BASIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

AND HEALTH
Module 1b: Fire Prevention and
Fire Fighting
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
This is commonly called the fire
tetrahedron. Fire cannot exist
without all of these elements in
place and in the right proportions.
For example, a flammable liquid will
start burning only if the fuel and
oxygen are in the right proportions.
Some fuel-oxygen mixes may
require a catalyst, a substance that
is not directly involved in any
chemical reaction during
combustion, but which enables the
reactants to combust more readily
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Fire is heat and light from rapid combination of
oxygen and other materials.
For fire to exist, a combustible substance must be present,
the temperature must be high enough to cause
combustion, and enough oxygen must be present to
sustain rapid combustion.
Requirements for Combustion
• A fuel must be present
• Oxygen must be available in sufficient quantity
• Heat must be applied to initiate combustion, and
sufficient heat must be generated to sustain the reaction.
• Rate of oxidation (reaction): Rate of oxidation of a fuel
must be capable of sustaining a flaming fire.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Fire can be extinguished by removing any one
of the elements of the fire tetrahedron. Consider
a natural gas flame, such as from a stovetop
burner. The fire can be extinguished by any of
the following:
• turning off the gas supply, which removes the fuel
source;
• covering the flame completely, with CO2;
• application of water, which removes heat from the
fire faster than the fire can produce it.
• application of a retardant chemical such as Halon
to the flame;
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Fire/Life Safety - Fire Protection

• Class A Fires: Ordinary combustibles such as
wood and paper.
• Class B Fires: Flammable and combustible
liquids and gases.
• Class C Fires: Energized electrical equipment.
• Class D Fires: Combustible metals.
• Class K Fires: Cooking Oils and Fats.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Portable Fire Extinguishers

General Requirements
• Mount, locate and identify
extinguishers so that they are
readily
accessible
• Only approved extinguishers shall
be used
• Maintain extinguishers in a fully
charged and operable condition
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Exits
(1) At least two exits shall be provided in every floor and
basement of every workplace capable of clearing the work
area in five (5) minutes.
(2) Additional exits shall be provided if the travel distance
from any occupied space in a high hazard occupancy
exceeds twenty-three (23) meters.
(3) In moderate or low-hazard occupancy, the travel
distance shall not be more than thirty-one (31) meters for
industrial establishments, sixty-one (6 1) meters for
business establishments and thirty and one-half (30.5)
meters for mercantile and commercial establishments.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Stairways
(1) Stairs, platforms, stairways and landings in buildings of
any type of construction over three (3) stories in height used
as fire exits shall be constructed of incombustible materials.
(2) Building over three (3) stories in height of non-fire
resistant construction and with roofs having a slope of less
than 1 in 4, at least one stairway shall extend through the
roof.
(3) All stairways used as fire exits shall lead directly to the
street or through fire resistant passages with a width of at
least equal to the aggregate width of all exits discharging
through such passages.
(4) All approaches to fire exits shall be cleared of any
obstruction and properly marked to make the direction of
egress clear.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Fire Doors
(1) Stairway enclosures, fire exits and partitions shall be
provided with fire doors of the selfclosing type and easily
opened from either side towards the line of travel in leaving
the building except the last floor which should open away
from the exit.
(2) Doors giving access to stairways shall not open directly
on stairs, but shall open on landings leaving a path of travel
equal to at least the width of the door at any point during its
swing.
(3) Doors swinging on both sides, vertical-sliding doors,
rolling shutters and revolving doors shall not be allowed as
exits.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Fire-Fighting Facilities
Water Supply
(1) Where connection from a public water supply system is
not available, an adequate private water supply reservoir
capable of supplying all fire fighting systems for eight
(8)hours shall
be provided.
(2) Supply system, including tanks or reservoirs and
pumps, shall be located and protected that their operation
or use will not be impaired by a fire in the workplace.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Fire-Fighting Facilities
Hydrants
Hydrants shall be of the same types and
sizes as those used by the local public fire
department and located or protected that
they will not be exposed to mechanical
damage from vehicles.
Hose
(1) Hose couplings, outside hydrants or
standing nipples shall be of the same type
and size as those used by the local public
fire department.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Selection of Extinguishers:
Extinguishers shall be selected for the
specific class or classes or hazards to be
protected against in accordance with the
following:
Class “A”: Wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and similar materails.
Shall be foam, dry chemicals and water types.
Class “B”: Flammable liquids, graese, greases. Shall bee
CO2, dry chemical, foam,
Class “C”: which involve energized electrical equipment
where the electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing
media if of importance, shall be selected from carbon dioxide,
dry chemicals, and multi-purpose dry chemicals;
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Selection of Extinguishers:
Extinguishers shall be selected for the
specific class or classes or hazards to be
protected against in accordance with the
following:

Class “D” hazards fire in combustible metals, such as

magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium and potassium, shall
be of types approved for use on the specific combustible
metal hazard. Only suitable dry powder extinguishers shall be
used for metal fires;
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Alarm Systems and Fire Drills
Sounding Devices
(1) All buildings having two or more stories in height shall
be equipped with fire alarm system and signals of
distinctive quality and pitch clearly audible to all persons
inside the building.
(2) Hand-operated sending stations of fire alarm boxes
shall be provided on every floor and located that the travel
to reach a station is not more than thirty (30) meters for
industrial and commercial establishments with moderate or
low hazard occupancy.
(3) Fire-alarm stations shall be conspicuous, readily
accessible, and in the natural path of escape from fire.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Alarm Systems and Fire Drills
Sounding Devices
(4) Hand operated sending stations of fire alarm boxes shall
be provided on every floor and located such that the travel to
reach a station is not more than sixty-one (61) meters for
business establishments with moderate or low hazard
occupancy.
Fire-fighting Drills
(1) Every place of employment depending on the magnitude
of potential fires and the availability of assistance from the
public fire department shall organize a fire brigade to deal
with fires and other related emergencies.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Fire Detection
and Fire Alarm
Suppression

1. Alarm bell 5. Fire Monitor Panel

2. Annunciator 6. Strobe
3. Smoke Detector
4. Manual Pull Station
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Alarm Systems and Fire Drills
(Fire-fighting Drills
(1) Every place of employment depending on the magnitude
of potential fires and the availability of assistance from
the public fire department shall organize a fire brigade to
deal with fires and other related emergencies.
(2) The members of the fire brigade shall be physically
qualified for the job and properly trained on firefighting
use of hose, line, ventilation of buildings, salvage
operations, rescue operations, first aid, and other related
activities.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Alarm Systems and Fire Drills
(Fire-Fighting Drills
(3) In buildings where the population is of a changing character,
the fire-exit training of the regular employees shall include the
proper procedure to direct other occupants to safety.
(4) Occupants of each department, floor or portion of the building
shall be designated a particular place to assemble outside of the
building and in places that will not hamper firefighting.
(5) When two or more establishments occupy a building, fire exit
drills shall be planned as if there is only one (1) establishment.
(6) The organization and the composition of a fire-exit drill
committee shall be as provided by the requirements of the local
fire department.
(7) Fire brigade as required by the local department or the Fire
Code shall be organized.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Commercial Fire Alarm System