Introduction to Fire

Health, Safety & Environment

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Fire
 Fire is a chemical reaction or series of
chemical reactions in which fuel chemically
combines with an oxidizing agent and
sufficient quantity of energy in the form of
heat, flame, light etc, is released
 Fire is a chemical reaction between fuel and
oxygen at suitable temperature.
 Fire is a rapid oxidation process.

Introduction to Fire
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Triangle Of Fire
 Fuel

 Oxygen Oxygen Source of

ignition
FIRE
 Source of Ignition
Fuel

Introduction to Fire
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Fuel
 Fuel is converted to vapour to burn.
 Proportion of vapour must be in proper
flammable range to burn.
 A flammable range of methane is between
5% to 15% by volume
 Flammable range is also termed as LEL
and UEL (Lower Explosive Limit & Upper
Explosive Limit)
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Oxygen
 Air contains 21% Oxygen by Volume.

 At least 16% Oxygen is required to sustain life

and combustion

Introduction to Fire
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Ignition Source
 Source of ignition includes Spark,
Mechanical process like friction, electrical
resistance for example; over heating of
electrical appliances, reaction between
two chemicals, use of Non-IS equipment
etc.

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Types Of Fuel
 Carbon
 Hydrocarbons
 Combustible Metals
 Non- Metals
 Cellulosic Substances

Introduction to Fire
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Classes Of Fire
A SOLID CLOTH, PAPER,WOOD WATER

B LIQUID FLAMEABLE LIQUIDS FOAM / DCP

GASOLINE, KERO, DIESEL

C GAS COMBUSTIBLE GASES

NATURALGAS, HYDROGEN, DCP
ACETELENE
D METAL SODIUM, POTASSIUM, DCP
URANIUM

E ELECTRIC CABLES, SOCKETS, TRANSFRMERS, CO2, DCP,

OVERLOADING & OVER HEATING OF HALOTRON
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES FM-200

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Oxygen Or Oxidizing Agent

A substance which permits substances to

burn is called oxidizing agent.
or
Anything which provides oxygen for the
process of combustion is called oxidizing
agent.

Introduction to Fire
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Heat And Temperature

 Heat is a form of energy and is used in raising the
temperature of fuel at a point where sufficient
vapors are produced to take part in chemical
reaction ( combustion ).

 Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of

a body. The behavior of the substances varies at
different temperature as flash point, fire point, auto-
ignition and spontaneous combustion.

Introduction to Fire
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Temperature Form Of Fuels

 Flash point The minimum temperature at which sufficient vapors
from a fuel are available in which a momentary flash can be
produced when ignited by some external source.

 Fire point It is the lowest temp: at which sufficient vapors from a

fuel are available in which sustained combustion can be started
when some piloted ignition is applied.

 Auto-ignition temperature It is the minimum temp: at which

sufficient amount of flammable vapors are produced from the
substance in addition to rise off internal energy so that
combustion reaction takes place automatically with out
introduction of flame.
Introduction to Fire
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PRODUCTS OF FIRE
&
EFFECTS ON LIFE SAFETY

Introduction to Fire
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Products Of Fire
 Generally there are two types of products
liberated in the process of combustion
 Thermal products (Heat & Flame)
 Non –thermal products ( Smoke & Toxic
gases)

Introduction to Fire
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Heat
 Effects of heat
It declines blood pressure.
By inhalation of hot air fluid
may build up in lungs.
It can cause burns & scalds

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Smoke
 Smoke is composed of unburned
particles ,dust and liquid droplets.

 Effects

 Suffocation
 Visibility is affected.
 Creates irritation in the respiratory tract.

Introduction to Fire
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Toxic Gases
 CO2 Carbon Dioxide
 CO Carbon Mono-oxide
 SO2 Sulpher Dioxide
 H 2S Hydrogen Sulphide
 NH3 Ammonia
 HCl Hydrogen Chloride
 NO2 Nitrogen Oxide

Introduction to Fire
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Effects Of Toxic Gases

 Carbon-Di-Oxide(CO2).The main effect of CO2 is suffocation
but at different concentration it has different effects as shown
in the table:-
Amount of CO2 in air Effects
0.5% No symptoms and no permanent danger.
2.0% Increase the breathing rate by 50%
3.0% Increase the breathing rate by 100%
5.0 Vomiting, dizziness, breathing difficulties after 30
minutes.
8-10% Vomiting, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and
death after some time.

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Carbon-mono-oxide (CO)
 When (CO) is inhaled, it combines with hemoglobin; and car
boxy hemoglobin is formed. Carboxy-hemoglobin has
different effects as shown in the table:-

Amount of Carboxy
Hemoglobin in blood Effects

10 Possible shortness of breathe

20-30 Shortness of breathe, headache.
Severe headache, mental confusion, dizziness & fatigue
30-50
Unconsciousness, death and respiratory failure if
50-70 exposure is continued.
70 & above rapidly fatal.
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Sulpher-di-Oxide (SO2)

 Its source materials are rubber ,wood ,

sulfuric acid and pesticides etc. Its
toxicological effects are eyes and lungs
irritation.

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Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)

 Its source materials are hydrocarbon

leather, wood and other materials
containing Sulphur. Its lethal
concentration is 20 PPM. It is a nerve
agent and creates paralysis.

Introduction to Fire
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Ammonia (NH3)
 When wool, silk and melamine are
involved in fires then (NH3) is
produced. It is soluble in water
and its main effect is irritation in eyes.
It is fatal if exposure is longer.

Introduction to Fire
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Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

 Its source materials are plastics i.e. PVC
and ploy urethane. At low concentration
causing coughing , choking and irritation
in eyes.
 At high concentration can damage the
upper respiratory tract, causing
asphyxiation or death.

Introduction to Fire
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Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 )

 Source materials are fabrics, cellulose

acetate and all plastics containing
Nitrogen. Its main effect is Asphyxiation
and longer exposure can prove fatal.

Introduction to Fire
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Heat Transfer

Heat transfers within and between

building / unit by convection,
conduction and radiation

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Convection
 Convection is heat transfer by air
motion. During a fire heated air
expands and moves away from the fire,
exerting pressure against doors and
penetrating the openings

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Conduction
 Conduction is heat transfer through solid
materials. During a fire heat can be transferred
through metallic structure, steal beams, metal
conduit, wire and ducts, and so on which are
good conductors of heat. Conversely, wood,
mineral wool, glass fiber, and similar materials
are poor conductors of heat.

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Radiation
 Radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves.
During a fire hot surfaces can radiate heat, igniting
combustibles distance away. For example, fire can
leapfrog across wide malls in shopping center by
radiation of heat energy. Radiant heat energy
increases rapidly as the source becomes hostler.

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Heat From Fire

Air Temperature Human response
Irreversible injury dry skin with in 30 second.
350 F

300 F Intolerable with in 5 minutes.

250 F Intolerable with in 15 minutes.
Tolerable for less than 1 hour (Depends on
150 F humidity, clothes worn and level of physical
exertion)
Human comfort zone conditions. (Depends on
60 F humidity, air motion and other factors)

Introduction to Fire
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Principles of Fire Extinction

 It has been shown from the TRIANGLE of fire that
three elements are essential namely;
 Presence of oxygen
 Presence of fuel
 Required temperature
 If one or more of these elements are removed fire is
extinguished. Methods of extinguishing fire is therefore
classified under the following headings
 Cooling
 Smothering
 Starvation

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Cooling
 In order to produce and then sustain the combustion
process a continuous supply of heat energy is
required. If temperature is lowered, then fire can be
extinguished.This is achieved by using water which
is considered, to be the best fire fighting medium for
cooling purpose due to the following characteristic:
 Water is a cheapest source.
 It is a good heat absorbent.
 It has dual purpose simultaneously, i.e. cooling and
smothering.

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Smothering
 It is the technique by which the supply of oxygen or
any other oxidizing agent required for combustion is
checked. In the absence of an oxidizing agent the
combustion reaction cannot prolong hence the fire is
extinguished.For this technique the following fire
fighting media are used;
 Foam
 CO2
 DCP
 Steam
 Sand
 Water (in form of spray or fog)

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Starvation
 By removing combustible material from
near vicinity of the fire.
 The drainage of fuel from burning oil
tanks.
 Cutting the fuel supply in gas fires.
 Demolition of building to create a fire
stop.

Introduction to Fire
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Thank You

Introduction to Fire