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Objectives

Introduction
Fire Hazards
Sources of Fire
Flammable Storage
Fire Protection Reduction of Fire Hazards
29 CFR 1910 Subpart L Life Safety
OLS 30000: Safety and Health in Engineering Technologies
Shoji Nakayama, Ph.D.

Introduction Introduction (Cont.)

Elements required to start

Damage and injuries from fire can
and sustain fire:
be both physically and Fuel
psychologically damaging Heat (Source of ignition)
affecting even those employees Oxygen
Ignition / heat
who are not physically injured. AND
Process of combustion

Chemical Reaction!!!

Fuel Oxygen

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Introduction (Cont.) Introduction (Cont.)

Heat flows from a higher temp. to

Fire/Combustion: Fire converting fuel
& oxygen into energy.
A source of ignition is needed:
Eg: Spark, open flame, or a sufficiently
high temperature.
Ignition temperature or combustion
point: The temperature at which a
given fuel can burst into flame.
Liquids & solids (oil & wood) do not burn
directly - Converted to a flammable
vapor by heat.
a lower temp.
Excess heat from a fire transfers to
surrounding objects, which may
ignite, explode, or decompose.
Heat transfer through:
Convection movement of hot
gases
Conduction direct energy transfer
Radiation electromagnetic wave

Fire Hazards (Cont.)

Fire Hazards
Direct contact is very dangerous to
humans flesh, muscles & internal
organs all burn.

The #1 killer is carbon

Sulfur dioxide will combine with water to
produce sulfuric acid.
Nitrogen oxides may combine with water to
produce nitric acid.

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Fire Hazards (Cont.)
When a substance burns released
carbon combines with oxygen to form:
Carbon dioxide: More oxygen than the fire
needs.
Carbon monoxide: Results of incomplete
combustion of a fuelis produced when
there is insufficient oxygen to burn the fuel
present efficiently.
Synthetic polymers (found in plastics &
vinyls) often form deadly fumes,
Sources of Fire (Cont.)
Irons in textile manufacturing & dry-
cleaning, coffee pots space heaters,
hotplates, etc.
Boilers, steam equipment, radiators, pipes,
chimneys.
Surfaces exposed to direct sunlight
Compressors produce heat through
friction, transferred
to their housings.
Metal cut by a blade heats from friction,
as does the blade.
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Sources of Fire
Organic compounds, decomposing
through natural processes, release
methane gas - fuel.
The degradation (a chemical reaction) -
heat.
In a pile of oil-soaked rags (especially in a
closed container) the fibers of the rags
expose a large surface area of oil to
oxidation.
Sources of Fire (Cont.)
Lightening, electrical lines, equipment
cause fires by a short
Almost everything in environment
can be a fuel.
Causes of industrial fires
Mishandling flammable liquids and
flammable gases.
As the temperature of any flammable
liquid increases, the amount of vapor
generated on the surface also
increases.
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Sources of Fire (Cont.) Sources of Fire (Cont.)

Flammable liquids: Flammable Range
Flashpoints are < 100F.
This means that flammable liquids burn easily at
normal working temperatures.
Lower Flammable Limit:
The lowest concentration at which a
Combustible liquids: fuel/air mixture will burn. Below this there
Flashpoint at or > 100F. is too little fuel (the mixture is too lean)
These liquids are less hazardous than flammable
liquids but still pose a risk. Upper Flammable Limit:
The highest concentration at which a
The volatility of these liquids requires special storage and handling
requirements. fuel/air mixture will burn. Above this there
is not enough oxygen (the mixture is too
rich)

Flammable Storage Flammable Storage (Cont.)

Labeled in large letters:

FLAMMABLE-- KEEP FIRE AWAY
Quantities of flammable liquids
exceeding one pint should be stored
in approved portable safety cans
Local and state fire codes limit the
amounts of flammable and
combustible liquids that can be
stored in various locations

CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT

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Flammable Storage (Cont.)
The NFPA 704 system
for quick identification
of hazards presented
when substances burn.
Flammable Storage (Cont.)
No storage is allowed
in corridors and
stairwells. A cluttered
hallway could slow
down emergency
evacuation.
Storage must not
exceed a plane of 18
inches below sprinkler
heads or smoke
detectors.
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Flammable Storage (Cont.)
All storage must be at Maintain at least a
least from clearance from heating
electrical panels. surfaces, air ducts, heaters,
and lighting fixtures.
Storage of combustible
materials in mechanical
rooms is prohibited.
Improper Storage in front
Improper Mechanical
of Electrical Panel
Room Storage
Reduction of Fire Hazards
Prohibit smoking near possible fuels.
Store fuels away from electrical sparks
(Eg: From tools, equipment, wiring, or
lightning may occur.)
Clean up flammable liquid spills.
(Proper disposal of cleaned materials)
Keep work areas free from extra
supplies of flammable materials
paper, rags, boxes.
Run electrical cords along walls,
rather than across aisles or in other
trafficked areas.
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Classes of Fire Fire-Extinguishing Systems

Portable Fire Extinguishers Portable Fire Extinguishers (Cont.)

Monthly/Annual Inspection
7 Inspection Steps
Fighting the fire: Remember P.A.S.S.
1. Check the mount
the pin
2. Check the tag
low at the base of flames
3. Check the gauge
the handle
4. Check the hose
side to side
5. Invert 5 times
6. Check the gauge 5X
7. Sign the tag

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1910.156: Fire Brigades
While not required, if an employer
does organize a fire brigade, the
requirements:
Prefire planning - become familiar with
hazards.
Organizational statement - A description
of the duties brigade members are
expected to perform;
Physical capability - A requirement
applied to brigade members who
perform interior structural firefighting.
Life Safety
Protecting vehicles, vessels, and
people from fire.
Quickly evacuate a building or structure.
Exit doors - Designed, constructed and
maintained direct and obvious.
Have a minimum of two means of egress.
Minimum number of means of egress for:
3 for occupancy loads of 500 to 1,000
4 for occupancy loads of more than 1,000
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1910.156: Fire Brigades (Cont.)
Training and education
Functions the brigade is expected to
perform. (Hands-on training annually)
Firefighting equipment
Fire equipment, except portable fire
extinguishers & respirators, must be
inspected at least annually.
Protective clothing
Adequate protection for brigade
members who may be exposed to fires
in an advanced stage, smoke, toxic
gases, and high temperatures.
Respiratory protective devices
Life Safety (Cont.)
All exits / Means of Egress
Accessible at all times
Must terminate at a public way or open
spaces lead to the exterior of the
structure.
Illuminated continuously during times
when the structure is occupied.
Emergency lighting must be provided
Marked by readily visible with approved
signs
If area has hazardous contents, be able
to exit by traveling <75 feet.
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Life Safety (Cont.) Life Safety (Cont.)

Exit routes:
Must be free and Fire Doors:
unobstructed To withstand fire, heat
Free of explosive or and smoke for 20-
highly flammable minutes to 3 hours.
materials Eg: Office doors are fire
doors and should have a
Arrange exit routes so 20 minute rating
traveling in opposite Eg: Laboratory doors
direction of high hazard should have a 60 minute
area rating.
Fire Doors are required
to:
Self Closing after the door
has been opened

Fire Safety Programs Hot Work Program

A comprehensive program should
have at least:
Assessment;
Planning;
Awareness/prevention;
Response.
To develop, implement, and
maintain a comprehensive
program is to establish a cross-
functional fire safety committee.
Staffed & chaired by the
organizations highest ranking safety &
health professional.
Hot Work: Welding, cutting, chipping
& use of tools that cause sparks.
Brazing, cutting, soldering & thawing
pipes; using heat guns; torch applied
roofing; chipping operations.
A foundational precautionary
measure:
Flammable, combustible, or ignitable
materials should be kept a minimum of 20 to
35 feet away from the hot work, or those
materials should be covered with a flame-
retardant covering for protection.