15. Electrical Safety - 20. Fire Protection and Prevention Flashcards
Electrons that do not flow in one direction in a circuit. Instead, the flow of electrons changes its direction, or polarity, constantly. The rate of changing polarity is called the frequency of ___. The major advantage of ___ over direct current is that voltage can be changed through the use of a transformer.
Alternating Current (AC)
Alternating Current (AC)
A specific measure of potential energy that is always relative between two points. The force pushing electrons to “flow” in a circuit.
Voltage (Volts)
Ampere (definition)
The number of electrons or charge passing a certain point in the circuit in one second
Ohm’s Law
A law that shows the fundamental relationship of electrical circuits, that is: the amount of electric current through a metal conductor in a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage impressed across it, for any given temperature. V = I * R, where V is the potential difference in volts, I is the current in amps, and R is the resistance in ohms.
Electrical Power
A function of both voltage and current, where power or P, is equal to current, I, multiplied by voltage, V.
P = I x V
P: watts
I: Amp
V: Volt
Formula of Total Resistance (Rt) in a series and parallel circuit? (R1, R2, R3)
Series:
Rt = R1 + R2 + R3
Parallel:
1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
A high power discharge of electricity between two or more conductors. This discharge translates into heat, which can break down the wire’s insulation and possibly trigger an electrical fire.
Arc fault
A supersonic shockwave produced when the uncontrolled arc vaporizes the metal conductors.
Arc blast
This effect happens when an electric current passes through your body. This can burn both internal and external tissue and cause organ damage.
Electrical shock
An imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge.
Static electricity
The minimum distance from the energized item where unqualified personnel may safely stand. No untrained personnel may approach any closer to the energized item than this boundary. A qualified person must use the appropriate PPE and be trained to perform the required work to cross the limited approach boundary and enter the limited space.
Limited Approach Boundary
Arc Blast / Arc Fault / Arc Flash
When an arc fault occurs, there’s a massive electrical explosion. Both arc flash and arc blast are separate byproducts of that electrical explosion. The arc flash is the light and heat from the explosion, while the arc blast is a pressure wave that follows.
Current effect on human body:
- faint tingle
- slight shock felt
- painful shock, loss of muscular control
- extreme pain, respiratory arrest, possible death
- Rhythmic pumping of heart ceases, muscular contraction and nerve damage, likely death
- Severe burn, cardiac arrest, death probable
1 mA - faint tingle
5 mA- slight shock felt
6 - 25 mA - painful shock, loss of muscular control
50 mA- extreme pain, respiratory arrest, possible death
1,000 mA- Rhythmic pumping of heart ceases, muscular contraction and nerve damage, likely death
10,000 mA- Severe burn, cardiac arrest, death probable
Temperature of arc flash
Over 35,000 ºF
NFPA 70E
Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace,
Electrically safe work condition according to NFPA
- Identify power sources and label them
- Interrupting the load and disconnecting the power
- Visualize the open circuit
- LOTO
- Testing for Voltage
- Grounding
Causes of Electric Flash
Arc Flash Boundaries and definition
- Power source
- Restricted approach boundary (only qualified personnel with appropriate EPP)
- Limited approach boundary (only qualified personnel can ingress)
- Arc Flash boundary (where second degree burns could occur)
Arc flash causes
Contact with tools
Accidental touching
Condensation
Dust
Corrosion
Material failure
Faulty installation
The act of joining two electrical conductors together that are not supposed to be carrying current during normal operations to bring them to the same electrical potential.
Bonding
____; a fast acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as one fortieth of a second. It works by comparing the amount of current going to and returning from equipment along the circuit conductors.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Installing one set of grounds at the work location between the conductors, the system neutral, if one exists, and the ground, which may be a tower or pole ground, to create a bonded work zone that will remain at a near identical state of electrical potential, hence the term “equipotential zone.”
Single point grounding
Types of GFCI
Circuit breaker GFCI
Receptacle GFCI
Portable GFCI
GFCI turn off the power when detects a difference of ____ mA. The time for the shut off is ____ seconds.
5 mA
1/40 second
Which devices open the circuit when too much current flows trough them
Circuit breaker
Fuse
The point between the fire growth phase and full development, when temperatures can reach 1000ºF.
Flashover
Explosion vs Deflagration
Explosion: A sudden, rapid release of energy that produces potentially damaging pressures that can travel at the speed of sound; which is 1,088 feet per second, or 332 meters per second.
Deflagration: A reaction with a speed of propagation less than the speed of sound in the unreacted medium.
Liquids or solids that readily give off oxygen or other oxidizing substances, such as bromine, chlorine, or fluorine. They also include materials that react chemically to oxidize combustible or burnable materials.
Oxydising material
Rollover / Flashover / Backdraft
A rollover is the circumstance in a structure fire when incompletely burned fuels or ignited fire gases spread out horizontally after rising to the ceiling. After this, the smoke suddenly appears to start burning. This special circumstance can lead to a flashover.
A flashover is the circumstance in a structure fire when everything in the room suddenly and simultaneously ignites. In full protective gear, a firefighter is even unlikely to survive this event, though they are trained to recognize when a flashover is about to occur. It happens due to several factors. A rollover occurs, with hot gases rising to the ceiling and spreading out across to the walls. The heat intensifies to the point where every combustible item reaches ignition temperatures. This causes them to burst into flames. In a few seconds, temperatures shoot up to as much as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit or 538 degrees Celsius.
A backdraft is when there’s an explosion due to oxygen being let into a room full of hot gases. When a fire is burning in an enclosed area, eventually, it burns up all of the oxygen (it’s oxidizer). This causes hot, flammable gases to fill the room. This leads to temperatures rising and pressure building, causing the building to appear like it’s pulsing or throbbing. If all of a sudden, a door is opened to let in a burst of new oxygen, all of the flammable gases burst into flames, due to the fire being oxidized again, i.e. hot, flammable gases plus fire equals one big explosion.
BLEVE
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Dust of less than ___ are considered hazardous because of the dust explosion
420 microns
NFPA 654
Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing,. Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids.
Types of Fire Chemical Hazards
- Oxidizer
- Reactive, unstable or pyrophoric material
- Corrosives
- Radioactives
Difference between Flash Point and Fire Point
The flash point of a liquid hydrocarbon is the temperature to which it must be heated to emit sufficient flammable vapor to flash when brought into contact with a flame.
The fire point of a hydrocarbon liquid is the temperature at which the oil vapors will continue to burn when ignited at least 5 seconds after removing the flame.
NFPA 321
Basic Classification of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
NFPA 30
Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
A storage distance of at least 20 feet or roughly 6 meters and isolating incompatible materials by a non-combustible partition extending at least 18 inches, which is 46 centimeters above and to the sides.
Separation
Gasoline is expanded ____% in volume in a change of ___ ºF
0.07 %
10 ºG
Flame Arrester
A Flame Arrester also spelled arrestor is a device which allows gas to pass through it but stops a flame in order to prevent a larger fire or explosion.
For inside storage of flammable liquids there are storage cabinets of not more than ____ gal of class ___ of a liquids
120 gln
Class 1, 2 and 3 A liquids
Flammable Liquids - Classes
For inside storage of chemicals, the door must have a ___ point latch.
Three point
The equipment that is used to transport the flammable or potentially hazardous liquids in a safer manner. Generally, the maximum capacity of safety cans is 5 gallons.
Safety can.
The preferred method of dispensing flammable and combustible liquids from a drum.
Hand-operated pump
To storage flammable gas cylinders from oxygen cylinders…
Separate by 20 feet, or
Use a wall of 5 feet height and 30 minutes of fire-resistance
A device that transmits a signal to the fire alarm control unit indicating that the device has undergone a change of state.
Initiating device
Devices that respond to detection of smoke density and may detect smoldering fires. These detectors are either ionization or photoelectric.
Smoke detector
Devices that change in some way when the temperature at the detector reaches a particular level, or a set point.
Heat detector
A signal that indicates a fault in a monitored circuit or component of the fire alarm system or the disarrangement of the primary or secondary power supply.
Trouble signal
A signal indicates that action is needed in connection with the operation of other fire protection systems that are being monitored by the fire alarm system, such as an automatic sprinkler system.
Supervisory signal
Fire extinguishers that are appropriate for Class A, B and/or C fires. _____ (chemical components) extinguishers are also known as multipurpose because they are applicable for A, B and C fires.
Monoammonium phosphate
____ (chemical components), extinguishers can extinguish class B & C fires.
Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda
Types of extinguishers for class D fires
Dry Powder Extinguisher, it forms a crust which excludes air and dissipates heat
Types of K fires extinguishers
Potassium acetate, potassium citrate and potassium carbonate
How works K-fire extinguishers?
They form a foam blanket that smother the fire. The disadvantage is they are conductive.
P.A.S.S. technique
Extinguishers:
Pull
Aim
Squeeze
Sweep
First step when realized the monthly extinguisher inspection
Confirm location is visible, unobstructed and designated.
Fire extinguishing systems and materials that are electrically non-conductive, leave no residue, and are safe to use in occupied spaces. Types of ___ include carbon dioxide, halon and inert gas. These total flooding gaseous systems work quickly by interrupting the chemical chain reaction and are very effective, while keeping equipment and personnel safer.
Clean agents
These systems use the same chemicals as portable extinguishers. You will typically find these systems near dip tanks, Paint spray booths, exhaust dust systems and commercial cooking equipment. These systems are for local application and they minimize splashing.
Wet / Dry chemical systems
These systems are used where there are few personnel and are used in engine rooms, generator rooms, power stations, flammable liquid storage rooms, and around large industrial machines.
Carbon Dioxide systems
Fire extinguishing systems that are comprised a solution of water and class B foam mixed with compressed air to create an adhesive foam blanket, which can be used to reduce temperature, displace oxygen, extinguish flames, and protect unburned materials from radiated heat.
Compressed air foam system
____has very high ozone depletion properties and its production was banned in US in 1994 under the ___
Halon
Clean Air Act (1994)
Which agent is known to be highly efficient fire suppression agent?
CO2
A sprinkler system that, when a fire occurs and produces a sufficient amount of heat to activate one or more sprinklers, water immediately discharges from the open sprinkler head. ____ should be the first choice of designers and installers because they are more reliable and less expensive to maintain.
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System
A sprinkler system that contains no water prior to system activation, but rather is charged with air or nitrogen under pressure. A valve holds back the water supply and serves as the water/air interface. When a sprinkler head activates, air pressure is released and causes water pressure to open the valve and start the flow of water.
Dry Pipe Sprinkler System
A thermosensitive device that is designed to discharge a certain amount of water in a certain pattern, is only activated when a fire generates a sufficient quantity of heat, and will control or suppress the fire once it has activated.
Pre-Action System
Which temperature is recommended for dry pipe sprinkler system?
Below 40 ºF (4ºC)
Deluge system is also called a _____ system. It is used to protect against rapidly growing and spreading fire.
Open Sprinkler System (spray)
____a valve device that is frequently installed outside of the structure that has a viewing window with a sliding metal plate. As the valve is operated with the special wrench, the stem, which is connected to the gate device on the end of the stem.
Post-indicator valve
A man-made cut, cavity or depression in the earth surface that is deeper than its wide, with a depth of no more than 15 feet.
Trench
Tension crack
At horizontal distance of half to 3/4 the depth of the trench.
Result of the tension cracks
Sliding or sluffing
Toppling (excavation)
It occurs when the trenches vertical face sheers along the tension crack line and topples into the excavation
Subsiding / Bulging (excavation)
It is created by unbalanced stress in the soil. It is a common failure that can create an entrapment for the workers.
Heaving/squeezing (excavation)
It is created by the downward pressure created by the weight of adjoining soil.
Boiling (excavation)
Instability below the base of excavation that is affected by soil type and strength, depth of cut, side slope and/or berm geometry, groundwater conditions, and construction procedures.
Bottom heaving
The gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land.
Subsidence
This class of soil is the least stable. These soils are comprised of gravel, sand and loamy sand. Submerged soil and submerged unstable rock also fit in this category.
Type C soil
A simple, lightweight, handheld device made for instant estimates of unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils.
Pocket penetrometer
A field test is performed using an undisturbed sample - or clump of soil - about the size of a small plate from the excavation spoil pile. When using the thumb or fingers to apply light to moderate pressure to the sample, if the sample easily crumbles with moderate pressure, the soil is usually considered granular. If the soil is dry and breaks into smaller clumps only with great difficulty, it may contain enough clay in combination with other grain sizes to be considered cohesive.
Dry Strength Test
A field test that consists of taking a palm sized sample of moist soil and attempting to roll it into threads about one-eighth of an inch in diameter. If the soil contains cohesive properties, it can be rolled into threads without crumbling. If at least a two-inch length of one-eighth of an inch thread can be held on one end without tearing, the soil is likely cohesive and therefore may be Type A soil
Plasticity Test
The amount of pressure that will cause the soil to collapse. This value is usually reported in ‘tons per square foot’ and is determined through geotechnical laboratory tests or can be estimated in the field using rudimentary field instrumentation.
Unconfined Compressive Strength
Weigh of cubic foot and yard of soil
1 ft3 = 100 lbs
1 yd3 = 2,700 lbs
Particles of ___ in or ___ cms are gravel, below that is ___, ____ and ____
Gravel
Sand
Silt
Clay
Type A of soil
It is cohesive and contain a good amount of clay.
It can not be type A if there are cracks or source of vibration near-by.
Type B of soil
It is cohesionless, the soil does not contain enough fine particles and clay so that the soil will stick together
The thumb penetration test is used to quickly estimate the compressive strength of a cohesive soil sample. To perform the thumb penetration test, simply press the end of your thumb into a fresh clump of soil. If the soil sample is Type A, your thumb will only make an indentation in the soil with great effort, as you can see demonstrated here. If the soil sample is Type B, your thumb will sink into the soil up to the end of your thumbnail, just like this. If the soil sample is Type C, your thumb will sink all the way into the soil clump, as you can see here. Your results for this test will probably be somewhere in between these results.
Thumb Penetration Test
Prevents excavation and trench cave-ins by excavating soils at an angle away from the base of the excavation.
Sloping
The process of bracing the walls of an excavation or trench to prevent excavation sidewall collapse and cave-ins.
Shoring
Systems are designed to be moved as the trench is being excavated and successive sections of pipe are laid
Shielding
Excavating soils to eave steps on the sides of the excavation.
Benching
Excavation protection system that is held in place by other parts of the shoring system. This protective system is installed to the design depth along the perimeter of the excavation or along trench sidewalls using vibratory hammers
Sheeting
Difference between shoring and shielding
Trench shoring materials are used to brace the walls of a trench to prevent collapse. Trench shoring can be attained using hydraulic cylinders and FinnForm—special shoring plywood—to protect the workers from getting covered in loose dry dirt. The hydraulic cylinders are pumped until the plates press against the walls of the trench, securing them in place. Sometimes, steel I-beams are inserted into the ground, and then steel plates are slid in alongside them. Depending on the type and length of the job, some methods are preferred over others.
Trench shields (also sometimes called trench boxes) protect workers while they’re working inside a trench. They adjust to fit the size of the trench, and are typically constructed out of steel or aluminum. Unlike trench shoring materials, they are not designed to hold up the walls of a trench; they’re just there to shelter workers from a potentially dangerous collapse.
Angles of sloping according to types of soil
What is a trench box?
It is the shielding method of protection against collapse
Hydraulic and pneumatic shoring systems must be inspect ____ (frequency) to look after leaks or defects
once every shift
Trench box should extend ___ in the surrounded area
18 inches
Ladders used for egress should be spaced no further than ___ feet apart and extend at least ___ feet minimum above the top of the sheeting, shoring or trench box.
20 ft
3 ft
____: Excavated materials consisting of topsoil or subsoils that have been removed and temporarily stored during the construction activity. Excavated material should be stored at least___ feet from the edge of the excavation or trench.
spoil piles
2 feet
Shoring, shielding, sloping, sheeting, benching are methods used only to ____ feet of depth, for deeper excavations….
20 feet
Competent engineer must design the protection system