Fire Prevention And Protection, 10% Flashcards
A systematic approach to fire protection systems’ inspection, testing and maintenance should follow guidelines established by the manufacturer and what organization?
NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association
US-based technical and educational organization
Who develops the National Building Code and National Fire Code in Canada?
How often?
NRC
The National Research Council.
Revision & update q5 years
What is ‘Fire Load’?
Fire Load is a calculated value to determine fire risk.
The mass of materials multiplied by the calories of the materials, all divided by the area.
Higher numbers equate to higher risk.
Fire Loads are used to determine fire suppression requirements, such as sprinkler flow rates.
What is the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada?
An independent, not-for-profit
Tests products and adds a stamp to demonstrate that product has met requirements.
Who are Factory Mutual?
FM is a group of 4 insurance companies that provide engineering and inspection services, as well as standards development.
They stipulate good loss control practices as a requirement for issuance of manufacturing insurance.
Discuss EMA and FEMA.
FEMA is the federal agency in the US responsible for emergency management.
The PSEPC (public safety and emergency planning Canada) is the Canadian FEMA. They operate under the Emergency Management Act (EMA)
What is the CSA?
Canadian Standards Association?
A Canadian Not-For-Profit association that develops standards.
Most organizations that develop standards are not-for-profits
Define Fire Resistance in construction safety
How the building structure is designed to handle normal fire loads.
Contain the spread of smoke and fire gases.
Prevent excessive heat flow over a reasonable period of time.
Define Combustibility in construction safety
Three aspects:
- fuel contributed
- flame spread
- smoke developed
Define Fire Load in construction safety
Measurement of maximum heat produced if all combustibles in an area burn.
Used to calculate levels of fire suppression.
Define Compartmentalization in construction safety
Method of controlling fires through use of firewalls and fire resistant windows/doors.
What is a means of egress?
The method of exiting somewhere.
What is the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
The National Fire Protection Association (US-based)
guidelines for occupancies, means of egress, and building fire protection requirements.
What is a point of safety as used in the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code?
A location that is protected by an automatic sprinkler system either within the exit enclosure or in another portion of the building that is separated by smoke barriers and a 30+ minute fire resistance rating.
What is the fire tetrahedron?
Fire triangle - evolved
Fuel
Heat
Oxygen
Chemical Chain Reaction
How much oxygen is in the normal environment?
21%
What materials release oxygen in decomposition?
Oxidizing chemicals, such as silver nitrate
How is a fire started?
Heat is transferred to a fuel by:
- conduction
- convection
- radiation
If the heat transferred is equal or greater than the ignition temperature, then combustion will start
What are the four stages of fire?
- Incipient
Immediately after ignition. - Growth
Fire heat ignites more fuel through convection and radiation. - Fully Developed
Fire spreads over all available fuel and temperatures reach peak.
Available oxygen is rapidly consumed. - Decay
Fire consumes all available fuel and temperatures begin to decrease.
What are the most common causes of accidental fires?
1, Cooking
2, Heating equipment
3, Electrical
4, Smoking materials
What is the most common cause of death in fires?
Smoke inhalation (not the burns).
What are 3 types of physical explosion?
- Compressed Gas Vapour Explosion
- Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE)
- Rapid Phase Transition Explosion
What is a Compressed Gas Vapour Explosion?
When there is a release of pressurized gas from a ruptured pressure vessel.
What is a BLEVE? (context, explosion)
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion.
A pressure vessel, containing high temperature liquid ruptures. The liquid is suddenly released and instantaneously boils and expands as is transitions from high to low pressure.