Fundamentals of

Fire Safety
Presented by
Kiran K. Joy

FIRE SAFETY & PROTECTION

Outline
-

Introduction
Fire Chemistry
Fire Classification.
Extinguishing agents
Controlling fire hazards

OBJECTIVES

Know and Understand:

-

Basics of fire chemistry

Fire classes
How extinguishing agents work

INTRODUCTION

Fire is a substantial risk

-

Annual $2.2 billion loss

Over 300 Workplace deaths
Over 3%of workplace fatalities
Fire losses can be catastrophic
Fire hazards MUST be controlled to low level of probability, as
losses are so high.

WHAT IS THE MAIN LEGAL

REQUIREMENTS ???

Local Order No. 11 of 2003 Public health and

community safety in the Emirate of Dubai
Local Order No.61 of1991- Environmental Protection
Regulations.
UAE Fire & Life Safety code of 2011.

CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

Fire is a chemical reaction, in which

substance (fuel) combines with oxygen.
The reaction is exothermic and usually
associated with emission of light and
smoke

CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

Four components of Combustion

1 Oxygen

Atmosphere (21% O2)

Chemical Oxidizers

2 Fuel

Solids - Surface to mass ratio affects burn rate

Liquids - Vapour burns, not liquid
Gases

CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
3 Heat

Heat of Combustion
Other sources of heat can cause ignition
Chemical reaction
Decay
Slow oxidation
Spontaneous combustion
Electricity - arching, resistance heating
Mechanical friction

4 Chemical

Chain reaction

Propagation of free radicals

CHAIN REACTION
H*

H*+O2
OH+H2

H2O

H+O2

OH*+H 2

O*+H2

OH*

OH*+H2

H*
H2O

O+H2
H2O
H*+O2

OH*
H2O

O*+H2

OH*+H2

OH*
H*

H*+O2

OH*
H*

EXTINGUISHING FIRES

The Fire Triangle

- Four Components

Oxygen
Heat
Fuel
Chain Reaction

Removing any components

stops the fire

EXTINGUISHING FIRE

Cooling
Removes heat - Applying water
Starvation
Removing fuel - Shut off gas or
liquid supply or pump liquid from
burning tanks
Limiting Oxygen
Mechanical smothering
Foam
Displace oxygen with inert gas
Interrupting Chain reaction
Capture free radicals using an
extinguishing agent

EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Fire Classification
- Extinguishing methods are based on Fire class
Class A

Ordinary Combustibles - e.g. - wood, paper

Extinguish with Water

Class B
Flammable Liquids
Water may aggravate a burning liquid fire
Extinguish with foam, Chemical agent

Extinguishing Fires
Fire Classification (Cont.)
Class C
Flammable gases
Extinguish by starvation or chemical agents

Class D
Combustible metals fires
Extinguish by smothering with dry powders
Water will cause burning metals to explode

Class F

Fires involving cooking oil, animal fats etc.

EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

Water

Removes heat from a fire

Stream spray or fog
Best for class A fires
Smothering & dilution of
vapors due to generation of
steam
Not for Electrical or
combustible metal fires

EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
Foam Aqueous Film Forming
Foam (AFFF)

Excluded oxygen from burning

liquid
Fire can re-ignite if foam
breaks down

INERT GASES
Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen etc
Displaces oxygen
Potentially fatal due to O2 deficiency

DRY CHEMICAL POWDER

Mono-ammonium
Phosphate, Sodium
or potassium
bicarbonate type.
For class A, B or C
Fires
Inhibits chain reaction
Excludes oxygen by
coating surfaces

INHIBITION OF CHAIN REACTION BY

DCP

When Dry Chemical Powder Decomposes-

2NaHCO3 --------> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

Na2CO3 ----------->Na2O + CO2

Na2O + H2O -----> 2NaOH

NaOH + H* -------> Na* + H2O

NaOH + OH* -----> NaO* + H2O

NaO * + H* --------> NaOH

Na* + OH* --------> NaOH

Summary
Questions and Answers

Which is the 4th element in the Fire Chemistry?

Chain reaction.
What do you mean by Class D type of Fire?
Fires involving Na,Mg,Ti etc.
What is meaning of term starvation?
Removal of fuel

True or False?

Lower explosive limit :- The Maximum concentration

(percentage) of a gas or a vapor in air capable of
producing a flash of fire in presence of an ignition
source.
False.
Water is the best ,suitable fire extinguishing medium for
Class D fires.
False .
Wet chemical Fire Extinguishers

THANK YOU