Mr. Charles, greetings.
Another excellent question from you.
While a fire risk assessment of buildings could take a standard approach, the purpose and use of the different types of buildings and structures, would determine the extent and associated factors needed to be considered, to adequately prepare a fire risk assessment. A fire risk assessment of a gas station or the associated convenience store would vary from the fire risk assessment of a Hotel, while the fire risk assessment of a school would vary from that of a manufacturing building or a restaurant. Moreover, preventative, mitigation and control measures of addressing a fire, would also vary based on the type of building and the type of fire that would be ignited. A water base solution to extinguish a fire in a school or a wooden building would be ideal; however, it would not be the same approach and solution to be used to address a fire at a gas station or in the kitchen of a restaurant.
In common terms, a fire risk assessment is the analysis of the factors and conditions that would increase the risk and possibility of the occurrence of a fire. A fire therefore needs a source and an agent to be ignited and to survive (or spread), it requires a third constant, oxygen. Keeping these conditions away from each other will greatly reduce the possibilities of a fire and the spread thereof. These conditions may also take many forms and would vary between the different types and functions of the buildings and structures that are in operations.
Let’s consider the following;
• A gas station - Sources and agents; petrol and cigarettes and any form of sparks, lightning, etc.
• Domestic house - Sources and agents; matches and paper, clothes, gas, children, etc.
• Factory building - Sources and agents; oil and fuel spills, cigarettes and any form of sparks, malfunctioning tools, plants and equipment
• Restaurant building - Sources and agents; oil spills, leaking gas pipes, unattended stoves, fire, clothing, etc.
• School building - Sources and agents; expose electrical connections, metal objects (spoons), children, malfunctioning tools and equipment, matches, papers, etc.
In identifying any and all probable sources and agents that may increase the risk of a fire, the assessment would then move to the stage of mitigating one or both of the conditions. Because some conditions such as spills from gas stations or the presences of fire in the kitchen of a restaurant will always be present and may be unavoidable, additional considerations will be necessary. However, eliminating conditions that may lend themselves to promoting the risk of a fire are most times fundamental while some control measures that could be employed are equally as easy.
Let’s consider the fire risk assessment for a machine welding shop, especially those which may not have been constructed to design standards. I am addressing those machine welding shops that were created below domestic dwelling houses or on the premises of a domestic building; a scenario quiet prevalent in the Caribbean and third world countries. However, the application of a fire assessment for this type of structure is also applicable to machine welding shops that were designed and constructed against standards and regulations.
The first approach would be to identify the sources and agents that are likely to increase the risk of a fire at such operation; explosions, sparks, gas/fumes, petrol and electric shock. While the presence of one condition may be more than adequate to ignite a fire, others would require an agent to develop and oxygen to maintain its vitality; an explosion could be fatal while petrol would require an agent to be ignited.
Next approach would be to completely eliminate, if not possible, then reduce the exposure of such conditions to a minimum that any contact with each other would be of minimum to zero threat. A fire is likely after any explosion. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that all equipment, tools, plants and all operations be strictly executed under control environments and with regards to necessary safety, health and operational rules and standards to avoid an explosion. This therefore means that if any equipment requires routine maintenance at specific periods (i.e., 40 hours after operation), then this is essential to reduce the possibility of self-failure and possible explosion due to increase wear and tear beyond manufacture’s recommendations.
Sparks emitted from the welding plant can cover an estimated distance of 30 feet. This therefore means that no agent of a combustible nature should be in close proximity to the welding arc when in use. Storage and use of petrol should be kept in a confined but not concealed location where any spills or leak can be controlled. It should definitely be separated from the welding arc and away from any source of heat, inclusive of direct contact with the sun. Containers used to store fuel must also be of appropriate and the recommended made.
Once the identified sources and agents have been identified and addressed as best as possible during the fire risk assessment, control measures that can be applied to reduce the impact and the spread of the fire, in the machine welding shop would require a combination of methods. Fire extinguishers or suppression methods are categorize;
• Class A - fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles.
• Class B - fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils.
• Class C - fires involving gases.
• Class D - fires involving metals.
• Class E - fires involving live electrical apparatus.
Therefore, classes B, C & D should always be on the premises of this operation.
Equally important as using the correct fire control measure on a potential fire, is the training and knowledge required in its application.
Repetition is a best friend to memory and therefore, routine practice of attending to potential fires will be of tremendous benefit to all.
Please feel free to make any and future contact with me, should you require further information or guidance on this subject.
Amsterdam K
Chartered Construction Manager
Guyana, South America