Engg Safety or Industrial & Safety Standards by Saurabh Kr

Pandey
Fire safety engineering involves “the application of scientific and engineering
principles, rules, and expert judgement, based on an understanding of the
phenomena and effects of fire and of the reaction and behaviour of people
against fire, to protect people, property, and the environment from the
destructive effects of fire.
The overall objectives of fire safety engineering are "life safety," such as to
ensure that the occupants can safely evacuate a building without any exposure
to hazardous conditions during a fire; this includes protecting people from
smoke, heat, and flames, allowing firefighters to effectively rescue individuals,
and preventing the extensive spread of fire & helps in Property Protection also.
A fire safety engineering design should therefore provide a framework in
demonstrating whether the performance requirements of legislation can be met,
even though the design solutions adopted fall outside the prescriptive
recommendations.
Essentially, the fire safety engineering approach can be described by the
flowchart given below:
For minor non-compliance with the prescriptive requirements, the like-to-like
substitution or equivalence is adopted. Most prescriptive codes allow for
alternative designs, as long as the safety levels they provide are equivalent to or
even better than that have been intended by the code. Because of this
equivalency clause, a number of building designs are currently based on
engineering calculations rather than following the prescriptions of the code.
The quantification process of satisfying the performance requirements of the
different components of the fire safety design can be achieved by:
 The use of fire safety engineering design tools to investigate a specific
fire scenario in isolation, in order to analyze a particular aspect of the
design.
 Hazard Analysis of Multiple Fire Scenario’s
 Fire Risk analysis where the probabilities of the scenario’s are added up
proportionally to determine the most safe & Cost effective Design.
Fire Triangle
A Fire needs 3 elements i.e, Heat, Oxygen & Fuel. Without these elements, a
fire will not start or spread. A key strategy to prevent fire is to remove one or
more component.
Heat: It can be generated by work processesand is an essential part of some
proceses.
Types of Fires

Class A: Class A fires (or Ordinary Fires) are those in which ordinary
combustibles such as wood, cloth, Rubber, Plastics, Trash and paper etc. are
burning.
Despite being “ordinary”, don’t rule this class of fire as low-risk. If there’s an
abundance of fuel present, these fires can intensify quickly. It’s best to put out a
Class A fire quickly before it spreads by using water or monoammonium
phosphate (Non conducting but Corrosive dry chemical).
Class B: Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, especially fuels like
petroleum or petroleum-based products such as gasoline, paint, Tar, Alcohol,
Solvents and kerosene etc. 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 (or suppressing) them or removing
oxygen using foam or CO2 fire suppression equipment.
Note:- Class B fires do not include grease fires or cooking fires, which belong
to their own class, Class K.
Class C: Class C fires are fires involving energized electrical equipment such as
Computers, Servers, Motors, Transformers, electrical Appliances etc.
Electrical fires require non-conductive materials to extinguish the flame.
Facilities with sensitive equipment may prefer clean agent suppression because
it won’t leave residue or damage electrical equipment.
Class D: Class D fires (or metallic fires) are not as common as the 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, potassium, lithium etc.
Class D fires cannot be extinguished with water, as this can spread the fire and
be potentially dangerous. Dry powder agents are the best solution for
smothering the flames and limiting damage to property or people.
Class K Fires: Class K (or Grease Fires or Cooking Fires) involve flammable
liquids, similar to Class B fires, but are specifically related to food service and
the restaurant industry. These common fires start from the combustion of liquid
cooking materials including grease, oils, and vegetable and animal fats.
Because they can spread quickly and be 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 is effective.
Note: BIS has published various standards on fire extinguishers related to their
performance, reliability, and safety. Out of these standards, the following two
are widely used in various building occupancies and industries:
• IS 15683: 2018 Portable Fire Extinguishers
• IS 16018: 2012 Wheeled Fire Extinguishers
1) Portable Fire Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers are immediately available and can be used by
one/two person(s). The weight of a fully charged portable fire extinguishers
shall not be more than 17 kg as per IS 15683: 2018.
2) Wheeled Fire Extinguishers
Wheeled fire extinguisher is a fire extinguishing appliance on wheels having a
total mass of more than 17 kg and less than 450 kg (with all accessories), which
is designed to be operated and transported to the seat of fire even by one person.
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Water
Water is the primary liquid used in these extinguishers, although sometimes
other additives are also included. A drawback for pure water fire extinguishers
is that it is not suitable for use in freezing conditions since the water inside will
freeze and render the extinguisher unusable. Certain types of water fire
extinguishers contain antifreeze which will allow the extinguisher to be used in
freezing conditions. Water type fire extinguishers can also sometimes contain
wetting agents which are designed to help increase its effectiveness against fire.
These extinguishers are intended primarily for use on Class A fires.
Water fire extinguishers have a red label and a class A rating. Often the least
expensive extinguisher, these extinguishers are not toxic or harmful to the
environment as they contain only water.
Water mist extinguishers are a type of water fire extinguisher that uses
distilled water and discharges it as a fine spray instead of a solid stream. Water
mist extinguishers are used where contaminants in unregulated water sources
can cause excessive damage to personnel or equipment. Typical applications
include operating rooms, museums, and book collections.
Film-forming foam type
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) and FFFP (film-forming fluoroprotein) fire
extinguishers are rated for use on both Class A and Class B fires. As the name
implies, they discharge a foam material rather than a liquid or powder. They are
not suitable for use in freezing temperatures. An advantage of this type of
extinguisher when used on Class B flammable liquid fires of appreciable depth
is the ability of the agent to float on and secure the liquid surface, which helps
to prevent reignition.
Note:
Soapy Foam Extinguisher contain Potassium Acetate.
Carbon Dioxide type
The principal advantage of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers is that the
agent does not leave a residue after use. This can be a significant factor where
protection is needed for delicate and costly electronic equipment. Other typical
applications are food preparation areas, laboratories, and printing or duplicating
areas. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are listed for use on Class B and Class C
fires. Because the agent is discharged in the form of a gas/snow cloud, it has a
relatively short range of 3 ft to 8 ft (1 m to 2.4 m). This type of fire extinguisher
is not recommended for outdoor use where windy conditions prevail or for
indoor use in locations that are subject to strong air currents, because the agent
can rapidly dissipate and prevent extinguishment. The concentration needed for
fire extinguishment reduces the amount of oxygen in the vicinity of the fire and
should be used with caution when discharged in confined spaces.
Halogenated agent types
Halon
The bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) fire extinguisher has an agent
that is similar to carbon dioxide in that it is suitable for cold weather installation
and leaves no residue. It is important to note that the production of Halon has
been phased out because of the environmental damage it causes to the earth’s
ozone. Some larger models of Halon 1211 fire extinguishers are listed for use
on Class A as well as Class B and Class C fires. Compared to carbon dioxide on
a weight-of-agent basis, bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) is at least
twice as effective. When discharged, the agent is in the combined form of a
gas/mist with about twice the range of carbon dioxide. To some extent, windy
conditions or strong air currents could make extinguishment difficult by causing
the rapid dispersal of the agent.
Note:-
Bromofluoromethane (CF3Br or Halon1301) is a close relative of 1211 but it
has much lower boiling point & toxicity. This has made Halon 1301 as the
firefighting chemical where we cannot use water. Nowadays, we are also using
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) like CHF3, C2HF5, C3HF7 etc.
Halon Alternative Clean Agents
There are several clean agents that are similar to halon agents in that they are
nonconductive, noncorrosive, and evaporate after use, leaving no residue.
Larger models of these fire extinguishers are listed for Class A as well as Class
B and Class C fires, which makes them quite suitable for use on fires in
electronic equipment. When discharged, these agents are in the combined form
of a gas/mist or a liquid, which rapidly evaporates after discharge with about
twice the range of carbon dioxide. To some extent, windy conditions or strong
air currents could make extinguishing difficult by causing a rapid dispersal of
agent. Clean agent type extinguishers don’t have a detrimental effect on the
earth’s ozone so these are more widely available than Halon type extinguishers.
Dry chemical types
Ordinary Dry Chemical
The fire extinguishing agent used in these devices is a powder composed of
very small particulates. Types of agents available include sodium bicarbonate
(non toxic & non corrosive) base and potassium bicarbonate base. Dry chemical
type extinguishers have special treatments that ensure proper flow capabilities
by providing resistance to packing and moisture absorption (caking).
Multipurpose Dry Chemical
Fire extinguishers of this type contain an ammonium phosphate base agent.
Multipurpose agents are used in exactly the same manner as ordinary dry
chemical agents on Class B fires. For use on Class A fires, the multipurpose
agent has the additional characteristic of softening and sticking when in contact
with hot surfaces. In this way, it adheres to burning materials and forms a
coating that smothers and isolates the fuel from air. The agent itself has little
cooling effect, and, because of its surface coating characteristic, it cannot
penetrate below the burning surface. For this reason, extinguishment of deep-
seated fires might not be accomplished unless the agent is discharged below the
surface or the material is broken apart and spread out.
Wet chemical
The extinguishing agent can be comprised of, but is not limited to, solutions of
water and potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, potassium citrate, or a
combination of these chemicals (which are conductors of electricity). The liquid
agent typically has a pH of 9.0 or less. On Class A fires, the agent works as a
coolant. On Class K fires (cooking oil fires), the agent forms a foam blanket to
prevent reignition. The water content of the agent aids in cooling and reducing
the temperature of the hot oils and fats below their autoignition point. The
agent, when discharged as a fine spray directly at cooking appliances, reduces
the possibility of splashing hot grease and does not present a shock hazard to the
operator. Wet chemical extinguishers also offer improved visibility during
firefighting as well as minimizing cleanup afterward.
Dry powder types
These fire extinguishers and agents are intended for use on Class D fires and
specific metals, following special techniques and manufacturer’s
recommendations for use. The extinguishing agent can be applied from a fire
extinguisher or by scoop and shovel. Using a scoop or shovel is often referred to
as a hand propelled fire extinguisher.

Note:
Soda-Acid fire extinguisher
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) are used in soda-
acid fire extinguishers. It is the most effective fire extinguisher for home usage.
Working
The fire extinguisher contains sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in water solution
as well as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in a separate bottle.
By turning the knob on the fire extinguisher, the sulphuric acid reacts with the
sodium bicarbonate solution and produces a little amount of carbon dioxide
gas (CO2).
Carbon dioxide is a non-combustible gas that does not support combustion. It is
heavier than air and hence cuts off the oxygen supply to the air, putting out the
flames.