Fire & Hazards

A Brief Guide
 Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material.
Its a chemical process involving fuel, heat & oxygen
(fire triangle).
Definitions
 Flash Point: The minimum temperature at which the
liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable
mixture.
Definitions
Ignitable Mixture: mixture within the flammable limits
that is capable of propagating the flame away from the
source of ignition when ignited.
 Flammable Limits: limits between which the fluid is
capable of sustaining the propagation of flame.
A mixture below the lower flammability limit (LFL) is too lean
to burn and a mixture above the higher flammability limit
(HFL) is too rich
Definitions .
 Boil-Over:
Sudden expulsion of burning oils from open top
tanks, after a long period of quiescent burning.

Definitions Occurs when the residues from surface burning become more dense
than the unburned oil and sink below the surface to form a hot
layer. When this hot layer, called a heat wave, reaches water or
water in oil emulsion in the bottom of the tank, the water is first
superheated and subsequently boils almost explosively, overflowing
the tank.
 Flammable vs Combustible:

Flammable Combustible
Flash Point Below 38C Above 38C
38C
Flash Point < 23C
Class IA Class II Flash Point
Definitions Boiling Point < 38C
< 60C
60C
Flash Point < 23C
Classes Class IB Class III A Flash Point
Boiling Point > 38C
< 93C
23C<
Class IC Flash Point Class III B Flash Point 93C
< 38C
 Flammable vs Combustible:

Definitions
 NFPA Diamond:

A symbol used to identify the hazards associated

with a given chemical to rescue workers.

Frequently found on the sides of buildings where

Definitions chemicals are stored and on chemical containers.
 NFPA Diamond:

Definitions
 Ignition Sources:

Sources of Ignition
Classifications
Electrical Friction and
Hot Surfaces
Sparks Impact Sparks
 Classes of Fire:
Class A
Ordinary Combustibles

Class B
Flammable Liquids

Classifications Class C
Classes of Fire Electrical Equipment

Class D
Combustible Metals

Class K
Cooking Oils
 Hazard Classification:

Classification
of Hazards

Classifications Light Ordinary Extra

Hazard Hazard Hazard

Minor amounts of Total amount of

Class A & Class B Class A & Class B are
Total amount of
present in greater
Arranged so that a Class A & Class B are
amounts than
fire will not spread present in storage
expected under light
rapidly hazard
 Occupancy Hazard Classification Number:
A series of numbers from 3 through 7 that are used in a formula to
determine total water supply requirements only.
Number Description
- Extreme Hazard
3 - Exposure protection if within 15.2 m
- e.g. Oil Refineries, Aircraft Hangars, Production Units, etc
Classifications 4
-
-
High Hazard
Exposure protection if within 15.2 m
- e.g. Department Stores, Warehouses, Piers, etc
- Moderate Hazard
5 - Exposure protection if within 3.7 m
- e.g. Libraries, Machine Shops, Restaurants, etc
- Low Hazard
6 - Exposure protection if within 2.44 m
- e.g. Garages, Bakeries, Boiler Houses, etc
- Light Hazard
7 - e.g. Hospitals, Fire Stations, Offices, Schools, etc
 Classification of Construction:
A series of numbers from 0.5 to 1.5 that are used in a formula to
determine total water supply requirements only.

Number Description
- Fire Resistive Construction
0.5 - Brick, Reinforced Concrete, Stone
Classifications - Non Combustible Construction
0.75 - All structural members are of non combustible materials
- Ordinary Construction
- Structural members are partly or wholly made of wood or other
1 combustible materials
- Exterior walls of non combustible material
- Wood frame construction
1.5 - Structural members are partly or wholly made of wood or other
combustible materials
 Calculating Minimum Water Supply:
After determining the construction classification number and the
occupancy hazard classification number, the authority having
jurisdiction should compute the required minimum water supply.

Structures without exposure protection

Classifications

Structures with exposure protection

 A structure shall be considered an exposure hazard if it
is 9.29 m2 or larger in area and is within 15.24 m of
another structure.

However, if a structure, regardless of size, is of

Occupancy Hazard Classification Number 3 or 4, it shall
be considered an exposure hazard if within 15.24 m of
Classifications another structure.

The authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to

waive the water supply requirement for residential
occupancies (except for the minimum water supply of
2000 gal) by this work when a structure is protected by
an automatic sprinkler system that fully meets the
requirements of NFPA 13.
Hazardous Area
Classification
NFPA 497
API 500 & 505
 Area Classification

A method of analyzing and classifying the environment

Hazardous Area where explosive gas atmosphere may occur to allow
the proper selection of electrical apparatus to be
Classification installed in that environment.
The object of the classification procedure is to enable
electrical apparatus to be operated safely in that
environment.
 Class I

In a Class I hazardous (classified) location, the

combustible material present is a flammable gas or
vapor.
Classification of
Hazards
Class I is further subdivided into either:
Division 1 or Division 2;
Zone 0, Zone 1, or Zone 2
 Class I, Division 1

Is a location where flammable gases and vapors :

1. Exist under normal operating conditions

Classification of 2. May exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
Hazards operations
3. Might be released due to a breakdown or faulty operation
of equipment or processes might and might also cause
simultaneous failure of electrical equipment in such a way
as to directly cause the electrical equipment to become a
source of ignition.
 Class I, Division 2

Is a location where flammable gases and vapors :

Classification of
Hazards 1. Exist in case of abnormal operation
2. Are normally prevented from forming ignitable mixtures
by positive mechanical ventilation and which might
become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation
of the ventilating equipment
3. Is adjacent to a Class I, Division 1 location
 Class I, Zone 0

Classification of Is a location where flammable gases and vapors :

Hazards
1. Are present continuously
2. Are present for long periods of time
 Class I, Zone 1

Is a location where flammable gases and vapors :

1. Are likely to exist under normal operating conditions;

Classification of 2. May exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations
Hazards 3. Might be released due to a breakdown or faulty operation
of equipment or processes might and might also cause
simultaneous failure of electrical equipment directly
causing it to become a source of ignition.
4. Is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 0 location
 Class I, Zone 2

Is a location where flammable gases and vapors :

1. Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or

vapors are not likely to occur in normal operation and, if
Classification of they do occur, will exist only for a short period
Hazards 2. Are confined within closed containers of closed systems
from which they can escape only as a result of accidental
rupture or breakdown
3. Are normally prevented from forming ignitable mixtures
by positive mechanical ventilation and which might
become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation
of the ventilating equipment
4. Is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 1 location