FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTION
ansefiresafetyCLASSES OF FIRES, FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTION:

FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTION

FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTION:

Fire presents a significant risk to business.  It can kill or seriously injure employees or visitors and can also damage or destroy buildings, assets equipment or stock.

Therefore good fire safety practices are called for and should be followed.

  • Keep your work place tidy and having a good standards of housekeeping.
  • Regularly remove combustible waste and accumulated dust.
  • Keeping use of flammable liquids to a minimum and closing containers when not in use.

EMERGENCY/PLANNING:

Prepare for an emergency such as fire. An emergency plan should be in existence. It should clearly explain what to do in the event of a fire emergency, describing the responsibilities of each key person and what they need to do.

Create a written evacuation procedure explaining what need to happen in event of a fire alarm being raised. I.e. location of fire alarm call point, extinguishers, exists and details of nominated persons along with their areas of responsibility.

Train your employees to ensure that each is familiar with the emergency plan and please test the arrangements in the plan regularly.

Carry out fire drills at least twice a year to ensure that the plan works and that people can follow it, correcting any problem found during the drill.

FIRE ALARMS AND DETECTORS:

Provide methods for detecting a fire quickly and raising the alarm. Early warning systems when set off from any point, should be clearly heard throughout the premises. It should provide enough warning for people to evacuate the building quickly, calmly and safely.Provide clear instructions or notices showing people how to operate the warning system and how to respond to it.

It’s important all fire safety measures are maintained and regularly tested. You should test your fire alarms according to the NPA 72 standards.

ESACPE ROUTES:

All escape routes must be easily identifiable with no obstructions and with instructions about the means of escape displayed. Provide instructions and training for your employees on how to escape in the event of an emergency.The type and size of exits will depend on the number of people to use them in the event of an evacuation. Escape routes must be adequately illuminated and free of any obstacles.

EVACUATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE.

Any evacuation arrangement should ensure the safety of everybody in our premises.The fire risk assessment should identify groups of people at risk, taking particulars care of vulnerable groups or individuals e.g. children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Personal emergency evacuation plans (peep) where required should be tailored to the individual and should give clear explanations of evacuation procedure.

For premises where it is not known who visit, such as hotels, standard PEEPs can be created. These are procedures to assist people with disabilities. Employees should be trained on how to put PEEPs into practice in the event of an emergency.

Fire extinguishers:

Any fire to occur needs the following,

  • Oxygen
  • Fuel
  • Heat

Different fire extinguishers will remove one of these elements to stop it.It is important when deciding ways of fighting fire to choose the right fire extinguisher for each type of fire and where to locate it. This will guarantee that they are suitable for the type of fire that could occur and of sufficient capacity for the fire risk at the premises.

Fire extinguisher should be located at obvious places close to fire hazards, and people to use them should receive training on how to use them and also ensure that they are annually serviced.

ansefiresafetyCLASSES OF FIRES, FIRE EXTINGUISHER

SEVEN MAIN COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE

SEVEN MAIN COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE

#1.Electricity, neglect unprofessional or misuse of wiring can lead to short circuits.

#2.Cooking, fasts, glees and other materials provide opportunities for fire to start because it feeds on them i.e. kitchen Hoods.

#3.Hearting appliances, hot plates, gas cylinder, portable heaters, charcoal stove are all a threat when placed besides combustion materials.

#4.Combustion materials, include- flammable liquids, glues, and solvents are all liable to catch fire unless stored and used properly.

#5.Smoking, careless discarded cigarette butts or lit matches are of the major causes of fire.

#6.Burning candles, and unattended to charcoal stoves if left around combustibles can end up causing fire

#7.Arson or wilful fire -raising

NEEDED TO CARRY OUT A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT:

You have a duty to manage fire safety if you’re responsibility for the premises, owner, or you’re an employer. To do this, you need to carry out a fire risk assessment.

The assessment should identify anyone who may be at risk should a fire occur and the inherit risks within the premises. Again, the assessment should provide details of all measures possible to remove or reduce these risks in order to ensure the safety of anyone in the event of fire emergency.

The following 3 elements should be thought of while identifying hazards;

#1. Source of fuel, this is anything that burns.

#2. Source of ignition, sources of heat that can become hot enough to ignite materials found at the premises.

#3. Source of oxygen which is present in and around us.

 

The fire risk assessment helps to take action towards steps to remove any potential fire hazard, and to reduce the like hood of fire impacting on your home and workplace.

ansefiresafetyCLASSES OF FIRES, FIRE EXTINGUISHER

WHY FIRE SAFETY TRAINING IS IMPORTANT?

The buildings need to comply with government guidelines rules and laws relating to fire safety. However, making sure that your employees know what to do in the event of a fire emergency at workplace or premises is equally important too.

Fire safety training ensures that your employees know what to do in the event of fire emergency. And carrying out fire safety training on a regular basis is not only a necessity but rather a must.

WHAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW?

From the safe exist of the premises, to fire prevention and following the guidelines, fire safety training covers all the aspects of what to do if there is an out brake in the premises. Provide your employees /worker force with knowledge, skills and expertise on what to do especially when fire is at its insipient, prevents injuries, saves life as well as asset damage property and environment destruction.

HOW MANY TIMES DO THE WORK FORCE NEED FIRE TRAINING?

A number of things keep charging in work places of organizations during a year i.e. new buildings, staff come and go, so for many reasons, fire safety must be carried out regularly.

Most companies opt for a yearly review and refresh to ensure their workforce are up to date with current procedures.

However in the event of some charges in the organisation or company that rises any fire safety risk to the premises, it is important to update the procedure and training potential to update the procedure and training depending to the situation present at that particular time. These may include;

#1.New equipment: In case a new machine is purchase, installed or changed, the machine used, it is important to review the fire safety procedure.

#2.External incidents: If an incident has occurred outside your organisation, it could prompt you to review your own safety guidelines.

#3.Change of process: if your own internal processes changes, then its worth important to look into the fire safety arrangement at the premises.

FINALLY ABOUT FIRE SAFETY TRAINING:

This responsibility of fire prevention in the work place ultimately lies with everyone at the business, organisation, institution, companies, factory etc. But it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure employees are fully trained and equipped with the knowledge to known both how to respond and exit safely in the event of fire. Therefore conducting training on a regular basis is imperative.

And if you’re interested in fire safety training for your business, company, factor or organisation, contact our team at Anse fire safety now. We can conduct  fire safety training at you premises and all the necessary equipment, materials are brought to you and the  fire safety training will be tailored specifically to  your work environment.

Since fire can occur anywhere and at any time, whether at the work place or at home, the follow are the identified seven common causes.

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ansefiresafetyCLASSES OF FIRES, FIRE EXTINGUISHER

KNOW THE DIFFERENT OUTSIDE PARTS OF A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Draw a fire extinguisher showing all the spare parts

#1.Discharge hose:

This allows the inside extinguishing agent to travel across the tank and reach the base of the burning fire. Always aim the flow of the agent in the targeted direction.

#2.Nozzle:

This is the conical end of the hose and through it the extinguishing agent disperses.

#3.Pressure gauge.

It is a small circular gauge attached to the outer portion of the value assembly. It has a clock like arrow showing pressure bar and a green and red portion.

The gauge maintain the pressure when discharging the agent during the time of fire. When it is properly charged then the arrow of the gauge is green. If the needle arrow is to the right of the green, it means its overcharged and it might explode. If it is to the left, it indicates that it is discharge or there is no pressure.

Note: a pressure gauge is not present in all Co2 extinguishers

#4.Pull pin:

It is the locking pin and inserted into the value portion to prevent accidental squeezing.

#5.Carry handle:

The handle allows the user to easing grasp, lift and carry the extinguisher.

#6.Operating lever:

It is a metal piece that is pressed to operate the fire extinguisher. The lever can only be operated when the pull pin is removed.

#7.Tamper seal:

It helps in keeping the pull pin in place.

#8.Instruction label:

All fire extinguishers should have the instructions on how to use it and on what type of fire class it should be applied. Note: only a skilled and trained person should use it.

 

#9.Monthly /quarterly /annual inspiration, testing and maintenance tags/stickers

These ensures that the extinguisher is properly handled so that it operates effectively when needed.

Fire extinguisher are capable of suppressing small fires especially when it is at its incipient hence saving people from injuries, death, asset, property and environment  destruction.

CLASSES OF FIRES
ansefiresafetyCLASSES OF FIRES

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT CLASSES OF FIRES?

Fire is such a one big threatening force, it’s therefore important to know the different classes of fires. A fire class can determine how quickly it burns, spreads, and how dangerous it is, and the best way to suppress or put it out.

Each of the 5 different classes of fire has the best approach on how safely and effectively can be put out.

 

THE 5 DIFFERENT CLASSE OF FIRES

The 5 main classes of fire are;

#1.Class A: Solid materials such as wood or paper, fabric and some plastics.

#2.Class B: Liquids or gas such as alcohol either gasoline or grease.

#3.Class C: Electrical failure form appliance, electronic equipment, and wiring.

#4.Class D: Metallic substances such as sodium, titanium, zirconium or magnesium.

#5.Class K: Grease or oil fires specifically from cooking.

 

Understanding the 5 different  classes of fires can help you determine the biggest fire risks at your premise/facility, depending on the fuels and fire hazards present as well as how best to prepare in case of a  fire emergency.

 

Let’s dive in each of the 5 different classes of fire

CLASS A FIRES: ORDINARY FIRE

This is the most common of the 5 different classes of fire. They occur when common combustible materials like wood, paper, fabric trash and light plastic catch fire.

 

These accidental fires are common across a variety of industries, offices, so its prudent to equip yourself with adequate protection against such fires.

 

This class of fire should be regarded as low risk. If there’s an abundance of fire present, these fires can intensity quickly. Its best to put out a class A fire quickly before it spreads using water.

 

CLASS B FIRE: LIQUIDS & GASES

Class B fires involves flammable and gases, especially fuels like petroleum or petroleum-based products such as gasoline, paint, and kerosene. Other gases that are highly flammable are propane and butane, which are common causes of class B fires. The best way to deal with these types of fires is by smothering them or removing oxygen using foam or Co2 fire suppression equipment.

Note: that class B fires do not include grease fires or cooking fires, which belongs to their own class, class K.

CLASS C FIRES: ELECTRICAL FIRES

Electrical fires are common in facilities that make heavy use of electrical equipment, but they can occurs in a wide range of industries, government and commercial buildings. For example, data centers might be an obvious risk area for class C fires. They must have safe guards in place to deal with electrical fires.

Construction sites are another common Class C fire risk: electrical power tools or appliances used for cooking, switch guard and others can cause sparks to ignite combustible materials and intensify rapidly. Old buildings with bad wiring, surging and poorly worked on or uncovered, presents more concerns.

Electrical fires requires non- conductive materials to extinguish the flames, so water alone is not a good solution.

Facilities with sensitive equipment may prefer clean agent suppression because it won’t leave residue or damage electrical equipment.

CLASS D FIRES: METALLIC FIRES

Class D fires are less common compared to other classes, but they do require special attention because they can be especially difficult to extinguish. Metallic fires involve flammable materials like titanium, aluminum, magnesium, and potassium- all commonly occurring in laboratories.

Class D fires cannot be addressed with water, as this can exacerbate the fire and be potentially dangerous. Dry powder agents are the best solution for smothering the flames and limiting damages to property or people.

CLASS K FIRES:

Greases fires or cooking fires class K fires involves flammable liquids, similar to class B fires, but are specifically related to food service and the hotel and restaurant industry. These common fires start form the combustion or liquid cooking materials including grease, oils and vegetables and animal fats.

Because they can spread quickly and difficult to manage, class K fires are some of the most dangerous. Water can make the situation worse but smothering the flames or using a wet agent fire extinguisher’s effective.

After understanding how each fire starts, we can prepare for how to fight them or better yet prevent them from happening in the first place.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE 5 DIFFERENT CLASSES OF FIRES

Being ready for whatever fire danger, involves three areas of focus: equipping yourself with the right fire extinguishers to your corresponding fire classes, committing to regular fire safety training and keeping all equipment in place consideration. By maintaining each of the above, you should be able to react appropriately in a fire emergency no matter what class of fire you face.

WHY CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Different types of fire extinguishers exist in order to address the 5 different classes of fires. Each fire class describes the fuel or material a fire is burning or what caused it to start. Therefore using the right extinguisher is essential to put out the fire safety and effectively.

Here’s a quick chart to help choose the right fire extinguisher for each class of fire.

Fire class Fuel type How to suppress Fire Extinguisher Type
Class A Freely burning combustibles Water, smothering ABC/powder, water ,water mist, foam
Class B Burning or gas Smothering ABC/powder, Co2, water mist, clean agent
Class C Electrical fire Non- conductive chemical ABC/powder , Co2, water mist, clean agent
Class D Metallic fire Dry powder agent Powder
Class K Cooking or grease fire Smothering , wet chemical Wet chemical water mist

 

COMPLETE REGULAR TRAINING.

Make sure staff know how to operate a fire extinguisher and when it’s needed, especially for the classes of fire you are most likely to face. Help staff understanding how to tell when a fire is too advanced to address themselves, and when and how to contact the authorizes promptly. Commit to regular fire safety training to stay current on preparedness skills, technologies, and equipment.

Pair your fire extinguisher training with a practiced evacuation plan.

Keep up with testing and maintenance.

Remember to have equipment inspected regularly, tested and maintenance carries out once they pass their expiration.

No matter what class of fire you’re protecting against, Anse fire safety has the tools, technology and expertise you need. Form fire safety training to fire suppression system installation, inspection, testing and maintenance.