Fire safety:
Heat: It acts as a source of spark and anything that generates heat can start a fire. The heat source can be intentionally hot, such as welding equipment or an oven. But the heat can be caused by the product, such as: abrasion or an electrical short circuit.
Combustible material: The combustible material of the fire does not have to be a known fuel in the form of gasoline or gas. . It may be any kind of combustible material. Combustible materials can be solid (such as paper or wood, fabric), liquid (gasoline, diesel, etc.), or gas (natural gas, gasoline vapor, etc.).
The type of combustible material is also important. Because the fire behavior of different materials during burning is different and therefore the extinguishing means may be different. When we look at the classification of fire, the types of combustible materials should be looked at in more detail.
Combustion: The process in which oxygen and a combustible substance combine with a heat source (creating a spark) and lead to fire.
Oxygen: Oxygen required for combustion is usually supplied from the surrounding air. If oxygen is consumed, the fire will go out. Oxygen can come from other sources such as welding gas, or chemicals from oxidizing agents, which produce oxygen when burned. Fire Classification: Fires are based on the type of substance. Combustibles are classified into 7 groups. This classification is used as a basis for identifying fire extinguishers for different types of fire.
1. Class A: There are fires that include solid materials, usually of an organic nature, such as coal, wood, paper, and natural fibers.
2. Class C: There are fires that include gases such as methane, ethane, propane, butane and gas condensate.
3. Class D: There are fires where the combustible material is metal. such as aluminum, sodium, potassium and magnesium. Class E: Fires caused by electricity or electrical appliances.
4. Class F: Fires caused by explosives.
5. Class K: Fires caused by edible fats and frying.
Heat transfer and fire spread: When heat is transferred from one substance to another, fire spreads. These processes include transfer, direct method or conduction, indirect method or displacement, radiation or direct burning. Understanding heat transfer methods is important in fire safety.
Guide: Heat transfer is from a material (usually solid) with a high temperature to another material with a lower temperature. . Metals are excellent conductors of heat. If the end of a tablespoon is placed in a container of water, first the part of the metal that is immersed in the water is heated. But over time, the heat transfers to the metal and heats the handle as well. In a fire, heat is transferred by conduction along metal beams and beams, which leads to the spread of fire in buildings.
Displacement: Hot gases are lighter than cold gases, so hot gases created during a fire rise to the top. As the hot gases rise upward, the temperature under the roof rises, leading to combustion. When gases cool, they fall again. As the gases rise and fall, air flow is created. In a fire in a large building, the displacement current may cause rooms on higher floors to become hotter and catch fire.
Radiation: is a term which is used to describe heat transfer by infrared rays. Infrared radiation is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum (the part of light) that cannot be seen but is emitted by hot, glowing materials such as electric heaters, molten metal, and the sun. When a fire burns, it emits radiant heat, which causes the material to heat up far from the initial location of the fire and eventually ignite.
Direct burning: Heat transfer by direct burning occurs when the material that is on fire collides with another material and causes it to catch fire. A good example of direct burning is a lighted cigarette that falls on a sofa and ignites it.
Causes and consequences of a fire in the workplace: A workplace fire starts when heat from an intentional or accidental act acts as a source of ignition on a combustible material. All these types of fires can be prevented by proper safety precautions. A fire can be intentional and the losses caused by a fire can cause heavy financial, human and life costs, and more than 70% of businesses that suffer from a big fire fail within three years.
Human costs:
1. Loss of life either due to heat and burns or due to inhalation of smoke and toxic gases.
2. Smoke can limit visibility, cause slips, trips, and falls when escaping.
Financial costs:
1. Damage to buildings, including building collapse.
2. lost production.
3. Loss of equipment
4. Lost capital.
The role and benefits of effective fire risk assessment: Prevention and control of the spread of fire is an important issue and most countries have laws to deal with this threat, for example, requiring fire inspectors and risk assessment. fire However, the employer is responsible for the fire safety of the workplace and must ensure:
1. The workplace is equipped with fire fighting equipment, detectors and fire alarms and is easily accessible, usable and marked by signs.
2. There are appropriate measures for fire extinguishing, introducing and training employees to implement these measures and communicate with external emergency services.
3. Emergency routes are kept clean and in compliance with laws and regulations regarding emergency exit routes, doors and signs.
4. Fire prevention measures are maintained and in good working order. These requirements may be enforced by competent local fire inspectors.