Unit 1 Introduction to Fire Safety
Unit Objectives:
At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Discuss two ways that fires can effect an organization.
Define basic fire safety terminology such as fire, fire protection, fire suppression,
flammable liquids, flammable limits, flash point, specific gravity, etc.
Identify four reference sources for fire safety.
Demonstrate competency in using the NFPA and OSHA standards.
Discuss the nature of heat in terms of units, types of heat change and heat transfer.
Apply Fourier’s Law of Heat conduction and Newton’s Law of Cooling to determine
heat transfer via conduction and convection.
Identify and provide examples of the four elements of the Fire Tetrahedron.
Discuss three types of extinguishing agents, listing both advantages and disadvantages
of each agent.
Unit Readings:
1.
Text: Fundamentals of Fire Protection for the Safety Profession, Chapter1, Chapter 2
to page 44 and chapter 9 to page 209.
2.
www.usfa.fema.gov, www.nfsa.org, www.nfpa.org, www.sfpe.org, www.firenews.com,
www.fmglobal.com, and www.cms.firehouse.com/content/fhnet
3.
Review the DVD’s Fire in the Workplace and Fire Protection Concepts.
Unit Assignments:
1. Lab # 1
Introduction to Fire Lab and Fire References– NFPA Standards Homework
2. Lab # 2
Fire Chemistry
3. Lab # 3
Methods of Fire Extinguishment
4. OSHA Standards Homework
5. Heat Transfer Assignment
Unit 1 Introduction to Fire Safety
Homework on Heat Transfer
Name: ________________________________
Show all your work and include units throughout.
1. Calculate the rate at which heat will flow through a concrete structural beam which
is 10 ft long, if one end of the beam (18” x 9”) is heated by a fire at a temperature
of 1500ºF and the other end of the beam is 70ºF. Assume concrete has a thermal
conductivity of 0.9 BTU/HR FT ºF.
2. Find the rate of heat loss by natural convection in a room which is at 70ºF for a steam
pipe that has an exterior temperature of 300ºF. The pipe is 15 ft. long and has a 6”
outside diameter and an inside diameter of 5.75”.
Assume the Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient is 1.49 BTU/HR FT2 ºF and the
surface area of the pipe can be determined using the formula A = П d l, where d is the
diameter and l is the length.
SAFE 311 Fire Protection
Section 1910.35-37
Homework Unit 1
Name: ____________________
Circle T or F to indicate whether each statement below is True or False, and in the space(s) to the
left give the complete OSHA reference where the answer was found.
Example: 1910.104 (b) (7) (a)
Where more than one OSHA reference is needed, list both or all references used.
T
F
1. A local company has a high hazard area that has an inward
swinging exit door which is used as an emergency exit route. This
is an OSHA violation.
T
F
2. Emergency safeguards (sprinkler systems, fire doors, and alarm
systems) must be in proper working condition at all times.
T
F
3. A Warehouse is designed with two doorways on one side of the
building at ground level. One door leads outside and is intended to
be an EXIT. The other door leads to a closet full of cleaning
supplies. The doorways are only (3) feet apart and an Exit sign is
mounted between them without additional marking. This
arrangement would violate OSHA standards.
T
F
4. The ceiling lights in a designated exit route are to be mounted at a
minimum height of 6 feet 6 inches from the floor.
T
F
5. OSHA requires exit signs to have letters at least 6 inches in
height.
SA 311 Industrial Fire Protection
SELECTED REFERENCES
The following references are available in the Safety Sciences Library/Office or IUP Library. Please
return these books so other students can use them.
BOOKS
1. Fire Protection Handbook, 19th ed., G.H. Tryon, National Fire Protection Association,
2003.
This is the fire protection bible, containing basic information on all aspects of fire
protection. Written as a handbook rather than a text it is not always easy to understand.
However, most sections are reasonably well written and it is the best single
information source available.
2. Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials, current edition, National Fire
Protection Association.
A collection of four NFPA manuals on the fire hazard characteristics of thousands of
materials. Includes properties, chemical reactions, storage recommendations, and fire
extinguishment techniques. Valuable reference.
3. Industrial Fire Hazards handbook, current ed., edited by G.P. McKinnon et al,
National Fire Protection Association, Boston.
A compilation by industry of fire hazards and the control measures utilized in each
industry; valuable both as a text and as a reference book.
4. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protective Engineering, National Fire Protection Association
in Cooperation with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
A handbook of engineering design methods important for the control of fire and
explosion hazards.
5. An Introduction to Fire Dynamics, Dougal Drysdale, Wiley Interscience, 1985.
A very scientific discussion about the initiation of combustion and the development
and spread of flame/smoke.
6. Building Construction for the Fire Service, current ed., Francis L. Brannigan, National
Fire Protection Association.
A very detailed but quite readable discussion of building construction from the fire
fighters' perspective.
7. Fire and Human Behavior, ed. by David Canter, John Wiley & Sons, 1980.
A series of interesting papers covering many aspects of what people do in the event of
fire.
8. Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Handbook, R.W. Bukowski et al, National Fire
Protection Association.
Lists and explains all operation and requirements for fire alarm signaling systems.
9. Automatic Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems, John L. Bryan, National Fire Protection
Association.
Excellent basic discussion of automatic sprinkler systems.
10. Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, current ed., Robert Solomon, Editor,
National Fire Protection Association.
Discusses and explains the provisions of NFPA 13 for sprinkler systems design and
installation.
11. NFPA Inspection Manual, current ed., H. Bond, National Fire Protection Association,
1989.
A pocket-sized book on how to conduct a fire protection inspection. Very valuable to
anyone doing inspections.
12. NFPA Handbook of the National Electrical Code, J.H. Watt, McGraw-Hill Book Co.
Presents and explains the National Electrical Code. The best text on these important
code requirements.
13. Electrical Installations in Hazardous Locations, Peter Schram and M.W. Earley,
National Fire Protection Association.
14. Liquified Petroleum Gas Handbook, T.C. Lemoff, ed., National Fire Protection
Association.
Lists and explains all requirements for the storage and handling of LP-Gas.
15. Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code Handbook, current ed., Martin F. Henry,
Editor, National Fire Protection Association, Boston.
This is a very valuable source book on the storage and handling of flammable and
combustible liquids.
16. Life Safety Code Handbook, current ed., edited by James K. Lathrop, National Fire
Protection Association, Boston.
This text takes each individual requirement of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) and
explains it in detail with illustrative examples. The best source of information on the
Life Safety Code.
JOURNALS
1. Fire Journal* - Published bimonthly by the NFPA. Good technical articles on all
aspects of Fire Protection. Excellent fir statistics and major fire investigations.
2. Fire Technology* - Published monthly by NFPA. Contains very technical fire articles
on research and theoretical studies.
3. Fire Command* - Published monthly by NFPA. Contains good articles about fires for
the fire fighter.
4. Fire Engineering - Published monthly by Penn Well publishing. Good articles on fires,
fire training, fire fighting and emergency procedures for fire fighters.
5. Fire Chief* - Published monthly by H. Marvin Ginn Corp. Good articles on managing
fire fighting organizations.
6. Fire House* - Published monthly by Firehouse Communications Inc. Like Fire
Command this journal contains good articles about fires for the fire fighter.
7. Record* - Published bimonthly by Factory Mutual. Good articles for the industrial
safety manager about all types of property exposures (fires, floods, wind storms, etc.).
Also elaborates on FM Data Sheets.
8. The Sentinel* - Published by Industrial Risk Insurers Inc., quarterly, Very similar to
Record.
9. The Voice* - Published monthly by International Society of Fire Service Instructors
(ISFSI). Good articles on fire fighting techniques and national fire policy written for
fire fighters.
STANDARDS AND DATA SHEETS
1. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act
Part 1910-vol.37, no.202 of Federal Register, July 1989
vol.39, no.125 of the Federal Register
(General Industry Standards)
Part 1926- vol.37, no.243 of Federal Register, 1987 vol.39, no.122 of Federal Register
2. Underwriter's Laboratories Standards for Safety
Requirements for products to obtain U.L. listing
3. Underwriter's Laboratories Bulletins of Research
Pamphlets describing U.L. research
4. Special Technical Publications by the American Society for Testing and Materials*
The ASTM often tests materials for fire hazard properties and results are published as
a special technical publication.
5. American Insurance Association Research Reports and Technical Surveys
This group does some fire research and published results.*
6. National Fire Codes, National Fire Protection Association
A complete listing of recommended practice in fire protection, fire suppression and
life safety. The place to look for good practice in fire protection. The most complete
and authoritative information on U.S. practice in fire protection containing hundreds
of separate standards.
7. Factory Mutual Data Sheets
* Only limited issues are available at IUP