Fires are devastating hazards that often lead to property and personal loss. Did you know that the occupants may have as little as minutes to escape the building when a fire occurs? Therefore, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from a fire are to prevent it.
In case of a fire breakout, a well-planned fire protection plan that combines both active and passive fire protection measures can save lives by allowing ample time for the occupants to escape safely.
According to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, all employers are responsible for carrying out a risk assessment to identify the hazards and risks and implement fire protection measures accordingly. Please note that the fire risk assessment should be carried out by an accredited third party or licensed fire protection service providers UK.
In this article, we have focused on the major fire-causing elements and the measures to minimize the risk of starting/ spreading fires. Continue to read for detailed information on optimizing your fire prevention and protection strategies.
Common Types Of Fires & Strategies to prevent Fire Hazards
Fires By Heat
Heat, Fuel and Oxygen are known as the fire triangle. These are the three leading causes of fire hazards all over the world.
Heat generation is an inevitable part of some work processes, especially in workspaces like factories and restaurants. However, it is vital to control this heat and deal with it with utmost care to evade the risk of fire.
Safety tips –
- Ensure that all ignition sources such as heaters, gas stove, heavy electrical machinery are switched off when not in use.
- Never leave sources of heat like a hot stove or a burning candle unattended. Cooking is the number one cause of household fires. Should a fire flash occur in your utensils, do not try to stop it with water. It can cause the oil to splash and increase the risk of fire catching other surfaces. Instead, you should try to put a cover on it and smother the fire to prevent it from spreading.
- Never disable smoke or CO2 detectors. Regularly check these devices and if any defect is found, repair them immediately.
- If any device emits unusually high spark or weird odour levels, switch it off immediately and not use it until it is repaired.
Fire By Oxygen
There are many applications where Oxygen is used in high amounts, such as welding processes, in hospitals to help patients with breathing problems, food preservation and decompression chambers, etc. Such high volumes of Oxygen can react violently with combustible materials like oil and grease and cause a fire emergency.
Preventive Measures –
- Always use oxygen equipment and cylinders carefully and ensure that they are leak-tight and in proper working order.
- Do not store oxygen cylinders near products like fuel, oil etc.
- Use Oxygen only in equipment that is designed for oxygen storage and never apply more pressure than certified by the manufacturer.
- A high amount of Oxygen should never be used to “sweeten” the air in a confined space.
Fuel Fires
In fire incidents, fuels are defined as any material that can easily catch fire in a normal atmosphere. It is crucial to identify all the flammable substances in your workplace/ residence and implement preventive measures.
- Ensure that the furniture and fittings comply with the applicable regulations.
- Install passive fire protection equipment to classify the fire and enable safe evacuation.
- Replace highly flammable materials with those materials that are less flammable
- Arrange for training sessions to be conducted so that employees can learn about safe storage, handling and use of flammable materials.
Fires Caused by Smoking
Even though most businesses and public places have strict no-smoking rules in place, smoking is still one of the leading causes of fire. When there is smoke, there is a risk of fire. Hence you and your colleagues/family should always keep these tips in mind to avoid fires caused by smoking.
- All offices and buildings must have no-smoking signs at appropriate locations.
- Avoid smoking in areas that may have flammable materials.
- Never empty your ashtray in a garbage bin. Cigarettes, matches, and ash should be disposed of properly away from the combustible garbage.
- Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.
Hot Work Fires
Hot work defines the activities that generate a significant amount of heat, flame and sparks to cause a fire. It generally includes construction/ maintenance activities such as welding, soldering, brazing, grinding etc. Before performing any Hot Work, it is essential to assess the fire risk in the work area and implement safety measures.
- Opt for hot work only if there is no other alternative.
- A responsible person must carry out routine assessments of the working equipment and the premises.
- The designated work staff must have proper fire prevention training and appropriate fire-fighting equipment to curb the fire in case of an emergency.
- Workers must check the area 60 minutes after the completion of their job and vacate the premises.
- Fire-resistant protective clothing must be worn at all times by the workers.
Electrical Equipment Fires
Electrical fires are a major cause of fire hazards, accounting for an estimated 51000 fire cases each year. To avoid such fires, it is essential to determine the potential risks and implement safeguard to prevent such fires.
- Only a professional electrical contractor should carry out installation and repairs of the electrical equipment.
- Look out for faulty outlets, outdated appliances and damaged wires and cords. These things are most likely to start a fire.
- Before installing any light, bulb or lamp, carefully check the maximum recommended bulb wattage. Installing lights with a wattage too high is yet another leading cause of electrical fires.
- Avoid using extension cords. If you require an electric outlet in an area where there is none, get it installed by an experienced electrician.
Conclusion
After learning the above-mentioned safety precautions, the next step to protect your home/office from fire hazards is to install appropriate active and passive fire protection systems. Contact your trusted fire protection service provider in the UK and book an assessment to determine which protection systems are best suited for your property.
