A fire safety plan stands as one of the most critical components of a business’s health and safety measures.
There are two major styles of Passive Fire Prevention. There is Active and Passive Fire Protection. Despite the evolution of fire prevention methods, we can all be guilty of not approaching fire with as much caution as we should. (There’s an old adage about taking batteries out of smoke alarms to replace the ones in the tv remote)
Therefore, in this article, we aim to present a blend of factual information and intriguing truths about fire safety. These facts are a blend of both interesting and weird facts that don’t just provide a good read but also emphasise how important fire safety is.
Smoke Inhalation is the Secret Killer
Contrary to popular belief, the main cause of death in a fire-related circumstance is smoke inhalation, not the fire itself.
Smoke can travel and spread rapidly through a building, often reaching far beyond the actual fire area. Even if you are not in immediate proximity to the fire, you can still be exposed to smoke and its harmful effects.
What action can be taken?
In our expert opinion, the best way to combat smoke inhalation is a series of both passive and active fire protection measures, the most fundamental of which in this instance would be a comprehensive series of fire alarms placed in key locations across a building.
Fire Spreads Rapidly
Fire can spread much faster than one may think. Within 5 minutes a small fire can evolve into a full-scale blaze and engulf an entire average-sized room or office.
Three Elements
For combustion to occur a fire requires three elements,. If anyone of these three elements does not exist, then a fire cannot start.
Oxygen
Oxygen plays a critical role in the occurrence and sustenance of fires. It is one of the three essential components of the fire triangle, along with heat and fuel. Here’s a description of the role of oxygen in fire:
Heat
The second component a fire requires is Heat. Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs prior to a material igniting, heat acts as the catalyst.
Fuel
Fuel refers to any substance that is capable of undergoing combustion, sustaining a fire, and releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Common examples of fuels include wood, paper, gasoline, natural gas, and flammable liquids.
Main Culprit
The Main Culprit for fires and fire-related injuries in Ireland are Home cooking fires related injuries. It is crucial to exercise caution and attentiveness while working in the kitchen.
Electrical Fires
The second biggest culprit of fires in both commercial and residential premises is electrical fires. The most common causes are faulty wiring, bad electrical work or an overload of the electrical capability.
What action can be taken?
Regular electrical and fire safety audits will highlight issues such as these. In our expert opinion, a fire safety audit should be conducted every 6 months.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Smoke alarms have saved countless lives in both commercial and residential settings. As mentioned above, the biggest killer of fire-related incidents is smoke inhalation. Fire-related events often occur at night, a well-configured smoke alarm could be the difference between you being awoken with time to evacuate and not.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is even more insidious than smoke inhalation, smoke although deadly is visible and has a distinctive scent. Whereas carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas produced by burning fuels, such as gas, oil, wood, and coal. Installing CO detectors can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Don’t underestimate the power of a fire extinguisher
Much like smoke alarms, fire extinguishers often don’t get the credit they deserve. Installing a fire alarm in pertinent locations throughout a business or residence can decrease the chance of a fire becoming unmanageable by a substantial amount.
Stop, Drop, and Roll Myth
Although the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” technique is commonly taught for extinguishing clothing fires, it turns out that rolling may not always be the most effective response. In some cases, the friction caused by rolling can actually fan the flames and cause the fire to spread.
Instead, experts now recommend smothering the flames with a blanket or coat and then immediately seeking medical attention.
Don’t be fooled by small Flames
Although one of the smallest intentional flames, even a candle can burn at 1000 Degrees Celsius.
LIfe-Saving Credit | Weirdest Fact
In Our Opinion, the weirdest fire fact is, that although the fire hydrant has saved countless lives, no one knows who created it. The patent was destroyed in a fire.
Passive Fire Safety
Our highly experienced team of industry experts are always on hand to assess the fire protection needs of your property, providing the appropriate recommendations based on industry-leading standards.
