class C Fires: Electrical Fires

Electrical fires fall under Class C and are common in facilities that make heavy use of electrical equipment,
but they can occur in a wide range of industries. For example, data centers might be an obvious risk area for
Class C fires. They must have safeguards in place to deal with electrical fires.

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Construction sites are another common Class C fire risk: electrical power tools or appliances used for
cooking can cause sparks to ignite combustible materials and intensify rapidly. Old buildings with bad
wiring or space heaters present more concerns.
Electrical fires require non-conductive materials to extinguish the flame, so water alone is not a good
solution. Facilities with sensitive equipment may prefer clean agent suppression because it won’t leave
residue or damage electrical equipment.

Class D Fires: Metallic Fires

Class D fires are not as common as the other classes, but they do require special attention because they can
be especially difficult to extinguish. Metallic fires involve flammable materials like titanium, aluminum,
magnesium, and potassium — all commonly occurring in laboratories.
Class D fires cannot be addressed with water, as this can exacerbate the fire and be potentially dangerous.
Dry powder agents are the best solution for smothering the flames and limiting damage to property or
people.

Class K Fires: Grease Fires or Cooking Fires

Class K fires involve flammable liquids, similar to Class B fires, but are specifically related to food service
and the restaurant industry. These common fires start from the combustion of liquid cooking materials
including grease, oils, and vegetable and animal fats.
Because they can spread quickly and be difficult to manage, Class K fires are some of the most dangerous.
Water can make the situation worse, but smothering the flames or using a wet agent fire extinguisher is
effective.
Now that we understand how each fire starts, we can prepare for how to fight them — or better yet, prevent
them from happening in the first place.

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