Fire Safety

and Fire Code

ADDENDUM
 Each of these three elements must be present at
the same time to have a fire. A fire will burn until
one or more of the elements is removed.
Fuel
Any combustible material – solid, liquid or gas

Heat
Oxygen
The energy necessary to
The air we breathe is
increase the temperature of
about 21% oxygen –
fuel to where sufficient
fire needs only
vapors are given off for
16% oxygen
ignition to occur
 There are 4 classes of fire:
Class A
Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as
wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics.
Class B
Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline,
kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane.
Class C
Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances,
switches, panel boxes and power tools.
Class D
Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium,
titanium, potassium, and sodium.
 To Prevent Fires

Class  Ordinary Combustibles:

• Keep storage and working areas free of trash.

• Place oily rags in covered containers.

Class  Flammable liquids or gases:

 Don’t refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space,

in the presence of an open flame, or while the equipment is
hot.

 Keep flammable liquids stored in a tightly closed container and

away from spark producing sources.

 Use flammable liquids only in well ventilated areas.

Class  Electrical Equipment:

 Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit.

 Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells

strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of a potential fire.

 Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over
them.
Class  Flammable metals:

• Knowledge of the properties of the metals and using good

judgment and common sense will assist you in controlling or
avoiding potential fires/reactions.
Be prepared for a fire emergency
• Check the location of fire alarms and know how they work.
• Learn your building evacuation plan.
• Know where your two nearest exits are located.
Learn how doors swing and where stairs lead.
• Make sure nothing blocks fire pulls, extinguishers
and emergency exits.
• Learn the sound of your building fire alarm.
• Post emergency numbers (including security
and first aid) near your telephone.
• Make sure you know what to do if the fire alarm sounds.
Plan your escape.
When you notice a fire:
 Pull the nearest fire alarm “pull station” while exiting the floor.
 If there is no pull station:

Dial 911
Emergency Number OR Alternate
Emergency Number

 Do not assume that anyone else has already called the

fire department.
 Stay calm and be prepared to answer the operator’s
questions regarding the emergency.
 EVACUATE !
When you hear the fire alarm:

 Leave at once, taking direction from

the emergency warden.

 Do not delay yourself by gathering

personal items. Your safety always comes first.

 Before you open any door, feel the door with the back of
your hand. If the door is cold, slowly open it a crack.

 If there is no smoke in hallways or stairwells, follow your

building’s evacuation plan. Get out quickly using
designated fire exits.
When you hear the fire alarm (continued):

 Close doors behind you, however do NOT lock the door. Locking
the door hinders the fire department’s search and rescue efforts.

 The stairway will be your primary escape route. Never, never use
elevators under any circumstances.

 Once in the stairway, proceed down to the first floor and out of the
building. Never go up.
If you are trapped in smoke or heat:
 Before you open any door, feel the door with the back of your hand.
If the door is warm to the touch, DO NOT attempt to open the door.

 Stuff the cracks around doors with towels, rags, clothing or tape,
and cover vents to keep out smoke.

 Stay low to the floor, and if possible, cover your mouth and nose
with a damp cloth or dust mask to help you breathe.

 If there is a phone in the room where

you are trapped, call the fire department
to tell them exactly where you are located.
Do this even if you see fire apparatus
on the street below.
If you are trapped (continued):

 Wait at a window and signal for help. Do not panic or jump!!

WAIT!

 If possible, open the window at the top

or bottom, but do not break it, you may
need to close the window if smoke rushes in.

 Be patient. Rescuing all the occupants

of a building can take several hours.
After a fire emergency:
 Once you are out of the building, STAY OUT!
Do not go back inside for any reason.

 Report to your warden for roll call at your

designated assembly point.

 Tell the fire department via your warden if you

know of anyone trapped inside the building.

 Only re-enter if and when the fire department tells

you it is safe to do so.
 In the event of a fire,
your personal safety is your
most important concern.

Remember – you are

not required to fight a fire.
BEFORE you consider fighting a fire . . .

 Call the fire department.

 Confirm that the fire is small and is not spreading.
 Confirm you have a safe path to an exit not threatened
by the fire.
 You know what kind of
extinguisher is required
and the correct extinguisher
is immediately at hand.
NEVER fight a fire if . . .

 The fire is spreading beyond the immediate area in

which it started, or if it is already a large fire.

 The fire could block your escape route.

 You are unsure of the proper operation of the

extinguisher.

 You doubt that the extinguisher you are holding is

designed for the type of fire at hand or is large
enough to fight the fire.
Multi-Class Ratings
Many extinguishers available today can be used on different types
of fires and will be labeled with more than one designator, e.g. A-B,
B-C, or A-B-C.
This label shows that this extinguisher
can be used on ordinary combustibles
(A) or flammable liquids (B). The
red slash through the last symbol New Style of Labeling
tells you that the extinguisher cannot
be used on electrical fires (C).
Be advised that most fire
extinguishers will function for
Old Style of Labeling
less than 40 seconds.
10 Tips on How and When

1
to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Most fires start small. Except for explosions,

fires can usually be brought under control if they
are attacked correctly with the right type and size
of extinguisher within the first 2 minutes!

2 A fire extinguisher should be "listed and

labeled" by an independent testing laboratory. The
higher the rating number on an A or B extinguisher,
the more fire it can put out. Be careful, high-rated
units are often heavier models. Make sure you can
hold and operate the model you are using.
 3 Before attempting to fight a small
fire, be sure everyone is out of the area.
Ensure someone has called the fire
department.
If the fire starts to spread or threatens
your escape path, get out immediately!

4
The operator must know how to use the
extinguisher quickly without taking time to
read directions during an emergency.
Remember that the extinguishers need care
and must be recharged after every use.
IF YOU FIGHT A FIRE, REMEMBER THE WORD
PASS
PULL . . . AIM . . . SQUEEZE . . . SWEEP

5 PULL... the pin. Some extinguishers

require releasing a lock latch, pressing a
puncture lever or other motion.

6
AIM... low, pointing the
extinguisher nozzle (or it's horn
or hose) at the base of the fire.
 7 SQUEEZE... the handle. This
releases the extinguishing agent.

SWEEP... from side to side at the base

8
of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the
fire area in case fire breaks out again, and
repeat use of extinguisher if necessary.

9 Read and follow the directions on your

extinguisher. If you have the slightest doubt
about whether or not to fight a fire – DON’T!
Get out and close the door behind you.
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
SPRAY FOAM
Spray foam extinguishers
are fast and powerful; they
are ideal for tackling both
Class A & B fires where
petrol, oils and volatile
liquids may be involved. In
use they form a flame
smothering seal over the
surface of the material,
preventing re--ignition of
the vapors. Ideal for
multiple risk situations.
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
DRY CHEMICAL POWDER
Highly versatile in
operation, these dry
powder extinguishers are
suitable for Class “A” & “B”
type fire risks
– electrical hazards,
flammable liquids and
gases. With its rapid
knockdown capability.
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
WATER H2O
Ideal for risk involving Class
“A” type fires such as wood,
paper, plastic, cartoon,
rubber, fabrics. This fire
extinguisher is one of the
most efficient and useful
ways of putting out fires
involving freely combustible
materials. Water works by
rapidly cooling a fire and
this controllable-discharge
extinguishers can penetrate
and knock-out the most
deep-seated Class “A” type
fires
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
CARBON DIOXIDE CO2
Highly effective and non-
damaging in use CO2
extinguishers are a
convenient answer for
situations involving Class “C
“electrical hazards and
flammable liquids. CO2 is
harmless to delicate
equipment and materials.
HOW TO SELECT A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
SELECTING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER DEPENDS ON:
 Nature of the combustibles or flammables.
 Potential severity of the resulting fire. size, speed
of travel, intensity etc.
 Effectiveness of the extinguisher on the type
material. The ease of the use of the fire
extinguisher.
 The personnel available to operate the
extinguisher. The physical and emotional ability of
the user.
HOW TO SELECT A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
CLASS “A” FIRES – ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLES:
 Point the extinguishing agent at the base of the
fire. Do not attempt to put out the flames.
 Cool the material below its ignition temperature.
Soak fibrous material to prevent re-ignition.
 Establish a fire watch to ensure no re-ignition
occurs. Use water, foam or multi-purpose dry
chemicals.
HOW TO SELECT A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
CLASS “B” FIRES - FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR GASES:
 Point the extinguishing agent at the base of the
fire. Do not attempt to put out the flames.
 Attempt to prevent oxygenation of the fire. Close
solvent tanks lids etc.
 Know that the fire may flare up momentarily. Use
foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemicals
HOW TO SELECT A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
CLASS “C” FIRES – ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:
 Extinguishing agent cannot conduct electricity.
Disconnect power to the source ASAP.
 Ensure the extinguisher doesn’t make contact. Do
not attempt to use water based extinguishers.
 Electrical fires can effect circuitry “downstream”.
Use carbon dioxide, dry chemicals
HOW TO SELECT A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
CLASS “D” FIRES -- COMBUSTIBLE METALS:
 Multi-purpose extinguishing agent leaves a
residue. The agent cools the metal to below its
ignition temp. These residues are harmful to
electronic equipment. Attempt to prevent
oxygenation of the fire.
 Use agents that deprive oxygen.
 Know that metal fires burn extremely hot (5000
deg.).
INSPECTING A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS:
 Inspect fire extinguishers once per month.

 Inspect more often if local fire codes require it.

Have fire extinguishers serviced once per year.
Service more often if local codes require it.

 Document the monthly inspections on the card.

INSPECTING A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
INSPECTION PROCEDURES:
 Know the locations of your fire extinguishers. Determine the
likely types of fires in the area.

 Ensure the extinguisher is the right type (A.B.C.D.). Inspect

for rust, dents or other signs of damage.

 Inspect the seal for tampering or previous use. Inspect the

gauge and feel the weight.

 Is the extinguisher full of agent?

 Ensure the pin, nozzle and nameplate are intact. Report

missing or damaged extinguishers.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Many of the accidents & Fatalities occur during fire is

due to the panic behavior of the personals involved.
Panic can be defined as “A sudden and excessive
feeling of alarm or fear usually affecting a body of
persons, originating in some real or supposed
danger, vaguely apprehended, and leading to
extravagant and injudicious efforts to secure safety”.
In order to control this type of situations, Emergency
procedures shall be develop and Exercises were
stimulated to prevent the unpredictable &
unforeseen events.