Lesson 7 Fire Protection PDF

LESSON 7 FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SAFETY DR D JAFTHA  FIRE SAFETY FIRE SAFETY, AT ITS MOST BASIC, IS BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLE OF KEEPING FUEL SOURCES AND IGNITION SOURCES SEPARATE. HTTPS://WWW.SC.EDU/EHS/TRAINING/FIRE/01_TRI...

LESSON 7 FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SAFETY DR D JAFTHA  FIRE SAFETY FIRE SAFETY, AT ITS MOST BASIC, IS BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLE OF KEEPING FUEL SOURCES AND IGNITION SOURCES SEPARATE. HTTPS://WWW.SC.EDU/EHS/TRAINING/FIRE/01_TRIANGLE.HTM THE SAFEST WAY TO DEAL WITH FIRE IS TO PREVENT IT!! HTTPS://WWW.HSA.IE/ENG/TOPICS/FIRE/FIRE_PREVENTION/  FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO IMPLEMENT FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE WORKPLACE HTTPS://WWW.OSHA.GOV/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/2019-03/FIREPROTECTION.PDF  THE CONCEPT OF A FIRE TRIANGLE SCIENTISTS DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT OF A FIRE TRIANGLE TO AID IN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSE OF FIRES AND HOW THEY CAN BE PREVENTED AND EXTINGUISHED. HEAT, OXYGEN AND FUEL MUST COMBINE IN A PRECISE WAY FOR A FIRE TO START AND CONTINUE TO BURN. IF ONE ELEMENT OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE IS NOT PRESENT OR REMOVED, FIRE WILL NOT START OR, IF ALREADY BURNING, WILL EXTINGUISH.  THE FIRE PREVENTION TRIANGLE HEAT - OXYGEN - FUEL A FIRE NEEDS THREE ELEMENTS – HEAT, OXYGEN AND FUEL. WITHOUT THESE THREE ELEMENTS, A FIRE WILL NOT START OR SPREAD. A KEY STRATEGY TO PREVENT FIRE IS TO REMOVE ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE ELEMENTS. WHEN YOU DO A RISK ASSESSMENT, YOU SHOULD INCLUDE DETAIL ON ALL THREE ELEMENTS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF A FIRE STARTING OR SPREADING The Fire Prevention Triangle https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Fire/Fire_Prevention/  1. HEAT ( OR IGNITION SOURCE) HEAT OR IGNITION SOURCES CAN INCLUDE ANY MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT OR OPERATION THAT EMITS A SPARK OR FLAME INCLUDING OBVIOUS ITEMS, SUCH AS TORCHES, AS WELL AS LESS OBVIOUS ITEMS, SUCH AS STATIC ELECTRICITY AND GRINDING OPERATIONS. EQUIPMENT OR COMPONENTS THAT RADIATE HEAT, SUCH AS KETTLES, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND MUFFLERS, ALSO CAN BE IGNITION SOURCES  2. OXYGEN OXYGEN IN THE FIRE TRIANGLE COMES FROM THE AIR IN THE ATMOSPHERE. AIR CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 79 PERCENT NITROGEN AND 21 PERCENT OXYGEN. OSHA DESCRIBES A HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE AS ONE WHICH IS OXYGEN-DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT HAS LESS THAN 19.5 PERCENT OXYGEN, OR OXYGEN ENRICHED BECAUSE IT HAS GREATER THAN 23.5 PERCENT OXYGEN  3. FUEL FUEL SOURCES INCLUDE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, SUCH AS: WOOD, PAPER, TRASH AND CLOTHING. FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, SUCH AS: GASOLINE OR SOLVENTS; AND FLAMMABLE GASES, SUCH AS: PROPANE OR NATURAL GAS A CHEMICAL REACTION CAN BE ADDED AS A FOURTH ELEMENT WHICH WILL CHANGE THE TRIANGLE TO A TETRAHEDRON. (A TETRAHEDRON IS ALSO KNOWN AS A TRIANGULAR PYRAMID – IT HAS FOUR “FACES”- WHICH WILL THEN FORM THE TETRAHEDRON)  FIRE CLASSIFICATIONS FIRES ARE CLASSIFIED AS A, B, C, D OR K BASED ON THE TYPE OF SUBSTANCE THAT IS THE FUEL FOR THE FIRE, AS FOLLOWS: CLASS A—FIRES INVOLVING ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLES, SUCH AS PAPER, TRASH, SOME PLASTICS, WOOD AND CLOTH. A RULE OF THUMB IS IF IT LEAVES AN ASH BEHIND, IT IS A CLASS A FIRE. CLASS B—FIRES INVOLVING FLAMMABLE GASES OR LIQUIDS, SUCH AS PROPANE, OIL AND GASOLINE CLASS C—FIRES INVOLVING ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CLASS D—FIRES INVOLVING METAL. A RULE OF THUMB IS IF THE NAME OF THE METAL ENDS WITH THE LETTERS “UM,” IT IS A CLASS D FIRE. EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE ALUMINIUM, MAGNESIUM, BERYLLIUM AND SODIUM. CLASS D FIRES RARELY OCCUR IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY CLASS K—FIRES INVOLVING VEGETABLE OR ANIMAL COOKING OILS OR FATS; COMMON IN COMMERCIAL COOKING OPERATIONS USING DEEP FAT FRYERS ESSENTIALLY, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS PUT OUT FIRE BY TAKING AWAY ONE OR MORE ELEMENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE/TETRAHEDRON. HTTPS://WWW.SC.EDU/EHS/TRAINING/FIRE/01_TRIANGLE.HTM  FIRE EXTINGUISHERS THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS DESIGNED TO PUT OUT THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF FIRE. IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT THE APPROPRIATE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS USED FOR SPECIFIC FIRES THAT CAN OCCUR IN YOUR BUSINESS. THE WRONG EXTINGUISHER CAN MAKE A FIRE EMERGENCY WORSE E.G. USING WATER ON A CLASS K FIRE CAN INCREASE THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE. IT IS BEST TO USE A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN MAKE A SOAPY FOAM TO PREVENT RE-IGNITION. C-RATED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS PUT OUT THE FIRE BY USING A  EXAMPLES OF EXTINGUISHER TYPES Fire Extinguisher Class of Fire it will Extinguisher Type extinguish Limitation / Comments Dry Chemical A, B, C Very effective – it (multipurpose) interrupts the chemical reaction of fire. Foam – alcohol B Expensive: effective resistant and on Class B only; aqueous film- limited shelf life; forming foam (AFFF) types Water A Good only for Class A  PRINCIPLES OF FIRE SAFETY THE AIMS OF IMPLEMENTING MEASURES TO LIMIT THE INCIDENCE AND SPREAD OF FIRES ARE: TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE, MINIMISING LOSS OF LIFE AND INJURY; TO MINIMISE LOSS OF - AND DAMAGE TO - PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS; AND TO MINIMISE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT PURPOSE OF REGULATION: NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THEIR HOUSE OR BUSINESS PREMISES GO UP IN FLAMES. THIS IS WHY THERE ARE VERY STRICT REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE IN ANY BUILDING IN SOUTH AFRICA.  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT- DECLARATION ESSENTIALLY THE LEGISLATION IS CONCERNED QUITE SIMPLY WITH THE NEED FOR ALL BUILDINGS TO BE DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND EQUIPPED SO THAT IN THE EVENT OF FIRE: THE OCCUPANTS OR PEOPLE USING THE BUILDING WILL BE PROTECTED – INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; THE SPREAD AND INTENSITY OF ANY FIRE WITHIN BUILDINGS, AND THE SPREAD OF FIRE TO ANY OTHER BUILDINGS, WILL BE MINIMIZED; SUFFICIENT STABILITY WILL BE RETAINED TO ENSURE THAT SUCH BUILDING WILL NOT ENDANGER ANY OTHER BUILDING: PROVIDED THAT IN THE CASE OF ANY MULTI-STOREY BUILDING NO MAJOR FAILURE OF THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM SHALL OCCUR; THE GENERATION AND SPREAD OF SMOKE WILL BE MINIMIZED OR CONTROLLED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT REASONABLY PRACTICABLE; AND ADEQUATE MEANS OF ACCESS, AND EQUIPMENT FOR DETECTING, FIGHTING, CONTROLLING AND EXTINGUISHING SUCH FIRE, IS PROVIDED.  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT: DECLARATION THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SATISFIED IF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF BUILDINGS COMPLIES WITH SANS 10400 PART T AND SATISFIES THE LOCAL AUTHORITY. THE ACT ALSO SPECIFIES SEVERAL OFFENCES THAT OWNERS OF BUILDINGS NEED TO AVOID, INCLUDING THE NEED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS THAT COMPLY WITH SANS 10105. ALSO, IF PEOPLE DO ANYTHING TO OBSTRUCT ESCAPE ROUTES IN BUILDINGS, THEY WILL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENSE. THE BULK OF THE STANDARD IS MADE UP OF A VAST NUMBER OF DIFFERENT “REQUIREMENTS” THAT RELATE NOT ONLY TO DWELLING HOUSES, BUT TO EVERY OTHER POSSIBLE TYPE OF BUILDING, FROM HOSPITALS TO PARKING GARAGES. HTTPS://WWW.SANS10400.CO.ZA/FIRE-PROTECTION/  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT: THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE FIRE PROTECTION INCLUDE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND COVERINGS (THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO SAFETY DRAWINGS REMAIN UNCHANGED IN THE NEW VERSION OF THE STANDARD) INCLUDING DISTANCES, THATCH, FIRE PERFORMANCE, CEILINGS, FIRE RESISTANCE OF OCCUPANCY- FLOOR COVERINGS, SEPARATING AND DIVISION-SEPARATING ELEMENTS, INTERNAL FINISHES, FIRE STABILITY OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS PROVISION OF ESCAPE ROUTES, OR COMPONENTS, EXIT DOORS, TENANCY-SEPARATING ELEMENTS, FEEDER ROUTES, PARTITION WALLS AND PARTITIONS, EMERGENCY ROUTES, PROTECTION OF OPENINGS (NOTE THAT DIMENSIONS OF COMPONENTS OF ESCAPE THE DRAWINGS IN SANS 10400 – 1990 THAT ILLUSTRATE THIS HAVE NOT ROUTES, CHANGED), WIDTH OF ESCAPE ROUTES, RAISED ACCESS AND SUSPENDED FLOORS BASEMENTS, OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL,  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT: THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE FIRE PROTECTION INCLUDE FIRE-STOPPING OF INACCESSIBLE CONCEALED SPACES, STAIRWAYS AND OTHER CHANGES OF LEVEL ALONG ESCAPE ROUTES (THE DRAWING THAT SHOWS THE POSITION OF DOORS IN RELATION TO PROTECTION IN SERVICE SHAFTS, A CHANGE IN LEVEL HAS NOT CHANGED), SERVICES IN STRUCTURAL OR SEPARATING ELEMENTS,, VENTILATION OF STAIRWAYS IN AN EMERGENCY ROUTE, LIFT SHAFTS, LIFTS, FIREMEN’S LIFT, STRETCHER LIFT, PRESSURIZATION OF EMERGENCY ROUTES AND COMPONENTS, SMOKE CONTROL, AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS AND ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION OPENINGS IN FLOORS, SYSTEMS EXTERNAL STAIRWAYS AND PASSAGES, STAGE AND BACKSTAGE AREAS, LOBBIES, FOYERS AND VESTIBULES, EATING ARRANGEMENTS IN AUDITORIUMS OR HALLS AND ON GRANDSTANDS, MARKING AND SIGNPOSTING, PARKING GARAGES, OPERATING THEATRES AND INTENSIVE, HIGH OR CRITICAL CARE UNITS, PROVISION OF EMERGENCY LIGHTING, INSTALLATION OF LIQUID FUEL DISPENSING PUMPS AND TANKS, FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS, INSTALLATION OF OTHER TANKS, PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, INSTALLATIONS AND FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, WAREHOUSING OF DANGEROUS GOODS, WATER RETICULATION FOR FIRE-FIGHTING PURPOSES, DANGEROUS GOODS SIGNAGE, HOSE REELS, ACCESS FOR FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE PURPOSES, HYDRANTS, RESUMED FIRE RESISTANCE OF BUILDING MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS, BUILDING MATERIALS, AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER AND OTHER FIXED EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS, GUEST HOUSES AND BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATION (THIS IS PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, COMPLETELY NEW), MOBILE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES (THIS IS ALSO COMPLETELY NEW).  RATIONAL This basic fire safety engineering process. DESIGNS THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE THE NEED FOR A COMPETENT PE RSON TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL OF FIRE SAFETY IS ADEQUATE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN LARGE AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT W4: FIRE INSTALLATION – DEEMED-TO-SATISFY REQUIREMENTS THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION W3 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE SATISFIED WHERE ANY FIRE INSTALLATION COMPLIES WITH SANS 10400-W: PROVIDED THAT WHERE A LOCAL AUTHORITY IS OF THE OPINION THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE FIRE INSTALLATION TO BE THE SUBJECT OF AN ACCEPTABLE RATIONAL DESIGN PREPARED BY AN APPROVED COMPETENT PERSON, SUCH LOCAL AUTHORITY SHALL, IN WRITING, NOTIFY THE OWNER OF SUCH SITE OF ITS REASONS FOR THE NECESSITY FOR SUCH DESIGN, AND MAY REQUIRE SUCH OWNER TO SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL PLANS AND PARTICULARS OF A COMPLETE FIRE INSTALLATION, BASED ON SUCH DESIGN.  SANS10400 – BUILDING REGULATIONS ACT VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REQUIREMENTS, SAFETY DISTANCES AND FIRE RESISTANCE TABLES. HTTPS://WWW.SANS10400.CO.ZA/FIRE-PROTECTION/  BEIRUT EXPLOSION Watch the following YouTube Video about the Beirut explosion. The explosion was caused by ammonium nitrate which was stored in the Port of Beirut. This explosion involves all the elements we covered thus far in this course. We will have a short discussion on this next week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgvqNz4J_2k REFERENCES: HTTPS://WWW.WESTERNCAPE.GOV.ZA/EADP/FILES/ATOMS/FILES/ EIA_2015.PDF HTTPS://WWW.SC.EDU/EHS/TRAINING/FIRE/01_TRIANGLE.HTM HTTPS://WWW.HSA.IE/ENG/TOPICS/FIRE/FIRE_PREVENTION/ HTTPS://WWW.OSHA.GOV/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/2019-03/FIREPR OTECTION.PDF HTTPS://WWW.CSIR.CO.ZA/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/DOCUMENTS/CH APTER_05_08_03_VOL_I.PD HTTPS://WWW.SANS10400.CO.ZA/FIRE-PROTECTION/