Annual Fire Safety Training Module

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Annual Fire Safety

Training Module

OHS Training Module © The University of Queensland

Property and

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Annual Fire Safety Training

Course Overview:

• This training module has been developed for workers at the

University of Queensland, and forms part of the OH&S training

program at UQ.

• This module focuses on assisting University staff:

• Achieve compliance with current Queensland Fire Safety legislative requirements, and

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Course Overview continued...

• The information provided in this module is generic and is not intended to cover all aspects of fire safety. Links have been included to address specific

requirements of the legislation and University procedure.

• Those with a management responsibility and obligations for the health and safety of staff, students and visitors have a responsibility for ensuring all staff are aware of emergency

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.1 Legislative Requirements - BUILDING FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS 2008

Fire Safety Induction Shall:

• Be arranged within one month of employment and annually thereafter. • Include evacuation procedures.

• Include a means of escape.

• Include the location and method of operation of fire fighting equipment. • Include the location and method of operation of fire alarms or equipment

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.2 Duty of Care

All occupants should make themselves familiar with:

• The emergency evacuation procedures for their building,

• The location of fire exits, and

• The operation of fire fighting and emergency Equipment.

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.2 Duty of Care

In the case of Fire or Emergency:

• Sound the fire alarm system. (if there is a break glass alarm)

• Notify the appropriate emergency service contact number for your site (refer to YOUR emergency procedures card for local emergency contact number)

• Details of location, type and scale of the emergency, and • The name and location of the caller.

• Alert other people in the vicinity and notify the Emergency Warden.

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.2 Duty of Care

If you hear the alert mode of the fire alarm or when instructed to evacuate by the Emergency or area warden:

• Walk quietly but quickly to the nearest exit and proceed to the assembly. point outside the building to await further instructions.

• Listen and follow instructions from the area wardens.

In order to prevent injury and possible panic during an evacuation:

• Do not run, push, or overtake. • Use stairs – DO NOT use lifts.

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.2 Duty of Care

Outside of normal working hours:

• On hearing the fire alarm, occupants should evacuate the building even if the evacuate mode does not sound and await further instruction at the evacuation meeting point.

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.3 Emergency Wardens

Building and Floor Wardens

Within all UQ buildings there is an Emergency Control Organisation team (ECO). These volunteers are called wardens and are there to provide direction to building occupants and visitors during any emergency when evacuating your building.

Identification of Wardens

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.3 Emergency Wardens

Role Helmet Colour

Chief Emergency Warden

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.4 Types of Emergencies

• Fire or Explosion • Bomb Threats

• Gas Leak / Chemical Emergencies • Ventilation System Contamination

• Natural Disaster (Earthquake, Storm Damage, Flood Damage) • Fire in Adjacent Building

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.5 Chemistry of Fire – Causes of Fire

• Smoking • Open Flames • Sparks • Electricity • Heating/Cooking Appliances • Friction Heat

• Static Electrical Discharges • Chemical Reactions

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.6 Methods of Extinguishing

• Remove all oxygen • Remove the fuel • Remove the heat

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.7 Smoke Danger

• In nearly all fires there is a large volume of smoke generated in and around the affected area.

• This smoke will contain poisonous and toxic gases. • This toxicity comes from the burning furniture,

floor coverings, office equipment and other unknown materials in the affected area.

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1. Introduction to Fire Safety and Management Training

1.7

• Some materials such as Polystyrene (the panelling

on most UQ freezers) give off cyanide gas and

hydrochloric acid by-products when burnt.

• Smoke is responsible for more deaths and

incapacitating injuries in fire situations than burns.

• In any situation where there is smoke in the building,

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.2 Fire Fighting Operation

P

PULL

A

AIM

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.3 Classification of Fires Class A Combustible Solids Class B Flammable Liquids Class C Flammable Gases Class D Combustible Metals Class (E) Electrical Hazards Class F Cooking Oils and Fats Wood Paper Furniture Bedding Carbonaceous Flammable liquids: * Petrol * Oil * Kerosene Flammable gases: * Propane * Butane * Acetylene Combustible metals: * Magnesium * Lithium * Titanium Fires involving live electrical current Cooking oils and fats

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.4 Selecting the correct extinguisher

Dry Chemical Powder Extinguisher

• Contains a chemical powder.

• Expected duration is approximately 10- 45 seconds dependent on size.

• There are two types, A, B (E) and B (E) • Method of extinction - chemical

inhibition.

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.4 Selecting the correct extinguisher

C0

_{(Carbon Dioxide) Extinguisher}

• Red body with black band.

• Contains compressed CO2 _{in a liquid}

form.

• Expected duration is approximately 10-20 seconds dependent on size. • Used on B,C,(E) & F class fires.

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.4 Selecting the correct extinguisher

Water Extinguisher

• Red body.

• Contains approximately 9 litres of water. • Expected duration is approximately 2

minutes.

• Used on A class fires only. • Method of extinction- cooling. • Warning - not to be used in fires

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.4 Selecting the correct extinguisher

Foam Fire Extinguisher

• Blue body.

• Contains approximately 9 Litres of water and foam.

• Expected duration is approximately 40-50 seconds.

• Used on A & B class fires.

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.4 Selecting the correct extinguisher

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

• Oatmeal band on red body. • Contains a chemical solution.

• Expected duration is approximately 90 seconds.

• Used on A & F class fires.

• Designed specifically for cooking oil and fat fires.

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2.

First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

2.5 Fire Hose Reels

• Hose reels must be manned by two people, one to run out the nozzle and the second person to feed the hose off the reel.

• If you are by yourself don’t consider using a hose reel, the risk of a hose reel malfunction is too great. • Use valuable time to raise the alarm and commence

evacuation of occupants from the immediate area. • Let the professional fire fighters use the installed

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2. First Response Fire Fighting Equipment

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.1 Safety features within buildings

FIRE FIGHTING / PREVENTION SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN BUILDINGS :

• Fire Doors • Smoke Doors

• Suppression Systems • Sprinkler Systems • Fire Hose Reels • Fire Extinguishers • Manual Call Points

• Fire Indicator Panel

• Smoke & Thermal detectors

• Emergency Warning & Intercom System • Emergency Lighting & Exit Signs

• External Hydrants • Internal Hydrants

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.1 Additional Safety features within buildings

Occupancy limits

• Lecture theatres and function areas have occupant number restrictions.

Additional fire engineering design

• Several buildings have additional features where a risk assessment has been performed to meet the fire safety requirements.

Fire trace systems in fume cupboards

• Individual fume cupboard suppression systems .

Supplementary water supply for fire-fighting purposes

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Fire Suppression

• Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually (fire-fighting) or automatically.

• Manual includes the use of fire extinguishers. • Automatic systems include gaseous and foam

suppression systems.

• Significant Solvent storage areas at UQ have these systems maintained.

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Sprinkler systems

• Sprinkler systems are installed in some buildings and are located at ceiling level and connected to pressurised water supply.

• A typical sprinkler system operates when the heat at the site of a fire causes a glass component in the sprinkler heads to fail, thereby releasing the water from the sprinkler head.

• This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operate-not all the sprinklers on a floor or in a building.

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Fire detection

The University maintains various fire detection systems including:

• Smoke detection

• Heat and thermal detection • Flame detection

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Smoke detection

• Photo Optic and Ionisation detectors detect smoke, an indicator of fire (photos right).

• Smoke particles (products of combustion) provide early warning.

Smoke detectors can also be activated by:

• Aerosol sprays • Cooking fumes • Construction works • Heaters

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Thermal detection

• Heat detectors monitor steep rises in temperature. • Fixed temperature heat detectors.

• At temperatures from 47 ⁰C to required high temperatures.

• Detect slowly developing fires.

Rate-of-rise heat detectors

• Operates on a rapid rise in element temperature. •

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Aspirating smoke detection

• An aspirating smoke detector consists of a central detection unit which draws air through a network of pipes to detect smoke.

• Smoke particles can be detected before it is even visible to the human eye.

• Air samples are captured and filtered, removing any contaminants or dust to avoid false alarms and then processed to the detection unit.

• Smoke sensitivity can be as low as .003% obscuration. • Aspirating systems (such as V.E.S.D.A. Systems ) protect

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

3.2 Active Safety Systems

Manual Call Points

• Manual call points are located in various locations throughout buildings.

• In the event of a fire or emergency situation these can be operated by pressing hard in the middle of the clear window and breaking the cover.

• This will initiate the alarm system and alert the ECO and also Security.

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3. Building Fire Safety Systems

• A fire door is a door with a fire resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire or smoke between

compartments and to enable safe egress from a building.

• The fire rated door in combination with a fire rated frame, door hardware, and seals protect occupants in fire rated stairs for up to 2 hours.

• These fire rated compartments enable safe egress out of a building.

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4. Evacuation Procedures

4.1 Evacuation Responsibilities and Procedures

Ensure you follow these procedures in the event of a fire or evacuation

• Be familiar with your work areas and the locations of the Emergency Exits.

• Know the location of all fire equipment and manual call points. • Know the evacuation procedures and Emergency Assembly Areas.

• Respond to all evacuation alarms as planned even if you think it is a false alarm or the annual fire drill.

• Staff in charge of a class are responsible for the safe evacuation of that class. • Follow the directions of Chief and Emergency Wardens.

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4. Evacuation Procedures

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4. Evacuation Procedures

4.2 Evacuation Assembly Areas and Paths of Egress

Emergency evacuation plans are displayed throughout buildings in prominent areas, normally at exits, lift lobbies and foyers

These diagrams show:

• Fire exits and escape routes • Manual call points

• Fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment • Emergency shutdown

• Emergency spill equipment

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4. Evacuation Procedures

4.3 Emergency Response Exercises (Fire Drills)

• Fire evacuation exercises are carried out annually within individual buildings on university campuses.

• The purpose of these exercises is to educate building occupants in the correct manner of evacuating the building in the event of an emergency situation and to meet University legal obligations.

• Evacuation exercises are conducted by the Emergency Wardens under the guidance of the Fire Safety Officer. • Buildings that have been assessed as high fire safety risk,

may be required to undertake additional fire evacuation exercises and chemical emergency response drills

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5. Fire Prevention

5.1 Housekeeping

• Emergency Exit routes and stairways, MUST BE KEPT CLEAR of loose or moveable items including, wheelie bins, chairs, and tables etc.

• No items are to be stored in the fire stairs.

• Never store ANY item other than fire equipment in the fire hose cupboards and within ONE metre of any fire equipment item.

• Avoid build up of combustible waste such as paper, cardboard polystyrene and wooden crates etc in the office areas and exit routes.

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5. Fire Prevention

5.1 Housekeeping

• Keep the use and storage of flammables and

combustibles substances to a minimum and only as required. Store in appropriate cupboards.

• Clean up all spills such as solvents, grease, oil, or water immediately. A delay could result in accidents.

• Fire Rated Doors and Exit Doors are not to be “chocked” open at any time.

• These Fire & Exit doors may only to be permanently held open by an electronic magnetic release and close

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5. Fire Prevention

5.2 Dangerous Goods and / or Hazardous Substances

• Some UQ buildings may contain Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances.

• The Chemical Manifest can be obtained upon request and will need to be authorised for release.

• UQ has an on-line Risk Management Database which allows for hazard identification and risk assessment of all hazards including chemicals.

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5. Fire Prevention

5.2 Dangerous Goods and / or Hazardous Substances

• OH&S audits and Fire Safety audits are conducted in all UQ laboratories annually.

• All laboratory staff at UQ are trained in how to deal with hazardous material emergencies that may occur in their lab. • There are after-hour emergency call-out lists held at the UQ

Security Office, and displayed at the front entrances (on doors), of all UQ Laboratories.

• The University of Queensland has a Crisis Management Plan in place for serious emergency situations.

• All PC2, PC3, Laser Labs, Animal Breeding Houses and

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5. Fire Prevention

5.3 Electrical

Emergency Lighting

• Emergency lighting and Illuminated exit signs are installed throughout the building.

• The emergency lighting appears as small round halogen lights mounted in the centre of the room ceiling areas. They show a red light on the side to indicate that they are operating correctly. These fittings only come on when power is lost to the building.

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5. Fire Prevention

5.3 Electrical

Illuminated Exit Signs

• These can be white with green lettering or Green with white lettering or a white running man symbol on a green background.

• The older fittings do not need to be illuminated all of the time but will come on when power is lost to the building. The newer fittings must be illuminated at all time.

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6. Useful Links

• Fire Safety Management – UQ PPL 2.15.02

• Fire Isolation Form – PF617

• Hot Work Permit Form – PF220

• Emergency Evacuation Plans and Diagrams

UQ Fire Safety website:

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7. Contacts

UQ Senior Fire Safety Officer:

Mr David Peebles Phone: 334-69723 Fax: 336-51900

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7. Assessment

• You have now completed the University of Queensland Annual Fire

Safety Training module

• If you would like to revise any of the topics covered before you begin

the competency assessment, please use the quick find index to

navigate to a particular topic

• You will be asked a set of 20 randomly selected questions. The pass

mark is 80%. You may repeat the test as many times as you require.

Each time you attempt the assessment, you will be presented with a

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7.1 Assessment Location

You can return to

eLearning@UQ (Blackboard) at

any time to complete the

assessment.

Or,

You can complete the

assessment now by selecting

this link: