अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवम् ऋत्विजं
होतारं रत्न धातमम्
“1.1: I praise Agni who is the Purohita (Priest) of
the Yagya (Sacrifice) (Priest leading the Sacrifice), (as
well as) its Ritvij (Priest performing Sacrifice at proper
times); the Yagya which is directed towards the Devas,
1.2: Who is (also) the Hotara (Priest invoking the Gods)
and the bestower of Ratna (Wealth of physical, mental
and spiritual plane).
19-208-0603 SHIP FIRE PREVENTION & CONTROL
Notes on MODULE I- FIRE HAZARD ONBOARD
Hazard
A hazard is a condition that presents a threat to an individual,
property, or the environment.
A hazard is usually used to refer to risky situations that are
very serious or life-threatening .
FIRE HAZARDS ON SHIPS:
Fuel
Spillage
Cooking
Smoking materials- Cigarettes,
matchsticks,Lighters, Open flame (i.e.,
candles/incense)
Electrical (wiring, appliances and equipment)
hazards Accommodation furnishings
Accumulation of combustible materials
Improper handling and storage of
combustible/flammable liquids Space heaters
Hot work hazards (i.e., cutting, welding)
Definitions:
Auto-ignition temperature- Lowest temperature at which a
combustible material ignites in air without spark or other
sources of ignition.
Flash point: Minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel gives
off sufficient vapours to form an ignitable mixture with air near
the surface.
Fire point: Temperature at which liquid fuels produce vapours
sufficient to support continuous combustion once ignited by a
source.
Boiling Point: Temperature of a substance, when the vapour
pressure exceeds the atmospheric pressure. At this point
more liquid is converting to vapour than vapour is
converting back to liquid.
Ignition temperature:
minimum temperature to which a fuel in air must be heated to
start self sustained combustion independent of an outside
ignition source.
Boiling Liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE):
Situation in which a liquid in a container has been heated to
above the point of boiling, resulting in rupture of the container
and violent release of the vapour and contents. This results in
‘mushroom type’ fire ball, if
the liquid is flammable or combustible.
THE BURNING PROCESS:
Requirements:
- Proper Fuel vapour -air ratio
Fuel must be at ignition
temperature or at self ignition
temperature
Two basic combustion modes are:
[Link]
mode
[Link] mode
What are the main hazards associated with fire?
Two of the main inherent hazards associated with
fires are thermal radiation and
smoke.
Smoke is defined as the products of combustion, including
toxic gases, water vapor, and carbon soot particles.
FIRE TRIANGLE: Three sides
represented by OXYGEN SOURCE:
Normal Air contains 21% of Oxygen. Fuel may also contain oxygen.
Heat sources:
Sun, hot surfaces, friction, sparks, electrical energy and others,
Fuel sources –
Solid, Liquid & or Gaseous
Solid - coal, wood, paper, oily rags,plastic,
clothes,grain etc. Liquid- Gasoline,Fuel oil, alcohol,
paint, veg. Oils etc.
Gaseous- LNG, propane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide etc.
FIRE TETRAHEDRON
Chemical chain reaction: is added as a fourth element, a
necessary component to support fire - based on fire
research.
The fire triangle was changed to a fire tetrahedron to reflect
this fourth element.
A tetrahedron can be described as a pyramid which is a solid
having four plane faces.
Essentially all four elements must be present for a fire
to occur:
[Link], [Link], 3. oxygen, [Link] chain reaction.
Removal of any one of these essential elements will result
in the fire being extinguished.
The four elements required for a fire are:
1. Oxygen to sustain combustion,
2. sufficient heat to raise the material to its ignition
temperature,
[Link] or combustible material and
[Link] an exothermic chemical chain reaction in the
material.
Each of the four sides of the fire tetrahedron symbolize the
Fuel, Heat, Oxygen and Chemical Chain Reaction.
Theoretically, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away
one or more elements of the fire tetrahedron.
The effect of removing each of the four faces/
planes of this fire tetrahedron :
1. Removal of Oxygen
Removal of sufficient oxygen will extinguish a fire.
Small fires can be smothered with sand from a fire bucket, and
a rug or blanket. Supply of air can be stopped by shutting of
doors and vents of a compartment or room.
Fires in cargo holds can be starved of oxygen by closing
hatches and blanking off ventilators.
In all spaces affected by fire, ventilation fans should be shut
down and doors and other openings closed.
In fire extinguishing operations, oxygen is extinguished by
smothering
the fire with a layer of foam. Oxygen is also cut off during the
operation of portable and semi portable carbon dioxide
extinguishers and to some extent, during the operation of dry
powder extinguishers
.
2. Removal of Heat
A reduction in temperature is achieved by the use of a
suitable cooling medium, normally water, at a sufficient rate.
Cooling of boundary bulkheads will reduce the possibility
of igniting material outside the affected compartment.
For a given quantity of water, about six times more heat will be
removed if the water droplet size is small enough for it to be
vaporized into steam. Egs. Water spray or water mist
Heat can also be absorbed by decomposition of dry powder.
The source of power should be cut off in electrical insulation
and galley fires
3. Removal of Fuel
The removal of fuel is not always possible. However, in the
case of liquid fuel fires caused by leaking pipes or fittings, the
fuel supply should be closed ( quick closing valves). It may also
be possible to drain the fuel from a burning tank.
It is particularly important to shut off gas supply in a gas fire.
However, gas could also be left burning in a controlled
manner to exhaust itself.
In accommodation spaces, combustible materials should be
removed from the vicinity of fire, including any adjacent
compartment affected by the heat.
On some occasions, it may be prudent to dump burning or
potentially dangerous materials overboard.
4. Breaking the Chain Reaction
A fire may be extinguished by breaking the chain reaction
between transient chemical species produced on ignition.
For instance,
Hydrogenated hydrocarbons (Halon) and dry powders attack
the structure of the species and prevent their reaction by
killing the flame, sometimes in less than one hundredth of a
second.
Interfering with the chemical chain reaction by mopping up the
free radicals of fuel and oxygen in the chemical reaction using,
BCF and other halon extinguishers, it also creates an inert gas
barrier.
The extinction takes place without any appreciable removal of
heat, fuel or oxygen.
CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
Definition of Combustion or Fire
The Process of Combustion
Combustion is a chemical process. It is a reaction between the fossil fuels
such as coal or natural gas and oxygen. The main products of the
combustion process are carbon dioxide and water.
The combustion process is always exothermic and it liberates heat.
The actual reaction taking place due to combustion can be written down
Fuel + O2 -> Product + Heat
Due to the combustion of fuel and air, heat energy is generated
where the internal energy of the fuel species is the chemical energy.
This energy is associated with the chemical bonds and intermolecular
attractions. The heat of reaction is the quantity of heat exchanged
between a system and its surroundings during a chemical reaction
at a specified temperature. The heat of combustion is defined as the
quantity of heat released in combustion of a fuel with oxygen.
C + O2 ->CO2 + 8,084 kcal/kg of carbon
2C + O2 -> 2CO +2430 kcal/kg of carbon
S+ O2 -> SO2 + 2224 kcal/kg of sulphur
2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O + 28922 kcal/kg of hydrogen
The process of combustion can be completely carried out only in the
presence of adequate amount of oxygen. Rapid fuel oxidation results in
large amount of heat. Almost 79% of air which is not oxygen, is nitrogen.
Nitrogen is considered as temperature reducing diluter.
Nitrogen absorbs heat and reduces the combustion efficiency of the fuel.
The amount of heat which is available for use is also reduced. At high
temperatures, nitrogen combines with oxygen to produce oxides of nitrogen,
which are toxic pollutants.
Under certain conditions, carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon
monoxide. This incomplete combustion releases small amount of energy
as compared when carbon combines with carbon dioxide.
The process of combustion in solid fuels consists of following phases:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Drying
Moisture will evaporate at low temperature i.e 50-1000C. Vaporisation
uses the energy released from the combustion process; it lowers the
temperature in the combustion chamber, which slows down the
combustion process. For Example, wood requires that amount of energy
to evaporate contained moisture, and subsequently to heat the water
vapour, that temperatures are reduced below the minimum temperature
required to sustain combustion. Moisture content is a very important
fuel variable.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis can be defined as the thermal degradation (devolatilisation) in
absence of externally supplied oxidising agent. The pyrolysis products
are mostly tar and carbonaceous charcoal, and low molecular weight gases.
CO and CO2 can also be formed. Fuel type, temperature, pressure, heating
rate and reaction time are all variables that affect the amounts and
properties of the products formed.
Devolatilisation
Devolatilisation in case of wood starts at about 2000C. Rate of
devolatilisation
increases as the temperature is raised. At 4000C, most of the volatiles are
gone and the devolatisation rate decreases rapidly. Low devolatilisation rate
can be observed in the temperature range of 400-5000C
Gasification
It can be defined as thermal degradation in presence of an externally
supplied oxidising agent. Gasification can be carried out with air, oxygen,
steam or CO2 as oxidising agent.
Combustion
Ideally can be defined as complete oxidation of fuel. Drying and pyrolysis will
always be the first step in a solid-fuel combustion process.
Controlled and uncontrolled fire
If the fire is in a fire grate/ engine or furnace we refer to this
process as a controlled fire, and it is a building on fire we refer
to this process as a
uncontrolled fire.
Combustion Process and Chemical Chain reaction:
The combustion process is usually associated with the
oxidation of a fuel in the presence of oxygen with the emission
of heat and light.
Oxidation, in the strict chemical sense, means the loss of
electrons. For an oxidation reaction to occur, a reducing agent
-the fuel, and an oxidizing agent- oxygen must be present. As
heat is added by the ignition source, the fuel molecules and
oxygen molecules gain energy and
become active. This molecular energy is transferred to other
fuel and oxygen molecules which creates a chemical chain
reaction.
A reaction takes place where the fuel looses electrons and the
oxygen gains electrons. This exothermic electron transfer
emits heat and/or light.
PRINCIPLES OF FIRE DEVELOPMENT IN A COMPARTMENT
The growth and development of fire usually controlled by
availability of fuel and oxygen.
Five stages of a compartment fire:
[Link] 2. Growth [Link] [Link] developed fire
5. Decay
A small fire at Ignition or growth stage ( incipient stage) might
easily put off by a portable fire extinguisher.
1. Ignition stage:
When four elements of the fire
tetrahedron come together and a flaming combustion
begins by a spark or flame.
Once combustion begins, development of an incipient fire
is largely dependent on the characteristics and
configuration of the fuel involved (fuel controlled fire). Air
in the compartment provides adequate oxygen to
continue fire development. During this initial phase of fire
development, radiant heat warms adjacent fuel and
continues the process of pyrolysis. A plume of hot gases
and flame rises from the fire and mixes with the cooler air
within the room. This transfer of energy begins to
increase the overall temperature in the room. As this
plume reaches the ceiling, hot gases begin to spread
horizontally across the ceiling. Transition beyond the
incipient stage is difficult to define in precise terms.
However, as flames near the ceiling, the layer of hot gases
becomes more clearly defined and increases in volume,
the fire has moved beyond its incipient phase and (given
adequate oxygen) will continue to grow more quickly
2. Growth stage: Fire gas plume begins to form above the burning fuel.
Air is drawn into the plume and convection caused heated gas to rise
upto the deck head level of compartment. Fire also spreads
because of radiated heat from the flame increases the
temperature of surrounding fuels to their flash points.
If there is adequate oxygen within the compartment
additional fuel will become involved and the heat release rate
from the fire will increase. While considerably more complex,
gas temperatures within the compartment may be described
as existing in two layers: A hot layer extending down from the
ceiling and a cooler layer down towards the floor. Convection
resulting from plume and ceiling jet along with radiant heat
from the fire and hot particulates in the smoke increases the
temperature of the compartment linings and other items in
the compartment. As gases within the compartment are
heated they expand and when confined by the compartment
increase in pressure. Higher pressure in this layer causes it to
push down within the compartment and out through
openings. The pressure of the cool gas layer is lower, resulting
in inward movement of air from outside the compartment. At
the point where these two layers meet, as the hot gases exit
through an opening, the pressure is neutral. The interface of
the hot and cool gas layers at an opening is commonly
referred to as the neutral plane. The fire can continue to grow
through flame spread or by ignition of other fuel within the
compartment. As flames in the plume reach the ceiling they
will bend and begin to extend horizontally. Pyrolysis products
and flammable byproducts of incomplete combustion in the
hot gas layer will ignite and continue this horizontal extension
across the ceiling. As the fire moves further into the growth
stage, the dominant heat transfer mechanism within the fire
compartment shifts from convection to radiation. Radiant
heat transfer increases heat flow
3. Flashover stage- This is the stage between the growth and
the fully developed fire. During flash over, the conditions
inside the compartments change rapidly. Temperatures are
fast increasing additional gases in the compartment ignite
simultaneously as flash over occurs.
All Persons must escape from the compartment before flash over
happens to survive the fire.
Flashover is the sudden transition from a growth stage to fully developed fire.
When flashover occurs, there is a rapid transition to a state of total surface
involvement of all combustible material within the compartment. Conditions
for flashover are defined in a variety of different ways. In general, ceiling
temperature in the compartment must reach 500degC -600o C
(932o -1112o F) or the heat flux (a measure of heat transfer) to the floor of
the compartment must reach 15-20 kW/m2 (79.25 Btu/min/ft2 )-105.67
Btu/min/ft2 ). When flashover occurs, burning gases will push out openings in
the compartment (such as a door leading to another room) at a substantial
velocity.
It is important to remember that flashover does not always occur. There
must be sufficient fuel and oxygen for the fire to reach flashover. If the initial
object that is ignited does not contain sufficient energy (heat of combustion)
and does not release it quickly enough (heat release rate), flashover will not
occur (e.g., small trash can burning in the middle of a large room). Likewise, if
the fire sufficiently depletes the available oxygen, heat release rate will drop
and the fire in the compartment will not reach flashover (e.g., small room
with sealed windows and the door closed)
[Link] Developed fire: After the flashover stage all combustible
material in the compartment are involved in the [Link]
this period the burning fuels are releasing maximum amount
of heat possible and producing large volume of unburned
gases
If the fire gases flow from compartment into adjacent spaces
they often ignite when mixed with abundant air
At this post-flashover stage, energy release is at its greatest,
but is generally limited by ventilation. Unburned gases
accumulate at the ceiling level and frequently burn as they
leave the compartment, resulting in flames showing from
doors or windows. The average gas temperature within a
compartment during a fully developed fire ranges from 700 oC
– 1200 o C (1292o – 2192o F). Remember that the
compartment where the fire started may reach the fully
developed stage while other compartments have not yet
become involved. Hot gases and flames extending from the
involved compartment transfer heat to other fuel packages.
(e.g., contents, compartment linings, and structural materials)
resulting in fire spread. Conditions can vary widely with a fully
developed fire in one compartment, a growth stage fire in
another, and an incipient fire in yet another. It is important to
note that while a fire in an adjacent compartment may be
incipient, conditions within the structure are immediately
dangerous to life and health (IDLH).
5. Decay : As the available fuel in the compartment is
consumed by fire, the amount of heat energy released begins
to decline and fire diminishes.
Backdraft: An explosive ignition of gases
During the growth, fully developed and decay phases of fire
development, large volume of hot unburned gases can
collect in the unventilated spaces. These gases are at or
above their ignition temperatures, but insufficient
oxygen is available for them to ignite.
At this moment fire fighting crew opening a door or
porthole, which allows air to enter this space and mix
with hot gases, can result in backdraft -an explosive
ignition of gases. Backdraft can injure or kill crew
members near the door. The potential of backdraft is
reduced with vertical ventilation by opening at the
highest point.
Following conditions may indicate potential for backdraft:
1. Pressurized smoke exiting small opening
2. confinement and excessive heat in the area
3. Smoke leaving the space in puffs or at
intervals
4. smoke stained window and porthole
glasses
5. Large amount of blistering or burning of
paint outside the fire space on the upper
portion of bulkhead.
- If any of the above condition persists, ship crew should
not open porthole or door of a compartment to fight the
fire or inspection.
Summary
A fire begins by an external ignition source in the form of a
flame, spark, or hot ember. This external ignition source heats
the fuel in the presence of oxygen
As the fuel and oxygen are heated, molecular activity increases.
If sufficiently heated, a self-sustaining chemical chain reaction
or molecular activity occurs between the fuel and oxygen.
This will continue the heating process and the resulting chain
reaction will escalate without the need for an external ignition
source.
Once ignition has occurred, Fire will continue until
[Link] the available fuel or oxidant has been consumed or
[Link] fuel and/or oxygen is removed or
[Link] reducing the temperature by cooling, or
[Link] reducing the number of excited molecules and breaking
the chain reaction. or
5. until an appropriate method of fire fighting system is applied
to extinguish the fire.
Products of Combustion:
As the fuel burns chemical composition of material changes
and new substances are produced:
Heat, light, smoke, fire gases, flame are the main products
along with generation of energy. As the fuel burns, loss of
mass converts into energy.
-Thermal radiation from heat energy of a fire is dangerous for
anyone directly exposed to it.
-But smoke causes most deaths in fires. The components
of smoke depends on fuel burns. Mainly consists of
Carbon Monoxide, CO2, carbon particles, SO2, water
vapour, toxic gases from plastics etc.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
Spontaneous combustion:
The outbreak of fire without application of heat from an external source.
Spontaneous combustion may occur when combustible matter, such as hay
or coal, is stored in bulk. It begins with a slow oxidation process (as bacterial
fermentation or atmospheric oxidation) under conditions not permitting
ready dissipation of heat.
Oxidation gradually raises the temperature inside the mass to
the point at which a fire starts.
Remedy: Soft coal in small size is wetted and air ventilation
stopped to suppress aerial oxidation.
Examples:1. Coal fire in cargo hold
2. Wet ferrous metal turnings in finely divided form,
contaminated with cutting oil etc.
3. Paint locker fire from piled up rags filled with paint and varnish.
Coal fire in cargo hold: Freshly exposed coal surface react with
oxygen in the atmosphere. In cargo hold surrounding coal
insulate dissipation of heat and smoldering starts. When the
rate of reaction increases until auto ignition temperature is
reached , spontaneous combustion occurs.
Once noticed, cooling of hatch covers and bulkheads to be
started and all ventilation to cargo hold to be shut off, to limit
the air supply.
Paint locker fire: Piles of rags impregnated with paint and
varnish react with air and when insulated, temperature rises
inside the pile, begins to smoulder first then to spontaneous
combustion.( Paint lockers now required to be fitted with fire
extinguishing system).
Limits of Flammability
For combustion to occur after a fuel is converted into gaseous state, it
must be mixed with air within the flammable limits.( ie.
between LFL and UFL)
Lower flammability limit (LFL): The lowest concentration
(percentage) of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing a
flash of fire, in the presence of an ignition source (arc, flame,
heat).
At a concentration in air lower than the LFL, gas mixtures are
"too lean" to burn.
Methane gas has an LFL of 4.4%
Ammonia gas has an LFL of 15%
Upper flammability limit (UFL): Highest concentration
(percentage) of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing a
flash of fire in the presence of an ignition source (arc, flame,
heat). Concentrations higher than UFL or at UFL are "too rich"
to burn.
Example:
Methane Gas has an UFL of
16%
Ammonia Gas has an UFL of
30%
Operating above the UFL is usually avoided for safety
because air leaking in can bring the mixture into
combustibility range.
Gas and vapor
Controlling gas and vapor concentrations outside the
flammable limits is a major consideration in occupational
safety and health.
Methods used to control the concentration of a potentially
explosive gas or vapor include use of sweep gas, a non-
reactive gas such as nitrogen or argon to dilute the explosive
gas before coming in contact with air.
CLASSES OF FIRES AND CONTROLS
Classes of fire
Combustible and flammable fuels involved in fires have
been broken down into five categories:
Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like paper,
wood, Etc
Class B fires – are fires involving flammable Liquids
Class C fires – are fires involving flammable Gases
Class D fires- Metal fires
Class F fires- Cooking oil fires
Class A
Fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood,
cloth, paper, rubber and many plastics are classified under
this. In general fires
involving solid materials, usually of an organic nature, in which
combustion normally takes place with the formation of glowing
embers. Water is the best extinguishing medium for Class A
fires. Some foam and Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers
are also used.
Class B
Include fires involving liquids or liquefiable solids. Fires in
flammable liquids, oils, alcohol, greases, tars, oil based
paints, lacquers, etc.
Foam is the best extinguishing medium for Class B fires. Foam
smother and create a blanket over the burning liquid fuel and
cut of oxygen..
But its reactivity should be ensured in case of Chemical fires.
Some type of Dry Powder is also used.
Class C
Fires involving gases. Flammable gases such as methane,
natural gas, acetylene, etc.
In some standards it also covers electrical equipment fire.
Dry Chemical Powder and CO2 extinguishers are widely used
for extinguishing gaseous and electrical fires. Its ability to cut
the chain reaction in the combustion process makes it suitable
for the purpose.
Class D
Fires involving metals, including magnesium, zirconium,
sodium, lithium, potassium, etc.
Steam, Special type Dry Chemical Powder ([Link]
Trioxide) can be used against metal fires.
Class F
Class F fires that are caused by the ignition of cooking oils and fats.
These fires occur when said oils or fats reach their flash
point – in this case, flash point is around 315 °c.
At 340°c, cooking oils and fats can achieve auto-ignition –
that is to say they can set alight without a flame or other
ignition source.
Class F fire extinguishers should only be extinguished using a special
wet chemical fire extinguisher.
Class K Extinguishers work on the principle of Saponification- takes
place when
hemical fire extingusher
alkaline mixtures such as potassium acetate, potassium citrate, or
potassium carbonate areTheseappliedextinguishers have been
to burning cooking oil of fat. The
specifically developed
alkaline mixture to tackle
combined fires
with the involving
fatty cooking
acid creates oils foam
a soapy
and fats
layer on and containwhich
the surface potassium salts
holds in the which
vapors both cool the
and steam and
flames andthe
extinguish smother the fire's
fire. Since oxygen
vegetable oilscontent.
have lower fatty acid content,
many vegetable oils will prevent the “foam blanket” from developing
completely. This inhibits the extinguishing agent by allowing vapors
and steam to release.
In addition, newer efficient fryers retain heat much longer . Vegetable
oils have a much higher auto-ignition temperature than animal fats.
Therefore, dry chemical agents have trouble preventing a reflash from
occurring and cannot pass the current test standards for fryers because
of the retained heat. Heat breaks down the weaker foam layer created,
making it necessary to cool the oils in addition to the foam layer. To
address these issues, wet chemical agents were introduced and are
now required in all new Type I hood fixed fire suppression systems.
(ANSUL systems for example).
These agents are alkaline by nature and are the only fire extinguishing
agents listed for suppression of fires in commercial cooking because of
their ability to maintain the foamy layer enough to allow complete
cooling. In addition, these wet chemical agents pose minimal damage
threat to hot appliances.
Fire extinguishing Media/ Agents
Fire extinguishing Media and their properties on fire in the
removal of four sides of fire tetrahedron
1. Water:- in the form of: Jet, Spray and mist,
-
Best cooling medium for Class A- solid substance fire
Properties: Water evaporates and absorb large amount
of heat;
Low viscosity helps to penetrate on solid substance
Water in the form of Mist, act on fire with following
actions:
a) fast cooling
b) oxygen displacement by water vapour
c) radiant heat absorption
1.1 Advantages of Water as Medium
-cheap and plenty available
-Rapid cooling, while evaporating into steam- latent heat absorption
-when applied as fine spray or mist, cut off oxygen
-environment friendly (no chemical involved)
1.2 Disadvantages:
-Can cause damages to material and equipment
- excessive amount of water can cause instability of ships
- cannot be used for electrical and liquid fires.
2. Foam:
Best suited for Class B, Liquid fire- Foam removes oxygen face
of the fire tetrahedron
Desirable properties of foam are:
a) forming of tough cohesive blanket
b) vapour suppression
c) stability/ water retention
d) heat resistance
e) Flow-ability
f) Fuel resistance
g) chemical resistance
2.1 Hydrolyzed protein foam:
a) protein foam
b) Fluroprotein foam
2.2 synthetic detergent foam
a) Flurochemical foam- Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
b) High expansion foam (1000:1)
2.3 Advantages of Foam as extinguishing media:
-provides effective blanket and excludes air
-suppresses vapour release
-insulate unburned material from -
radiant heat
- harmless to person
2.4 Disadvantages:
-cannot be applied on vertical and near vertical surfaces
-conduct electricity and hence cannot be applied on
electrical equipment and cables
- Deteriorate over a period of time
3. Dry Powder:
Best suited for class B & C fires including electrical fire
- Dry powders extinguish fires primarily by means of a surface
chemical effect by removing chemical chain reaction face
from the fire tetrahedron.
Types:
a) Sodium Bicarbonate B,C.
b) Potassium Carbonate B,C
c) Potassium Sulphate B,C
d) ICI Monnex Powder (Urea + Potassium bicarbonate) B,C
(five times effective)
d)Ternary Eutectic & Boron Trioxide D powders (suitable for
metal fires- powder melt on the burning metal and form flux
on the surface and cut off oxygen)
Advantages of DCP:
- exceptional knock down property
- Most powerful 3 dimensional extinguishing medium and
hence can be used on burning gases and liquid fuel fires. Also
can be applied on electrical fires.
-special dry powder suitable for metal fire
-unaffected by extreme
temperature.
Disadvantages:
-minimal cooling and hence danger of re-ignition
- caking of powder.
4. Carbon Dioxide: suitable for Class B,C fires.
- CO2 removes oxygen face of fire tetrahedron
-used in portable (heavy duty steel cylinders) extinguishers
and in fixed fire fighting systems.
4.1 Advantages: Good smothering property; no damage to
property, non- conductor of electricity
4.2. Disadvantages: Colourless, odourless and suffocating (CO2
in higher (above 2%) in air affects human beings.);
-no cooling effect;
-chances of re-ignition
5. Sand: Best suited for small Class A fire & on Oil
spillage . .
Sand normally kept sand box with a scoop or in
Buckets
6. Halogenated Hydrocarbons Halon: Suited for B& C fires
-Very effective in breaking chemical chain reaction and
suppressing the radicals formed during the combustion
process.
- not toxic, do not conduct electricity
However, Halons have drastic effect on depletion of earth’s Ozone layer
( Included in Marpol Annex VI as Ozone Depleting
Substance- ODS) Halon systems are not fitted in new
ships.
Old ships with Halon extinguishers are being replaced.
Disposal only through approved collecting agencies.
Advantages of Water Mist system
The presence of a fire activates the water mist system. A
special nozzle forms the water into tiny droplets ( less than
50 to 200 microns).
The mist can then contain the spread of the fire or slow it
down enough that it extinguishes on its own.
The water droplets help to cool down the flames and burning
material, which bring down the fire.
The oxygen available is minimized, and finally, the droplets
evaporate as they make contact with the fire which also aids in
heat absorption and can help prevent secondary combustion
caused depending on how hot the fire is.
Water mist systems release up to 90% less water than
traditional sprinkler systems, essentially cooling the fire
to suppress it.
The Benefits
[Link] damage on machinery & equipment onboard
due to water is reduced.
[Link] be applied on different Class fires onboard ships.
[Link] system can be activated more quickly than other fire
protection measures used onboard.
[Link] there are no toxic fumes released, this system is
suitable for keeping shipboard people safe.
[Link] lower water consumption, it is still highly effective. It
avoids large accumulation of water on ships and hence ship
stability will not be affected.
The hyper mist or high pressure fog fire fighting system is
installed for all important ship's machinery spaces in the
engine room (ME. AE, Purifier, Boiler, steering room etc.).
The high-pressure water mist/fog system provides water mist
protection during emergencies to engine room areas and
machinery spaces
High-pressure water is injected through a special nozzle
working within pressure range of 4 to 10 MPa (depending upon
the design of the system), which breaks the water droplets into
fine mist. The diameter of the water mist particle ranges from
50 to 200 µm which improves the fire extinguishing effect and
efficiency of the system. The distance between any two nozzles
is very critical as area covered by one nozzle must be such that
no space is left unsprayed in the fire affected area.
Can be operated in Auto or Manual mode.
The MICROFOG Fire Extinguishing System has the following effects:
[Link] effect (quick cooling by evaporation latent heat)
[Link] replacement effect (replacement of air with
water vapor generated in a large quantity, and
absorption of radiation heat)
3. Radiant heat attenuation - By absorbing thermal heat
radiation
[Link] eliminating effect (the floating smoke particles
being adsorbed and settled by the fog)
Starting:
Automatic Start: Water mist system will be automatically
released into the protected area where fire is detected by the
fire alarm system (both smoke and flame detectors), and an
audible and visible alarm is activated in that protected area.
Manual Start: Water mist system can be started manually
from the control panel and from the local points whenever
needed, independent of the fire alarm system.
Fixed Water Spray and Steam System
Fixed Water Spray System
The IMO requires all ships constructed on and after July 1, 2002 to install
water-based local fire extinguishing systems in machinery spaces
accommodating machinery with a particularly high risk of fire (main engine,
D/G engine, boiler, incinerator, F.O. purifier and I.G.G.) with the aim of
extinguishing or suppressing fires in their early stages.
High Pressure Water Mist System
● Needs to be able to ensure an effective distribution of a minimum of at
least 5 litre/m2/minute in the protected spaces, unless the hazard-level in
the concerned area is higher. If that be so, the rate of application has to
be higher than 5 litre/m2/minute;
● The system has to be kept pressurized and the pump creating this
pressure must cut-in (say, when a section valve is opened) and cut-out
automatically, based on the system pressure.
● The pump, its controls, the power source and any air-supply required for
operation of the system, must be outside the protected space. It should
not be affected by any fire in that space.
● The pump must be able to supply all the sections simultaneously, even
though the system may be divided into sections, with the distribution
valves outside the protected space.
● The pump may be permitted to cater to spaces other than machinery
spaces, provided the requirements of all the protected spaces are not
compromised with. Accordingly, therefore, special category spaces in
passenger ships and vehicle decks may need to supplied by the same
pump that protects the machinery space pressure water spraying system.
A schematic diagram of a High Pressure Water Mist System
● Following locations are usually covered by this system:
1. Steering gear room
2. Purifier room
3. Generator(auxiliary engine) room
4. Inert gas generator room
5. Auxiliary boiler room
6. Incinerator room
7. Main engine top platform
● The advantageous effects of this system are:
1. The water spray/fog causes the floating smoke particles to be adsorbed
and then settled by the water spray/fog;
2. The water spray/fog evaporates, causing to absorb the latent heat of
evaporation from the surface under fire and thereby cooling it;
3. The oxygen is replaced by water vapour produced in large volume from
the water spray/fog
● Basic functioning of the system:-
1. System in a constant state of readiness.
2. A fresh water pump (installed outside the space to be protected) takes
suction from a fresh water tank (to start with) for supplying high-
pressure (say, 4 to 10 MPa, which breaks down the stream of water to
very small droplets of 50 to 200 μm) water to the spreaders(nozzles).
This breaking down of the water largely brings up the fire-extinguishing
effect of the system. The pump must be driven by an independent drive
or by an electric motor (having provision for emergency power supply). It
ought to be having the capacity to maintaining working-pressure, even
when it is required to supply all the sections concomitantly in one
protected-space.
3. The distance between two consecutive nozzles is very important since,
the protected-areas covered by one nozzle should not leave gaps which
are also not covered by the very next nozzle.
4. The spreaders (i.e. nozzles) are designed to give the proper droplet size,
which is very important for fighting fires involving inflammable
liquids(i.e., fuel and lubricating oils), when operating at proper pressures.
5. Adequate water must be maintained in the fresh water tanks at all times.
Air supply from an air-bottle, acts as a cushion which will prevent cutting-
in of the pump, should there be a small drop in the system pressure, due
to a minor leakage of say, water.
6. The power-supply must always be available.
7. The fire alarm system must be operational
8. Drain and test valves must be shut
9. After operation with sea water, the system should be flushed with fresh
water for preventing corrosion
10. Ready to use hoses can also be installed for parallel use.
Basic Specifications of High Pressure Water Mist System
This system is covered under the specifications of the “Fixed Pressure water-
spraying and water-mist fire-extinguishing systems”, under the Fire Safety
Systems Code. Some fundamental requirements are as follows:-
● Spraying nozzles as fitted are to be of the approved type for systems
fitted in the machinery spaces
● The Administration will need to approve the number and arrangement of
the nozzles. Besides, the number and arrangement of the nozzles must
be able to ensure an effective average distribution of water at the
minimum rate of 5 litre / m2 minute, in the spaces to be protected.
2
● If the rate of 5 litre / m / minute is considered inadequate and the rate
of application is required to be increased, such increased rate must be to
the satisfaction of the Administration.
● Steps need to be taken to ensure that the nozzles are not clogged by, the
impurities in the water or chips arising out of corrosion of piping, nozzles,
valves, air-reservoir and pump
● The pump must be able to simultaneously supply at the stipulated
pressure, all sections of the system in any one compartment to be
protected.
● The pump may be driven by an independent internal combustion
machinery.
● If, however, the pump is dependent on power being supplied from the
emergency generator {installed according to “Chapter II-1, (a) Regulation
42 – Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships, or, (b)
Regulation 43 - Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships}, the
said emergency generator must be able to start automatically, should the
main power fail. This will enable the alternative motive power for the
pump to be available immediately, in the event of a failure of the main
power.
● The independent internal combustion machinery for driving the pump,
shall be such that, a fire in the space / spaces, will not affect the air
supply to the machinery.
Steam
● Steam smothering is not very effective method of extinguishing a fire
because the vapour condenses on cool surfaces and easily dispersed by a
draught.
● It has Very limited cooling effect
● Water droplets issuing at high velocity in a jet of steam may become
charged in passing through a nozzle and could produce a charged mist.
For this reason steam should not be injected into a tank or piping system
which contains a flammable mixture.
● Its higher temperature makes the control of smouldering fires somewhat
protected.
● Once applied steam must be maintained or a partial vacuum may be
formed if starts to condense.
● Steam is used in scavenge space fire extinguishing system. It is very
effective and less damage to engine.