RAY Skills Development LLC

Instructor: RAJASEKAR R (RAJ)

Date: 13.12.2015

Location: Muscat, Oman

Rev – 1.0 OMN-HSE-01-1003-PR 14/07/2013
At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
 Describe the fire triangle
 Explain the terms Ignition Temperature, Flash Point, LEL and
UEL of Hydrocarbon Fuels
 List the 7 most common heat sources for workplace fires
 Describe how fires spread
 State the different fire classifications
 State fire extinguisher types and what type of fire extinguisher
would be used for what fire classification
 Explain simple fire fighting extinguisher use
 Discuss response to a fire if your are trained
 Discuss response to a fire if you have not been trained
The Fire Triangle
 This triangle represents the three
components required for fires
 Removing any one of these three
components will extinguish a fire
or prevent a fire from happening
Remove Oxygen: CHOKING Remove Heat: COOLING

Remove Fuel: STARVING

The Fire Triangle
 Fuel is what is consumed in the fire
 may be solid, liquid or gas
 Hydrocarbon fuels
 The ignition temperature is the lowest temperature
at which a fuel/air mixture will burn or explode

FUEL – HYDROCARBON IGNITION TEMPERATURE

Hydrogen Sulphide 260°C
Methane 650°C
Diesel Fuel 257°C
Methanol 464°C
Propane 490°C
The Fire Triangle – Fuel
 Hydrocarbon fires
 The flash point of a liquid is the lowest temperature at
which enough vapors are given off to form a flammable
mixture of vapors and air immediately above the liquid
surface

FUEL – HYDROCARBON FLASH POINT

Hydrogen Sulphide Not Recorded (NA)
Methane -187.8°C
Diesel Fuel >52°C
Methanol 11°C
Propane -104°C
The Fire Triangle – Fuel
 Gaseous fuels will mix with air in all proportions
 the proportions must be within certain limits before the
mixtures will ignite
 These limits are the flammable, or explosive, limits
 Percent of fuel by volume in air
FUEL – HYDROCARBON LEL UEL
Hydrogen Sulphide 4.3% 45.5%
Methane 5.0% 15.0%
Diesel Fuel 0.3% 10.0%
Methanol 6.0% 36.0%
Propane 2.2% 9.5%
FUEL – HYDROCARBON IGNITION TEMP. FUEL – HYDROCARBON FLASH POINT
Hydrogen Sulphide 260°C Hydrogen Sulphide (NA)
Methane 650°C Methane -187.8°C
Diesel Fuel 257°C Diesel Fuel >52°C
Methanol 464°C Methanol 11°C
Propane 490°C Propane -104°C

FUEL – HYDROCARBON LEL UEL

Hydrogen Sulphide 4.3% 45.5%
Methane 5.0% 15.0%
Diesel Fuel 0.3% 10.0%
Methanol 6.0% 36.0%
Propane 2.2% 9.5%
Heat – the activating energy for fires
7 of the most common heat sources for
workplace fires

 Sparks or Static electricity

 Electricity – faulty or overloaded
 Incorrect tool use in intrinsically safe areas
 Hazardous goods – paints, adhesives
 Smoking
 Rubbish – poor housekeeping
 Arson
Heat – the activating energy for fires

What could start a fire in this room ?

How do fires spread? Heat is transferred in one of three ways:

1. Conduction
 The transfer of heat between substances in direct contact
with each other
 A pot getting hot when it is over a burner on the stove

2. Convection
 Hotter gases or liquids become less dense and lighter. The
lighter fluids rise. Cooler, denser and heavier fluids move in to
occupy the space. These cooler fluids are heated and the
cycle repeats its self.
 The lower floors on a building are cooler
 Water heating up in a pot on a stove
How do fires spread? Heat is transferred in one of three ways:

3. Radiation
 When electromagnetic waves travel through space
 Sun heating up the inside of a car
 Microwave oven
AMERICAN EUROPEAN AUSTRALIAN/ASIAN FUEL/HEAT SOURCE
CLASS A CLASS A CLASS A Ordinary Combustibles
CLASS B CLASS B Flammable Liquids
CLASS B
CLASS C CLASS C Flammable Gases
CLASS C UNCLASSIFIED CLASS E Electrical Equipment
CLASS D CLASS D CLASS D Combustible Metals
CLASS K CLASS F CLASS F Cooking Oil and Fat

 Most companies in this area follow the European Fire

classification standards – make sure at your work site!

 Many extinguishers for Class B are also rated for Class C fires
 BAND
COLOR
DRY WET
DESCRIPTION WATER FOAM CO2
POWDER CHEMICAL
CLASS
Wood, papers or
CLASS A
textiles
YES YES YES YES

CLASS B Flammable liquids YES YES YES

CLASS C Flammable gases YES

Burning metals
CLASS D
(magnesium)
YES*

CLASS F Cooking oils and fats YES

ELECTRICAL YES
Electrical Equipment YES**
EQUIPMENT (best)

* This is a special type of dry chemical for burning metals

** May be used for electrical, but often messy. CO2 is better.
A Class: Safe for use on Safe for use on
Paper, wood and textiles Electrical fires

B Class : Safe for use on F Class : Safe for use on

Flammable liquids Cooking oil and fat

C Class : Safe for use on

Gaseous Fires
Ordinary
Combustibles

Flammable
Liquids

Electrical
Equipment

Combustible
Metals
US Extinguisher Markings

CLASS A

CLASS A:B

CLASS B:C

CLASS A:B:C

http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/extmark.html
Should I Evacuate or Fight a Small Fire?
 SECONDS COUNT

 The “Company” will have decided in their Emergency

Response planning IF employees or contractors are
expected to attempt fighting small fires if they occur
 If workers are not expected to fight small fires.
Evacuate and sound the alarm! Seconds count
 If workers are expected to fight small fires they must:
 Have immediate access to the extinguisher
 Have been trained in extinguisher use, know how to actuate the
unit and how to apply the extinguishing agent
 Attempting to put out even small fires has risk
Should I Evacuate or Fight a Small Fire?
 SECONDS COUNT

 Is the fire too big?

 Is the air safe to breath?
 Is it too hot or smoky?
 Do I have a safe evacuation path?
 Is this the right type of extinguisher for the fire
 Do I know how to operate this type of extinguisher?
 These are all questions you need to evaluate very quickly
because seconds count
 Fires change very quickly and so does the associated risk!
Water – Air- Water is one of the most commonly used fire extinguishing agents
Pressurized Water for type A fires. You can recognize an APW by its large silver
Extinguishers container. They are filled about two-thirds of the way with ordinary
(APW) water, then pressurized with air. In some cases, detergents are
added to the water to produce a foam.

They stand about two to three feet tall and weigh approximately 25
pounds when full. APWs extinguish fire by cooling the surface of
the fuel to remove the “heat” element of the fire triangle.

APWs are designed for Class A Fires Only (wood, paper, cloth,
rubber, certain plastics)

Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fires.

Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire.

 Flammable liquids and solids
such as petrol, oils and wax

 The extinguisher for these fires

use foam or powder

 They extinguish and seal in

potentially dangerous vapors
 Flammable gas

 The extinguisher for these fires

use dry powder

 If the fire is put out without

shutting off the gas supply it
can create a much more
dangerous situation
 Combustible metals

 The extinguisher for these fires

use Specialized dry powder

 This type of extinguisher will

have a long lance with a low
velocity applicator on the
end
 The auto ignition temperature of burning
cooking oil is higher than other typical
combustible liquids so the standard Class B
foam and dry powder extinguishers can be
ineffective

 Commonly termed Wet Chemical

extinguishers they use an alkaline solution
which reacts with the cooking oil or fat to
make a non-flammable soap

 Found in commercial and industrial kitchens

 The extinguisher for these
fires most commonly use
Carbon Dioxide
 Ideal for small fires. It must cover
the fire completely

 The Fire Blanked will extinguish a fire

by choking the fire from oxygen
 Responding to a Fire – IF you have been trained!
1. Sound the alarm immediately
2. Identify a safe evacuation path before approaching the
fire.
• Do not let fire, heat or smoke come between you and your
evacuation path
3. Select the appropriate type of fire extinguisher
4. Discharge the extinguisher within its effective range using
the P.A.S.S. technique (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep)
5. Back away from the fire in case it flames up again
6. Evacuate immediately if the extinguisher is empty and the
fire is not out.
7. Evacuate immediately if the fire progresses beyond the
incipient stage

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/portable_use.html
 Pull the pin. This will also break the
PULL
tamper seal

Aim low, pointing the extinguisher

AIM nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the
base of the fire

Squeeze the handle to release the

SQUEEZE
extinguishing agent

Sweep from side to side at the base

of the fire until it appears to be out.
SWEEP
Watch the area. If the fire re-ignites,
repeat steps 2-4

If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight a fire…
EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/portable_use.html
 Responding to a Fire – IF you have NOT been trained!

1. Sound the alarm immediately

2. Ensure the area is evacuated completely
3. Proceed to the muster point
4. DO NOT stop to gather personal belongings
5. DO NOT return until the person in charge gives the okay to
return
6. DO NOT leave the muster point. If you do so the person in
charge may miss you and still think you are still in the fire
zone. This could risk fire fighters lives unnecessarily