What is Fire?

• Fire is a chemical reaction, in

which substance (fuel) combines
FUNDAMENTALS OF FIRE with oxygen. The reaction is
AND exothermic and usually associated
CLASSIFICATION with emission of light and smoke.

Explosion Explosion results from

In the widest sense, an explosion is
• Chemical changes such as in the
an effect produced by the sudden detonation of explosive or the
violent expansion of gases. combustion of a flammable gas-air
mixture
It is a process of rapid physical and/or
chemical transformation of a system • Physical or Mechanical changes such as
into mechanical work, accompanied bursting of pressure vessels
by a change of its potential energy
and may also be accompanied by • Atomic changes
shock waves and/or the disruption
of enclosing materials or structures.

1
 Chain reaction Fire tetrahedron (Pyramid)
For a Fire to be self sustaining, the
oxidation process should be self
sustaining.

The Ignition which triggers the oxidation

reaction between one tiny bundle of
Oxygen and one tiny bundle of fuel
must produce enough energy to trigger
oxidation between two more tiny
bundles of oxygen and fuel.

In this manner, the combustion

continues like a CHAIN REACTION

Classification of Fire Class ‘A’ fire

• Class “A” Fires • Ordinary combustible fire
– These are the fires involving Solid
• Class “B” Fires combustible materials normally organic
• Class “C” Fires in nature (compounds of carbon) in
which combustion generally occurs
• Class “D” Fires with the formation of glowing amber,
where the cooling effect of water is
essential for extinguishing the fire.
e.g., Wood, Cloth, Paper etc; which
leave carbon after combustion

2
 Class ‘B’ fire
• Flammable liquid fire
– These are the fires involving
flammable Liquids or Liquefiable
Solids where blanketing effect is
essential for extinguishing the fire.
e.g., Petroleum products, Solvents,
Paints etc
Class ‘D’ Fires
• Metal fires
– The fires that occur in combustible
metals generally called Alkali Metals
such as Magnesium, Sodium,
Titanium etc. are classified under this
class. Specialised techniques,
extinguishing agents & equipment are
required to control such fires.
Class ‘C’ Fire
• Flammable gas fire
– These are the fires involving gases or
Liquified gases under pressure where
it is necessary to isolate the burning
gas at a fast rate with an inert gas,
powder or vaporising liquid for
extinguishment. e.g., Fuel Gas,
Hydrogen, Liquefied Petroleum Gas
etc
Electrical fires
• According to latest concepts, the electrical
fires do not constitute a particular class.
Any fire involving an electrical equipment
is in fact be a fire of class A, B or C. The
normal procedure in such fires is to cut off
the electricity and use an extinguishing
method appropriate to the burning
material. Special extinguishing agents
which are non-conductor of electricity and
non-damaging to the electrical equipment
such as dry chemical powders and carbon
di-oxide should be used
3
 COOLING BY WATER
Principle of extinguishing fire
 Starvation - Elimination of fuel Application of Water
• DIRECT EFFECT-
 Smothering - Limiting Oxygen
– LOWERING OF TEMPERATURE
supply

 Cooling - Limiting rise of • INDIRECT EFFECT-

– SMOTHERING AND DILUTION
Temperature OF VAPOURS DUE TO STEAM
GENERATION
 Chain inhibition

Some Definitions
IGNITION SOURCES
• FLASH POINT : Lowest Temperature at
which flammable liquid gives off
Electricity Friction
sufficient vapours to give momentary
flash when ignited by a pilot flame Smoking Spontaneous
Incendiaries ignition
Hot surfaces Chemical reactions
• FIRE POINT/IGNITION TEMPERATURE
Lowest Temperature at which Open flames Pyrophoric/
oxidising materials
flammable liquid gives off sufficient Cutting & welding
vapours for sustained burning when sparks Static charge
ignited by a pilot flame Lightning

4
 FIRE EXTINCTION
FIRE TRAINING

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
USE AND OPERATION

The picture can't be display ed.

Suitability of Fire Extinguishers

5
Fire Extinguisher Ratings
Class A Extinguishers will put
out fires in ordinary combustibles,
such as wood and paper. The
numerical rating for this class of
fire extinguisher refers to the
amount of water the fire
extinguisher holds and the amount
of fire it will extinguish.
Class C Extinguishers are suitable
for use on electrically energized
fires. This class of fire
extinguishers does not have a
numerical rating. The presence of
the letter “C” indicates that the
extinguishing agent is non-
conductive.
Class B Extinguishers
should be used on fires involving
flammable liquids, such as
grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The
numerical rating for this class of
fire extinguisher states the
approximate number of square
feet of a flammable liquid fire
that a non-expert person can
expect to extinguish.
Class D Extinguishers are designed for
use on flammable metals and are
often specific for the type of metal in
question. There is no picture
designator for Class D extinguishers.
These extinguishers generally have
no rating nor are they given a multi-
purpose rating for use on other types
of fires.
6
 Dry Chemical
extinguishers
Multi-Class Ratings are usually
Many extinguishers available rated for
today can be used on different multiple
types of fires and will be labeled purpose use.
with more than one designator, They contain an
e.g. A-B, B-C, or A-B-C. Make extinguishing
sure that if you have a multi- agent and use a
purpose extinguisher it is compressed,
properly labeled. non-flammable
gas as a
propellant.

Halon extinguishers
contain a gas that interrupts
the chemical reaction that
takes place when fuels burn. Water
These types of extinguishers
are often used to protect These extinguishers
valuable electrical equipment contain water and
since them leave no residue to compressed gas and
clean up. Halon extinguishers should only be used on
have a limited range, usually 4 Class A (ordinary
to 6 feet. The initial combustibles) fires.
application of Halon should be
made at the base of the fire,
even after the flames have
been extinguished

7
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
extinguishers
are most effective on Class B and C How to Use a
(liquids and electrical) fires. Since the
gas disperses quickly, these
Fire
extinguishers are only effective from 3 Extinguisher
to 8 feet. The carbon dioxide is stored Even though extinguishers come in a number of
as a compressed liquid in the shapes and sizes, they all operate in a similar
extinguisher; as it expands, it cools manner. Here's an easy acronym for fire
the surrounding air. The cooling will extinguisher use:
often cause ice to form around the
“horn” where the gas is expelled from
the extinguisher. Since the fire could
re-ignite, continue to apply the agent P A S S -- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep
even after the fire appears to be out

Pull
The pin at the top of the extinguisher that keeps
the handle from being accidentally pressed.

Aim
The nozzle toward the
base of the fire

8
Stand approximately 8 feet away from the fire and
squeeze the handle to discharge the
extinguisher. If you release the handle, the
discharge will stop.

Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of

the fire. After the fire appears to be out, watch it
carefully since it may re-ignite!

Fire Extinguisher - Do’s Fire Extinguisher - Don’ts

Keep it at its designated place
Always use suitable extinguisher
In case of abnormality, inform fire
control room
For electrical fires, use DCP & CO2
extinguishers only
Avoid physical damage
Do not misuse fire extinguisher
Do not use water type extinguisher on
electrical fires
Do not attempt to open fire
extinguisher
Do not relocate extinguisher on your
own
Do not remove operating instruction
sticker
Do not obstruct the visibility & access.