FRA exam

Question 2

Name the classes of fire and the materials

Answer 2

Class A - flammable solids
Wood, paper, textiles, hardboard
Class B - Flammable liquids
Petrol, Paraffin, thinners, paint, alcohol
Class C - Flammable gasses
Butane, propane, LPG, natural gas
Class D - Flammable metals
Sodium, lithium, aluminium, manganese
Class F - Commercial oils and fats

         - Electrical

Question 3

How do fires spread

Answer 3

Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Direct burning

Question 5

Name the four stages of fire

Answer 5

Incipient
Growth
Fully developed
Decay

Question 6

What’s the definition of a responsible person

Answer 6

A responsible person is a specified individual responsible for fire safety. An employer has total responsibility. They would be responsible for their employees and any person lawfully within their right to be on or around the premises. Where there is no employer an occupier or owner is the responsible person.
There can be more than one responsible person to varying degrees depending on the control they have over safety in the premises.

Question 7

What are the main duties of the responsible person

Answer 7

Emergency plan
Fire risk assessments
The testing and maintenance of :
-Fire detection and alarms
-Fire fighting equipment
-Emergency exits, escape routes And signage
-Fire drills and training

Question 8

Name the two types of smoke detectors and how they work

Answer 8

Ionisation - radiation within the detector picks up small particles
Optical - larger particles break the beam to activate it

Question 9

Name the two types of heat detectors

Answer 9

Fixed temperature - over 68* will activate detector

Rate of rise - detects sudden rise in temperature

Question 10

Name other types of fire detection

Answer 10

Smoke beams
Aspiring (Vesdas)
Linear heat detectors ( paxcons)

Question 11

What is the acronym for Arson prevention?

Answer 11

M - materials - good housekeeping
E - equipment - ladders, scaffolding (control access)
E - environment - security, boundaries, lighting, CCTV, patrols
P - people - Identify potential arsonists, school talks etc

Question 13

What is a total phased evacuation?

Answer 13

In a phased evacuation the fire floor and the floor above would be evacuated first, then the remaining floors two at a time at phased intervals.
Those with physical impairments would be moved to a place of safety as part of the personal emergency escape plan (PEEP)

Question 14

What does PEEP stand for?

Answer 14

Personal
Emergency
Escape
Plan

Question 15

How are persons with disabilities aided during evacuations?

Answer 15

A.P.E
Alarms - even those with impaired hearing can usually hear the alarms, for those who may be isolated there are visual alarms such as strobe lights in toilets.
People - assistance if needed, in some cases people with disabilities can reach a place of safety without assistance.
Escape and Refuges- time taken to escape may be longer, there should be clear signage and escape routes clear of obstructions.

Question 15

What are the three factors necessary for a fire to start?

Answer 15

Oxygen
Heat
Fuel

Question 16

What are the sources of fuel?

Answer 16

Solids
Liquids
Gasses
Dust is also a fuel source from sugar, grain and metals etc

Question 17

Where should manual call points (BGU) be placed?

Answer 17

They should be
Visual
Adjacent to an exit
Not obstructed

Question 18

What type of physical harm could affect people in the event of a fire?

Answer 18

Scalds
Burns
Chemical burns
Lung issues from inhalation of smoke or chemicals
Physical injuries/ crush injuries due to falls etc

Question 18

What determines or affects fire growth?

Answer 18

Construction and layout
Ventilation into and throughout the building
Use of the building
Fire loading within the building

Question 19

Define explosion

Answer 19

An abrupt reaction that produces an increase in pressure or temperature or both simultaneously

Question 20

Define explosive atmosphere

Answer 20

Flammable gases, vapours, mists or dusts mixed with air which when ignited combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture

Question 21

Define deflagration

Answer 21

A combustion wave moving at SUBSONIC speed ahead of the flame

Question 22

Define detonation

Answer 22

A combustion wave moving at SUPERSONIC speed ahead of the flame

Question 23

Define BLEVE

Answer 23

Boiling
Liquid
Expanding
Vapour
Explosion - an explosion from a high vapour pressure vessel

Question 24

Define CGE

Answer 24

Confined
Gas
Explosion
An explosion within tanks, sewage systems, closed rooms etc

Question 25

Define UVCE

Answer 25

Unconfined
Vapour 
Cloud
Explosion
A vapour/gas explosion in an unconfined, unobstructed cloud

Question 26

What is required from DSEAR?

Answer 26

Employers have to eliminate or control the risks from dangerous substances. Specific duties falling on employers in workplaces where explosive atmospheres may occur.

Question 26

Name four motives behind Arson

Answer 26

Vandalism
Boredom
Concealment
Financial gain
Ideology
Revenge

Question 27

Fire prevention is normally achieved by?

Answer 27

Substitution
Elimination
Control of the fire hazard

Question 28

The building regulations contain which fire safety provisions?

Answer 28

Approved documents B1-B5
B1- means of warning and escape
B2- internal fire spread (lining) 
B3- internal fire spread (structure)
B4- external fire spread
B5- access and facilities for the fire service

Question 29

Define Means of escape

Answer 29

A safe route provided for persons to escape from fire from any point of the building to a place of safety without outside assistance.

These vary from building to building due to the nature and size of the building and nature and disposition of the occupants.

Question 30

What are the two types of emergency lighting?

Answer 30

Emergency lighting - provides illumination if the main supply fails, enabling people to shut down processes, find MCP’s and fire fighting equipment and illuminate disabled toilets.
Emergency escape lighting - this is required along escape routes from all places of work where there may not be enough ambient light to use the means of escape.

Question 31

Human behaviour

Which factors affect a persons perception?

Answer 31

The nature of the hazard- obvious or hidden
Previous experience
Familiarity with the situation
Feeling of being in 'control'
The level and nature of training
Peer group influences
Confidence in others
Personal characteristics such as age, attitude and impairments.

Question 32

What are the five steps to a Risk Assessment?

Answer 32

1. Identify the hazards - 
sources of
ignition, 
fuel,
oxygen

2. Identify people at risk -
   people in and around the premises
   People especially at risk

3. Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk- 
Evaluate the risk of fire
Evaluate the risk to people
Remove or reduce fire hazards
Remove or reduce the risk to people
-Detection and warning
-Fire fighting
-Escape routes
-Lighting
-Signs and notices
-Maintenance 

4. Record, Plan,Inform, Instruct and Train-
   - record findings and actions taken
   - prepare an emergency plan
   - inform and instruct relevant people, cooperate and coordinate.
   - Provide training
5. Review-
   - keep assessment under review
   - revise where necessary.

Question 33

What are ACTIVE building fire protections?

Answer 33

Sprinklers
Suppression systems
Fire detection
Fire shutters
Dampers

Question 34

What are PASSIVE building fire protections

Answer 34

Fire doors

Escape routes and signage

Question 35

Name four types of evacuation strategy

Answer 35

Total evacuation- all occupants move to a place of safety
Total simultaneous evac.- two stage evac
Total phased evac- fire floor and above etc
Progressive evac- horizontal or zoned.