TITLE

Prepared by:

PART 4: IMPLEMENTATION & OPERATION

4.7 Basic Fire Fighting

Learning Objectives

To describe the Principle of Fire Extinguishment.

To illustrate and explain the triangle of three elements that influence ignition.

To differentiate the classification of fire.

To understand how to extinguish a fire using a fire fighting media and action to be taken in the event of fire.

• Fires and explosions

can be the greatest

potential hazard in a

building etc

• Leads to: property

damage, explosion

• Five main hazards:

oxygen depletion,

flame/heat, smoke,

gaseous and structural

failure of buildings.

The theory of

combustion and fire

should be:

1. Fire precautions

2. Fire prevention

3. Fire protection

Fire precautions

measures taken in the provision of the

fire protection in a building

minimize the risk to the occupants,

contents and structure from an outbreak

of fire.

Fire prevention

preventing outbreaks of fire

reducing the risk of fire spreading

avoiding danger to persons and

property from fire.

Fire protection

design features, systems or equipment in

a building

reduce the danger to persons

property by detecting, extinguishing

or containing fires.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/wl/012004algeriaplant&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=1&e=3&a=0

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

In Malaysia major provisions are contained :

Fire Services Act 1988

Fire Services Regulations July 2005

Factory and Machinery (Safety, Health and

Welfare) Regulations 1970

Uniform Building By-Laws 1984

CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

Three main ingredients: fuel, oxygen & an

ignition source/ a sufficiently high temperature.

Combustion: a heat-generating process, is the

chemical reaction between oxygen and fuel

Flammable liquids and gases cannot cause fire

by themselves

The misuse of flammable liquid alone is

responsible for 15% to 18% of industrial fire

losses.

THE FIRE TRIANGLE – (Elements of

Combustion)

HEAT OXYGEN FUEL

Heat can be transferred

from one place to

another.

Four categories:

Conduction

Radiation

Convection

Direct Burning /

Physical

Transport

HIGH temperature to a

region of LOW

temperature.

An essential

component of any

combustion reaction.

The degree of oxygen

supply determines: the

efficiency of the fire

and the nature of the

combustion product

formed.

The main source of

oxygen:

-Air contains 21% oxygen

and combustion

needs only 16% of

oxygen.

-Oxidising agents

-Combustible substances

A fuel is a necessary

component of all

combustion reactions.

Almost all organic

chemicals are potential

fuels.

Examples: wood,

plastic, fibres, petrol,

oil, LPG

Most but not all

inorganic substances

are not flammable.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES

Four categories :

Class A

Normally: an organic nature

Examples: wood, paper, coal and natural fibres.

Extinguisher agent is water either as a jet or spray

Class B

Class B (i): involving liquids which are soluble in

water such as methanol and acetone.

Extinguished with water spray, alcohol-resistant foam,

carbon dioxide and dry powder.

Class B (ii): involving liquids which do not dissolve in

water such as petrol oil, fats and waxes.

Extinguished by foam, carbon dioxide and dry

powder.

Class C

Involving gases or liquefied gases in the from of

liquid gas spillage or gas leaks

Extinguished by either isolating the supply

or by inert gas injection.

Class D

Involving metals, such as magnesium and

aluminium.

Special dry powder must be used and no other

extinguishers; these include powdered

graphite,

soda, ash, limestone and dry sand.

FIRE FIGHTING

Principle of Fire Extinguishment

Cooling – cooling of fuel to the point where

combustion

vapors are no longer produced, e.g. water

Smothering – the removal of oxygen to the point

where

combustion ceases, e.g. fire blanket, foam or

sand

Starving – the removal of fuel to the point where

there is nothing remaining to burn e.g. turning

off valves

Inhibiting the Flame Chain Reaction – by

arresting the

chemical chain reaction in the flame zone,

combustion

process is terminated, e.g. introduce a dry

chemical

extinguisher

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

A) Fixed

- sprinklers or deluge

- fixed extinguishers –

halons or CO2

- hydrants / hose reels

- early detection or

suppression

B) Portable

- fire extinguishers

- fire blankets

- dry extinguisher

agents

Fire fighting systems can be divided into 2 types:

Example of Fire Fighting Systems

Hydrants:

It is a statutory requirement that all manned

installations have a fire water.

The main is fed continuously from the fire

pumps.

Fire Hose:

Should be maintained and cared for as follows:

-cleaned after use

-stowed correctly

-stored in a clean and dry condition

-not dragged over ground unnecessarily

Branches and Nozzles:

To increase the velocity, to project and direct the

flow

of water onto a fire.

Hose Reels:

Advantages of Hose Reels:

simple to use

endless supply of water

more effective jet

has nozzle control

operator doesn’t need to carry a

heavy extinguisher

cost effective – no recharging required

Hose Reels:

Foam :

• Foam is a mixture of foam concentrate, water

and air

• To float on the burning liquid and create the

barrier

between the vapour and the air and

thus extinguish the flames

stability – foam retains its liquid content

expansion – by passing through special aspiration

nozzles, foam will increase it’s surface area coverage

burn-back – provides security against re-ignition by

remaining intact

flow – will flow across the liquid to be extinguished

or protected

contamination resistance – foam has the ability to

resist

contamination by the flammable liquid leading to

foam destruction

Types of Portable Extinguishers and Their Uses :

Water Type Extinguishers

Contents - 9 litres of water pressurized with

air

Duration - 1.5 to 2 minutes

Stream - 8 meters

Types of Portable Extinguishers and Their Uses :

Water Type Extinguishers:

Operation

check gauge

carry extinguisher to the fire by the carry handle

release safety pin

test operation

direct at base of fire

can be used intermittently

extinguishes by cooling

Use on – A Class Fires

Types of Portable Extinguishers and Their Uses :

Water Type Extinguishers:

Types of Portable Extinguishers and Their Uses :

Foam Type Extinguishers:

Contents - 8.5 liters water 0.5 AFFF

Duration - 30 to 90 seconds

Stream - 6 meters

Types of Portable Extinguishers and Their Uses :

Foam Type Extinguishers:

Operation:

check gauge

carry extinguisher to the fire by the carry handle

release safety pin

test operation

direct stream at wall of container or over surface

of fire

can be used intermittently

extinguishes fire by smothering and cooling

Use on – B Class Fires

Foam Type Extinguishers:

Dry-Chemical Type Extinguishers:

Contents - Sodium Bicarbonate 0.9kg to 14 kg

Duration - 90 seconds upwards for 9 kg

Stream - 1.8 to 4 meters

Dry-Chemical Type Extinguishers:

Operation:

check gauge

carry extinguisher to the fire by the carry handle

release safety pin

test operation

direct at vapor space in a sweeping motion

can be used intermittently

extinguishes by inhibiting flame chain reaction

Use on – Small B Class Fires

Dry-Chemical Type Extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide Type Extinguishers :

Contents - liquid CO2 1 kg to 5.5 kg

Duration - 20 seconds upwards

Stream - 1 to 2.5 meters

Carbon Dioxide Type Extinguishers :

Operation:

check gauge

carry extinguisher to the fire by the carry handle

release safety pin

test operation

direct close to fire in sweeping motion

can be used intermittently

extinguishes fire by smothering

Use on – Small B Class Fires

Carbon Dioxide Type Extinguishers

ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE :

Means of escape in buildings other than those

with

only a ground floor generally consists of 3

distinct areas:

• Any point on a floor to a staircase

• The route down a staircase

• The route from the foot of the staircase to the

open

air, clear of the building

Types of means of escape will be determined by:

• Occupancy characteristics – numbers,

• Building uses – residential commercial,

manufacturing,

entertainment etc

• Construction characteristics of the building

• Evacuation times

• Occupant movements

ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF

FIRE:

F Find: Locate the area of the fire

I Inform: Raise the alarm either manually,

automatically or by voice

R Restrict: Large, small or confined, remove

the source

of fuel

E Extinguish: If fire is small enough, attempt to

extinguish,

otherwise evacuate the area and raise

alarm

TRAINING IN FIRE FIGHTING

In the FMA (Safety, health and welfare)

REGULATION 1970 – Regulation 21 (4) stated

that:

“The occupier of every factory shall ensure that

all persons employed are familiar with the

means

of escape in case of fire, the use of such

means and

the routine to be followed in case of fire.”

TRAINING OBJECTIVES :

• to increase skill or to provide knowledge which

can be

applied by the trainee in carrying out this

work

• to teach every personnel to think fire

prevention,

before, during and after every action.

• formal training sessions should be conducted

on

a regular basis