PRACTICING FIRE SAFETY

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PRACTICING FIRE SAFETY
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HOW FIRES START

• Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid
  oxidation or burning of
• fuel. It needs three elements to occur.
• -Fuel Fuel cam be any combustible material-
  solid, liquid
• or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor
  or gas
• before they will burn.
• -Oxygen The air we breathe is about 21 percent
  oxygen.
• Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16
  percent
• oxygen.
• -Heat Heat is the energy necessary to increase
  the
• temperature of the fuel to a point where
  sufficient vapors are
• given off for ignition to occur.

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CHEMICAL REACTION

• A chain reaction can occur when the three
  elements of fire are
• present in the proper conditions and
  proportion. Fire occurs
• when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes
  place.
• -Take any one of these factors away, and the
  fire cannot
• occur or will be extinguished if it was already
  burning.

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TETRAHEDRON

• THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON
• The process we know as fire is a chemical
  reaction which involves
• rapid oxidation or burning of a combustible
  material. In the past,
• we learned that three elements, fuel, heat, and
  oxygen were necessary
• for fire to start and continue burning, hence
  the fire triangle concept.
• In recent years this concept has been expanded to
  include a fourth
• element, that of the chemical reaction, thus
  creating the fire tetrahedron.

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Cont.

• The following is a brief description of each
  element and their interaction

• Fuel - May be any combustible material. Can be a
  solid, liquid, or gas. Typically solids and
  liquids must be heated to the point where they
  are converted into a vapor or gas before they
  will burn.

• Oxygen - There must be at least 16 oxygen
  present for a fire to burn. This is usually not a
  problem since the air we breath is about 21
  oxygen.

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Cont.

• Heat - Heat is the energy needed to increase the
  fuels temperature to the point where sufficient
  vapors are produced for ignition to occur.

• Chemical Reaction - The chemical chain reaction
  know as fire occurs when fuel, oxygen and heat
  are present in the right conditions and amounts.

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HOW FIRES ARE CLASSIFIED
CLASS A Ordinary combustibles or fibrous
material such as Wood, paper, cloth, rubber and
some plastics.
CLASS B Flammable or combustible liquids such
as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinner and
propane.
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Cont.
CLASS C Energized electrical equipment, such as
appliances, Switches, panel boxes and power
tools.
CLASS D Certain combustible metals, such as
magnesium, Titanium, potassium and sodium. These
metals burn at high temperatures and give off
sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may
react violently with water or other chemicals,
and must be handled with care.
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Residence LifeSafety Regulations forResidential
Living
Candies, Incense, and Combustible Materials

• Candles and incense are a fire hazard and are not
  permitted in the residence halls or apartments.
  Combustible materials such as gasoline, paint
  thinner, and oil lamps are not permitted within
  the residential facilities. Fire safety codes
  require strict compliance with this regulation.
  Propane grills are prohibited.

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Cont.
Fire Alarms, Fire Drills, and Residential Safety

• Each residence hall has at least two fire drills
  per semester. These drills will not be announced
  and you must evacuate the building immediately
  each time the fire alarm sounds. Disciplinary
  action will be taken if a student does not
  evacuate the building.

• The misuse of fire alarms, fire detection
  devices, or fire extinguishers constitutes a
  serious offense. Any resident who misuses such
  equipment or devices will be subject to
  prosecution and disciplinary action. Residents
  are responsible for any damage to the system and
  they will be held financially accountable. Fire
  and safety regulations strictly prohibit the use
  or storage within residential facilities of
  explosives, fireworks, live Christmas trees,
  flammable liquids, fire-arms, ammunition, and
  combustible engines of any kind.

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WHEN NOT TO FIGHT A FIRE

• NEVER FIGHT A FIRE
• If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where
  it started.
• If you cant fight the fire with your back to an
  escape exit.
• If the fire can block your only escape.
• If you dont have adequate fire-fighting
  equipment.
• In any of these situation,
• DONT FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF.
• CALL FOR HELP.

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HOW TO EXTINGUISH SMALL FIRES
CLASS A- Extinguish ordinary combustibles by
cooling the material below its ignition
temperature and soaking the fibers to prevent
re-ignition. Use pressurized water, foam or
multi-purpose (ABC rated) dry chemical
extinguisher. DO NOT USE carbon dioxide or
ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical extinguisher on
Class A fires.
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Cont.

• CLASS B Extinguish flammable liquids, greases
  by
• removing the oxygen, preventing the vapors from
• reaching the ignition source or inhibiting the
  chemical
• chain reaction.
• Foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry
• chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical, and halon
• extinguishers may be used to fight Class B
  fires.

• CLASS C Extinguish energized electrical
• equipment by using an extinguishing agent that
  is not
• capable of conducting electrical current.
• Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry
  chemical,
• multi-purpose dry chemical and halon fire
• extinguishers may be used to fight Class C
  fires. DO
• NOT USE WATER EXTINGUISHERS ON
• ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

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Cont.

• CLASS D Extinguish combustible metals such as
• magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium with
• dry powder extinguishing agents specially
  designated
• for the material involved.
• In most cases, they absorb the heat from the
  material,
• cooling it below its ignition temperature.

NOTE Multipurpose (ABC-rated) chemical
extinguisher leave a residue that can harm
sensitive equipment, such as computers and other
electronic equipment. Because of this, carbon
dioxide or halon extinguishers are preferred in
these instances because they leave very little
residue.
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Cont.

• ABC dry powder residue is mildly corrosive to
  many metals. For
• example, reside left over from the use of an
  ABC dry powder
• extinguisher in the same room with a piano can
  seriously corrode
• piano wires.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY THE PROPER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• All ratings are showed on the extinguisher
  faceplate.
• Some extinguishers are marked with multiple
  ratings such as AB,
• BC and ABC. These extinguishers are capable of
  putting out more
• than one class of fire.
• Class A and B extinguishers carry a numerical
  rating that indicates
• how large a fire an experienced person can
  safely put out with that
• extinguisher.
• Class C extinguishers have only a letter rating
  to indicate that the
• extinguishing agent will not conduct electrical
  current. Class C
• extinguisher must also carry a B rating.

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HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Class D extinguishers carry only a letter rating
  indicating their
• effectiveness on certain amounts of specific
  metals.

• REMEMBER THE ACRONYM, P.A.S.S.

• P .Pull the Pin
• A ..Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of
  the flame.
• S Squeeze trigger while holding the
  extinguisher upright.
• S Sweep the extinguisher from side to side,
  covering the
• area of the fire with the
  extinguishing agent.

NOTE PULL A FIRE ALARM BOX AND ALERT OTHERS
BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
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Remember

• Should your path of escape be threatened.
• Should the extinguisher run out of agent.
• Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective.
• Should you no longer be able to safely fight the
  fire.
• Close the door on your way out of the area.
• THEN LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY!!!!

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HOW TO INSPECT YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

• Know the locations of the fire extinguishers in
  your work area.
• Make sure the class of the extinguisher is safe
  to use on fires likely
• to occur in the immediate area.
• Check the plastic seal holding the pin in the
  extinguisher handle. Has
• the extinguisher been tampered with or used
  before? Report any
• broken/missing seals/pins to the Public Safety
  Office 256-4922.
• Water, some foam, and dry chemical extinguishers
  have gauges
• indicating the pressure inside the
  extinguisher. The pressure
• needle should be in the green area (generally
  100-175 lbs.,
• depending on the type of agent).

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Cont.

• CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers are high
  pressure cylinders
• with pressures ranging from 1500 lb to 2150 lb.
  These
• extinguishers DO NOT have gauges and must be
  weighed by
• Fire Safety Unit staff to determine the amount
  of contents
• remaining.
• Make sure the pin, nozzle and nameplate are
  intact.
• One is encouraged to be aware of the condition
  of your areas
• extinguishers by visual inspection on a
  frequent basis to ensure
• you have a working extinguisher there when you
  need one.
• Report any missing, empty or damaged fire
  extinguishers to the
• Public Safety Office (256-4922) whenever you
  notice any
• discrepancies.

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The Appearance of Different types of
extinguishers

• Generally, you can tell with a glance which type
  an extinguisher is
• hanging on the wall, or in the cabinet, just by
  looking at its shape.
• Check the labels of the extinguishers in your
  area and note the
• color and shape/size of the extinguisher. This
  may help if someone
• runs in to help you fight a fire with the WRONG
  extinguisher (i.e.
• water on an electrical fire) you can STOP
  them before they are
• injured or make matters worse!

• ABC-rated multipurpose dry powder extinguishers
  are the most
• common on campus, particularly in the corridors
  fo academic
• buildings. They are almost always RED in color
  and have either
• a long narrow hose or no hose(just a short
  nozzle). These
• extinguishers are very light (5-25lbs) Halon
  extinguishers look
• virtually identical to ABC multipurpose dry
  chemical extinguishers

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Cont.

• Water extinguisher are generally found in the
  dormitories and are
• usually SILVER (crome-metal) in color, have a
  flat bottom, have a
• long narrow hose, are quite large (2-1/2
  gallons).

• CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers are generally
  red, have
• a LARGE tapered nozzle (horn), are VERY HEAVY
  (15-
• 85 lbs). They are high-pressure cylinders.
• Care should be used NOT TO DROP a co2 cylinder,
  if it
• is damaged it can punch a hole through the
  nearest wall(s)
• and end up on the other side of campus! (The
  containers
• are quite sturdy, but dont abuse them.) CO2
  cylinders do
• not have a pressure gauge-they must be weighed
  to
• Determine the amount of contents.

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Where can I find a fire extinguisher on campus

• In the corridors of academic and office
  buildings, and inside very
• large rooms.
• In or immediately outside all laboratories where
  chemicals are
• stored and used.
• In or immediately outside mechanical spaces
  where motorized or
• other equipment is present which might
  reasonably cause a fire.
• In campus storage buildings, and mounted inside
• certain university vehicles.
• If you cant find the fire extinguisher in your
  area, or feel you need
• a different type/size or extinguisher for you
  area, contact The
• Public Safety Office 256-4922.

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RESIDENCE HALL FIRE SURVIVAL PROCEDURE
When You Move In

• Locate at least two emergency exits from your
  floor and
• make sure they are free of obstruction
• Note location of fire alarms, extinguishers or
  any other
• emergency equipment available.
• Note location of landmarks which may aid egress
  when
• visibility is reduced by smoke.

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ALWAYS

• Refamiliarize yourself with standard fire drill
  procedures.
• Become familiar with University fire and general
  safety
• regulations.

• Make sure the fire doors in halls and stair wells
  are closed
• at all times.
• Extinguish all cigarettes and matches and empty
  wastebaskets
• often.
• Close door to your room when you retire. Exit
  when fire
• alarm sounds!!!!

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NEVER

• Smoke in bed.
• Burn candles.
• Allow an open flame (cigarette, candle, torch,
  etc.)
• or cooking appliance (coffee pot, hot plate,
  etc.) near
• common combustible material, i.e., wood, paper,
  textiles, or
• flammable liquid.
• Ignore fire alarm.

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IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE

• Remain calm. Act quickly, not rashly. Your
  objective is
• survive. If you can exit safely, do so. If not,
  you must work
• quickly to defend yourself against smoke and
  flame.

If you leave your room in the event of a fire

• Never open your door without first checking for
  heat or
• smoke. Close doors behind you.
• Do not allow doors to lock behind you. You may
  be forced
• to return.

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Cont.

• If smoke is encountered during egress, do not
  walk upright
• crawl. The air is cooler and less toxic nearer
  the floor.
• Never use an elevator.
• If smoke is present in a stairwell, avoid it.
  Choose another
• route
• If your clothes catch firestop, drop, and roll
  to extinguish
• the flames.
• If you are in a room where fire starts, try to
  extinguish the fire
• if small. If the fire is too large, leave
  quickly. Close the door
• and/ or call the Fire Department, dail 9, 9-1-1.

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IF YOU ARE TRAPPED IN YOUR ROOM

• Seal door/window cracks and ventilation grills
  with tape
• (preferably duct tape) or towels and/or
  clothing (preferably
• wet) to keep smoke out. If there is smoke in
  the room, open
• the window to let it out. Hang out an article
  of cloth, large
• enough for rescuers to see, out of a corner of
  the window.
• Close the window again and seal cracks. Keep
  window closed
• to prevent outside smoke from entering.
• Do not break the window unless the room has been
  heavily
• invaded by smoke and you must get air to
  survive. Remember
• stay close to the floor for air. Call the
  Public Safety Office (4911),
• report the fire location and your situation.
  Tie a towel or
• clothing (preferably wet) around your nose and
  mouth if
• necessary to filter smoke. Do not jump!!