Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety

Emergency Preparedness, Fire Prevention, and Security

• Domain 5 covers emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and security.
• Main topics include flash point, fire point, auto-ignition temperature, lower explosive limit (LEL), upper explosive limit (UEL), and sprinkler systems.
• Safety Catch Pvt. Ltd. is a training and consulting company.

Flash Point

• The flash point is the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid releases enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture.
• When exposed to a flame, the mixture will briefly ignite and quickly extinguish itself.

Fire Point

• The fire point is the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid produces enough vapor to sustain continuous burning.
• The burning continues until the liquid is consumed or the source of ignition is removed.

Auto-Ignition Temperature

• The auto-ignition temperature is the lowest temperature at which a substance ignites in the absence of an external ignition source (like a flame or spark).
• This temperature is always higher than both flash point and fire point.

Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)

• The lower explosive limit (LEL) is the minimum concentration of flammable vapor in air that will support combustion.
• Below this concentration, a flame will not propagate.

Upper Explosive Limit (UEL)

• The upper explosive limit (UEL) is the maximum concentration of flammable vapor in air that will support combustion.
• Above this concentration, the mixture is too "rich" and the flame will not propagate.

Work Permit for Confined Spaces

• A work permit is required for entry into a confined space if the concentration of flammable vapors is less than 0.5% of the lower explosive limit (LEL).

Gas Explosive Percentage

• A gas becomes explosive at 5% of its LEL.

Conversions

• Percentage by volume (Vol %) to parts per million (PPM): (Vol %) x 10,000 = PPM
• LEL to PPM: (% LEL) x (LEL(Vol %)) x 100 = PPM
• PPM to mg/m³: (mg/m³) x 24.45 = PPM
• MW = Molar Weight

NFPA Fire Diamond

• The NFPA fire diamond provides a standardized system for classifying the hazards of materials.
• It is divided into four sections: health hazard (blue), flammability (red), reactivity (yellow), and specific hazard (white).
• Each section is rated on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 representing the most severe hazard.

Modes of Heat Transfer

• Heat transfer can occur through conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Heat conduction passes through a substance without any movement of molecules.
• Convection transfers heat by the movement of fluids or gases.
• Radiation transmits heat across a space without any medium.

Sprinkler Systems

• Common types of sprinkler systems include dry pipe, wet pipe, deluge, and pre-action.

Hazardous Location Classification

• Hazardous locations are classified into different classes based on the type of hazardous substance present.
• Class 1 involves flammable vapors and gases.
• Class 2 involves combustible dusts.
• Class 3 involves ignitable fibers.

Critical Factor in Emergency Response Plans

• The most crucial factor in developing emergency response plans is how to protect people, property, and the environment.

Standards for Fire Prevention

• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops fire prevention and protection standards.

Autoignition Temperature vs. Ignition Temperature

• The autoignition temperature is the minimum temperature needed for a material to ignite without any external ignition source.
• This is always higher than the ignition temperature.

Combustion Reactions

• For combustion, fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source are required simultaneously.

Flammable Liquid Storage Considerations

• The most important factor to prevent fire loss in a flammable liquid storage area is compatible storage.

Carbon Monoxide in Fire

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a major cause of fatalities in fires because it is a highly toxic gas that reacts with blood more readily than oxygen, causing asphyxiation as it displaces oxygen in the lungs.

Gaseous Products of Combustion

• Gaseous products of combustion usually have a vapor density below 1. This means they remain above the fire.

Fire Point vs. Flash Point

• The fire point is always higher than the flash point because it relates to the temperature at which the vapor of the substance will sustain continuous burning.

Lower Flammability Limit (LFL)

• An LFL of 10% means a substance needs air concentration of under 10% for combustion to take place.

Oxidizers

• Materials classified as oxidizers must be stored separately from flammables as they can release oxygen or catalyze combustion reactions
• they may even produce heat and act as a source of ignition when combined.