Once a fire has started, depriving it of oxygen will weaken extinguish it. This is a principle used by some fire extinguishers. Foam and dry powder extinguishers can be used to smother flames and deprive the fire of oxygen, whereas the CO2 in carbon dioxide fire extinguishers will replace the oxygen to deprive the fuel source of it. Always use fire extinguishers with care and check that you are using the correct type of fire extinguisher for the type of fire you are dealing with.
All flammable materials have a flash point, this is the lowest temperature at which they will ignite. If you are storing flammables on site then you will need to be aware of their flashpoints and make sure that all materials stored away from sources of heat and under their flash point temperature.
If a fire does break out then having a water fire extinguisher on standby is a good idea. Water has the effect of cooling the fire, thus removing heat from the equation. However remember not to use water on electrical appliances or cooking oil fires.
The Fire Triangle is often something we learn about in school in a bid to educate children about how fire is ignited and what can cause it to spread. Composed of three elements, The Fire Triangle is a clear and simple method of raising awareness of how and why fire is able to spread so quickly, something which could save lives.
All three elements must be present in order to ignite a fire, these include:. A fire cannot ignite without an object or material present to enable the fire to burn.
Businesses and homes contain a variety of different combustible materials which will help to fuel a fire, including:. While some materials burn more rapidly than others, a fire can still spread relatively easily, particularly in the home. Even wallpaper can help to fuel a fire — a material that cannot be easily removed from the home.
Heat will also help to ignite a fire and keep it burning. As a combustible material succumbs to a fire, heat will be naturally produced. The only way in which this can be cooled is by the application of water for some types of fire. Other fires may need to be doused in foam or other liquids or substances to either reduce the heat source or suffocate a fire. Although children are more likely to come into contact with the more simplistic triangle diagram as opposed to the three-dimensional pyramid model, the tetrahedron.
Fuel is any kind of combustible material, including paper, oils, wood, gases, fabrics, liquids, plastics and rubber. The fuel for a fire is usually characterised by its moisture content, size, shape and quantity and this will determine how easily the fuel will burn and at what temperature. In addition to a fuel source, heat must be present in order for ignition to take place. All flammable materials give off flammable vapours which, when heat is present, combust.
Heat is also responsible for the spread and maintenance of fire as it removes the moisture from nearby fuel, warming the surrounding area and pre-heating fuel in its path, enabling it to travel and develop with greater ease. As well as fuel and heat, fires also need oxygen to stay alight. This means that when the fuel burns, it reacts with the oxygen to release heat and generate combustion. To stop a fire, one of the three elements of the fire triangle must be removed.
It is defined as a ratio between the incident radiant power the power of the View Full Term. By clicking sign up, you agree to receive emails from Safeopedia and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The fire triangle is an easily understandable model that explains the ingredients required for combustion.
It graphically illustrates the three criteria required for a fire, which are ignition, fuel and an oxidizing agent. Without one of these three ingredients, fire is impossible. The fire triangle can be used either as a means of identifying potential fire hazards or as a tool for training employees in fire prevention practices. In industries where fires could pose a threat to safety, it is essential that the three ingredients required for combustion are not allowed to co-exist in close proximity to one another.
Since many industries make use of flammable substances in industrial processes, and oxygen is present everywhere, unless specifically excluded, the focus is generally on the prevention of ignition.
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