First and foremost let me wish all my readers a VERY HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR.

May this year bring abundance of everything in life.

Though Happiness is very important at the same time Safety is very much necessary as it is the only thing that can help us stay alive and injury free. I hope my blogs are helping you all gain knowledge on fire safety and making your homes and work place fire free. In my last blog we have discussed the classification of fire based on the fuel or the substances which can burn. Here we discuss the media or material available to combat and extinguish fire.

They are as follows.

1. WATER : Since time immemorial water has always been used for fire fighting. One of the most natural fire fighting media and available everywhere. Due to its natural property of absorption of heat it is a very effective in fire fighting. Though very effective it can be only used to extinguish Class A Fire IE Fire on Combustible Solids. It cannot be used on the other the other Classes. For example when you use it on Liquid Fires the density of water is more and thereby it increases the fire. Even a drop of water when used on flammable metals can cause explosion.

2. Mechanical and Chemical Foam: This media is widely used on Class B liquid fires. The Foam falls on the surface of the liquid fire like a blanket and cuts off the oxygen supply thereby extinguishing fire. The Foam even cools the liquid to prevent reoccurrence of the fire due to heat. There are different types of foam available and would be too technical and elaborate to explain here.

3. Dry Chemical Powder : There are 3 widely used dry chemical powders for fire fighting.

a. Sodium Bi Carbonate,

b. Mono Ammonium Phosphate and

c. TEC – Ternery Eutectic Chloride.

Sodium Bi carbonate can be used on Classes B and C fires that is fire on flammable liquids, gases and electrical fire. Mono Ammonium phosphate powder which is known as ABC powder can be used on Solids, Liquids, Gas and Electrical fire and hence it is very popular as a fire fighting media. TEC powder is only used for Class D metal fire. All the powders employ the method of Blanketing or Smothering to put out fire. Even though they are very good at fire fighting they however damage the equipments when used on sophisticated and expensive equipments like servers.

4. Carbon di oxide or CO2 : As we all know removal of oxygen cuts off fire and what better material than CO2 to do the job. CO2 is also a very popular agent to extinguish fire on Electrical equipment and most importantly the sophisticated and expensive ones. CO2 is not only used in extinguishers but also used in large automatic fire fighting systems as a Flooding agent. Though very good at putting out fire on electrical equipments it can be used on Liquid and Gas fire too.

5. WET CHEMICAL : This a new recent addition to fire fighting to specifically address the issue of fire on Fatty oils and saturated fats. As grease accumulates when there is combustion, to fight the same a special effect called Saponification is needed. Even Sodium Bi Carbonate has this effect too but of late research has found that wet chemicals are more effective. As there is a growing need for environmental protection there is extensive research going on in the field of fire fighting and new products are being developed. I will talk more about them in my subsequent blogs and writing.Till then read, ruminate and post your doubts and queries on the blog page itself.

Take care and have a great year everyone.

Seshadri Varadrajan.9840814353.

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Hello Readers !

 I have a feeling that you are all having a Great time in life and enjoying yourselves. When we are busy and go about our work and business, it gives us great happiness and a lot of satisfaction. Keeping professional success apart, I hope you are all taking good care of your family members. I got disturbed when I read and watched the atrocities perpetrated towards Women and hence, did my bit by posting a video on my Youtube channel regarding Women Safety.

In my last blog, we have discussed how fire spreads and in this blog, let us discuss its classification. Humans since time immemorial, have been always looking to remember things in a very easy way and classified things into different categories. Similarly, to fight fire easily we have divided Fire in different classes. The classification of the fire is done based on the fuels available to burn and their classes are A, B, C, D and K or F, means there are only 5 classes of fire or fuel. Let us examine them one by one.

CLASS A : In this class, all the materials which are solid in nature and can become ash when burnt are called Class A fire. Examples are Wood, Paper, Textiles, Plastic, Coal etc. When Solids burn, usually the smoke is White in Colour.

CLASS B : This class is all about the flammable Liquids like Petrol, Kerosene, Diesel and others. Though the fatty oils used for cooking are liquids, they don’t come under this classification. When Liquids burn, they emit smoke either which is thick Black in Colour or in Grey. In certain classifications, gases are also  included in this class.

CLASS C :   All the flammable gases like LPG, Methane, Ethane, Hydrogen etc come under this classification. Not only gases, but this class includes fire on electrically charged equipment otherwise known as Electrical Fires. Till the last decade, Fire on Electrical Equipment was called E class but subsequently this type of fire has been changed to C.

CLASS D :  Metals that catch fire are categorised into this class. In our knowledge, the metals like Gold, Silver, Iron and Copper melt when they are heated up. But certain metals like Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Aluminium, Tin and Zinc can burn in metallic state.

CLASS F OR K : The four classes mentioned above have existed for quite a long time in the history of classification of Fire. However, with the advent of new types of Foods which are cooked in oils with high fat content, this class has come into existence. Oils used for cooking, particularly for deep fry and for that which contain a lot of fat, fall into this category. The reason being, when used, they leave a lot of grease as residue and when that burns, it is a totally different dimension. The reason this class is F or K is because of two schools of thought ie, The European and American. The European classify it as Fatty oil fire hence Class F. The Americans call it Kitchen fire and hence K class.

This table will make you understand even better.

I feel that most of you would be able to understand the above classification on seeing the above pic. Let us discuss the type of media to fight fire in the next blog. Till then, stay safe and be safe.

Seshadri Varadarajan.
Sr. Corporate Trainer
Usha Fire Safety Equipments pvt ltd.
Mobile 9840814353.

Hello Readers. It has been some days now since my last blog. Have been a bit busy with official duty and training programmes and hence the delay in posting the blog. Shall take care to increase the frequency of my blogs so that the readers are not kept waiting. In my last blog we had discussed the ways and means of fire fighting via Starvation, Blanketing and Cooling. In this we shall discuss the methods of the spread of fire.

Fire fighting is quite easy if fire is just confined in a small area. However most of the times, it is not. Very quickly it spreads to other areas by the transfer of heat. Transfer of heat happens due to Conduction, Convection and Radiation. Let us discuss in detail the same.

CONDUCTION : In this method of heat transfer, the transfer of heat happens through solid particles between two or more objects. Speed of the transfer varies from one material to other. Iron, Steel and other metals have good heat conduction whereas wood has low heat conduction. This way of heat transfer was demonstrated by our teachers in the science laboratory by holding a metal rod over a Candle. In the same way fire also moves from one place to the other using Solid materials while burning.

CONVECTION : Convection is the transfer of heat energy by the movement of heated liquids or gases, from the source of heat to a cooler part of the environment. In fire spread this happens through the heated smoke travelling upwards. This method of heat transfer is very dangerous as smoke can enter in buildings in many ways like shafts, air conditioner ducts, open doors and windows and even through holes in walls. Hence as per the NBC (NATIONAL BUILDING CODE) states that high rise buildings should provide pressurised staircases to avoid spread of smoke and for easier evacuation. Convection in buildings can be prevented by closing of doors and windows whenever smoke is present.

RADIATION : Radiation is the transfer of heat Energy from a hot surface to a Cooler surface through electromagnetic waves without an intervening medium. In this method the spread of fire is through the air and hence if the fuel load is high in a particular area the fire can spread rapidly. The best example to understand radiation is the heat from the Sun. Radiation can be prevented by cooling the surrounding areas of a fire with water.

Fires can sometimes ignite and spread through a method called direct burning like lightning strikes or even because of the wind direction.

By reading the above one can easily understand how fire spreads and how one can save oneself during fire accidents. We shall discuss more in the next blog. Stay Safe and Be Safe

Seshadri Varadarajan
Mobile 9840814353
Email seshadri3225@gmail.com
You tube channel LIVE AND LET LIVE.

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We have seen the four stages of fire ie The Incipient, The Growth, The Fully Developed and The Decay in my last blog. In this blog let us understand the methods of fire fighting so that we can put out the fire and also understand the ways in which fire spreads from one place to the other.

Based on the fire triangle that we have studied, fire extinction can be done by removing any one element from the triangle consisting of Fuel, Oxygen and Heat. These 3 ways are called Starvation, Blanketing or Smothering and Cooling.

Starvation : It is the method of removing the Fuel element from the fire triangle. In this method the materials surrounding the area near the seat of fire are removed and the fire is made to starve without the supply of fuel. As the fire feeds on fuel when this is removed the fire does not get anything to burn and hence dies out by itself. This method of fire fighting is usually adopted by the fire fighters putting out fires which happen in homes with thatched roof. Not only do they pour water on the roof that is burning but they remove the thatched roofs from the nearby houses to contain the fire.

Blanketing/Smothering : In this method the oxygen supply to the fire is cut off. Naturally the fire is put off due to the lack of oxygen. I know many of us will remember our science lab in school where the teacher used to cover a lit candle, with a glass and show us the lack of oxygen. This method of putting out fire is also the same. It is a well known fact that human beings can survive without oxygen beyond 5 minutes but Fire cannot survive without oxygen even for a few seconds. The cutting off of oxygen supply can be done in homes by closing the doors and windows to the room which has caught fire, and also by using materials like blankets and wet towels when oil pans catch fire in the kitchen. If an oil pan catches fire in the kitchen the same can be put out by first switching off the gas supply and then covering the pan with a wet cloth or blanket. Even some of the fire extinguishers use this method to put out fires.

Cooling : In this method the heat element is simply removed from the fire. This can be done by using water over the fire as water is a great absorber of heat. Water can be used on solid fuels like paper, coal, leaves etc but cannot be used on flammable liquids, gases and electrical fires. On fire where you cannot pour water directly the water can be used in areas adjacent to the fire to cool the heat and not allowing the fire to spread. The firemen use this method most often in fires in buildings and homes.

Fire Spread happens due to transfer of heat and the methods of heat transfer are Conduction, Convection and Radiation. We shall discuss these methods in my next blog.

As the festival of lights DIWALI, is fast approaching just wanted to give my readers a few Safety Tips.

1. Burst Fireworks in open areas only.
2. Do not wear synthetic clothing while lighting fireworks.
3. Keep 2 buckets of water near the place where you light fireworks to render any first aid for fire burn.
4. Parents should supervise children when lighting fireworks.
5. Wear tight clothes rather than loose ones while lighting fireworks.
6. While lighting crackers ensure a safe distance between the body and the crackers.
7. Do not get too close to any misfired Crackers.
8. Always store the fireworks in a safe place well away from sources of heat.
9. Buy Fireworks from reputed manufacturers only.

For many Indians Diwali is a festival which brings in a lot of prosperity and joy in lives. Enjoy the festival by meeting and greeting your friends and loved ones but at the same time be careful with fireworks.

WISHING ALL MY READERS A VERY HAPPY DIWALI/DEEPAVALI.

Till my next blog be safe and stay safe.

Seshadri Varadrajan,
Sr. Corporate Trainer.
Usha fire Safety Equipments Pvt Ltd.
Chennai.

Call: 9840814353.
Email seshadri3225@gmail.com

Till now we have focused on what causes fire, its prevention, timely evacuation and LPG safety in the previous blogs. In this blog, the attention will be on the various stages of Fire and the way it spreads. Only when we know these aspects, it will help us not only to fight the fire but also do timely Evacuation. Normally we all use the words Small Fire or Big Fire. However technically there is no such thing as small fire or large fire it only fire in various stages.

As you all know, by now Fire is the rapid oxidation of material in a process of combustion, releasing heat and light and various reaction products. Basically, there are 4 stages of fire and they are Incipient, Growth, Fully developed, and Decay stage.

The Incipient Stage: This first stage begins when Fuel, Oxygen and Heat combine and have a chemical reaction called Combustion, resulting in a fire.  This is also known as Ignition stage and in this stage there will be a Flame and a little heat but no Fire. Usually in this stage the fire goes out on its own but if there are fuel sources around then it starts to feed on that and increase. In this stage the fire can be easily put out or suppressed and easy to evacuate. Here one needs to just raise the alarm and can fight the fire if trained to do so.

The Growth Stage: The growth stage is where the structures, fire load and oxygen are used to fuel the fire. In this stage there is flame, fire and extensive heat. There are numerous factors affecting the Growth of fire including where the fire started, what combustible materials are near it, ceiling height and the potential for ”Thermal Layering”. It is in this stage which is very short where a deadly phenomenon called “Flashover” happens thereby trapping, injuring or potentially killing people. In this stage one needs to Raise the alarm, evacuate the persons in the area and call the Fire Brigade. You can fight the fire if you are trained and confident to do so.

The Fully Developed Stage: When the growth stage has reached its max and all the combustible materials have been ignited, a fire is considered fully developed. This is the hottest stage of fire and can be deadly for anyone trapped within the fire areas. In this stage one can hardly do anything. It is foolish to go inside and try to rescue anyone trapped. Leave that work to the Professional Fire fighters. Even they cannot do anything but douse the fire. In the previous two stages damage to property is limited but in this stage the damage is very high.

 The Decay stage: Usually this is the longest stage of a fire, the decay stage is characterised by a significant decrease in oxygen or fuel, putting an end to the fire. Two common dangers during this stage are first—the existence of non flaming combustibles, which can potentially start a new fire when not fully extinguished and Second, there is a danger of a back draft when oxygen is reintroduced into a volatile confined space. In this stage one needs to be careful while opening the doors and also make sure the fire is extinguished completely.

While describing the four stages i have used the terms Flashover and Back draft. Let us now understand the definitions.

Flashover:  A flashover is the near-simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area. When certain organic materials are heated, they undergo thermal decomposition and release flammable gases.

An example of flashover is ignition of a piece of furniture in a domestic room. The fire involving the initial piece of furniture can produce a layer of hot smoke which spreads across the ceiling in the room. The hot buoyant smoke layer grows in depth, as it is bounded by the walls of the room. The radiated heat from this layer heats the surfaces of the directly exposed combustible materials in the room, causing them to give off flammable gases via pyrolysis. When the temperatures of the evolved gases become high enough, these gases will ignite throughout their extent.

Back Draft pronounced as Back Draught: A back draft is a rapid or explosive burning of superheated gases in a fire, caused when oxygen rapidly enters an oxygen-depleted environment; for example, when a window or door to an enclosed space is opened or broken. Back drafts present a serious threat to fire fighters.

As these blogs are written for the benefit of everyone I will not be too technical though the subject of fire and fire fighting is highly technical.

We shall talk about the spread of Fire and how to put fire out in my next blog.

Stay safe, Be Safe and live happily.

Comments can now be posted on the blog page itself.

V.Seshadri
SR. Corporate trainer,
Usha Fire Safety Equipments private ltd, Chennai.
9840814353. Email: seshadri3225@gmail.com

Fire and how to prevent fire, was discussed in my last blog. I had even mentioned that I would be sharing safety measures on Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly known as LPG. LPG is a very popular fuel and is used to power a lot of things, but it is mainly used for cooking and as a fuel for vehicles. Developed countries have shifted to Compressed Natural gas (CNG) whereas developing nations still use LPG. The statistic information is mind boggling.                              

In India, especially in the domestic sector, LPG is used mainly for cooking. The number of domestic connections have been estimated to be 215 million (one connection for every six people) with a circulation of more than 350 million LPG cylinders.  Apart from the above usage, LPG is also used as fuel in industries and to run automobiles. In industries, special containers called BULLETS are used which are isolated and hence, the risk is minimised.  Piped gas connections are slowly becoming the order of the day but even today in India, LPG is supplied in Cylinders.

Most of us think that LPG is a gas but actually it is a mixture of Propane and Butane in the ratio 60: 40. The expansion ratio is very high which is1: 250. Hence, this can cause an immense problem if there is a leak. It is an inflammable fuel and just a spark is enough to ignite it. The LPG cylinders, which are used for cooking, contain 85% of it in liquid condition.  Hence, safety precautions are an absolute must. LPG is also heavier than Air and thus, settles down rather than up.

Sometimes, we would have experienced a very typical smell when cooking is being done or with cylinders around. The original LPG does not have a smell. In 1944, there was an explosion in the USA which has lead to the addition of a chemical named Ethyl Mercaptan which gives out an odd smell to signify a leak.  Let us discuss how to take care of this threat.

The use of LPG is through a cylinder which contains the gas, a hose which connects the cylinder to the burner and then a regulator to open and close the gas. Let us understand how to store, use it safely and what to do in case of emergency.

Safe storage and installation :

• Place Cylinder in a well-ventilated area, away from sources of ignition. Get it installed only by authorized dealers.
• Check whether the safety cap and security seal are in place. Don’t accept Cylinders without the safety cap and safety seal.
• Don’t change cylinders near sources of ignition. A naked flame or a spark could ignite any gas that is released.
• Attach the regulator and ensure that it is securely connected to the cylinder valve. Apply soapy water to check for leaks.
• Store cylinders that are not in use in a well-ventilated, secure area, preferably out of doors, away from direct sunlight, heat and other sources of ignition. Don’t store cylinders in basements.

Safe Usage :

• Use the correct hose and check its condition regularly. Hoses designed for use will be marked with a phrase such as LPG hose. It is recommended that hoses be replaced every 2 years.
• Use the correct regulator and check its condition regularly. It is also recommended to replace regulators 5 years after the date of manufacture.
• It is safer to use matches than lighters while lighting burners.
• Turn off the regulator and gas appliance when not in use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use and maintenance of your gas appliance.
• Check for leaks from time to time using soapy water. Never use a naked flame.

IF YOU SMELL GAS :

• Extinguish all naked flames.
• Eliminate all sources of ignition. Don’t switch ON or OFF any electrical equipment. Just a touch can cause a BLAST.
• Open doors and windows to increase ventilation.
• Turn off the gas supply at the cylinder. If leak is found to be on the cylinder, cover the leaking portion with a wet rag.
• If it is safe to do so, move cylinders to an open space away from people, buildings and source of ignition. Spray water on the cylinder to help dispense LPG vapour.
• Do not answer calls on the mobile phone.

It is always recommended to wear Cotton Fabrics in the kitchen than any other. Use of Cotton Aprons while cooking is a Best Practice. If the flame is flickering, it is an indication that the cylinder is almost empty. When it happens, never shake or roll the cylinder. When the Vendor delivers the cylinder, ensure that it is lifted and not rolled. Shaking or rolling of the cylinder is extremely dangerous. Keep a fire extinguisher or an old blanket handy in the kitchen.

I feel we have covered quite a lot in this blog.
Meanwhile, you can post your questions on my previous blogs to  seshadri3225@gmail.com  or you can post them on the blog page.

 Till then, stay safe.

SESHADRI VARADARAJAN
9840814353.

In the last blog of mine, we have seen the importance of evacuation and its process when there is a fire.

In this blog, let us discuss how to prevent Fire in the places where we live and work.
Fire has been an integral part of human life since time immemorial. It is even being worshiped in many places and has its own special place in many a Mythology. In today’s modern world, it is utilized for many things ranging from the food we cook, to power rockets into outer space. We just cannot imagine life without a fire.
‘FIRE IS A WONDERFUL SERVANT BUT A BAD MASTER, when used properly it lights up life, but creates havoc and destruction when out of control.’ Hence the trick is to prevent fire and if one knows it can prevent fire accidents.

To do this understanding of Fire chemistry is a must. Fire is a chemical reaction called combustion that takes place between Fuel and Heat supported by Oxygen. A Fuel is defined as any material which can burn. A fuel can be Solid, Liquid, or Gas which are nothing but the three states of matter. For a fire to be ignited we require oxygen of 16%, which is abundantly available. A very interesting fact here is Oxygen does not burn by itself unlike some gases but without it, fire cannot happen. But the major part is played by heat without which nothing can burn. There are many sources of heat around us like Sparks and Arcs, Chemical Reactions, Gas Compression, Open Flames, hot surfaces, Static Electricity and last but not the least The Sun itself. When the heat is increased and there is fuel nearby, a fire is bound to happen. A fourth element called Chain Reaction is also there but it is too technical to explain in a short blog.
So, now the question is:
How do we do fire prevention ?
Fire prevention can be done by

1. Not overloading Electrical Sockets.
2. Not keeping flammable material near sources of heat.
3. Using good quality Electrical wires and Switches.
4. Periodical Maintenance of electrical appliances.
5. Not overloading equipments beyond rated capacities.
6. Not charging mobiles and laptops in beds and pillows.
7. Not smoking in Beds.
8. Not leaving electrical irons and heaters unattended.
9. Not leaving the kitchen unattended while cooking.
10. Not giving matches or Lighters to Children.

One of the major threats of Fire in India is the use of LPG cylinders for cooking, about which I will be covering in my next blog. Meanwhile let us think on the points of fire prevention and the ways to implement them. One of the good practices adopted by industries and factories is a concept called 5S which is a Japanese form of Housekeeping to prevent fires. However the best line on Fire Prevention is A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN PLACE.

We shall discuss a lot more in my upcoming blogs. Till then, think safe and be safe.

V.SESHADRI.
Sr. Corporate Trainer.
Usha Fire  Safety Equipments Pvt Ltd.
Chennai.
Mobile number 9840814353

In my last blog we have discussed how fire accidents are causing loss of life and destruction of property. But the question remains can Fire accidents be prevented?  Yes we can. Preventing Fire is easier than fighting a fire. However, the most important factor is to know the process of proper evacuation. Today   people love to work and live in tall buildings, technically known as high rise buildings. The taller the building, the better the view but it comes with a plethora of risks. Though there are rules and regulations in place they are hardly followed. More about that later but let us concentrate on how to save lives first.

We lose lives in any Emergency situation because of 2 reasons.

1. WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!

2. WE DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO!

In many a workplace having trained Emergency Responders has paid dividends. Anyone with proper training can save lives.

Let us first understand what to do when there is a FIRE? The answer is there in the very word itself.

F- FIND.        I- INFORM   R—RESPOND       AND     E-EVACUATE.

The First step is to find the fire. This can be done by the God given human-detectors like Eyes, Nose, Skin and Ears. Or it can be done by the modern equipments like Smoke Detectors. Once, a fire is detected, the next step is to “Inform or Warn”. This can be done by either activating the Fire Alarm call point, or by shouting aloud. Once, this is done, the next step is to respond by immediately trying to fight the fire if one is trained. But if you are not trained you need to Evacuate immediately through the Emergency Exits and assemble at a place well away from the building. Evacuation is the best way to save lives during a fire accident.

The Following steps need to be kept in mind while evacuating.

1.        Use exits which are safe and near to you.
2.        Listen to the announcements.
3.        Walk Fast. Never use LIFTS.
4.        Use only Staircases and walk on one side of the staircase.
5.        Reach your designated assembly point.
6.        Once out, never try to enter the building for any purpose.
7.        Wait for further Instructions.
8.       Elders, Expectant mothers and physically challenged people should be given the first priority.

The best way to practise all this is to conduct Evacuation Drills at periodical intervals both at home and work places.

The biggest obstacle and killer in Fire situations is not Fire itself but Smoke. In smoke, the most deadly killers are Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN). To avoid inhaling the killer smoke, we need to wet a cloth, tie it around the nose and mouth and crawl out to safety. When you Crawl, Smoke being lighter than air, will go up and at the same time, the path which you are taking will be Visible. This is what a 10 year old girl by name ZEN did when there was a fire in Crystal Towers in Mumbai to save not only her life but also that of three other families living on that floor.

If your clothes catch fire, remember to Stop Drop and Roll by covering your face with your hands. By doing this, we can avoid severe burn injuries. The best first aid for burns is pouring water on the affected parts. Saving your life is more important than fire fighting. Share the evacuation process to your loved ones.

We shall see the entire chemistry of Fire and prevention in my nextblog. Till then be safe and take your evacuation drills very seriously.

SESHADRI VARADARAJAN.
Call me @ 9840814353.
Or write to me @ seshadri3225@gmail.com

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