1. 1. Presentation By Muhammad Umer Aziz
2. 2. Introduction A fire can severely damage a business, the amount of damage is determined by, I. Fire Location II. Timing III. Size A Fire damages a business property through, I. Heat II. Smoke III. Damage caused by trying to put it out
3. 3. Introduction Burnt objects and documents are destroyed forever. Damage May Include Structural damage: A fire destroy or weaken walls, floors, ceiling/roof assemblies, and structural support.
4. 4. Introduction Loss of Valuable Documents and Information: Financial records, personnel files, and a wide range of vital company records can disappear in a fire. Some of these documents can be reconstructed from other information sources; some of this knowledge can never be recovered.
5. 5. Introduction Injury or Death: It threatens the lives of your valuable employees. Some of the physical injuries will take long time to heal and mental injuries can take even longer.
6. 6. Introduction Customer Relations: Confidence of costumers will lessen, due to delay in deliveries because of fire.
7. 7. Introduction Vendor Relations: Vendors deliver their goods on credit. A fire that temporarily disables your business may delay your payments to them.
8. 8. Introduction Building Security: A fire is a major security threat to your business. This makes an ideal opportunity for theft. Intentional fires are also set to cover up crimes.
9. 9. THE ANATOMY OF A FIRE A fire is a chemical reaction in which a fuel mixes with oxygen and is heated to a point where flammable vapors are created. Fuel for fire in the workplace Furnishings Business records Interior Finishes Display cabinets Office equipment Laboratory chemicals Machining lubricants
10. 10. THE ANATOMY OF A FIRE The Key Ingredients of Fire: Fuel: Any combustible material. Oxygen: The air we breath is about 20% oxygen, more than enough to nurture a fire. Heat: Something to raise the fuels temperature until it combusts. Remove any of these elements and fire will cease to burn
11. 11. THE ANATOMY OF A FIRE
12. 12. Classification of fire Class A Fires: Class A fires are fires that involve ordinary combustible materials such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Prevention Class A fires can be prevented through good housekeeping practices.
13. 13. Classification of fire Class B Fires: Are fires in flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum oil, and paint. Also included are flammable gases such as propane and butane. Class B fires do not include fires involving cooking oils and grease. Prevention Never re-fueling a running or hot engine Storing flammables away from spark-producing sources handling flammable liquids in well ventilated areas
14. 14. Classification of fire Class C Fires: Are fires involving energized electrical equipment such as motors, transformers, and appliances. Remove the power and the Class C fire becomes one of the other classes of fire. Prevention Inspection for worn electrical wires and replacing them Never install a fuse with a higher rating Keep electric motors clean and monitor them for over- heating.
15. 15. Classification of fire Class D Fires: Are fires in combustible metals such as potassium, sodium, aluminum and magnesium. These fires a very difficult to extinguish and must be suppressed by use of a special fire fighting agent. Class K Fires: Are fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal fats and vegetable fats.
16. 16. Building a Fire suppression strategy Always fight a fire with your back to your escape route. When Its time to use a fire extinguisher just remember PASS. PULL Pull the pin. AIM Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire from the recommended safe distance.
17. 17. Building a Fire suppression strategy SQUEEZ Squeeze the operating lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent. SWEEP Starting at the recommended distance, Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out. Move forward or around the fire area as the fire diminishes. Watch the area in case of re-ignition.
18. 18. Building a Fire suppression strategy Class A: Water to cool material below its ignition temperature. Never use on electrical fire!. These are generally chromed colored. Class B: Foam,CO2, or a dry chemical to smother grease or flammable liquid fires. This deprive the fire of its oxygen. They are generally red with large tapered nozzle and are quite heavy.
19. 19. Building a Fire suppression strategy Class C: CO2, dry chemical, or Halon to smoother the fire. Class D: Dry powder, specifically for the metal fire being extinguished. It acts as a cooling agent. ABC rated Extinguisher: Multi-purpose, dry-chemical, A,B and C. It is a dry-chemical extinguisher that is good for flammable fluids and electrical fires, not suited for Class A fires. Almost always red and have either a nozzle or short hose. These units are light weighted.
20. 20. Building a Fire suppression strategy Detection System: Photoelectric Detectors: Detect smoke from smoldering fires.
21. 21. Building a Fire suppression strategy Ionization Detector: Detect fires that have more flame than smoke. Flash fires can be ignited based on the fuel and heat source combination, such as in some industrial applications.
22. 22. Building a Fire suppression strategy Temperature Detectors: Detect excessive temperatures from fires or other heat sources.
23. 23. Building a Fire suppression strategy A fire alarm system must do more than just ringing a bell, it should. Trigger the closing of fire doors. Activate the early fire suppression system(usually CO2 or Halon) if the fire is in that room. Release electronic locks so that people can get out and rescue crews can get it. Notify the people within the facility to evacuate. Audible and visible alarms. Notify the fire department of the emergency. In some cases, shut down automatic factory equipment.
24. 24. Sprinkler system Automatic sprinklers are the most important feature of a fire management program. Fire sprinklers are the cheapest method of containing a fire while people evacuate a facility. They are most effective during fires initial flame growth stage. A typical sprinkler system will deliver 25 gallons of water per minute.
25. 25. Sprinkler system
26. 26. Sprinkler system Benefits: Sounding the alarm. Sprinkler will activate even if no one is present. Early detection reduces the amount of heat and smoke damage and allows more orderly evacuation of facility. Minimizes intrusion opportunities because the fire is contained and detected early. Insurance companies normally offer reduced premiums (An amount paid or required, often as an installment payme nt, for an insurance policy.) for buildings with sprinkler systems.
27. 27. Sprinkler system Considerations while selecting a Sprinkler: Desired response time. Criticality of what you are protecting. The volatility of what you are protecting. Aesthetics (responsive). Normal room temperature. Elements of Sprinkler System: Dependable water supply, water must be available even if electric service is lost. Connect the sprinkler heads to the water supply through a network of water pipes. Rusted, weak, clogged, or too narrow pipes will reduce efficiency of sprinkler system. Sprinkler head is activated by heat, it distributes water onto the fire and at intervals along the pipes is independent.
28. 28. Sprinkler system Components of Sprinkler Head: i. Frame: Provide structure that holds the sprinkler system. ii. Thermal linkage: Controls the water release. iii. Cap: It provides a water tight seal over the sprinkler orifice, held in place by the thermal link. iv. Orifice: The opening in the water pipe at the base of the sprinkler valve is called the orifice. Water comes from this opening. v. Deflector: splatters the water stream shooting out of orifice into a pattern that is more efficient for fire suppression. vi. Water Source: A key element in your sprinkler system is reliable water source. This can be from public water system, rural lakes or water cisterns.
29. 29. Sprinkler system
30. 30. Sprinkler system Water Supply Evaluation: Resistant to drought. Pipes must support water flow. It must maintain a steady water pressure. Features of Sprinkler System: Alarms. Control Valves.( allows to shut off the flow of water to sprinkler heads, if fire is out.)
31. 31. Sprinkler system Types of Sprinkler Systems: 1. Wet Pipe: Most common, water pressure is constantly maintained in the sprinkler pipe. Quick in action. Used in areas which are not exposed to frost-bite. 2. Dry Pipe: uses a valve that holds the water out of the pipe. Instead of water, the pipes holds pressurized gas or air. When the thermal link is melted by the fire, the cap is released and the air in the pipes is released. Useful in unheated areas in cold climates. This prevents freezing of pipes.
32. 32. Sprinkler system
33. 33. Sprinkler system
34. 34. Sprinkler system Pre- Action Configuration: Uses a dry-pipe approach, but the valve controlling the water is activated by fire alarm detection system. This system uses two step process to fire suppression. 1. When a fire detection system detects a fire, this releases the valve and allow the water to enter the pipes 2. The sprinkler heads thermal link fatigues and allows water to flow onto the fire. Higher initial costs, short delay when air in the pipes is displaced by water.
35. 35. Sprinkler system Water Mist Systems: Uses water mist to suppress fire. Micro mists discharge fine water droplets at a very high pressure. Minimizes damage to property.
36. 36. Risk Assessment What can we do? Identify potential fire hazards and eliminate them. Employee awareness program Update fire protection program according to the changes made within facility. Identify critical areas. Follow building codes and fire safety regulations. Invite fire inspector. Evaluate your facilitys fire program, it is useless if it is not available to employees. Fire safety plan should incorporate with other emergency plans.
37. 37. Risk Assessment Things to look for: Automatic fire suppression system to contain fire, e.g. sprinkler system. Internal barriers to a fire in the form of fire doors and firewalls to hinder the spread of a fire. Well-marked emergency exits that are kept free from clutter (mess, disorder). Automatic fire detection to alert occupants. Manual fire alarms as a means to quickly alert all occupants to evacuate. A system of fire extinguishers and fire hoses that can be used to contain small fires.
38. 38. Risk Assessment Consider these issues, while making companys safety policies. Personal space heater: It Can start fire, because it provides elevated temperature to start a fire and fuel is all around it. Heaters should be banned, if possible. If that is not practical, then an acceptably safe heater must be identified by the company.
39. 39. Risk Assessment Coffee Pots: May be low quality and left on with no one to attend them. Select high quality coffee maker that is safe as you need it to be in your environment (office, factory, warehouse etc.). Require that someone occasionally checks to ensure that the appliance is turned of when not in use.
40. 40. Risk Assessment Overloaded Outlets: Addition of more and more extension cords and surge protectors to a single outlet to feed growing flood of office electronic should not be allowed.
41. 41. Risk Assessment General Housekeeping: keep offices simple and uncluttered. Excess papers and other materials are potential fuels to a fire. Utility closets and rarely used facility areas must be inspected.
42. 42. Action Steps for your Plan Fire- Resistant Storage:
43. 43. Action Steps for your Plan What does a typical business need to store in a fire proof container? Cash, checks and securities. Software license Magnetic media backup (use a container specifically rated for this). Engineering documents, including work in progress. Any legal papers difficult or impossible to replace, such as tax documents. Works of art. Precious materials. Other steps to take include these: Make copies of critical documents and magnetic media and store them in a different building. Place fire-proof storage containers in your facility where they dont fall through a floor weakened by a fire.( basement or ground floor) and where there is minimal material overhead to fall on it and crush the container.
44. 44. Evacuation Planning An essential part of any emergency plan. Ensure that everyone has left the building. Helps the fire and rescue squads to focus their efforts on locating people known to still be in the building. Evacuation plan come in forms: Evacuate the building ( fire, earthquake) Evacuate the area ( natural disaster e.g. hurricane) Evacuate into a shelter ( tornado)
45. 45. Evacuation Planning
46. 46. Evacuation Planning 11-step process: 1. Determine the conditions that would trigger an evacuation. 2. Establish evacuation supervisors to ensure areas are clear, to assist others, and to account for everyone at the rendezvous (meeting) site. 3. Pull together a system for accounting that everyone is out of the building or in the storm shelter. 4. Assign someone to assist, anyone with disabilities and those who may not speak English. 5. Post evacuation procedures around the facility. Maps showing the nearest exits.
47. 47. Evacuation Planning 6. Designate key people to shut down critical or dangerous operations during the evacuation. Transferring toxic chemicals, halted automatic pain spraying operations etc. 7. Designate someone to quickly secure the petty cash box, close the safe and lock all cash registers before evacuating the area. 8. Ensure evacuation routes are kept clear and unobstructed. 9. Install emergency lighting in case electricity fails. 10. Designate outside assembly areas for each section of building. 11. Actions in the assembly areas should be clearly understood by the evacuation supervisors. To facilitate the headcount, department roster should be kept adjacent to the evacuation exist so they can be picked up on the way out.
48. 48. Evacuation Planning These rosters list the name of every employee and long- term contract worker by department. Use the roster to see if the normal staff is accounted for. Ask if the missing are out sick that day or known to be working elsewhere in the facility. Ask if any other contract employees were working in the area that day. Forward the completed roll call results to the Evacuation Command Center (ECC) as soon as possible. Note the names and last known locations of any missing people. DO NOT reenter the building as these people may be at the different rendezvous (meeting point, assignation point) point.
49. 49. Evacuation Planning
50. 50. Evacuation Planning