Fire and Explosion

Q-1 Classification of Fire & its applicability – Short Note. (7) 2007, 2008,
2010, 2012

Ans. Classes of Fire and its Extinguishers

Class Description Extinguishing

of Medium
fire
A Fires involving ordinary combustible Water type
materials like wood, paper, textiles, fibres (Soda acid)
and vegetables etc. where the cooling effect Water type (gas
of water is essential for the extinction of pressure)
fires. Water type
(constant air
pressure),
Anti – freeze types
and
Water buckets
B Fire in flammable liquids like oils, grease, Chem. Foam
solvents, Petroleum products, varnishes Carbon dioxide
paints etc. where a blanketing effect is Dry Powder
essential. Dry Powder
Mechanical foam
Sand buckets
C Fires involving gaseous substances under Carbon dioxide
pressure where it is necessary to dilute the
burning gas at a very fast rate with an inert Dry powder
gas or powder. Dry powder

D Fire involving metals like magnesium, Dry powder

aluminium, zinc, potassium etc., where the Special dry powder
burning metal is reactive to water and which for metal fire
requires special extinguishing media or Sand buckets
technique.

E Fires involving electrical equipment where Carbon dioxide

the electrical non-conductivity of the Dry chemical
extinguishing media is of first importance. powder
When electrical
equipment is de-
energised, same
as for Classes A &
B Sand buckets.

* Class E is omitted is some literature (eg. IS: 2190)

Q-2 Short Note on Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE) (6)
2007, 2011

Ans. Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE) is a combination of fire

and explosion with an intense radiant heat emission within a relatively short time
interval.

When a tank or pressure vessel containing liquid or liquefied gas above its
boiling point (so heated) fails or ruptures, the contents release as a turbulent mixture
of liquid and gas, expanding rapidly and dispersing in air as a cloud. When this
cloud is ignited, a fireball occurs causing enormous heat radiation intensity within a
few seconds. This heat is sufficient to cause severe skin burns and deaths within a
few hundred metres depending on the mass of the gas involved.

Road/rail accident to a tank car/wagon or due to weakening of structure by fire

or physical impact on an overstressed vessel/tank can cause a BLEVE

Q-3 What are the causes of fire in electrical systems? How will you eliminate
them? (5) 2008

Ans. Electrical fire occurs due to:

1) Over heating electrical equipment

2) Arc due to short circuit
3) Improper use of appliances in hazardous atmosphere
4) Temporary, defective and makeshift wiring
5) Over loading or improper earthing
6) Improper earthing & bonding

Water cannot be used to extinguish electrical fire till it is energised i.e. the
circuit is live. If it is possible to put off electrical power supply and to de-
energise the electrical circuit, equipment or wire caught in fire, it must be done
first. Then this fire can be extinguished as class A or B fire. Then water or
soda acid type, foam or DCP type and CO 2 or Halon type, any extinguisher
can be used.

If it is not possible to put off electricity (de energising not possible), it should
be treated as class-E fire and Carbon dioxide or DCP type extinguishers
should be used. Sand buckets are also useful.

Q-4 PRECAUTIONS RELATING TO FOAM TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHER (5)

2008
Ans. It is used on class B small fires. It should not be used on electrical or metal
fire. It is available in 9 L cylinder and used in 4 to 6 m range. It consumed within 1.5
minute. It is available in wheel mounted trolley of 18 L and 150 L capacities for
longer use. It should be checked every 3 months.

By standing 3 to 4 m away from the fire, the plunger is pulled up and turned
right up to a slot. It is shacked by turning 180° twice. Then it is held inverted. By
chemical reaction CO is generated which throws foam outside. The foam is not
thrown directly in fire but it is thrown on nearer hard surface so that because of
striking further foam is generated and spread on burning surface. It stops oxygen
availability for burning and controls the fire. Foam is effective up to 120 °C
temperature only.

Q-5 Short note- Chemistry of Fire (5) 2008, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

Ans. Three elements are necessary to start fire. They are (1) Fuel (2) Oxygen
and (3) Heat or Source of ignition. Fire is not possible if any one of these
elements is not available.

If any one of above three elements is removed, the fire goes out. Therefore
methods of fire extinguishment are dependent on:

1. Removing or shutting off the source of fuel. (Starvation method)

2. Excluding oxygen or decreasing it below 14 to 18% by adding inert
gases. (Smothering method)
3. Removing heat from the fire faster than its liberation (Cooling method)

Thus fire is a rapid chemical oxidation-reduction reaction. Oxygen in air acts

as an oxidiser and fuel acts as a reducing agent and burning material. It
is an oxidation of a substance (which burns the fuel) accompanied by heat,
light and flame. Due to incomplete combustion it evolves smoke and
carbon monoxide which creates invisibility and toxic atmosphere for fire
fighters.

An excess of air can cool the combustion gases to quench the fire, if the
combustible material is small, otherwise it cannot, as in case of forest fire
where the combustible material is too much to cool.
 The chemical reaction is exothermic as it evolves heat and the heat released
is used for the reaction to continue.

Q-6 Short note- Fire Alarm System (5) 2008, 2011

Ans. Various types of detectors are available operating to detect presence of

smoke, increase in temperature or light intensity. They should be properly
located depending upon their range. They simply rang alarm and cannot
extinguish fire. They make us alert for fire fighting.

Though fire detection and alarm systems are separate systems but the latter
has to operate just after the former operates. Therefore they are
considered together.

Two main functions of any fire detection system are

1. To give alarm to start up extinguishing procedure, and

2. To give early warning to area occupants to escape.

It is wrong to speak 'fire detectors'. Actually they detect sensible heat, smoke
density or flame radiation to operate before actual fire follows. Their
'sensor' detects measurable quantity of these parameters.

Selection of the type of detector is important For example, low risk areas need
thermal detectors, a ware house may have infrared and ionisation
detectors and a computer area requires ionisation or combination of
detectors.

Location and spacing should be determined to obtain the earliest possible

warning.

Sensitivity, reliability, maintainability and stability are important factors for

selection.

Thermal detectors are of fixed temperature detectors, rate-compensated

thermal detectors, rate of rise thermal detectors, line thermal detectors
and the bulb detection system.

Smoke detectors are of photoelectric type and are of two classes - The beam
photoelectric or reflected beam photoelectric detectors.

Flame detectors are of infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) type.

Q-7 Various method for fire control (4) 2008, 2010

Ans. Mainly three methods are used for fire control:

 (1) Starvation or isolation i.e. shutting off or preventing the flow of
fuel and blanketing the fire surface with form to seal air-vapour mixture

(2) Cooling by application of water, foam or dry chemical powder and

(3) Smothering by applying inert gas (to reduce oxygen concentration),

steam, dry chemicals or vaporising liquids such as CO, Freon, methyl bromide
etc.

Q-8 Sprinkler systems. (4) 2008

Ans. Sprinkler systems require a reliable water source of sufficient capacity and
pressure for efficient fire extinguishing, the exact quantity required depends
on maximum flow of water through all the sprinklers. The pressure
requirement may vary depending on height required but minimum should be
atmospheric pressure at the top story sprinklers. Water may be supplied
from any of the following sources:

a) Underground supply mains from public water works

b) Automatic or manually controlled pumps drawing water from ponds or
underground reservoirs.
c) Elevated reservoirs.

Q-9 Factors contributing to the Fires. (4) 2008, 2010

Ans. Factors contributing to fire are as under:

1. Easy availability of combustible material like rubbish, solvent, paper,

wood etc.
2. Easy availability of air, oxygen or any oxidizing material.
3. Sources of ignition like spark, static discharge, contact of hot surfaces,
friction etc.
4. Continuous running machinery without proper lubrication and
maintenance.
5. Non flame proof electrical fitting in flammable areas.
6. Habit of smoking in flammable areas.
7. No provision of fire detectors in fire prone areas.
8. No provision of fire extinguishers in fire prone areas.
9. Open handling of flammable substances.
10. No compliance of fire safety rules.

Q-10 Describe about explosion phenomena. (15) 2009

 i) Deflagration ii) Detonation iii) Confined and unconfined vapour cloud
explosion

Ans. Deflagration: It is an explosion with a resulting shock wave moving at a

speed less than the speed of sound in unreacted medium. It is very rapid
auto combustion of particles of explosive as a surface phenomenon. It may
be initiated by contact of a flame or spark but may be caused by impact or
friction. It is a characteristic of low explosives. The peak pressure caused
by a deflagration in a closed vessel can reach up to 70-80 kPa (8 bar). A
deflagration can turn into a detonation while travelling through a long pipe.

Detonation: It is an explosion with a resulting shock wave moving at a

speed more than the speed of sound in unreacted medium. It is
extremely rapid, self-propagating decomposition of an explosive
accompanied by a high pressure-temperature wave that moves at from 1000
to 9000 m/sec. It may be initiated by mechanical impact, friction or heat. A
vapour phase explosion requires some degree of confinement for a
detonation to take place. The only condition is that gas air mixture
should be within explosive/ detonable range and there should be a
source of ignition. Acetone, acetylene, hydrogen, benzene are known to
detonate in gas-air mixture.

Confined and Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosion:

An unconfined vapour cloud explosion (UVCE) occurs in open at a distance

from the point of vapour release and threatens a larger area. A large
release of flammable vapours and cloud formation explodes when
spark or friction is available. Though it is a rare possibility but has more
potential to damage.

A confined vapour cloud explosion (CVCE) occurs in a confined place (e.g.

vessel, pipe, building, pit etc.) While UVCE occurs in an open area. The peak
pressures of CVCE are much higher than that of UVCE.

Some issues connected with confined and unconfined VCE are as under:

1. Determination of detonation limits.

2. Mass of material released and part vaporised.
3. Possibility from deflagration to detonation.
4. Probability of explosion or fire.
5. Probability and technique of ignition of cloud.
6. Dilution due to air entrainment
7. Distance travelled by cloud before ignition.
8. Nature of flame propagation.
9. Types of effects of explosion.

Q-11 Classification of fire as NFPA. (5) 2011

Ans. NFPA classifies fires and fire extinguishers into the following 4 types:

Class A: Fires in ordinary combustible material, such as wood, cloth, paper,

rubber and many plastics that require the heat-absorbing coolant effect of water or
water solutions, the coating effects of certain dry chemicals that retard combustion,
or the interruption or the combustion chain reaction by the dry, chemical or
halogenated agents.

Class B: Fires in flammable or combustible liquids, flammable gases, grease

and similar material that must be put out by excluding air (oxygen), by
inhibiting the release of combustible vapour with AFFF or FFFP agents, or by
interrupting the combustion chain reaction.

Class C: Fires in live electrical equipment. The operator's safety requires the
use of electrically non conductive extinguishing agents, such as dry chemical
as halon. When electric equipment is de-energized, extinguishers for class A
or B fires maybe used.

Class D: Fires in certain combustible metals, such as Mg, Ti, Zr, Na, & K that
require a heat absorbing extinguishing medium that does not react with the
burning metals.

Class K: Class K fires involve cooking oils. This is the newest of the fire
classes.

Q-12 Short Note- Fire Load (5) 2011(May) 2011 (Nov.)

Ans. Fire load is the concentration or amount of combustible material in a building

per m2 of floor area. It is defined as the amount of heat released in kilo calories by
the fuel per m2 area of the premises. Fire loads are useful to calculate the water
requirement to quench the fire, as when water comes in contact with burning surface
it absorbs heat. 1 cm3 of water absorbs 1 cal of heat when the temperature is raised
by 1°C. The fact should also be considered that all the fuel does not burn at a time
and all the water does not absorb heat as it flows away.

Bombay Regional Committee (BRC) on fire has prescribed rules for fire load
calculation. Fire loads are calculated to assess potentiality of fire hazard, need of
amount of fire prevention and protection systems (e.g. water or other agent) and
amount of premiums required for fire insurance. Fire load classification is as follows:

Low fire load - Less than 1 lakh BTU

Moderate fire load - Between 1 to 2 lakhs BTU

Higher fire load - More than 2 lakhs BTU

Q-13 Portable Fire Extinguishers. (5) 2011

Ans. Almost all fires are small in their incipient stage and can be put out quickly if
the proper firefighting equipment is available and the person discovering the fire has
been trained to use the equipment at hand. Most facilities turn to portable fire
extinguishers for fighting incipient stage fires.

According to OSHA, portable fire extinguishers must be:

1. Approved by a recognized testing laboratory;

2. Of the proper type for the class of fire expected

3. Located where they are readily accessible for immediate use and in sufficient
quantity and size to deal with the expected fire

4. Inspected and maintained on a regular basis so that they are kept in good
operating condition

5. Operated by trained personnel who can use them effectively

Portable fire extinguishers are labelled so users can quickly identify the classes of
fire on which the extinguisher will be effective. The marking system combines
pictographs of both recommended and unacceptable extinguisher types on a single
identification label. Also located on the fire extinguisher label is the UL rating, these
numerical ratings allow you to compare the relative extinguishing effectiveness of
various fire extinguishers.

For example, an extinguisher that is rated 4A:20B:C indicates the following:

1. The A rating is a water equivalency rating. Each A is equivalent to 1.25

gallons of water. 4A = 5 gallons of water.

2. The B:C rating is equivalent to the amount of square footage the extinguisher
can cover, related to the degree of training and experience of the operator. 20
B:C = 20 square feet of coverage.

3. C indicates it is suitable for use on electrically energized equipment.

Q-14 What are the common causes of Industrial Fire? (10) 2012, 2013

Ans.

Cause Remedial Measure

1 Electricity Standard and safe wiring, over load protection, double

insulation and earthing on portable equipment, ELCB and
waterproof cord in wet environment, use of proper
 flameproof equipment in hazardous area and periodical
inspection.

2 Bad house- Storing rubbish, waste, oil, grease etc. in a waste-bin with
keeping closed cover, regular cleaning and inspection, bund (dyke)
to storage tanks of flammable liquid dust collectors, safe
disposal and incineration.

3 Cigarettes No-smoking notices, separate smoking booths, checking of

match box, lighter etc. at security gates.

4 Hot surfaces Good insulation, fencing, ducting for smokes and flue.

5 Friction Good lubrication, proper belt tension, alignment, dust

removal, inspection and maintenance.

6 Excessive Heat Cooling, temperature controls, trained operators and

supervisors.

7 Welding cutting Special place or partition, heat resistant floor, spark control,
keeping flammable substance away, hot work permit,
flammability test in tank before hot work, use of proper
equipment.

8 Flame and Proper design, operation and maintenance, sufficient

combustion ventilation and ignition safety, heater insulation, hood,
chimney, keeping flame away, trips and interlocks.

9 Self ignition Keep environment cool and dry, necessary ventilation and
protection, keeping ducts and passages of waste and
smoke clean, separate store of highly flammable materials,
not to put oil soaked rags on hot surfaces, lagging and
cladding, small vessels, good housekeeping.

10 Exposure Barrier wall, sprinklers on fire path, wire glass in windows.

11 Ignition sparks Proper equipment, closed combustion chamber, spark

arrester on flammable vent and vehicle exhaust, flare, trip.

12 Mechanical Machine guarding to avoid entry of foreign particle, fencing,

sparks magnetic separator, non-sparking tools.

13 Molten hot Proper equipment with handles, better operation, and

substance maintenance non- mixing of water.

14 Static electricity Grounding, bounding, ionization and humidification, vehicle

(Due to belt earthing while transfer through pipeline, earthing of vessel,
drive, paper/ equipment and piping, flow rate reduction, avoiding
plastic reeling, flammable atmosphere, splashing and settling, using
human body, earthed probe, antistatic device, conductive shoes and
fluidized bed, flooring, copper earthing with earth resistance less than 10
pneumatic ohm additive to change liquid resistance, keeping filters
conveying, dust away from storage tanks, extending inlet pipe up to bottom
handling, liquid to avoid free fall of liquid, non-conductive parts and earthing
mixing, flow in of l4evel gauges, avoiding oil drops in water, small size of
vessel or pipe non-conducting plastic containers, using N2 instead of CO2
agitation etc. as inert gas, electrostatic eliminators on paper / plastic
reeling machines, use of radioactive ionization etc.