I|re protect|on ls Lhe sLudy and pracLlce of mlLlgaLlng Lhe unwanLed effecLs of flres lL lnvolves Lhe sLudy

of Lhe behavlor comparLmenLallzaLlon suppresslon and lnvesLlgaLlon of flre and lLs relaLed
emergencles as well as Lhe research and developmenL producLlon LesLlng and appllcaLlon of mlLlgaLlng
sysLems ln sLrucLures be Lhey landbased offshore or even shlps Lhe owners and operaLors are
responslble Lo malnLaln Lhelr faclllLles ln accordance wlLh a deslgnbasls LhaL ls rooLed ln laws lncludlng
Lhe local bulldlng code and flre code whlch are enforced by Lhe AuLhorlLy Pavlng !urlsdlcLlon
1he goa| of f|re prevent|on ls Lo educaLe Lhe publlc Lo Lake precauLlons Lo prevenL flres and be
educaLed abouL survlvlng Lhem lL ls a proacLlve meLhod of reduclng emergencles and Lhe damage
caused by Lhem
Fire safety reIers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood oI a Iire that
may result in death, injury, or property damage.
1hreats to f|re safety are referred to as f|re hazards A f|re hazard may |nc|ude a s|tuat|on that
|ncreases the ||ke||hood a f|re may start or may |mpede escape |n the event a f|re occurs
ome common flre hazards are
O moklng (ClgareLLes clgars plpes llghLers eLc) ersonal lgnlLlon sources maLches llghLers
O lecLrlcal sysLems LhaL are overloaded resulLlng ln hoL wlrlng or connecLlons or falled componenLs
O CombusLlble sLorage areas wlLh lnsufflclenL proLecLlon
O CombusLlbles near equlpmenL LhaL generaLes heaL flame or sparks
O qulpmenL LhaL generaLes heaL and uLlllzes combusLlble maLerlals
O lammable llqulds
O PeaLlng appllances wood burnlng sLoves furnaces bollers porLable heaLers
O lecLrlcal wlrlng ln poor condlLlon (bypassed fuses)
O aLLerles
O lecLronlc and elecLrlcal equlpmenL
ey e|ements of a f|re safety po||cy
O ulldlng a faclllLy ln accordance wlLh Lhe verslon of Lhe local bulldlng code
O ,alnLalnlng a faclllLy and conducLlng yourself ln accordance wlLh Lhe provlslons of Lhe flre code
amp|es of these |nc|ude
O -oL exceedlng Lhe maxlmum occupancy wlLhln any parL of Lhe bulldlng
O ,alnLalnlng proper flre exlLs and proper exlL slgnage (eg exlL slgns polnLlng Lo Lhem LhaL can
funcLlon ln a power fallure) (Wlll be explalned laLer ln Lhe dlscusslon)
O laclng and malnLalnlng Lhe correcL Lype of flre exLlngulshers ln easlly accesslble places
O roperly sLorlng and uslng hazardous maLerlals LhaL may be needed lnslde Lhe bulldlng for sLorage
or operaLlonal requlremenLs (such as solvenLs ln spray booLhs)
O rohlblLlng flammable maLerlals ln cerLaln areas of Lhe faclllLy
O ,alnLalnlng flre alarm sysLems for deLecLlon and warnlng of flre
O ,alnLalnlng a hlgh level of Lralnlng and awareness of occupanLs and users of Lhe bulldlng Lo avold
obvlous mlsLakes such as Lhe propplng open of flre doors
O ConducL flre drllls aL regular lnLervals LhroughouL Lhe year

What |s an Auto |gn|t|on 1emperature?
A maLerlals auLo lgnlLlon or lgnlLlon LemperaLure ls Lhe LemperaLure aL whlch a maLerlal selflgnlLes
wlLhouL any obvlous sources of lgnlLlon such as a spark or flame
,osL common flammable and combusLlble llqulds have auLo lgnlLlon LemperaLures ln Lhe range of 300C
(372) Lo 330C (1022) ome have very low auLo lgnlLlon LemperaLures or example eLhyl eLher has
an auLo lgnlLlon LemperaLure of 160C (336) and lLs vapours have been lgnlLed by hoL sLeam plpes
Can f|ammab|e or combust|b|e ||qu|ds be hazardous to the body?
1he mosL obvlous harm would be Lhe danger of a flre or exploslon AfLer Lhe lmmedlaLe danger of a flre
Lhere are someLlmes oLher properLles of Lhese llqulds LhaL may be hazardous Lo Lhe body lammable
and combusLlble llqulds can also cause healLh problems dependlng on Lhe speclflc maLerlal and rouLe of
exposure (breaLhlng Lhe vapour/mlsL eye or skln conLacL or swallowlng) ome flammable and
combusLlble llqulds are corroslve ,any undergo dangerous chemlcal reacLlons lf Lhey conLacL
lncompaLlble chemlcals such as oxldlzlng maLerlals or lf Lhey are sLored lmproperly
C|ass|fy|ng f|res
When decldlng on whaL flre proLecLlon ls approprlaLe for any glven slLuaLlon lL ls lmporLanL Lo assess
Lhe Lypes of flre hazard LhaL may be faced
1ype of I|re
North
Amer|ca
lres LhaL lnvolve flammable sollds such as wood cloLh rubber paper and some Lypes of
plasLlcs
Class A
lres LhaL lnvolve flammable llqulds or llqueflable sollds such as peLrol/gasollne oll palnL
some waxes plasLlcs buL not cooklng faLs or olls

Class
lres LhaL lnvolve flammable gases such as naLural gas hydrogen propane buLane
lres LhaL lnvolve combusLlble meLals such as sodlum magneslum and poLasslum Class u
lres LhaL lnvolve any of Lhe maLerlals found ln Class A and flres buL wlLh Lhe lnLroducLlon
of an elecLrlcal appllances wlrlng or oLher elecLrlcally energlzed ob[ecLs ln Lhe vlclnlLy of
Lhe flre wlLh a resulLanL elecLrlcal shock rlsk lf a conducLlve agenL ls used Lo conLrol Lhe flre
Class C
lres lnvolvlng cooklng faLs and olls 1he hlgh LemperaLure of Lhe olls when on flre far
exceeds LhaL of oLher flammable llqulds maklng normal exLlngulshlng agenLs lneffecLlve
Class k

Components
LrucLural flre proLecLlon (ln landbased bulldlngs offshore consLrucLlon or onboard shlps) ls Lyplcally
achleved vla Lhree means
O asslve flre proLecLlon (use of lnLegral flrereslsLance raLed wall and floor assemblles LhaL are used
Lo form flre comparLmenLs lnLended Lo llmlL Lhe spread of flre or occupancy separaLlons or
flrewalls Lo keep flres hlgh LemperaLures and flue gases wlLhln Lhe flre comparLmenL of orlgln Lhus
enabllng flreflghLlng and evacuaLlon)
O AcLlve flre proLecLlon (manual and auLomaLlc deLecLlon and suppresslon of flres as ln uslng and
lnsLalllng a lre prlnkler sysLem or flndlng Lhe flre (lre alarm) and/or exLlngulshlng lL)
O ducaLlon (ensurlng LhaL bulldlng owners and operaLors have coples and a worklng undersLandlng
of Lhe appllcable bulldlng and flre codes havlng a purposedeslgned flre safeLy plan and ensurlng
LhaL bulldlng occupanLs operaLors and emergency personnel know Lhe bulldlng lLs means of AcLlve
flre proLecLlon and asslve flre proLecLlon lLs weak spoLs and sLrengLhs Lo ensure Lhe hlghesL
posslble level of safeLy)
A f|re et|ngu|sher ls an acLlve flre proLecLlon devlce used Lo exLlngulsh or conLrol small flres ofLen ln
emergency slLuaLlons lL ls noL lnLended for use on an ouLofconLrol flre such as one whlch has reached
Lhe celllng endangers Lhe user (le no escape rouLe smoke exploslon hazard eLc) or oLherwlse
requlres Lhe experLlse of a flre deparLmenL 1yplcally a flre exLlngulsher conslsLs of a handheld
cyllndrlcal pressure vessel conLalnlng an agenL whlch can be dlscharged Lo exLlngulsh a flre
I|re et|ngu|shers are d|v|ded |nto four categor|es based on d|fferent types of f|res

O C|ass A exLlngulshers are for ordlnary combusLlble maLerlals such as
paper wood cardboard and mosL plasLlcs 1he numerlcal raLlng on
Lhese Lypes of exLlngulshers lndlcaLes Lhe amounL of waLer lL holds and
Lhe amounL of flre lL can exLlngulsh CeomeLrlc symbol (green Lrlangle)
O C|ass 8 flres lnvolve flammable or combusLlble llqulds such as gasollne
kerosene grease and oll 1he numerlcal raLlng for class exLlngulshers
lndlcaLes Lhe approxlmaLe number of square feeL of flre lL can
exLlngulsh CeomeLrlc symbol (red square)
O C|ass C flres lnvolve elecLrlcal equlpmenL such as appllances wlrlng
clrculL breakers and ouLleLs -ever use waLer Lo exLlngulsh class C flres
Lhe rlsk of elecLrlcal shock ls far Loo greaL! Class C exLlngulshers do
noL have a numerlcal raLlng 1he C classlflcaLlon means Lhe
exLlngulshlng agenL ls nonconducLlve CeomeLrlc symbol (blue clrcle)
O C|ass D flre exLlngulshers are commonly found ln a chemlcal
laboraLory 1hey are for flres LhaL lnvolve combusLlble meLals such as
magneslum LlLanlum poLasslum and sodlum 1hese Lypes of
exLlngulshers also have no numerlcal raLlng nor are Lhey glven a mulLl
purpose raLlng Lhey are deslgned for class u flres only CeomeLrlc
symbol (?ellow uecagon)
O C|ass flre exLlngulshers are for flres LhaL lnvolve cooklng olls Lrans
faLs or faLs ln cooklng appllances and are Lyplcally found ln resLauranL
and cafeLerla klLchens CeomeLrlc symbol (black hexagon)

ome flres may lnvolve a comblnaLlon of Lhese classlflcaLlons ?our flre exLlngulshers should have AC
raLlngs on Lhem
Pere are Lhe most common types of f|re et|ngu|shers
O Water et|ngu|shers or AW exLlngulshers (alrpressurlzed waLer) are
sulLable for c|ass A f|res on|y -ever use a waLer exLlngulsher on
grease flres elecLrlcal flres or class u flres Lhe flames wlll spread and
make Lhe flre blgger! WaLer exLlngulshers are fllled wlLh waLer and
are Lyplcally pressurlzed wlLh alr Agaln waLer exLlngulshers can be
very dangerous ln Lhe wrong Lype of slLuaLlon Cnly flghL Lhe flre lf
youre cerLaln lL conLalns ordlnary combusLlble maLerlals only
O Dry chem|ca| exLlngulshers come ln a varleLy of Lypes and are sulLable
for a comblnaLlon of c|ass A 8 and C f|res 1hese are fllled wlLh foam
or powder and pressurlzed wlLh nlLrogen
4 8C 1hls ls Lhe regular Lype of dry chemlcal exLlngulsher lL ls
fllled wlLh sodlum blcarbonaLe or poLasslum blcarbonaLe 1he
C varleLy leaves a mlldly corroslve resldue whlch musL be
cleaned lmmedlaLely Lo prevenL any damage Lo maLerlals
4 A8C 1hls ls Lhe mulLlpurpose dry chemlcal exLlngulsher 1he
AC Lype ls fllled wlLh monoammonlum phosphaLe a yellow
powder LhaL leaves a sLlcky resldue LhaL may be damaglng Lo
elecLrlcal appllances such as a compuLer
ury chemlcal exLlngulshers have an advanLage over CC2 exLlngulshers slnce Lhey leave a nonflammable
subsLance on Lhe exLlngulshed maLerlal reduclng Lhe llkellhood of relgnlLlon
O Carbon D|o|de (CC2) et|ngu|shers are used for c|ass 8 and C f|res CC2 exLlngulshers conLaln
carbon dloxlde a nonflammable gas and are hlghly pressurlzed 1he pressure ls so greaL LhaL lL
ls noL uncommon for blLs of dry lce Lo shooL ouL Lhe nozzle 1hey donL work very well on class A
flres because Lhey may noL be able Lo dlsplace enough oxygen Lo puL Lhe flre ouL causlng lL Lo
relgnlLe
CC2 exLlngulshers have an advanLage over dry chemlcal exLlngulshers slnce Lhey donL leave a harmful
resldue a good cholce for an elecLrlcal flre on a compuLer or oLher favourlLe elecLronlc devlce such as a
sLereo or 1v
Stop drop and ro||lf your cloLhlng caLches on flre Lhe mosL effecLlve meLhod of exLlngulshlng Lhe
flre ls Lo sLop drop Lo Lhe ground and roll back and forLh Lo smoLher Lhe flame uonL run around
because lL fans Lhe flames

Iundreds oI peopIe dIe und LIousunds ure Injured In uccIdenLs InvoIvIng eIecLrIcuI IIres. MosL oI
LIese IncIdenLs cun be prevenLed by IoIIowIng sImpIe eIecLrIcuI IIre suIeLy ruIes. AILIougI some
oI LIese IIres ure cuused by eIecLrIcuI sysLem IuIIures und uppIIunce deIecLs, muny ure cuused by
LIe mIsuse und poor muInLenunce oI eIecLrIcuI uppIIunces, IncorrecLIy InsLuIIed wIrIng, und
overIouded cIrcuILs und exLensIon cords. SLuLIsLIcs sIow LIuL December Is LIe mosL dungerous
monLI Ior eIecLrIcuI IIres. NoL surprIsIng, us peopIe Lend Lo sLuy Indoors und Increuse IIgILIng,
IeuLIng, und uppIIunce use durIng wInLer monLIs.
WIen u Iuse bIows or u cIrcuIL breuker Is LrIpped, IInd ouL wIuL cuused IL Lo overIoud beIore
repIucIng or reseLLIng IL. CorrecL LIe probIem und II you cunnoL IInd LIe source or IeeI uneusy
ubouL LIe sILuuLIon, do noL IesILuLe Lo cuII un eIecLrIcIun.
Wurning Signs
Muny eIecLrIcuI probIems cun be deLecLed beIore LIey cuuse u IIre or Iurm someone. To
beLLer ensure eIecLrIcuI IIre suIeLy, Ieurn Lo be uIerL und puy uLLenLIon Lo uny IrreguIur
eIecLrIcuI IuncLIon In your Iome. Some wurnIng sIgns IncIude:
O A recurrIng probIem wILI bIowIng Iuses or LrIppIng cIrcuIL breukers
O xperIencIng u LIngIe wIen you LoucI un eIecLrIcuI uppIIunce
O DIscoIoruLIon oI wuII ouLIeLs
O A burnIng smeII or unusuuI odor comIng Irom un uppIIunce or wIrIng
O IIckerIng IIgILs
I you noLIce uny oI LIe ubove wurnIng sIgns or II un uppIIunce IuncLIons oddIy, Luke
upproprIuLe meusures Lo prevenL un uccIdenL. UnpIug LIe muIIuncLIonIng uppIIunce
ImmedIuLeIy. I necessury, cuL oII power Lo LIe probIem cIrcuIL by dIsconnecLIng LIe Iuse
or LrIppIng LIe cIrcuIL breuker munuuIIy und IocuLe LIe probIem. WIen In doubL, conLucL
un eIecLrIcIun or cuII LIe power compuny Lo InspecL LIe eIecLrIcuI connecLIons ouLsIde
your Iome. IecLrIcuI IIre suIeLy Is u serIous muLLer und precuuLIon Is oI uLmosL
ImporLunce.