Fire & Explosion Hazards

By

Khial Zada Khattak

Contents
Fire
What is fire
Fire Triangle
Factors effecting fire
Flash point & ignition temperature
Types of Fire
Fire prevention
Choice & use of fire-extinguisher
Fire prevention checklist

Contents (contd.)
Explosion
What is explosion
Types of explosion
Explosive limit
Dust explosions
Back Firing
Prevention of explosions
Case Histories

Fire
A combustible chemical reaction between
oxygen and any other substance
accompanied by the evolution of heat,
light and flame is called fire.
The substance which takes part
combustion reaction is termed as fuel.

in

The temperature at which the combustion

reaction takes place is called ignition
temperature.

Fire Triangle

Fuel
Fuels are classified as:
Solid fuels.
Such as coal, wood, paper,
plastic etc.

Liquid fuels.
Such as Petrol, kerosene oil,
lube oils etc.

Gaseous fuels.
Such as Natural Gas,
Hydrogen, Acetylene etc.

Oxygen
Oxygen
For most of the fuels the required oxygen to
proceed for combustion is present in air
(21%).

Heat
It is not necessary that fire is started by an
open flame. There are others heat sources
which can ignite the fuel such as:
Friction
Sparks
Grinding
Pneumatic drilling
Hot surface
Static electricity

Factors Effecting Fire

There are four main factors which effect
the combustion process.
Particle size of fuel.
Oxygen concentration
Ignition temperature
Flash point (for flammable liquids)

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Particle Size of Fuel
If a fuel (solid or liquid) is finely divided into
tiny particles it achieves ignition temperature
more quickly.
This is become of increased contact surface
area of the fuel e.g;
Saw dust and wood shaving catches fire very
quickly as compared to a big piece of wood.
It concludes that, as we go on decreasing the
particle size of fuel the, flammability goes on
increasing.

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Oxygen Concentration
Oxygen increases combustibility. As the
quantity or concentration of oxygen increases
the combustibility also increases.
A steal wire can not be ignited in air but it
burns readily in pure oxygen.
Cotton cloths and overalls instantly burn with
a welding spark at 26% Oxygen level which at
21% Oxygen (air) does not.

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Ignition Temperature
The
ignition
temperature
is
lowest
temperature at which a substance can be
ignited in presence of Oxygen (Air). e.g.
Wood

300 C

Paper

200 C

Match Head

80 C

Higher is the ignition temperature lower is the

risk of fire and vice versa.

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Flash Point
Flash point is the lowest temperature of a
flammable liquid at which sufficient vapours
are released by the liquid to form a flammable
Vapour-Air mixture, which can be ignited
under given conditions.
Lower is the flash point of a flammable liquid
higher will be the risk of fire.

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Flash Point
If flash point of a flammable liquid is less
than ambient temperature, it is highly
flammable & Hazardous.

Avoid using it. Find out a substitute with

higher flash point.

Factors Effecting Fire (contd.)

Relative vapour density
Relative vapour density is another important
property of a flammable gas or vapour that
influences the risk of fire. It is density of gas or
vapour relative to air (Air is taken as 1).
Lighter gases diffuse quickly and travel upwards.
Heavier gases travel along ground and hence
distant ignition is possible.

Relative Vapour Density

Substance
Methane

Relative Vapour Density

0.55

Methanol
Ethanol

1.11
1.60

Petrol
Ether

4.00
2.00

Oxygen
Hydrogen

1.1
0.1

Carbon dioxide
Carbon Monoxide

1.5
0.96

Ammonia
Acetylene

0.60
0.98

Types of Fire
Type A Fire

Fire on solid fuels e.g. wood,

paper, plastic etc.
Type B Fire

Fire of flammable liquids & Gases

e.g. Petrol, Lube oils, Methane,
Hydrogen.
Type C Fire

Fire on energized electrical

circuits, Fuse boxes, switches etc.

Fire Prevention
Three pre requisites of fire triangle should
not Combine.

Fire Prevention
Remove fuel if Heat is present.

Fire Prevention
Remove Heat if Fuel is present .

Fire Prevention
Remove Oxygen in presence of Fuel and

Heat

Choice and use of Fire extinguishers

Types of Fire
Extinguishers

Types of Fire
A

Yes

Yes

Yes

CO2

No

Yes

Yes

BCF Halon 1211/Halotron-1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chemical Foam

Yes

Yes

No

Dry Powder

Fire Extinction
Remove any pre requisite of fire triangle.

Fire Extinction
Remove Fuel.

Fire Extinction
Remove Heat.

Fire Extinction
Remove Oxygen (Air).

Fire Prevention Checklist

Electrical Equipment
No make shift wiring
Extension cords serviceable
Motors and tools free of dirt and grease
Lights clear of combustible materials
Safest cleaning solvents used
Fuse and control boxes clean and closed
Circuits properly fused
Equipment approved for use in hazardous
areas (if required)
Ground connection clean and tight

Fire Prevention Checklist (contd.)

Friction
Machinery properly lubricated
Machinery properly adjusted and / or aligned

Special Fire Hazard Materials

Storage of special flammables isolated.

Fire Prevention Checklist (contd.)

Welding and Cutting
Area surveyed for fire safety
Combustibles removed or covered
adequately.
Work Permit issued.
Hot pipes clear of combustible materials.
Fire extinguishers placed near by.
Ashes in metal containers.

Fire Prevention Checklist (contd.)

Smoking and Matches
No smoking and smoking areas clearly marked
Butt containers available and serviceable
No discarded smoking materials in prohibited area
Spontaneous Ignition
Flammable waste materials in
containers & emptied frequently.
Trash receptacles emptied daily

closed,

metal

Fire Prevention Checklist (contd.)

Static Electricity
Flammable
grounded.

liquid

dispensing

vessels

Moving machinery grounded.

House Keeping
No accumulation of rubbish.
Passage ways clear of obstacles.
No leaks of fluids and floor free of spills.
Fire doors unblocked and operating freely.
Fire extinguishers functional & unblocked.

be

Explosions
A violent and rapid increase in
pressure in a confined space which
may occur as a result of a physical
change or a chemical reaction.

Types of Explosions
Explosions are classified as:
Physical Explosion
Chemical Explosion

Physical Explosion
An explosion that occurs as a result
of
a
physical
change
i.e.
compression or heating is known as
physical explosion
Bursting of pressure cooker or
compressed gas cylinders are the
examples.

Chemical Explosions
A chemical explosion is that which
occurs as a result of a pressure
increase caused by the energy
released during a chemical reaction.
When a piece of sodium metal is put in
water, it reacts violently producing
Sodium Hydroxide and Hydrogen.
The temperature rises so high that the
Hydrogen produced bursts into flame
and explosion occurs.

Explosivity
The extent to which an explosion can occur by a
fuel-air mixture is explosivity of the fuel.
Not every fuel-air mixture are equally explosive.
Explosion can only occur if the concentration of a
flammable gas or vapour lies between upper and
lower explosive limits.

Lower Explosive Limit

It is the minimum percentage of a gas or
vapour in air below which fuel is not enough
to react explosively with the oxygen.
Lower explosive limit (LEL) of Methane is
5% by volume in air.
Lower is the value of LEL, Higher is the risk
of explosion.

Upper Explosive Limit

It is the maximum percentage of gas or
vapour in air that gives the explosive
mixture. Above this concentration Oxygen is
not enough to react explosively.
Upper explosive limit of Methane is 15% by
volume in air. If Methane is present in higher
concentration the explosion will not occur.

Explosive Range
The span between UEL & LEL is explosive
range.
Wider the explosive range of a fuel greater
is the risk of explosion. Methane has UEL
15%, LEL 5% by vol. in air where as
Acetylene has UEL 81% & LEL 2%. So
Acetylene having quite bigger range is more
explosive.

Dust Explosions
Finely divided organic materials such as
dust of sugar, flour, carbon, milk powder
may combine with oxygen violently, on
provision of ignition source resulting in
explosions.

Back Fire
Explosions may also occur as a result of
back fires. The person working on Boilers,
furnaces and closed vessels (containing
fuels) with vent stacks must take care of it.
To avoid back firing vent stacks should be
equipped with flame arresters.

Explosive Limits & ranges of some Fuels

Table Shows Explosive Limits & ranges of some Fuels
Lower
Explosive Limit
in Vol. % LEL

Upper
Explosive
Limit in Vol. %
UEL

Explosive
Range in
Vol. %

12.5

74

61.5

Methane

15

10

Hydrogen

74

70

Ammonia

15

29

14

Acetylene

81

79

Propane

2.5

9.5

Acetone

2.6

12.8

10.2

Fuel

Carbon
monoxide

Explosive Limits & ranges of some Fuels

Table Shows Explosive Limits & ranges of some Fuels
Fuel

Diethyl Ether

Lower Explosive
Upper
Limit in Vol. %
Explosive Limit
LEL
in Vol. % UEL

Explosive
Range in
Vol. %

1.7

36

34.2

Petrol

Methanol

36

30

Ethanol

19

16

Benzene

1.2

6.8

Xylene

Carbon Disulfide

60

59

Prevention of Explosions
When flammable gases or vapours are mixed
with air, explosive
mixtures are formed, which
are sometime very easily ignited. Any electrical
apparatus used on premises when such mixtures
can be formed must be explosion proof.
Flammable liquids must never be poured into the
drains.
Waste water that has come in contact with a
flammable liquid may only be released into the
drains through a separator which will remove any
flammable residues.

Prevention of Explosions (contd.)

Care must always be taken with apparently empty
containers that have held a flammable liquid or
gas. Such containers are
not necessarily
EMPTY just because they look empty.
All flammable liquids dispensing vessels should
be grounded.
All moving machinery should be grounded.
Premises should always be free from
unnecessary combustible materials.
All vessels, pumps motors and pipe lines should
be grounded.
Steam should be given in vent stacks during
rains.

THANK YOU
&
Have a nice day