Key Stages - Step 1

Identify Fire Hazards

For a fire to start, three things are needed:

• A source of ignition
• Fuel
• Oxygen.

If any one of these is missing, a fire cannot start. Taking measures to avoid the three coming together will therefore reduce the chances of a fire occurring.

Identify sources of ignition

You can identify the potential ignition sources in your premises by looking for possible sources of heat which could get hot enough to ignite material found in your premises. These sources could include:

• smokers’ material, e.g. cigarettes, matches and lighters
• naked flames, e.g. candles or gas or liquid-fuelled open-flame equipment
• electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters (fixed or portable)
• hot processes, e.g. welding by contractors or shrink wrapping
• cooking equipment
• faulty or misused electrical equipment
• arson

Identify sources of fuel

Anything that burns is fuel for a fire. You need to look for the things that will burn reasonably easily and are in enough quantity to provide fuel for a fire or cause it to spread to another fuel source. Some common ‘fuels’ found in premises are:

• liquid, such as paints, varnishes, thinners, adhesives, solvents, (white spirit, mentholated spirit) and cooking oils
• flammable chemicals, such as certain cleaning products, photocopier chemicalsand dry cleaning that uses hydrocarbon solvents
• packaging materials, stationery, advertising material and decorations
• textiles and soft furnishings, such as hanging curtains and clothing displays
• waste products, particularly finely divided items such as shredded paper and wood shavings, off cuts, and dust
• flammable gases such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

You should also consider the materials used to line walls and ceilings, e.g. polystyrene or carpet tiles, the fixtures and fittings, and how they might contribute to the spread of fire.

Identify sources of oxygen

The main source of oxygen for a fire is in the air around us. In an enclosed building this is provided by the ventilation system in use. This generally falls into one of two categories: natural airflow through doors, windows and other openings; or mechanical air conditioning systems and air handling systems.

Additional sources of oxygen can sometimes be found in materials used or stored at premises such as:

• some chemicals (oxidising materials), which can provide a fire with additional oxygen and so help it burn.
• oxygen supplies from cylinder storage and piped systems, e.g. oxygen used in welding processes
• pyrotechnics (fireworks), which contain oxidising materials.

An ideal method of identifying and recording these hazards is by means of a simple single line plan, an example of which is illustrated below . Checklists may also be used.