Fire Definition and Meaning 2024

Fire is the rapid oxidation of material in a chemical process called combustion. When combustion takes place heat, light chest and abdomen, and various reaction products are produced. Fire is an important process, which affects ecological systems across the globe. 🔥 has been used by humans for working, generating heat, lighting, etc. If this fire gets uncontrolled then, it becomes extremely dangerous. 

🔥 are three factors that are responsible for fire to continue burning.

Fuel Any substance in the form of solid, liquid, or gas burns in the presence of oxygen at high temperature, is called fuel.

Heat Fuel begins to burn at a certain temperature, which varies on the type of fuel used. When solids and liquids are heated they give up off vapors, those vapors which ignite.

Oxygen is present in the environment in sufficient quantity, which helps in the process of combustion.

Fire Definition and Meaning

 As a general rule, 🔥 is caused by a chemical reaction between oxygen in the atmosphere and some sort of fuel (wood or petrol for example). Of course, wood and petrol don’t spontaneously combust just because they’re surrounded by oxygen. For the reaction to happen, you have to heat the fuel to a sufficient temperature, this is known as the ignition temperature.

Types of Fire

There are various types of 🔥 as bellow

Class A

Ordinary Combustible

It is a 🔥, involving materials such as wood, paper, fabric, plastic, and most kinds of thrash.

Class B

Flammable liquid

It is a 🔥, whose fuel is combustible or flammable liquid.

Class C

Liquefied gas

It is a 🔥, whose fuel is a liquefied gas, and is generally used in kitchens. Extra caution must be taken in this case since this is a risk of explosion or sudden outbreak of fire in the entire area.

Class D

Electrical fires

It is a 🔥, which involves potentially energized electrical types of equipment. This fire can be caused by short-circuiting machinery or overloaded electrical fat cables.

Class E

Kitchen fires

It is a 🔥 that involves the burning of cooking oil and fats.

Generally 3 Types of fire, Material, Prevention, and Use Extinguishment :

Causes of Fire in Workshop

Some causes of 🔥 in the workshop are as follows.

(i) Short circuits.

(ii) Combustion material stored near the AC supply.

(ii) Poor electrical contacts.

(iv) Overloaded circuits.

(v) Leakage current.

(vi) Electrical spark.

(vii) Absence of temperature controllers in heaters.

(viii) Improper storage of flammable materials.

(ix) Welding or grinding work arranged near flammable liquids.

(x) Proper ventilation for flammable gases.

Precautions During Fire

(1) Disconnect the supply immediately.

(i) Do not throw the water on a live conductor because water is the conductor of electricity.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control 🔥, such as one which has reached the ceiling. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a 🔥.

A fire extinguisher is a device that is used to control fire in case of emergency. The extinguishing of fire is the process, in which any of the substances are removed from the combination of oxygen, heat, and fuel. extinguisher consists of a cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent, which can be discharged to extinguish the 🔥.

Based on the agent fire, the extinguisher is divided into 6 (six) types

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

It consists of agents (CO₂, or inert gas), which displace oxygen and removes heat from the combustion zone. These agents are labeled as clean agents because they do not leave any residue after discharge.

They can be used when flammable liquid or electrical equipment catches fire. They cannot be used when wood, paper, and textile catches fire in confined places.

Generation of CO₂, in an extinguisher The extinguisher consists of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃,) and a glass flask containing sulphuric acid (H₂, SO₄,)

When the extinguisher is inverted by a glass flask, sulphuric acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate to generate carbon dioxide (CO₂) which extinguisher 🔥.

2NaHCO₃ + H₂SO₄ Na₂ SO₄ + 2H₂O + 2CO₂

2. Dry Powder

In dry powder type extinguishers, common dry powder agents used are mono-ammonium phosphate, potassium bicarbonate, etc. These are used to extinguish fires of wood, paper, and textiles, flammable liquids, gaseous fires, and live electrical equipment fires.

3. Foam

Extinguishers are based on foam as an agent, and when applied to fire form a blanket cover over the 🔥, which cuts the supply of oxygen and hence is extinguished.

4. Water

It consists of an Air Pressurised Water (APW), which cools the burning material by absorbing heat from it. It cannot be used on flames (ie., a visible, gaseous part) occurring due to living electrical equipment, flammable liquids, flammable metal fires, etc.

5. Vapourising Liquids

These extinguished 🔥 by forming a soapy foam blanket over the 🔥 and by cooling, it below its ignition temperature. Agents used are potassium acetate, carbonate, citrate, etc.

6. Halon Extinguisher

The agents used in this 🔥 extinguisher such as Carbon Tetra Chloride (CC1₄) or Bromochloro-di-Fluoro methane (BCF) with pressurized air. It extinguished the 🔥 by forming a layer over the 🔥 by cutting the supply of oxygen. Nowadays, CCl₄ extinguishers do not use because of chemical toxicity.

Generally Types of Fire Extinguishers, Definition, and Meaning

When we refer to different types of fire extinguishers, we mean the kind of chemical that’s inside that puts the fire out. Generally, the type of chemical used depends on what caused the fire was it wood or paper or grease, or electricity?

Dry chemical

This is what you’ll find in most home fire extinguishers because it puts out fires caused by various things.

Halon

These have a gas that stops the reaction when certain types of fuels burn. It also protects electrical equipment because there’s no powdery mess to clean up or that can damage equipment.

Water

Obviously, this isn’t for electrical fires. These should only be used on fires started by paper or wood.

Carbon Dioxide

These work best on fires caused. by flammable liquids or electrical fires.

Steps to Use Fire Extinguisher

Step I Pull the Pin:- This will allow it to discharge the extinguisher.

Step II Aim at the Base of Fire:- If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the temptation), the extinguishing agent will fly right through, and nothing fruitful is done.

Step III SQUARE:- The top handle or lever, depresses a button that releases a pressurized extinguishing agent in the extinguisher, using the extinguisher from one side of the base of the flame to the other side. Until the fire is completely extinguished.

Besides the above safety and precautions, there is one important concept, whose implementation can reduce the chance of an accident in the workplace and also increases the productivity and effectiveness of the workplace. To enhance the quality of the workplace, the 5s concept is discussed here.

How to Care and Maintenance of Extinguisher

At least once a month, you should inspect your extinguisher. Ensure that:

• The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats, or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency.
• The pressure is at the recommended level – not too high and not too low.
• The nozzle or other parts are not obstructed.
• The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact.
• There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits, and other signs of abuse/wear. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk, etc. that may have landed on the extinguisher.

What is Sprinkler System

Sprinklers are used to obtain water spray in a particular direction or form. A few examples of sprinklers are shown below

What is Smoke Detector

A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke and issues a signal to a fire alarm system or issues a local audible and/or visual alarm from the detector itself.

An optical detector is a light sensor. When used as a smoke detector, it includes a light source (incandescent bulb or infrared LED), a lens to collimate the light into a beam, and a photodiode or other photoelectric sensor at an angle to the beam as light detector. In the absence of smoke, the light passes in front of the detector in a straight line. When smoke enters the optical chamber across the path of the light beam, some light is scattered by the smoke particles, directing it at the sensor and thus triggering the alarm. Optical smoke detectors are quick in detecting particulate (smoke) generated by smoldering (cool, smoky) fires. ionization detectors have an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation.

The source of ionizing radiation is a minute quantity of americium-241 (perhaps 1/5000th of a gram), which is a source of alpha particles (helium nuclei). The ionization chamber consists of two plates separated by about a centimeter. The battery applies a voltage to the plates, charging one plate positive and the other plate negative. Alpha particles constantly released by the americium knock electrons off of the atoms in the air, ionizing the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the chamber. The positively- charged oxygen and nitrogen atoms are attracted to the negative plate and the electrons are attracted to the positive plate, generating a small, continuous electric current. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, the smoke particles attach to the ions and neutralize them, so they do not reach the plate. The drop in current between the plates triggers the alarm.

The difference between ionisation and optical smoke detectors

What are Sounders and Strobes

Once a fire is detected, the building’s occupants have to be warned so that they can evacuate the premises. Sounders and strobes are available in both conventional and addressable formats; as a further refinement, addressable sounders can draw their power either from the control panel loop or from a separate external power supply. Externally powered address-able sounders are normally used in systems where a large number of sounders are required because the amount of current that can be drawn from the loop is finite. and this might constrain the number of warning de- vices that can be powered from it.

What are Ancillary Devices

Interface modules enable ancillary equipment to be monitored and controlled by an intelligent fire system.

The main components of a fire alarm system are:

(a) Smoke Detectors

(b) Heat Detectors

How to Cause Fire

• Naked flames are coming in contact with inflammable materials.
• Faulty storage of combustible materials.
• Electric short circuits, electrical equipment improperly installed, poorly maintained, etc.
• Faulty gas and oil burners.
• Abnormally high process temperature due to faulty operations of processes.

How Precautions to be Taken to Avoid Fire

• Fire buckets full of sand and water should be placed
• at different places in the workshop.
• Inflammable materials should be placed separately.
• Carbon dioxide gas should be made available in special containers at some required points.
• All the electrical switches should be put off before
• closing the workshop. Switches and other electrical fitting parts made of
• fireproof material should be used. 

Introduction to 5s Concept

The 5s concept was developed in Japan. It is the list of five Japanese words seiri, seiton, seiso, seikelsu, and shitsuke which means sort, systematic (set an order) shine, standardize, and sustain respectively. This 5s concept is a system to reduce waste and optimize productivity through maintaining an orderly workplace and using visual dues to achieve more consistent operational results. In the daily work of the company, routines that maintain organization and orderliness are essential for a smooth and efficient flow of activities. This ban method encourages workers to improve their working conditions and helps them to learn how to reduce waste, unplanned downtime, and in-process inventory.

1. Seiri (sort) It includes

(1) Removing unnecessary items and disposing of them properly.

(i) Making work easier by eliminating obstacles.

(iii) Reduces the chance of being described with unnecessary items.

(iv) Preventing the accumulation of unnecessary items.

(v) Evaluating necessary items with regard to debt cost and other factors.

2. Seiton (set in order) It includes

(1) Arranging all necessary items in an order, so they can be easily picked for use.

(ii) Preventing losses and waste of time.

(iii) Make it easy to find and pick up necessary items.

(iv) Ensure first come first serve basis.

(v) Make workflow smooth and easy.

3. Seiso (shine) It includes

(1) Cleaning of the workplace completely.

(ii) Using cleaning as inspection.

(iii) Preventing machinery and equipment deterioration.

(iv) Keeping the workplace safe and easy to work.

4. Seiketsu (standardized) It includes

(1) Maintaining high standards of housekeeping and workplace organization at all times.

(ii) Maintaining cleanliness and order lines.

(ii) Maintaining everything in order and according to standard.

5. Shitsuke (sustain) It includes

(1) Keep in working order.

(i) Translation into an appropriate meaning to do without being told.