Controlling Workplace Hazards

Unit GC2 International

Element 6: Fire Safety

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 Learning Outcomes
• Describe the principles of fire initiation,
classification and spread
• Outline the principles of fire risk assessment
• Describe the basic principles of fire prevention and
the prevention of fire spread in buildings
• Outline the appropriate fire alarm system and fire-
fighting arrangements for a simple workplace
• Outline the factors that should be considered
when implementing a successful evacuation of a
workplace in the event of a fire

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 Unit GC2: Element 6.1
FIRE INITIATION, CLASSIFICATION
AND SPREAD

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 What is Fire?
• Fire is a rapid chemical process in which oxygen
combines with another substance (“fuel”) in the
presence of a source of heat

• This reaction is called combustion

• During this reaction heat, flames and smoke are

produced

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 The Fire Triangle

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 The Fire Triangle

• Fuel – a combustible material or substance

consumed during the combustion process
• Oxygen – is present in air at a concentration
of 21%
• Sources of ignition (heat) – heat or energy
is essential to start the combustion process

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 Classification of Fires

Class A - solid materials

Class B - liquids and liquefiable solids
Class C - gases
Class D - metals
Class F - high-temperature fat

NB This is the UK/EU classification system – it

does not use Class E. The system is not universal

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 Group Syndicate Exercise
• Consider how a gas cooker heats and cooks
food

• Use the same principles to consider how

fire might spread in a two-storey office
block

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 Methods of Fire Spread
• Direct burning
• Convection
– inside
– outside
• Conduction
• Radiation

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 Methods of Fire Spread
Convection

Radiation

Conduction

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 Group Discussion Point
Suggest common causes of fire in the workplace

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 Common Causes of Fires
• Electrical equipment
• Deliberate ignition (arson)
• Hot work
• Smoking
• Cooking appliances
• Heating appliances
• Unsafe use and storage of flammable liquids and
gases
• Mechanical heat
• Chemical reactions
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 Consequences of Fires
• People killed and injured
• Damage to buildings and contents including smoke
damage
• Environmental damage, e.g. water run-off

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 End of Section Quiz
1. What 3 things are needed for a fire to start?
2. What are the methods of fire spread?
3. Suggest common causes of workplace fire in an
office

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 Unit GC2: Element 6.2
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

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 Fire Risk Assessment

The reasons for carrying out a fire risk

assessment:
• Prevent harm to people
• Comply with the law
• Minimise the cost of fire in the workplace

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 Fire Risk Assessment

1. Identify the fire hazards

2. Identify the people who might
be harmed
3. Evaluate, Identify and
implement fire precautions
4. Record findings, plan and train
5. Review and revise as necessary

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 Identify Fire Hazards
• Fuel sources
• Heat/ignition sources
• Oxygen sources

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 Group Syndicate Exercise
Walk around an area of the building, as directed by
your tutor, and identify sources of:
• Fuel
• Ignition
• Oxygen
(consider all sources, even if well controlled)

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 Identify the Fire Hazards
• Fuels
– Paper
– Packaging materials
– Furniture
– Highly-flammable liquids and gases
• Ignition sources
– Hot work
– Electrical equipment
– Portable heaters
• Oxygen sources
– Oxygen cylinders
– Oxidising substances
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 Identify Who May Be
Harmed
• Suggest who should be considered in the
fire risk assessment for a sports centre
• What group of people may need special
consideration in the risk assessment?

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 Identify Who May Be
Harmed
People who are on the premises:
• Workers
• Visitors/contractors/public
• People in isolated locations
Special consideration to
vulnerable groups:
• Disabled/mobility-impaired
• Children/young persons
• Visually or hearing-impaired

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 Identify and Implement
Precautions
• Fire prevention
• Prevention of the spread of smoke and flames
• Fire detection and alarm
• Fire-fighting equipment
• Means of escape
• Signs and notices
• Lighting

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 Record Findings, Plan and
Train
• Record the significant findings
• Develop emergency plans
• Provide information and instruction
• Train workers

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 Review

Review and Revise

• As necessary:
− Significant changes
− Fire emergency
• Periodically:
− To keep assessment up to date

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 Temporary Workplaces
• Fire safety applies to all workplaces:
− Fire risk assessment also needed for
temporary workplaces - e.g. construction
sites

• Changes to workplace may require review

of fire risk assessment - e.g. extensions,
changing internal layout:
− May also need approval from fire
authority
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 End-of-Section Quiz

1. What are the 5 steps in a fire risk

assessment?
2. Who might require special consideration in
a fire risk assessment?

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 Unit GC2: Element 6.3
FIRE PREVENTION AND PREVENTION
OF FIRE SPREAD

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 Fire Prevention
Control Combustible and flammable materials:
• Solids, liquids, gases
Control ignition sources:
• Systems of work, smoking, arson
Systems of work:
• Hot processes
• Machinery
• Electrical equipment
Good housekeeping:
• General tidiness
• Waste control and disposal
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 Control Combustible and Flammable
Materials
• Eliminate use altogether
• Substitute for lower risk
• Minimise quantities
− Stock control, housekeeping, waste
management
• Safe use and storage in protected, dedicated
buildings

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 Storage of Liquid Petroleum Gas
• Should be stored outside
• Storage area should be separate
• Area should be secure, locked gate
• Warning signs
• Ignition sources eliminated
• Bottles chained upright
• Separate from other buildings

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 Storage of Liquid Petroleum Gas
• Empty bottles stored separately from full ones
• Oxygen bottles should not be stored with LPG
• Use minimum bottles required at workplace
• Return to store immediately after use

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 Control Ignition Sources
• Electrical equipment
• Hot work
• Smoking
• Cooking activities
• Mechanical heat
• Arson

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 Systems of Work
Typical “hot work” precautions:
• Flammable materials removed from the
area
• Cover items that can’t be removed
• Sweep the floor
• Damp down wooden floors
• Provide fire extinguishers
• “Fire-watcher” present in the area
• Check area after work has finished

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 Housekeeping
• Remove waste regularly
• Keep area tidy and return
flammable materials to the
correct storage area
• Fuel and ignition sources
separated
• Maintain clear escape routes

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 Flammable Liquids
Flammable liquids:
• Flash point 21oC - 55oC
• Easily ignited with a heat source, e.g. a match
• Maximum storage in work area: <250 litres
Highly-flammable liquids:
• Flash point 0C - 21C
• Easy to ignite at room temperature
• Maximum storage in work area: <50 litres storage
Extremely flammable liquids:
• Flash point <0C
• Very easy to ignite at room temperature
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 Group Syndicate Exercise

• Consider the storage of

flammable liquids, e.g.
acetone, fire accelerants for
BBQs, etc.
• Discuss safe storage
arrangements if such
substances were used at
work

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 Safe Use of Flammable Liquids
• Use minimum quantities
• Clearly labelled
• Suitable container
• Self-closing lids, if possible
• Metal catch trays
• Keep away from heat
• Provide ventilation
• Always return to store

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 Safe Storage of Flammable Liquids
Safe storage rules:
• Store minimum quantities
• In a purpose-built cabinet
• Away from ignition sources
Flammables cabinet should:
• Be fire resistant
• Be lockable
• Have fire-resistant hinges/fastenings
• Be clearly signed
• Have a built-in spill tray
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 Structural Measures to Prevent
Spread of Fire and Smoke
Compartmentation:
Keeping fire and smoke IN or OUT of area of building
• Creating enclosed/sealed boxes
• Fire-resistant floors and walls
• Fire-resistant doors (self-closing)
• Automatic shutters for ventilation shafts
• Intumescent sealants for gaps (‘fire-stopping’)
• Cold smoke seals

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 Group Discussion Point

What features would you want from a fire

door being installed in an office?

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 Fire Doors
• Able to withstand fire for a set time
• Fitted with self-closing devices
• Fitted with intumescent strip
• Fitted with a cold smoke seal
• Have vision panels of fire-resistant glass
• Clearly labelled

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 Common Building Materials
Surface treatment can affect fire performance, e.g.:
• Encasing steel in concrete
• Intumescent paint
• Insulation
• Wall coverings
Concrete Usually performs well in a fire
Steel Severely affected by high
temperatures
Brick Usually very resistant
Timber Thin timber will burn quite quickly;
thick timber will survive for longer

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 Common Building Materials
• Concrete
− usually fire-resistant
• Steel
− severely affected by high temperatures
• Brick
− very resistant to fire
• Timber
− thin timbers burn, thick joists char

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 Protecting Building Materials
• Steel:
− Encased in concrete
− Coated with intumescent (fire-resistant)
foam or paint
• Insulation:
− Must be fire-retardant
• Wall coverings:
− Can be flammable

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 Protection of Openings and Voids
• Doors close major openings
• Other penetrations through compartments
− Pipe penetrations
− Gaps above ceilings
− Air-handling ducts
− Lift shafts
• Must be fire-stopped or blocked

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 Electrical Equipment for Use in
Flammable Atmospheres
• Flammable gas/vapour/dust mixed with air can be
explosive
• Electrical equipment can ignite the mixture
• National legislation controls use of electrical
equipment
− ATEX is EU legislation

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 Electrical Equipment for Use in
Flammable Atmospheres:
Gases,
Vapours Dust
Mists
Explosive atmosphere
present for long periods Zone 0 Zone 20
Explosive atmosphere likely
to occur occasionally Zone 1 Zone 21

Explosive atmosphere not

likely to occur Zone 2 Zone 22

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 End-of-Section Quiz

1. What steps could be taken to control the

presence of flammable materials in the
workplace?
2. What controls should be implemented
when carrying out hot work?
3. What controls might be implemented
within a building to control the spread of
fire and smoke?

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 Unit GC2: Element 6.4
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND
FIRE-FIGHTING ARRANGEMENTS

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 Fire Detection and Fire Warning
The sophistication will depend on the complexity
of workplace
• Simplest system
– someone shouts "Fire!"
• Simple with more noise
– hand bell, whistle, or air horn
• Manually operated fire alarm
– manual call points
• Automatic fire detection and alarm
– automatic detectors, manual call points, linked to
sounders/lights
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 Fire Detection
• Smoke detectors
– Detect small smoke particles
– Two main types: ionising and optical
– Can give rise to false alarms
• Heat detectors
– Detect excess heat generated by a fire
– Usually less sensitive and give later warning
– Two main types: rate of rise and fixed temperature
– May not detect fires that are giving off smoke but
not much heat

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 Portable Fire Extinguishers

Extinguisher Class of Fire

Water A
Carbon dioxide A and B
Foam A and B
Dry powder All
Wet chemical F

NB This table uses the UK / EU Fire Classification system (not universal)

Colours relate to label colours in UK system.

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 Limitation of Extinguishers
• MUST use the correct extinguisher on the fire
− Water can boil, causing burning liquids to
“explode” in a fireball
− Water conducts electricity so NEVER use on
electrical fires
− Powder is effective but may destroy
electrical equipment

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 Other Fire-Fighting Equipment
• Fire blankets
– physically smothers fires, e.g. fat fires in
kitchens
• Hose reels
– used in large buildings for fire teams
• Sprinkler systems
– sited in buildings and warehouses
– automatically douses the fire

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 Siting of Extinguishers
• On fire exit routes
• Close to exit doors
• Close to specific hazards
• Clearly visible and signed
• Unobstructed access

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 Maintenance of Extinguishers
Inspection
• Regular and frequent
• Ensure they’re in place
• In good working order
Maintenance
• Usually once a year
• Certificated engineer
• Inspection, testing, dismantling
Records kept in Fire Log
(subject to local regulations)
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 Training
• Theory training
• Types of extinguisher
• Hands-on experience
• Records kept in line with local regulations

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 Group Syndicate Exercise
• Under your tutor’s direction, take a tour of an area
of the building you are in
• Note:
− Fire compartmentation, e.g. stairwells, fire
doors, etc.
− Travel distances
− Fire detection and alarms
− Fire extinguishers, etc.
− Emergency lighting, signage
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 Access for Fire and Rescue Services
and Vehicles
Fire-Fighting Vehicle Access
The requirements for vehicle access differ depending
on the presence of fire mains, the size of the building
and the type of fire appliance to be used:
• For small buildings without a fire main, access for a
pump appliance should be provided to 15% of the
perimeter, or to within 45 metres of every point on
the building surrounds
• For large, high-rise buildings, the entire perimeter will
need to be accessible to fire-fighting appliances

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 Access for Fire and Rescue Services
and Vehicles
Access to Buildings for Fire-Fighting Personnel
• Fire-fighters require information relating to the
contents of the building and any hazardous
materials or processes and facilities that might
create a risk to them while they carry out their
duties
• The emergency plan that the company has in
place should include arrangements for nominated
and competent persons to liaise with the fire
service on their arrival
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 Access for Fire and Rescue Services
and Vehicles
Access to Buildings for Fire-Fighting Personnel
• High-rise buildings may require a protected
fireman’s shaft, combining:
− a fire-fighting lift
− fire-fighting stairs
− fire-fighting lobbies
• Specific requirements depend on the size and
design of the building and whether it has
automatic sprinkler systems

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 End-of-Section Quiz

1. What are the different ways of detecting

fire and sounding the alarm?
2. Name the different types of fire
extinguisher and the class of fire they can
be used on

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 Unit GC2: Element 6.5
EVACUATION OF A WORKPLACE

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 Means of Escape
• Available to every person in the
workplace
• No use of lifts
• Must take staff to a place of safety
• Two or more separate routes may
be required
• Travel distance should be short
• Adequate width
• Clearly signed
• Appropriately lit
• Emergency lighting
• No obstructions
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 Travel Distances
Depends on:
• Number of people occupying a room
• Fire risk:
− e.g. low risk, low number - 1 exit up to 45m
distance
− e.g. high risk, high number - several exits less
than 25m distance
• Final exit - place of total safety
• Storey exit - protected stairway
• Separate fire compartment - to a final exit
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 Stairs, Corridors and Doors
Stairs and corridors:
• Fire-resistant protection
• Adequate width
• Unobstructed
• No storage of materials or equipment
• Consider wheelchair users
Doors:
• Easy to open
• Adequate width
• Open in direction of travel
• Not locked
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 Emergency (Escape) Lighting
• At night or where there is no
natural light
• To indicate escape routes
• To indicate call points and fire-
fighting equipment
• Regular maintenance
• Routine inspection/testing

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 Fire Exit and Direction Signs
• Easy to understand

• Clearly visible

• Sited correctly

• Meet local regulations/standards

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 Assembly Points
• Safe distance from building

• Safe location

• Further escape possible if needed

• Must not impede fire-fighters

• Clearly signed

• ‘Refuges’ for disabled workers

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 Evacuation Procedures
• Emphasis is on personal safety:
− Sound the alarm
− Get out of the building
− Stay out of the building!
• More complex procedures needed for some
workplaces, e.g. hospitals

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 Fire Marshals
• Check if alarm is “real”
• Check all areas are evacuated
• Assist disabled workers
• Ensure fire escape routes are
kept clear
• Ensure windows and doors are
closed
• Conduct roll call at assembly
point

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 Evacuation of the Workplace
• Training
• Records kept
• Fire drills:
– Usually once a year
– Records kept
• Roll calls
− Ensure all persons
accounted for
− May not be practical, e.g.
supermarkets
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 Training and Information
• Training for staff:
− Who use portable extinguishers
− Fire marshals
− Assist disabled people
− Members of the fire team
Information:
• Fire safety procedures
– employees
– contractors
– visitors and the public
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 Provision for Infirm and Disabled
• Staff with disabilities may need personal
evacuation plans
− Assist with travel downstairs
− Alert those with hearing impairment

• May need to consider temporary disabilities, e.g.

use of crutches
• Consider also evacuation of young/elderly

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 Fire Plan
Should include:
• Who is on premises
• Action to be taken on
discovering fire
• Means of escape
− (shown on building plans)
• Fire-fighting equipment
• Action to be taken after
evacuation
• Training

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 Building Plans
• The means of escape should be shown on the
plans of a building
• These plans usually constitute one of the records
contained in the fire risk assessment
• In some situations building plans should be
displayed in the building (e.g. in a multi-storey
building, a plan of each floor may be displayed
on that floor) so that those within it can clearly
see what their escape routes should be
• Examples of building plans are often found on
the back of hotel-room doors
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 End-of-Section Quiz

1. What general principles should be applied

when establishing means of escape?
2. What is the purpose of emergency
lighting?
3. What might fire marshals do in the event
of an evacuation?

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