Notes – fire protection –part2
Note:
The below notes shall be read inconjunction with the notes on “fire
protection-part1”
Smoke
Smoke is the combined product of fire, consisting of:
1. The products of combustion
2. Any unburnt fuel
3. Any other gases released by the combustible material
4. Any excess air entrained in the combustion products
Combustion
Fire means combustion, which may be defined as chemical reaction
involving rapid oxidation accompanied by the evolution of light and
heat.
Combustion is a continuous process, requiring continuous supply of
new fuel and new oxidizer in the flame zone. In addition , the new
fuel and new oxidizer must be brought up to ignition temperature
before they react by high speed collision of their molecules to start
the chain reaction between the free radicals which bring about the
release of available energy mainly in the form of heat.
Flames
By flames we mean the products of combustion which are hot. The
heat in the fire causes the fuel to decompose into simpler
components. This process is known as pyrolysis. The pyrolysis
process generates some sort of molecules.
The reaction also generates light and heat. The light is visible and
appears as flame.
Fire triangle
Fire results from combination of fuel, heat and oxygen which in
combination is called fire triangle.
Fire tetrahedron
The fire triangle has been revised to add another factor called
chemical chain reaction.
The four basic requirements are necessary before combustion can
occur:
1. The presence of a fuel or combustible substance
2. The presence of oxygen
3. The presence of heat
4. An uninhibited chemical chain reaction
Development of fire
Four stages of fire
Incipient stage:
Invisible products of combustion are given off, no visible smoke, or
flame or heat is still not present
Smouldering stage:
If the burning process is slow, without any flames, it can be termed
as smouldering. Combustion products are now visible as
smoke.
But flame or heat is still not present
Flame stage:
Actual fire now exists. Appreciable heat is not present , but follows
almost instantaneously.
Uncontrolled stage:
At this point , large amounts of heat, and smoke is produced. There is
uncontrolled heat and the fire is rapidly expanding in space.
Classification of extinguishing systems with regard to various classes
of fire
Class –A
Water spray
Class –B
Water spray, foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide
Class –C
Foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide , halon
Class –D
Powdered graphite, powdered talc, soda ash, lime stone, dry sand.