Introduction to Fire Safety Management

➤ Boilers, internal combustion engines or oil burning
equipment
➤ Lightning.
7.2.4 Fuel sources
fireworks, 1
spontaneous
combustion, 2 oil, 1
cooking, 4
naked light, 4
smoking
materials, 5
friction, heat,
sparks, 7
electrical, 23
Figure 7.5 Ignition sources 2004–2005
Everything will burn if suffi cient heat and available conditions
allow. Clearly some items will burn more readily than
others, for instance wood shavings or dust will burn more
easily than a solid block of wood. These fuel sources are
generally broken down into three main groups (although
these are sometimes subdivided).
Solids
Often referred to as carbonaceous materials (carbon
based) these include wood, cardboard, paper, hardboard,
soft furnishings such as carpets and curtains and
materials such as plastics, foam rubber and even metal.
As the structure of solids is based upon tightly formed
particles, those, such as metals (unless reactive, i.e.
magnesium) are very diffi cult to break down and require
substantial heat sources to be applied for a fi re to be
initiated.
Some solids are very ‘reactive’ and may be designated
as ‘fl ammable’ solids under UN Transport requirements;
these will be clearly identifi able by a label/sign.
Liquids
Far more susceptible to supplying fuel for a fi re due to
their ability to release vapour. Liquids including petrol,
paraffi n, white spirit, thinners, varnish and paints present
LPG cutting
equipment, 1
spread from
secondary fire, 1
Principles of fi re and explosion
a signifi cant risk. Chemicals such as twin pack adhesives,
acetone and toluene also release vapours and
these liquids due to their low fl ashpoint present an even
greater risk.
Aerosol containers contain a fl ammable liquid which
is pressurised to a level that it becomes a gas. The
containers present a signifi cant risk particularly if they
come into direct contact with a heat source.
Flammable liquids are classed as:
➤ Extremely fl ammable.
Liquids which have a fl ashpoint lower than 0C:
➤ Highly fl ammable.
Liquids which have a fl ashpoint below 21C but which
are not extremely fl ammable:
➤ Flammable.
Number of fires
deliberate
ignition, 63
Figure 7.6 Typical fl ammable solid sign
Liquids which have a fl ashpoint below 55C but which
are not highly fl ammable.
119