Fire & Fire Safety

Legislation

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is Law.

In Scotland, The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

In Northern Ireland the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997/1999

The cornerstone of the regulations is fire risk assessment. through this the following need to be considered

* Preventing fire occurring
* Preventing fire spreading (design of premises as well as fire fighting)
* Ensuring people are adequately protected if a fire occurs - includes employees, visitors, neighbours and fire service personnel.

Emphasis is on the employer being responsible for managing risks from fire. To achieve this they need to have competence to assess and control the risks.

Fire - preventing

The main ways of preventing fire are by controlling fuels and ignition sources. In particular, suitable storage for highly flammable materials and selection of equipment in flammable hazardous areas.

Oxidising agents need to be handled carefully and kept away from flammable materials.

The possibility of arson must be considered, and keeping sites secure and free from rubbish and other flammable items is important.

Fire - detection and escape

People need to know there is a fire so that they can escape. Options for detection include:
* Smoke,
* Flame (UV)
* Heat
* Manual (e.g. break glass).

Factors that affect ease of escape include:
* Number of fire escapes (ideally always more than two independent safe routes from any location);
* Distance to exit
* Clutter on route
* Fire integrity of escape route - fire doors that close automatically
* Ability to open fire doors - must not be locked, open outwards
* Signage
* Emergency lighting
* (Safe) assembly points
* Knowledge of procedures - staff and visitors
In general, do not use lifts. Need to make provision for disabled people including physical, visual and deaf (cannot hear alarms).

Fire - extinguishing

Fires can be extinguished by eliminating any one side of the fire triangle. This usually involves cooling, creating a barrier between fuel and oxygen, using a chemical that interfere with fire process, or replacing oxygen with another non-flammable gas.
Types of extinguishing device include:
* Water from extinguisher, hose, sprinkler, deluge (cools)
* Foam (cools and seals over fuel) - good for liquids
* Power (chemical interference)
* Carbon dioxide (displaces air/oxygen) - good for electrical fires
* Fire blanket (smothers) - chip pans

Fire - spreading

Fire can spread by:
* Conduction - heat moving through solid material;
* Convection - heat moving through a fluid or gas (i.e. hot air rising)
* Radiation - emission of infra-red energy that can then be absorbed and cause items to get hot

Fire - sources of ignition

Include
* Sparks
* Flame
* Hot surfaces
* Friction
* Electricity (including static)
* Smoking material (e.g. cigarettes)

Fire - fuels

Include
* Solids
* Liquids
* Gas and vapour
* Oxidising agents - react with other substances to create flammable conditions, possibly without oxygen being present

Fire - hazards

Include
* Heat - causing burns
* Smoke and fumes
* Oxygen depletion
* Structural damage to buildings etc.

Fire

For a fire to occur you must have all three sides of the fire triangle present, namely

* Fuel
* Oxygen
* Heat

Eliminating any will prevent a fire or extinguish one that is already going.

Source Health and Safety 2008 - Nebosh General Certificate