Fire Safety Course Notes
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Fire Safety Course Notes MODULE ONE - BASIC FIRE KNOWLEDGE The Fire Triangle Fire needs three essential ingredients to start: heat, oxygen and fuel. Try to keep these 3 from coming together and you will reduce the risk of fire.
HEAT
OXYGEN
FUEL
Produce a fire risk assessment for your workplace by following these important steps:
Step 1 - identify the fire hazards.
Step 2 - identify people at risk.
Step 3 - evaluate the risks.
Step 4 - record your findings.
Step 5 - review and revise.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
The Consequences of Fire Fire needs heat from an ignition source, oxygen and fuel to start.
Fires spread rapidly and become incredibly hot in a short space of time.
When a fire takes hold flammable gases will self-ignite and cause explosions.
Fire can burn skin and lung tissue.
In a fire, smoke and toxic fumes can be killers.
Fire can cause structural damage to buildings.
Fire Resistance
Keep all routes clear of obstruction. Ensure fire exits are never blocked. Ensure fire doors are never wedged open. Ensure that notices remain on display. Keep all fire fighting equipment in the right place and never abuse it.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
Fire Doors and Exits Familiarise yourself with the all escape routes in the building.
Fire exits must be kept clear.
Fire exits should be clearly marked by signs.
FIRE EXIT
Never prop open fire doors.
Fire resisting doors, walls, ceilings and floors must be maintained.
Action in the Event of a Fire Alarm Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
Close all windows and doors if time permits.
Any housekeeping staff should make sure any of their materials are not causing an obstruction in corridors.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
Leave the building by the nearest available exit and do not use lifts.
Go directly to the fire assembly point and stay there until told it’s safe to re-enter the building by a fire officer or other appropriately appointed official. Assembly point
Action in the Event of a Fire Do not open closed doors to rooms where there is a fire.
Only tackle a fire if it is safe and you know what you are doing. Never tackle a fire on your own.
Close doors and windows if you have time.
FIRE
In a fire situation, raise the alarm.
BREAK GLASS
Leave the building by the nearest exit and stay at the assembly point until told otherwise.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
MODULE TWO - BASIC FIRE KNOWLEDGE PLUS Fire Extinguishers and How to Use Them Only use a fire extinguisher if you have been trained. There are four main types of fire extinguisher; water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam.
Water extinguishers are not suitable for electric or oil fires. They are best suited to solid fuel fires like wood, paper, and so on.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be used on most fires, but they’re particularly good for fires with electrical equipment.
Powder extinguishers are safe to use on most fires – gas, solid and liquid fuelled. Multipurpose powders work best on solid burning fires. But standard powders, only work well on burning liquids.
AFFF (foam) extinguishers are good for use on most fires – solids and liquids. But like the water extinguisher, don’t use foam on electrical fires. Electricity can be conducted back up the spray on some foam extinguishers.
Fire blankets are good for chip pan fires or people with burning clothes. You should only tackle chip pan fires if you have had special training. e-learning solutions
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WATER
CO2
DRY POWDER
FOAM
FIRE BLANKET
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Fire Safety Course Notes
When using an extinguisher, use the entire contents.
When using an extinguisher, keep between the fire and the escape route.
Classes of Fire Class A are solid fuel fires; often burning organic matter, such as wood or paper.
Class B fires are fuelled by liquids like petrol, or liquefiable solids like paints or fats that are solid at room temperature and melt when heated.
Class C or gas fires should not be tackled.
Class D or flammable metal fires must be dealt with by specially trained personnel.
Class F fires can be fought using a fire blanket or a special Class F fire extinguisher.
In addition to these five classes, you should also be aware of electrical fires. When dealing with these fires you should avoid using water based extinguishers which could cause electrocution. e-learning solutions
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Fire Safety Course Notes
Fire Resisting Construction The actual means or route of escape must be protected for 30 minutes, (though it can be more in some situations.) This gives people inside the burning building more time to escape.
Fire resisting doors, walls, ceilings and floors are used to compartmentalise fire.
Fire resisting doors are positioned to help protect escape routes. They reduce the spread of fire by separating fire risks from your means of escape.
Doors which protect the means of escape in case of fire should be fitted with intumescent strips and smoke seals. Both strips and seals will be found on the sides and tops of the doors.
Law New legislation called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order was effective from October 2006. This order requires any person with some control over a business premises to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire.
They must also make sure any occupants can escape safely if a fire breaks out.
The fire.gov.uk website has a self assessment form to help you assess the level of risk in your workplace. The responsible person must: e-learning solutions
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FIRE.GOV.UK
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Fire Safety Course Notes
Carry out a fire risk assessment to identify risks and hazards, or they must nominate someone to do so.
Eliminate or reduce the fire risk as far as possible and provide fire precautions to deal with any remaining risk.
Put in place additional fire safety measures, create an emergency plan and document your findings and review the findings as necessary.
WATER
N C Y R G E E M E N P L A M E N T S U D O C
People With Disabilities Braille notices or large print versions of fire instructions may be required and a deaf alerter system may need to be installed. Staff training for employees who are blind, deaf or have other needs should be considered and assistance may be required in the event of evacuation.
Refuges are used to prevent wheelchairs obstructing escape routes while other people get out.
Escape route doors, passageways and ramps should provide wheelchair access and exit.
Special procedures must be in place to help disabled people sleeping overnight in a premises.
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Fire Safety Course Notes MODULE THREE - NIGHT STAFF Final Check of Premises and Walk Arounds Common hazards to look for include: a. paper near fires b. cigarettes on floors or seating c. lit candles d. items pushed too close to open fires e. electrical equipment left on f. un-emptied bins g. any other perceived risk.
Patrols should be carried out at regular intervals in the night.
The whole building should be inspected and checks recorded.
Check all fire resisting doors are closed properly, and provide a proper fire resisting barrier.
The walkaround should include operating all doors which provide means of escape in case of fire. That means you should operate the panic bolts and walk out onto the external escape.
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PUSH BAR TO OPEN
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Fire Safety Course Notes
If the door has a self closing device like an electromagnetic device, check it has worked and the fire doors are closed. If it hasn’t, close the doors manually. Then make sure it is reported correctly.
Check all extinguishers are in place and undamaged and check all lighting, such as illuminated fire exits.
Action in the Event of Fire and Alarm FIRE
In a fire situation you must raise the alarm.
BREAK GLASS
Attempt to fight the fire only if you have been properly trained and it is safe to do so.
Call the fire brigade.
Direct people out of the building.
Assist the fire brigade when they arrive.
Record a fire log of the incident.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
MODULE FOUR - FIRE MARSHAL Duties Marshals will help to coordinate the evacuation. They will take a head count at the assembly point to ensure that everyone has safely escaped from the premises.
The senior fire marshal will take control of the situation and will organise a call to the Fire Service immediately by ringing 999 (or 112).
All marshals must put on a fluorescent jacket.
Ground and lock all passenger lifts – there are many different types, so familiarise yourself with the lift in your building.
DO NOT silence the alarm.
When the fire service arrive, tell them where the alarm is located.
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Fire Safety Course Notes
Make sure no-one re-enters the building until the Fire Service allow it.
Obtain the list of all staff, or in a hotel, obtain the guest list and check that all people are accounted for.
Don’t re-set the fire alarm unless specifically asked to by the Fire Service, otherwise follow their advice.
Check for any deaf or disabled people who may need assistance. You must be aware of them and their location in your premises.
Advise the fire service of anyone unaccounted for.
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