Fire Safety (USA/UK)

FIRE SAFETY INTRODUCTION Fire safety is the set of practices intended to reduce the destruction caused by fire. Fire safety measures include those that are intended to prevent ignition of an uncontrolled fire, and those that are used to limit the development and effects of a fire after it starts. Fire safety measures include those that are planned during the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are already standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the building. Threats to fire safety are commonly referred to as fire hazards. A fire hazard may include a situation that increases the likelihood of a fire or may impede escape in the event a fire occurs. Fire safety is often a component of building safety. The staff/employees should have a working knowledge of basic fire science and chemistry. A fire, or combustion, is a chemical reaction. An understanding of the chemical reaction is the basis for preventing fires, as well as extinguishing fires once they initiate. A working knowledge of basic fire science and chemistry is essential for developing and implementing a successful fire safety program. DEFINITION OF FIRE A fire is a chemical reaction. There are many variables that can affect a fire. Effective fire safety management programs control the variables that can affect a fire. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the variables. A fire is self-sustained oxidation of a fuel that emits heat and light. A fire requires three variables to initiate: a fuel, oxygen, and heat. The fire triangle is a well-known representation of the three variables needed to initiate a fire. In order to initiate a fire, fuel, oxygen, and heat are required. FIRE TETRAHEDRON Fire prevention is the concept of preventing the variables of the fire triangle from coming into contact with each other to initiate a fire. Once a fire begins, it requires four variables to sustain the combustion reaction. The four variables required to sustain a fire are fuel, oxygen, heat, and chemical chain reactions. These four variables represent the fire tetrahedron. Chemical chain reactions are a product of the combustion process. The chemical reactions ultimately produce combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbon, and other molecules, depending on the specific fuel. It is these byproducts of combustion found in the smoke that usually affect the safety and health of occupants and fire fighters. Once a fire begins and is self-sustaining, the goal is to control and extinguish the fire. Fire extinguishment is done by eliminating one of the variables of the fire tetrahedron. By removing the fuel, oxygen, or heat, or inhibiting the chemical chain reactions, a fire can be extinguished. The concept of fire protection assumes fires will occur, and focuses on controlling fires by eliminating or otherwise controlling the variables of the fire tetrahedron. The concept of fire prevention differs from fire protection because fire prevention attempts to control the variables of the fire triangle before a fire occurs.