Appendix III: Review of Basic Fire Hazards

Industrial fire hazards are generally categorized into four groups: (i) Ignition Sources, (ii) Materials, (iii) Building Hazards and, most importantly, (iv) Personnel Hazards.

Ignition Sources:

All forms and types of energy can be considered a potential ignition source. Some frequent types of ignition sources found in industry are:

• Open flames
• Electrical wiring / devices
• Smoking
• Heat sources / Hot surfaces
• Welding and cutting
• Friction
• Sparks and Arcs
• Static sparks
• Chemical reactions
• Gas Compression

Materials:

There are few materials that will not ignite and burn. Materials in a liquid, gas, or vapor state are typically more ignitable than solid fuels. Materials are rated by their combustibility and their ability to ignite and burn. Information is readily accessible to determine a materials-combustibility rating. Some common types of combustible materials found in industry are:

• Wood
• Cloth
• Plastics
• Fuels
• Paints
• Solvents
• Cleaning fluids
• Hydraulic fluids

Building Hazards:

Fire can spread rapidly through a building, causing major structural failure of roofs and walls. Depending on a building's design, fires can travel horizontally and vertically. Listed below are examples of how fire can travel throughout a building:

• Horizontal Travel
  • Doorways
  • Hallways
  • Ceiling spaces
  • Floor spaces
  • Utility openings
  • Conveyor shafts
• Vertical Travel
  
  • Stairways
  • Elevator shafts
  • Material shafts
  • Utility openings
  • Conveyor shafts

The building's structural materials will determine its ability to withstand a fire. Structural framing of wood is considered to have a limited resistance to fire. Steel members are subject to significant structural decreases at low fire temperatures unless they are protected by enclosures or treated with fire-resistive chemical coatings.

Personnel Hazards:

The primary fire hazards to personnel are escape routes to safety. The following considerations must be examined in determining the best methods of escape:

• Travel distance to an exit
• Illumination of exiting paths
• Number and arrangement of exits
• Identification of exits
• Exit pathways
• Exit doors
• Exit capacities
• Stairwells

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