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Emergency Equipment and Facilities
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Emergency Equipment and Facilities
V1 09/10/2017
This manual is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purposes of private study, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from Total Management and Training. This manual is produced to convey general information to participants. All information contained in this publication and training associated with the work is made in good faith on the basis of information available to Total Management and Training at the time. Notwithstanding anything contained therein, neither Total Management and Training nor its servants or agents will, except as the law may require, be liable for any loss or other consequences (whether or not due to the negligence of the organisation, their servants or agents) for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, express or implied in this manual.
Copyright 2017 © Total Management & Training All rights reserved Document Number: Course Notes Version: V1 09/10/2017
Total Management and Training
Emergency Equipment and Facilities
CONTENTS 1
Safety Installations and Features ......................................................................................... 2
2
Means of giving warning & fire protection systems............................................................ 11
3
Fire Fighting Equipment ..................................................................................................... 16
4
Fire and Evacuation Plan .................................................................................................... 19
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Safety Installations and Features The critical role that public safety risk preventions play are twofold in that they are for protecting the safety of the occupants and minimising damage or loss. Fire protection in a building includes fire safety installations and features designed to: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Ensure occupants safety by alerting them quickly of an emergency Contain a fire in its original area Reduce damage that could be caused Assist with the safe evacuation of occupants from the building Contribute to the safety of emergency services as they deal with the incident.
Information provided in this section will help Fire Safety Advisers, members of the EPC and ECO identify and understand fire safety features and installations. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service can inspect any building other than a residential building at any time to check fire safety procedures, installations and records within the building. Safety installations and features can be categorised as: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Structural features Fire protection systems Fire fighting equipment Occupant safety features
Many of the specifications for the following are defined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) or appropriate standards (e.g. Australian Standards) for the installation, equipment or feature. MEANS OF ESCAPE Building designs require the provision of escape routes to enable occupants to be able to safely evacuate the building in the event of an emergency. Their primary purpose is to permit the occupants to move from a place of danger and ultimately out of the building to a place of safety. A means of escape should have a sufficient number of easily recognised and serviceable safe routes. They should be sufficient in number, as short as possible to enable people to reach open air at ground level either directly or by way of a fire isolated enclosure and easily recognised.
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FACTORS AFFECTING MEANS OF ESCAPE As in all buildings a hazard analysis should be carried out to assess the likely hazards affecting means of escape and other fire safety features installed. Hazards or inadequacies must be identified and steps taken to minimise or remove them. Safe egress from a building is paramount and could be compromised by a number of factors. Be aware that: In an emergency the distance people have to travel should be kept to a minimum as this is when occupants are most venerable. Escape routes should not be obstructed or cause a bottleneck for those using it The occupier of a building has a legal duty to ensure that nothing is placed or allowed to remain in an evacuation route. The path of travel must not restrict movement having regard for the number of persons using it. There must be plenty of unobstructed vertical clearance as well as unobstructed width. Where articles are placed in an evacuation route they must be secured in a way that will prevent them from being displaced or knocked over. Doors in the path of travel to exits should open in the direction of travel and the final exit door from the building to an open space must have a minimum of two metres clearance in all directions from that door. ACCESS AND EGRESS The BCA identifies the considerations to be made when determining the number, dimensions and distribution of exits to a building. The sections intent is to ensure that a building provides the capacity for occupants to evacuate in a safe and timely manner, without being overcome by the effects of the emergency i.e. smoke, flames, fumes or gas. The number of exits that are required and the distance of travel are determined by the class of building as identified by the BCA. Factors identified by the BCA when determining exits in a building are: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Travel distance to exits (greater distance – longer evacuation times) The number of occupants (number and width of exits) The mobility and other characteristics of occupants The function and use of the building The height of the building (longer distances to travel to evacuate) Exits from a level below ground level
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The number of exits that are required and the distance of travel are determined by the class of building as identified by the Building Code of Australia. For example, patient care areas in class 9A buildings require to have no fewer than two exits from an area. This is because the areas are likely to be populated by non-ambulatory people who may be confined to their bed after surgery. They could be elderly persons who are confused and not very mobile. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE FIRE SYSTEMS The BCA nominates through its ‘deemed to satisfy’ provisions, a range of active and passive systems that satisfies the necessary minimum level of safety for each specific class of building. Active systems usually rely on physical activity within the system or caused by the system. This activity may relate to mechanical movement and/or the operation of electrical devices reacting to the onset of fire. Some examples of active fire systems are provided below: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Fire alarm detection system Sprinkler system Automatic smoke exhaust system Stairwell pressurisation system Occupant warning system Gaseous suppression system
Passive systems rely mostly on static barriers which involve little or no movement within or caused by the system. Many of the fire safety fundamentals associated with the prevention of the spread of fire and smoke within a building rely on passive systems. Smoke containment systems, for example, reply on adequate passive vertical and horizontal walls and floors to provide suitable smoke barriers. Some examples of passive fire systems are provided below: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Fire and smoke barriers i.e. walls, floors, ceilings Smoke doors Fire resistant door sets Fire shutters and sliding doors Fire rated glazing
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FIRE-ISOLATED EXITS Fire-isolated exits make up a passive system that may be enhanced by one or more active systems i.e. positively pressured fire isolating passageway. The BCA details the use of fireisolated exits in multi-story buildings to: ∂ Enable people to evacuate safely past a storey on fire ∂ Facilitate emergency services access for operations such as search and rescue/fire fighting and ∂ Minimise the distance people have to travel in a fire – affected area before they are able to access a ‘safe place’, such as a fire-isolated stairway. Note: No combustible material is permitted in a fire-isolated exit as it is to be kept as a sterile environment. FIRE-ISOLATED STAIRS Stairways shall be constructed of materials that will not readily support combustion. Carpet cannot be used on these stairs. No combustible material should be placed in the stairway. EXIT DOOR HARDWARE An automatic sliding door used as a required exit must lead directly to open space and must: ∂
∂ ∂ ∂
Open automatically in the event of any failure of electrical power to that mechanism but be able to be locked against opening by a locking mechanism that is released without a key from inside by the operation of a level-type handle or pushing device: and Be power assisted to slide open in the event of any other malfunction; and Open manually under force of not more than 110 Newton force if a malfunction occurs; and For a door leading directly to a road or open space, open automatically if there is a power failure to the door or on the activation of a fire or smoke alarm anywhere in the fire compartment served by the door. A door on an exit, forming part of an exit or in the path of travel to an exit must be able to be readily opened without a key from the side that faces the person seeking egress. It should be able to be opened with a downward action or by pushing action on a single device. Exceptions are:
∂ ∂
If it serves a vault, strongroom In a sole occupancy unit such as a residential unit where a person lives
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∂ ∂
∂ ∂
∂
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In inaccessible places In the secure parts of a bank. Detention centre, mental health facility, early childhood centre. (where special security arrangements are necessary and it can be unlocked immediately) By operating a fail-safe control switch, not contained within the protective enclosure, to activate a device to unlock the door By hand by a person specifically nominated by the owner, properly instructed as to the duties and responsibilities involved and available at all times when there are people in the building so that they may immediately escape if there is an emergency If a door is fitted with a fail-safe device which automatically unlocks the door upon the activation of any sprinkler system or smoke or thermal detector system Designated exits/doors in the path of travel to an exit door should not be fitted with knob handles, barrel bolts or padlocks. This type of door hardware may slow occupant’s efforts to escape. Exit door hardware – opening devices fitted to doors on an evacuation route to an exit and from an exit to open space – must be maintained to the standard legally approved for the building. EXIT DOORS The threshold of a doorway should not incorporate a step or ramp at any point closer to the doorway than the width of the door leaf unless the door opens to a road, open space or external balcony and the door sill is not more than 190mm above the finished surface of the ground, balcony, or the like to which the doorway opens. Final exit doors viewed from outside. Note the sign FIRE DOOR DO NOT OBSTRUCT. FIRE DOORS A fire door is defined as a door, frame, automatic closing device and other appropriate hardware that has been fire-rated to retard the spread of fire and smoke through an opening for the door. They are usually made of steel or solid wood and have specially tested components including closers, hinges and latches. Fire doors are installed to limit the spread of fire, smoke and fire gasses from entering exit routes. They usually open into stairwells or, where located in corridors, open into other spaces. Fire doors can be identified by the tags that are attached to the frame and spine of the door. The tags should be a matching pair indicating their fire rating and when they were tested. A final exit door, according to the BCA since 1992, must be maintained to swing in the direction of egress unless: It serves a building or part of a building with a floor area not more than 200m 2, and
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It is the only required exit from the building or part, and It is fitted with a device for holding it in an open position; or It serves a sanitary compartment or airlock (in which case it may swing both ways) Existing requirements do not finish at the final exit door leading outside. For example there may be a gateway on the path to safety which people must pass through to be clear of the building. This gate therefore forms an obstruction and to be part of the exit must be able to swing in the direction of egress and have the properly installed door hardware. FIRE COMPARTMENTATION Fire compartmentation is the method of construction that attempts to limit or contain the spread of fire to the area of origin. It involves the construction of barriers such as fire resistive floors, floor/ceilings or roof/ceiling assemblies and walls. As well as limiting the spread of fire, compartmentation is designed to maintain the buildings structural integrity as well as escape routes for a specified time. The construction features must be fire “rated” (based on standard tests) and the integrity of the features maintained. A fire compartment is defined as an area of the building that is totally separated from the remainder of the building by continuous construction. The area could be a single room or series of rooms or even an entire floor in a high rise building, it could be a vertical service space or a horizontal service space such as a fire-isolated stairway. It is critical that every opening or penetration through its walls, floor, ceiling from large openings such as doors to smaller service penetrations (wiring, pipes, ducting) be adequately protected to resist the passage of fire. Fire separations and the mechanisms used to protect the openings are normally required to possess some level of fire resistance. FIRE DAMPERS The function of fire dampers is similar to that of fire doors in that they protect openings in fire resistant walls and limit the spread of smoke. The most common location is in ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building. They provide an effective barrier to the passage of fire and smoke. FIRE STOPPING Unprotected openings made in fire-rated walls, ceilings or floors may allow heat and toxic fumes to spread throughout the building. Whenever a pipe, conduit, duct or other item penetrates a fire-rated wall, ceiling or floor the resulting gap is a potential entry point for smoke and heat. Any gap or opening in a fire-rated wall must be:
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∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Emergency Equipment and Facilities
sealed by an approved technique to ensure the integrity of the wall, ceiling or floor. Be provided to identify the location of exits; and Guide occupants to exits; and Be clearly visible to the occupants; and Operate in the event of a power failure of the main lighting system. EMERGENCY LIGHTING & EXIT SIGNS In a building fire or emergency situation people have a limited time to escape safely from the area of danger to a place of safety. During an emergency, normal lighting can be one of the first things to fail. Without adequate lighting in an emergency people can become disorientated, which in turn can lead to panic. Properly maintained exit signs assist people find exits quickly in an emergency. Emergency lighting/exits signs are usually installed as self-contained luminaries or connected to a central battery system. Self contained luminaries contain a battery, change, changeover device and inverter. The self-contained unit is connected to the normal lighting circuit. Automatic detection occurs if the normal lighting circuit fails. Once this occurs power for illumination comes from the battery. There are three ways luminaries operate: ∂ ∂ ∂
Maintained an emergency exit sign is illuminated at all times Non-maintained the emergency exit sing operates only when the power supply to normal lighting fails Sustained an emergency exit sign incorporates at least two lamps, one energised from an emergency supply only on failure of the normal supply, the other energised from the normal supply.
The accepted performance requirements for emergency lighting as detailed by the BCA are to facilitate evacuation. To the degree that is necessary, suitable signs or other means of identification must: ∂
Be provided to identify the location of exits; and
∂
Guide occupants to exits; and
∂
Be clearly visible to the occupants; and
∂
Operate in the event of a power failure of the main lighting system.
Figure 1 Old Style Exit Sign
The criteria for determining whether emergency lighting is required to be installed will depend on factors such as the size and use of the building and distance to an exit.
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Directional exit signs should be located along paths to exit doors on all floors. Exit signs with an arrow indicating the direction by which a person is to travel to exit the building are required if people have to change their direction of travel to exit the building. Where possible exit signs should be mounted above or adjacent to an exiting doorway and in strategic locations that indicate the direction of exit. They should be readily visible from any direction of approach and must be located in such positions as to clearly and continuously indicate the direction of travel to the exit. Exit signs should be located so that they clearly show the direction of egress where the direction is not obvious. Exit Figure 2 New Style Exit Sign signs with an arrow showing the path of travel to the exit of the building are required if people have to change their direction of travel to the exit. Emergency lights must be wired or relayed to the lighting circuits so they come on automatically when the lighting circuit fails. Power supply to these units is either an internal battery or central battery bank. For emergency signs to be considered functional, the unit must be secured in position and in a good state of repair – lens cover in place and not broken. Where possible exit signs should be mounted above or adjacent to an exiting doorway and in strategic locations that indicate the direction to exit the building. They should be readily visible from any direction of approach and must be located in such positions as to clearly and continuously indicate the direction of travel to the exit. So that exit signs can be easily located, their position should be between 2m and 2.7m above floor level or directly above a door if it is higher than 2.7m. SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS A smoke control system can be either active or passive, capable of controlling the spread of smoke and gasses and directing their movement within the building. Active systems are usually made up of automatically operated systems such as motor driven fans and mechanically driven dampers located within specifically designed ducting. These systems usually start when an electrical signal is generated by a smoke detecting device which transmits a signal via a Fire indicator panel. Different types of systems operate by the signal are known as smoke control systems. Their primary function is to aid the safe evacuation of the building. There are four primary types of smoke control systems and they are: ∂ Smoke and heat venting systems ∂ Smoke exhaust systems
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∂ Air-handling systems ∂ Stair pressurisation systems. Passive systems for smoke control are usually associated with naturally enhanced smoke ventilating systems such as fixed ducting, vents and grills. Smoke control systems have become a necessary addition to many buildings. As buildings have increased in size natural ventilation and air circulation have been replaced with mechanical systems. Buildings must be safe places to work and for this reason they must have built-in safety devices, one of which is a smoke control system whose primary function is to assist the safe evacuation. The benefits of smoke control systems are: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Improves visibility Limits the spread of smoke and fire Reduces the risk of flashover or backdraught in confined spaces Improves visibility and reduces heat-related conditions so fire-fighters can work more effectively Helps fire-fighters locate the seat of the fire more quickly Provides cooler, clearer working environment that improves fire fighters safety. STAIRWELL PRESSURISATION Often the presence of physical barriers to stop smoke from entering compartments such as fire-isolating stairs may not be enough to guarantee protection for occupants trying to escape a fire. Air pressurisation systems used in conjunction with physical barriers provide a reliable escape route where smoke is kept out of the stairway. Pressurisation involves a large fan usually situated at the top of the building which forces air into the compartment therefore creating positive pressure. The positive pressure forces air out of openings thus stopping smoke from entering the pressurised compartment and therefore creating a smoke free evacuation route. Pressurisation allows occupants on the floor where the fire is to open the doors into the fire-isolating stairway or corridor and prevent smoke from entering. Pressurised fans are usually activated by smoke detection systems and start automatically when smoke is detected. Fire-isolating escape routes are essential, especially in multi story buildings where there is a large number of occupants. The positive pressure that is forced into these protected areas offers many advantages to people evacuating and include:∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Providing a smoke free escape route Providing a ‘safe haven’ for mobility impaired persons until they can be evacuated Provide positive pressure in the stairwell preventing smoke and heat from entering Allows fire fighters to enter and safely go to the staging area below the fire floor Allows fire fighting to start earlier because of access to wet risers in the stairwell Provide a safe escape route for fire fighters if fire spread is rapid and uncontrolled Provide fire fighters with smoke free access to every floor in the building
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Means of giving warning & fire protection systems Fire safety features fitted within a building can give early warning of fire and offer a degree of protection. Warning systems include: ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Fire indicator panel (FIP) Emergency warning and intercommunication system (EWIS) Smoke and heat detectors Manual call points Protection is provided by sprinklers. They not only activate the fire alarm panel but also control and extinguish a fire. FIRE INDICATOR PANEL (FIP) A typical fire alarm system consists of a control panel which monitors various alarm “input” devices such as manually activated call points (MCP’s), fire detectors and “output” devices such as audible alarms which are strategically placed throughout the building. Control panels range from simple units with a single input and output zone to complex computer-driven systems that monitor several buildings in a complex. Fire alarm panels perform numerous functions to increase fire safety. This safety can be compromised if occupants do not understand the functions of the alarm panel. Designated people in the building should be fully aware of the following functions of a typical alarm panel detailed below: ∂ ∂
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
Identify the area/zone where the detector has responded to a product of combustion or indicates a “fault” in the system Indicate that a suppression system or ancillary function of the fire alarm system has activated or indicated a “fault” in the system Be able, in some circumstances, to reset activated zones to the normal monitoring mode Isolate zones from the alarm system thus preventing this particular area/zone raising an alarm or initiating any alarm system functions Control the ancillary functions of the fire alarm system, including the activation of fire bells and evacuation system Test the functions of the fire alarm system by simulating an activated alarm
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VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT (VDU) Most modern FIP’s incorporate a VDU to indicate in a text format the location of activated alarms and other panel conditions. A negative feature is that in bright light the display may be hard to read. EMERGENCY WARNING & INTERCOMMUNICATION SYSTEM (EWIS) One of the things needed for effective handling of emergencies is good communications and warning equipment. In small workplaces this may be by word of mouth, an alarm bell or siren. Large complex buildings require a dedicated, easy to use system. In Australia Emergency Warning & Intercommunication Systems (EWIS) are required in all new high-rise buildings and in certain other types. A typical EWIS system can be activated manually or by automatic fire detection systems. A EWIS consists of a Master Emergency Control Panel (MECP), and is usually installed in the buildings fire control room or near the main entrance. It also has Warden Intercommunication Point (WIP) phones which are installed on each level or in each area and a public address system. When a fire is detected the MECP sounds an alert signal (constant beeps). This warns occupants of a possible problem and indicates that members of the ECO should go to their stations. The chief warden goes to the MECP, inserts a key and takes manual control of the EWIS. He can then talk to wardens via the WIP phones and make decisions on what action to take. Occupants can then be alerted via a PA system to the entire building or to specific parts.
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FIRE ALARMS The primary function of a fire alarm is to identify and indicate the location of a developing fire and to alert the fire service and occupants of the building. These systems can be designed to control the operation of the service equipment of the building to minimise the spread of fire and smoke. Signals from the system can automatically engage equipment to pressurise stairwells or shut-down re-circulating air systems and release hold-open devices on fire doors. This helps confine smoke to the fire floor and minimise danger. The system can also be designed to activate smoke exhaust systems to ventilate a fire and reduce heat build-up. Although there are several types of automatic fire detection systems, the main function of all these systems is to detect one or more characteristics of fire such as smoke, heat and flames. The two basic types are smoke and heat detectors. SMOKE DETECTORS The primary aim of a smoke detector is to detect the presence of smoke in the early stages of a fire. This is the most common type of detector found in office buildings, multi story residential buildings large shopping centres. Smoke detectors usually provide an earlier warning of a fire condition than heat detectors and are therefore used in key areas like corridors, exits, rooms where people sleep Smoke detectors can alert occupants of a fire at an early stage. If the alarm is monitored, the fire brigade is automatically notified. The disadvantage of this type of detector is it is prone to create false alarms. Smoke detectors cannot detect the products from clean burning liquids, such as alcohol. A heat or flame detector should be considered as an alternative to a smoke detector where smoke fumes and dust are produced THERMAL DETECTORS Heat or thermal detectors are the least sensitive of the alarms. They operate by sensing a rapid change in temperature or when a pre-set temperature is reached. These are often combined in modern detectors to afford a greater level of protection. They are generally considered to offer general property protection rather than life safety as some fires produce large amounts of smoke that may not activate heat detectors. Heat detectors are slower to respond to a fire than smoke detectors but are not as prone to false alarms. They are commonly found in commercial kitchens.
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MANUAL CALL POINTS Manual call points (MCP) enable occupants to raise an emergency alarm. Activation occurs when the glass on the front of MCP is broken. It cannot be reset unless a new glass is installed. An advantage of a MCP is its ability to alert all occupants of the building. Disadvantages are: A person must discover the fire Occupants unfamiliar with the building’s fire protection systems may not know the location or purpose of MCPs calls initiated by MCPs are malicious Manual call points should be sited so that a person discovering a fire can alert people quickly and easily. MCPs should be sited on escape routes at each door (inside or outside) to escape stairs and at each exit to open air. There are two types of MCP, ones in a red box which are connected to the Fire Service, the others are in a white box and only work within the building i.e. they are NOT connected to the Fire Service and on the discovery of fire you need to dial 000. PROTECTED PREMISES UNIT (PPU) When a fire alarm system is monitored by the fire service, the alarm system is connected to the brigade through a PPU. This unit is a small red box fitted on or near the FIP. The unit acts as an interface between the alarm system and the monitoring equipment, enabling the fire brigade to monitor the condition of the alarm system for the building. Another feature of the PPU is that it allows a suitably qualified person to carry out tests on the alarm system of the building without sending an alarm to the fire brigade SPRINKLER SYSTEMS For most fires, water is the ideal extinguishing agent. A protection system such as an automatic sprinkler system has long been recognised as an effective way of extinguishing or limiting the size of the fire. Fire sprinklers are simple devices that direct water onto the fire, cooling the combustion process and preventing spread. They are most effective during the initial stages of a fire while it is still easy to control. There are two type of sprinkler system, the commercial and domestic types. Commercial systems are designed for high rise buildings, shopping centres, factories etc. They are installed according to the type of hazard they are designed to protect, ranging from fire suppression systems to fire control systems, and systems designed for a high hazard risk and those for an ordinary risk. Commercial systems are mainly concerned with property protection with the added advantage of life protection. Residential systems are designed for residential or domestic purposes and have more focus towards life safety.
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The wet system is the most common. This system is constantly charged with water which will immediately discharge on activation of the sprinkler head. The sprinkler head is activated from the heat of the fire at a set temperature and allows water to flow in a spray pattern from the head onto the fire. The flow of water activates the water gong and pressure switch which sends an alarm to the fire panel. In some systems automatic booster pumps start up and boost the water pressure. It is a common fallacy that when one sprinkler head is activated it in turn activates the rest (TV shows). The heads need heat to activate them.
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Fire Fighting Equipment The following provides an overview of fire fighting equipment. Specific details on the use of fire fighting equipment is included in the additional notes provided for PUAWER008A – Confine small workplace emergencies FIRE BLANKETS A fire blanket consists of a piece of fire-resistant fibre (usually woven glass fibre) that can be used to smother a small fire or wrap around a person whose clothing is alight. They are usually installed in kitchens where small cooking fires may occur. Limitations in use: Mainly used for small kitchen stove type fires or when a person’s clothing catches fire. For people on fire wrap them in the blanket or roll them into the blanket on the floor then pat them to make sure the fire is out. Maintenance: Fire blankets should be kept neatly folded and housed within their protective outer cover. The outer cover should be kept clean and free from fat splatters etc. Once they have been used they should be inspected for scorching. Damaged blankets should be replaced as soon as possible. FIRE HOSE REELS A hose reel consists of a length of 20mm diameter plastic hose up to 36 meters long fitted with a nozzle. The hose is wound onto a reel which is connected to a water supply. Depending on the water supply pressure, the stream of water will reach about 4 to 6 metres. Hose reels are mainly used for class A fires and can be dangerous if used on other classes of fire, especially Class (E) – Electrical Fires. Limitations in use Hose reels have a limited use and cannot be used on all types of fire. They are dangerous when used on electrical type fires as they can cause the user to get an electrical shock. They will not operate if the water main is ruptured unless there is a secondary supply of emergency fire fighting water. Maintenance The hose should be inspected regularly for signs of cuts, perishing or splitting. It should be kept wound onto the drum and free of dirt and grease. The nozzle should be operated
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at regular intervals to ensure that it turns freely. Any leaks should be rectified as soon as possible. There should be a regular maintenance program in place with the results of the inspections and any maintenance recorded. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS A fire extinguisher is a cylinder containing a fire fighting agent (under pressure) which can be discharged onto a fire. Most extinguishers are portable and are mounted on brackets at a convenient height on walls or in vehicles. Where the hazard is greater they can be mounted on a wheeled trolley. (Larger extinguishers) How to Operate
P
Pull out safety pin.
A
Aim at base of fire
S
Squeeze the operating handle
S
Sweep stream back and forth across the base of the fire
Some older types operate in different ways, so it pays to check the instructions on the labels. Extinguishers vary in their reach and length of time it takes them to discharge. It always pays to check that the extinguisher is working correctly by a brief pull on the trigger when you reach the fire, this will also give you some indication of its reach. The most common method of use is by pulling the safety pin on the head of the extinguisher, squeezing the operating handle while directing the stream of agent at the base of the fire. There is an acronym for this and that is PASS.
Extinguisher Type Carbon Dioxide
Size
Discharge Time (sec)
2 kg
9 – 11
3.5 kg
15 – 18
11 – 13
5
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Once an extinguisher has been discharged it should be placed on the ground on its side. This indicates that it has been used and needs to be serviced.
Water
9L
70 – 80
Foam
9L
30 – 40
Limitations in use
Wet Chemical
7L
90 – 100
kg
Extinguishers have a short discharge Dry 1 8 – 11 time which will depend on the size Chemical kg and extinguishing agent used. Table 1, 13 – 18 (ABE) seen to the right, gives the discharge 2.5 20 – 26 time of various types of extinguisher. kg This table illustrates that if the 9 extinguisher is not used properly it will discharge before the fire is Table 1 Extinguisher Discharge Time (Chubb Fire Safety Australia) extinguished. It is also imperative that the correct type of extinguisher is selected for the type of fire to be fought as the selection of the wrong type may in fact aggravate the situation. i.e. a water extinguisher used on a hot fat fire. An extinguisher will not be of much use in high winds/storm situations.
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Fire and Evacuation Plan Building Fire and Safety Regulations Sections 21 – 28 As has been illustrated it is essential to have in place a fire and evacuation plan both to ensure the safety of persons in the workplace and to ensure compliance with legislation. It is recommend that a plan includes the following sections Section Introduction
Contents Purpose Name and address of building
Responsible Persons
Names and contact details of persons responsible for administering the plan Members of Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) Members of Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) Persons responsible for management and provision of training
Procedures
Fire and evacuation instructions for the building Fire and evacuation coordination procedures Evacuation diagrams (including both whole building or part of building) Operation of safety installations and features, where appropriate Methods of operating fire fighting equipment
Training
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Details of training to be provided including EPC, ECO, general evacuation instructions, first response evacuation and specialist training
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