Frequently Asked Questions

General

1. What is the fire?

A chain reaction which gives out the heat, smoke & gases.

2. What is an accidental fire?

Undesired & uncontrolled event of the fire.

3. What are Pre-requisites of fire?

  1. Heat – We can call it source of ignition. (Electrical short circuit, Over heated appliances, Chemicals, Unattended flames)
  2. Fuel – Flammable material (Foam, Clothing, Wooden furniture, Paper, LPG Cylinder, Oil, Diesel, Kerosene, Paints etc.)
  3. Oxygen (Air) - For fire to take place, all the 3 factors must come together.

4. Classification of fire

  • Class A > Solid combustible material [Paper, Wood, Cloth etc.]
  • Class B > Flammable liquids [Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Oils etc.]
  • Class C > Flammable gases [LPG, CNG, PNG, Methane, Propane etc.]
  • Class D > Flammable metal [ Sodium, potassium, lithium etc.]
  • Class K > Kitchen class, Oils & fat
  • Class E > Electrical fire [Electrical short circuit]

5. What to do in case of fire?

You must know the answer, lots of action to be taken & lot of thing to be done, wait let me share a simple, systematic & effective way to deal with fire. The word fire, lets you know what to do FIRE.
Find - The fire, learn its size, location & combustible involved.
Inform - The designated staff, sound the fire alarm immediately.
Rescue - Those in danger, keeping your safety in mind.
&
Restrict - The fire by closing the door, isolating fuel & electrical supplies, closing ventilations.
Extinguish - The fire by using the correct type & quantity of firefighting media.
Or
Evacuate / escape - Evacuate the premises & rush to the safe location. Follow evacuation plan.

Fire Extinguisher

1. How many types of fire extinguishers are there?

  • Dry chemical powder abc type – stored pressure type
  • Dry chemical powder bc type- CO2 cartridge type
  • CO2 type bc fire extinguishers
  • Water type fire extinguishers
  • Mechanical foam fire extinguishers
  • K type fire extinguishers – SS/MS body
  • Lean agent fire extinguishers

2. What is the various capacity of extinguishers?

  • Portable fire extinguishers are ranging from 1kg – 10kg capacity
  • Trolley mounted extinguisher are ranging from 25kg – 150kg
  • Trolley mounted mechanical foam extinguishers are ranging from 9 Ltr – 150 ltr

3. How to confirm the compatibility of fire extinguishers on a particular fire?

Check out the main stickers, it denotes the type of fire on which it is compatible (ABC, BC, A, AB)

4. What is the validity of fire extinguishers? At what interval it should be refilled?

One year, it should be refilled every year.

5. What to do, if an extinguisher is partially used?

It should be refilled immediately.

6. What are the key locations to install a fire extinguisher in a residential building?

Where ever there is a probable risk of fire, namely lift machine room, electrical meter room, near dg set, electrical substation, parking lot, on the floors, etc.

7. What is the most common type of extinguishers present these days?

ABC type stored pressure, dry chemical type fire extinguishers.

8. What is the delivery period for fire extinguishers?

Within 24 hours.

9. Do you offer amc of fire extinguishers? What the frequency of visits?

Yes, We do Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC). Monthly, Quarterly, Half yearly as per client’s requirement.

10. Which type of extinguisher is best to use on electrical appliance/electrical fire?

CO2 fire extinguishers, extinguishing media is liquified gas, which evaporates thus does not damage the appliance.

11. The dry chemical powder which is used in extinguishers is it toxic, what if inhaled is it harmful?

It's not toxic, if inhaled or ingested in small quantity it's not harmful, just clean your nostrils & mouth with water.

12. What is a gross weight of 4.5 kg CO2 fire extinguishers?

Depends on the make, ranging from 16Kg to 20Kg

Should Ask Questions

1. Which are the most effective & easy to use extinguishers?

Dry chemical powder Stored pressure - ABC type fire extinguishers, it is universal fire extinguishers, it is compatible on every type of fire, extinguishing media is dry powder.

2. How to operate a fire extinguisher (stored pressure type)?

Remember the slang PASS:
P for pull the pin,
A for aim,
S for squeeze the lever,
S for sweep.

3. What's the content / extinguishing media in a fire extinguisher?

Depends on the type, varies from powder, liquefied gases, water, foam, evaporating liquids.
Powder's chemical composition Mono ammonium phosphate/Sodium bi-carbonate.
Liquefied gases primarily liquified carbon dioxide.
Foams off- aqueous film forming foam. Synthetic foam.

4. What the discharge duration of fire extinguishers?

Typically, for 9/10 kg fire extinguishers, it is 17 seconds for 100% discharge.

5. What are the advantages of having ABC Stored pressure fire extinguishers over other types?

  • No compatibility issues, it can be used in any type of fire
  • Have controlled discharge, useful in distributed fire
  • Low gross weight, can be carried easily

6. Any warranty for refilling & new supply?

One-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

7. What is the different method of extinguishing fire, what are the principals involved in it?

There are 3 methods to extinguish the fire cooling, smothering & starvation.
● Cooling heat is taken out, example putting water.
● Smoothing cutting out the oxygen, example you put an inverted glass on a candle.
● Starvation- cutting out the fuel or flammable item, example turning of the gas knob, it cut out the fuel supply, removing the flammable material in the near proximity of fire.

8. At what distance we should install fire extinguishers?

Moving in any direction, maximum distance should not be more than 45 feet.

9. What is an ideal condition for extinguishers? Factors to be considered while installed out doors?

Keep it in a dry area, off the ground, at ambient temperature, away from direct sunlight or rain.

Fire Hydrant & Sprinkler System

1. What are the components of fire hydrant system?

It consists of water tanks, pumps, control panel, control valves, pipelines, hydrant valves, hose reel drums, canvas hose, branch pipe etc.

2. How to operate the hydrant valves?

Rotate the wheel in a clockwise direction to open, Rotate the wheel in a counter clockwise direction to shut it.

3. When to operate the fire hydrant system?

In an event of a major fire or if cannot be extinguished by fire extinguishers or hose reel.

4. Is it advisable to operate fire hydrant system alone?

Only if you are trained & confident then only, its more efficient to have a team as it require rigorous labour.

5. Is it necessary to have a fire hydrant system?

Yes, for a high rise building it is mandatory to have a fire fighting arrangement.

6. Is there any laws regarding fire safety?

In Maharashtra, MAHARASHTA FIRE PREVENTION & LIFE SAFETY MEASURES RULE 2009.

7. What precaution we must take around hydrant valves?

In a yard or in the duct, make sure it is readily accessible. Don’t know block it by storage or parking.

8. How to operate a butterfly valve?

Butterfly valves usually have an operating handle, if a valve handle is parallel with the installed pipe it means it is shut, of the valve handle is perpendicular to the installed pipe it means it is closed.

9. What is a fire hose reel drum set? It consists of?

Fire hose reel drum set consist of hose drum, 19 mm dial reel & shut of nozzle.
Drum: - It accommodates the 30 m long reel, having a swivel joint, it rotates to uncoil the hose.
Reel: - It is a 19 mm dial reel, 30 m long, capable of delivering high pressurized water. With a jet of 15 foot, it has a total reach of 115 feet.
Nozzle: - MOC is pvc, it has 2 modes jet & spray.

10. What are the accessories required to use hydrant valve to extinguish fire?

RRL canvas hose & branch pipe.

11. What is a fire sprinkler system?

It a piping arrangement with the pressurized water supply from fire pump room, which had sprinkler head, which operates in case of fire.

12. How does a sprinkler system operate?

It has an automatic operation, when it is subjected to head, sprinkler head got burst & start discharging pressurized water.

13. What are the pumps used in fire sprinkler system?

Jockey pump, Main pump & Standby pump.

14. What is the operating mechanism of sprinkler head?

It has a quartzoid build, which when subjected to its operating temperate it burst & open the seat & water discharged.

15. How many types of sprinkler are there?

There are 4 types: Pendant sprinkler, Upright sprinkler, Sidewall sprinkler & Concealed sprinkler.
All this have 2 Sub-types Standard response & Quick response.

16. What is alarm valve?

In case of fire, when the sprinkler operates the valve gives audible alarm, which notify that there is a fire.

17. At what temperature the sprinkler head operates?

It operates at 68 degree Celsius. (Generally, what is installed in residential & industrial area where we have ambient temperature)

18. Is there sprinkler available for higher temperature?

Yes, it is colour coded (colour of the bulb). Depends on the place of installation, in some locations the ambient temperature is higher. (Process plants, forging units, foundry, boilers, refinery etc.)
● Orange colour - 57 degree Celsius
● Red colour - 68 degree Celsius
● Yellow colour - 79 degree Celsius
● Green colour - 93 degree Celsius
● Blue colour - 141 degree Celsius
● Mauve colour - 182 degree Celsius
● Black colour - 260 degree Celsius

19. How much area does a pendant sprinkler covers?

It covers a circular area having radius of 1.5 meters, typical it is considered 100 sq. ft per sprinkler head.

20. Is there any guidelines or norm for installation of sprinkler?

NBC 2016 part iv & NFPA 13.

Fire Alarm System

1. What are the components of fire alarm system?

Control panel, Cables, Initiating devices (Smoke detectors, Heat detectors, Multi detectors), Notification devices (hooter, strobe).

2. How many types of fire alarm system?

There are two types. Conventional fire alarm & Addressable fire alarm.

● M type- this type of systems has manual call points & control panel, only manual operation.
● Conventional system has SD, HD, BD, MD, MCP, sounder etc. it denotes the zone of distressed area not the specific location. Automatic & manual mode of operations.
● Addressable fire alarm, they the most advance system, ideal for installation in large units, system has SD, HD, BD, MD, MCP, sounder etc.; it denotes the exact location of the fire. Automatic & manual mode of operations.

3. How to operate fire alarm system manually?

To operate the fire alarm system manually, we have to actuate the manual call point. There are several types of MCP’ break glass, push & pull-down type.

4. How many types of detectors are there, which is most commonly used?

  • Smoke detector, heat detector, beam detector, infrared flame detector, multi detectors etc.
  • Smoke & heat is the most commonly used detector.

5. How to find weather the detector is working or not by visual inspection?

Detectors have blinking led on it, it keeps blinking.

6. What to do if you hear a fire alarm?

Immediately evacuate & proceed to the assembly point.

7. What is the shelf life of smoke/heat detectors?

Considering their efficiency, it has a life of 5 years. If maintained properly can last much longer.

8. Is it mandatory to install fire alarm system?

Yes, it is mandatory for high rise & commercial building and several other places as per NBC.

9. What precaution to be taken near the smoke detectors?

  • Prohibit smoking, any naked flames, incense sticks, mosquito coils, any activities that produces smoke or very fine dust.
  • If you are doing renovations or construction activities notify concern person, ask to install the covers on sd.
  • Do not paint the detectors.
  • No wiring shall be done besides the cabling of alarm system.

10. How often preventive maintenance & testing of alarm system should be done?

It should be done every 3 months, not more than that.

Fire Audits & Training

1. What is fire safety audit?

It is a very detailed inspection, done to check the status of general & fire safety in the premises, evaluation of every risk & hazards in the premises & mitigation of the same.

2. Why it is important to conduct fire safety audit?

  • It provides information that is crucial to avoid any accidents,
  • It projects every potential risk & hazard developed during process,
  • It is a tool which can be used to confirm the compliance of fire safety norms.
  • It allows you to, implement proper safety measure which is required as per your current requirement.

3. At what interval we must do the fire safety audits?

Depends on the nature of premises, but at least once every year.

4. What are the main aspects in conducting a fire safety audit?

General safety, fire safety, electrical safety, confined space, fall, slip & trip hazard etc

5. What the next step after getting fire safety audit?

After getting the report, one must implement the rectification measures. Make sure recommendations are fulfilled.

6. Why fire drills/demonstration/safety training is important?

Like any other skill, you get efficient in that task with practice. It makes you better prepared for emergency.

7. What is a scope of basic fire drill?

General discussion of fire, what to do in case of fire, how to operate fire extinguishers, familiarization with fixed firefighting system. Do's & don'ts in case of fire, assessment of risk in your premises.

8. How much time it takes to conduct fire safety training?

With theory & practical sessions it took minimum 2 hours.

9. At what interval we must conduct fire drill?

Every 4 months. (Fire drill, Evacuation, Rescue drill, Elementary first aid).

10. Is it mandatory to conduct fire safety drill?

Yes

Passive Fire Protection

1. What is the passive fire protection means?

Fire retardant doors, Partitions, Fire retardant paints, Fire rated sealants, Fire rated glass etc.

2. Material of construction of fire rated doors?

Metal, Wood, Glass are the options available for fire rated glass.

3. What is the fire rating durations available?

30 minutes, 60 minutes & 120 minutes.

4. What is the thickness of wooden fire door?

It comes with several thickness 35mm, 40mm, 45mm & 55mm.

5. Is the wooden fire door resizable?

Yes, but as per manufacturers guidelines only.

6. What the standard size available of wooden frd?

7 x 2.5 ft, 7 x 3 ft, 7 x 4 ft, 8 x 3 ft, 8 x 4 ft.

7. Can we have custom made wooden fire door?

Yes, We offer custom made with the custom choice of sun mica.

8. Do we have vision panels in the wooden/metal fire door?

Yes, We have vision panels, 200 x 300 mm size, 2 hour fire rated glass.

9. Can we have custom made metal fire door?

Yes, We offer custom made with the custom choice of color.

10. What the direction of door swing of a fire door?

It open outwards.
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