Judging what you’ll need for your business will depend on a number of variables, for example;

• Look at the types of flammable materials you stock onsite
• Gauge the potential electrical fire risks from your computers or other technical equipment, and consider getting them tested and tagged
• Look at the possible fuels and hazards that could cause a fire in your workplace

Your fire safety needs can change depending on the amount of people occupying your work site. For example, the requirements for a highly populated office will be much different from a restaurant, and different again for a small retail store.

The In2Fire team can help you create a fire safety checklist by asking a range of questions, such as;

• Does your site have a kitchen?
• Do you have a lot of electrical equipment or tools in use?
• How many staff do you have?
• How many visitors or attendees will be moving around your space?
• What class of fire extinguisher best suits your workspaces?
• Would a fire sprinkler system be a better fit for the job?

It can be a lot of work to figure out what you need to be compliant with fire safety standards, but that’s where we come in!

By partnering with us to keep you fire safety compliant, we make the process simple and easy with our in-depth knowledge of fire safety equipment, extinguishers, building codes and Australian legal standards.

Our skilled fire equipment services team can assess your site to evaluate and outline exactly what fire safety equipment you’ll require, provide a quote, and offer a scheduled fire equipment maintenance program to keep your ongoing fire safety an easy job.

To find out more, or to book an obligation-free site visit, give us a call or send us a message today!

The post How Do You Get The Right Fire Safety Equipment For Your Workplace? appeared first on In2 Fire.

In addition, greater awareness of fire causes will also help you reduce or remove any potential harm to your employees or visitors to your work site.

To help you identify some of the common risks we’ve listed areas to pay close attention to, so you can factor them into your emergency evacuation plans.

Staff Kitchens

A lot of business sites with more than a couple of employees often have a designated kitchen space for staff. This may be as simple as a kettle and fridge, or more kitted out with electrical appliances like toaster ovens and microwaves, or a gas stove top.

Having electrical appliances tested and tagged by professionals will go a long way to keeping the site safer, but it’s also important to make sure the right fire safety equipment, such as correct fire extinguishers and fire blankets, are installed in the area.

Photo by Arièle Bonte on Unsplash.

Smoking

Make sure you have a designated staff smoking area that is kept clear of flammable materials, including dry grass or trees and dry debris, chemicals and waste or recycling bins. Ensure you equip the area with separate smoking bins or ashtrays and that they are used by staff to properly put out their cigarette butts. During fire safety training or other OHS courses, ensure your staff know and understand the dangers associated with smoking in your workplace, and where possible encourage smokers to refrain from smoking at work.

Flammable Products

For some businesses, having combustible materials at your workplace is a necessity, so ensuring fire risk is minimised can take some careful planning. Having safe procedures for storage, handling, moving and disposal of these products, and ensuring all staff coming into contact with them have the right training, will go a long way towards keeping fire risk low, but you also can’t forget the installation and maintenance of appropriate fire safety equipment.

Faulty Electrical Equipment

Common in every household as well as workplaces, electrical equipment and appliances are scattered throughout our daily lives. Most electrical goods are long lasting – having life span of over ten years – so, having them checked and tested will significantly lower fire risk from any faults they may gain over their lifetime. Have all electrical items regularly and professionally tagged and tested throughout your workplace to ensure they’re still appropriate and safe for use.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.

Arson

Arson is an unfortunate cause of fire that is particularly prevalent on larger industrial worksites. Keeping all flammable materials cleared from around the exterior of your building will give vandals and arsonists less to work with, while fire sprinklers and monitored alarm systems inside will ensure an effective initial response after hours. Security measures, such as CCTV and automatic lighting will also deter and identify arsonists, and can also help after any incident if any damage did occur.

Misuse of Equipment

We all know accidents happen, and misusing tools or equipment in the workplace results in hundreds of fires around Australia each year. To avoid this all staff should be inducted and trained to properly use each piece of equipment they may need to handle, and to be aware of the dangers of misusing any equipment on purpose. Of course, having the appropriate fire safety equipment installed nearby is always an important preventative measure for when accidental misuse does occur.

While this isn’t a complete list of everything that can go wrong with fire hazards in your workplace, we hope it’s enough to get you thinking about the potential hazards that can be specific to your business.

Staff fire training and having the correct fire extinguishers installed are a great starting point for keeping your workplace fire safe.

For more information about workplace fire safety, or to make an appointment for our expert fire safety team to conduct an obligation free visit to your site, simply give our friendly Melbourne fire services team a call today!

The post What Are The Most Common Causes of Workplace Fires? appeared first on In2 Fire.

When we talk about common fuels that can cause a Class F fire, we’re talking about frequently used kitchen items that we use every day in our personal and professional lives; consider for example how often you cook with vegetable oil, or fry food. What about greasy build up in pans, or meat cooked that has a high fat content or leaves fatty build up on your stove top or in your oven? With how often food is cooked in a home you can see how leaving a pan unattended for a few moments of distraction can lead to a Class F fire. To give you a clearer example of this, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of items that can cause a Class F fire in everyday environments, and which can be put out with a wet chemical fire extin-guisher:

Fatty build ups – splashes out the pan, perhaps spilt after cooking something with high fat or grease content such as duck, bacon, or pork; food cooked in lard, a build up of fat on a stove top can easily catch a spark and ignite.

Oils – vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil, olive oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, and other cooking oils allowed to overheat on a s, or drip off of oven trays.

As you can see from this list, no matter the oil you cook with there is always a chance to start a fire in a kitchen, whether that’s at home, a kitchenette in your office, or a full commercial restaurant kitchen. And, while the causes of home and work place fires can vary greatly, the most common way in which a fire can take hold is from leaving your oven or stove top, so when cooking work to avoid distractions, plan ahead, and keep your stove tops and work areas clear and clean of build ups from fats and oils.

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class F fire?

Wet chemical fire extinguishers are the only extinguisher that can be used on a Class F fire, and having a fire blanket on hand is also recommended.

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

The only type of extinguisher for use on a Class F fire, wet chemical extinguishers, work by cooling the fire and spraying out a mist of potassium that reacts with fats and oils to create a layer which smothers the fire, by being a lower pressure extinguisher they also do not risk spreading around the fuel. Care should be taken when using a wet chemical fire extinguisher on a Class F fire in a confined area, as it can cause eye and skin irritations.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class F fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more diffi-cult than it looks…especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of Co2, dry powder, etc
• S – sweep the extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire incident, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire train-ing every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class F fire?

If a Class F fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (tri-ple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your ad-dress, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services personnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the building. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class F fire with a wet chemical fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire
• you know the cause of the fire to determine the class and correct extinguisher to use

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can at-tempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class F fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to min-imise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class F fire, please contact us or give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire equipment service needs with one of our expert fire services team.

The post Class F Fire: Cooking Fats & Oil appeared first on In2 Fire.

When we talk about items that can cause a Class E fire, we’re talking about objects that we use every day in our personal and professional lives, consider for example your phone on a charger, or perhaps your PC. What about your toaster, or other kitchen appliances such as corded kettles, coffee makers, and microwaves? Thinking about the number of electronic devices scattered around a home or office at any given time, you can see why a Class E fire might be a more common hazard.

To give you a clearer example of this, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of items that can cause a Class E fire in everyday environments, and which can be put out with a dry powder fire extinguisher, or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher:

• Frayed wiring – can happen on any appliance with a cord, TVs, fridges, microwaves, kettles, DVD players, computers, gaming consoles.
• Overheating – can be caused by using the incorrect chargers or not allowing your electronics ventilation, phone chargers, computers and laptops, tablets, bar fridges.
• Appliances that get hot – any appliance that heats up on its own can cause an electrical fire if not supervised, an electric pan, waffle iron, toaster, space heater, hair straightener.
• Using the incorrect cord – using a cord to connect devices to an outlet that are not made to carry the load, extension cords, plug splitters, or multi adapters.

As you can see from this list, fires can start in any area of your home, garage, factory, workspace or office; however, by far the most common place for a fire to start is in a kitchen, whether that’s at home, a kitchenette in your office or a full commercial restaurant kitchen.

And, while the causes of home and workplace fires vary greatly, some of the most common ways in which a fire can take hold is from:

• using the incorrect grade of extension cord to charge an appliance or electric car
• chargers and connected devices overheating
• frayed wiring causing carpet or curtains to catch fire
• leaving clothes or other objects on a space heater

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class E fire?

Dry chemical fire extinguishers and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers can be used on a Class E fire.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers (aka Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers)

Very common for Class E fires, dry chemical fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and removing oxygen. Care should be taken when using a dry powder fire extinguisher on a Class E fire in a confined area, as it can cause breathing, eye and skin irritations.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

Carbon dioxide fire . extinguishers work by stripping fire of oxygen, while also reducing heat with cold discharge. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are particularly useful around electrical equipment or machinery, and are often marked with a black band.

As always care should be taken when using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher in a confined space, as oxygen is being removed from the area, this can become dangerous for the user.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class E fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more difficult than it looks… especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your fire extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of carbon dioxide, dry powder, etc
• S – sweep the fire extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire incident, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire training every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class E fire?

If a Class E fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (triple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your address, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services personnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the building. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class E fire with a dry powder fire extinguisher or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire
• you know the cause of the fire to determine the class and correct extinguisher to use

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can attempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class E fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other fire equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to minimise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class E fire, please give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire equipment service needs with one of our expert team.

The post Class E Fire: Electrical Devices & Appliances appeared first on In2 Fire.

The combustibles in a Class D fire are highly unlikely to be found around your house; however, they are often found in manufacturing plants, or on industrial sites where metals are processed, moulded, or stored, cut, drilled, or milled.

If they are present in your workplace, knowing how to deal with them safely is important. For example, if you work with metal casting, or in a foundry, or perhaps as a metal engineer, a Class D fire is a possibility at your workplace.

Not all metals are flammable, so to give you a clearer idea of common combustible metals, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of metals that can – and do – provide fuel for a Class D fire in workplace environments, and which can be put out with a dry powder extinguisher.

The most common Class D fires usually involve magnesium or titanium, but some other flammable metals include:

• Sodium
• Aluminium
• Lithium
• Uranium
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Plutonium

While most Class D fires need extreme heat to ignite, once the fire has started it can spread very quickly, which can make them very dangerous.

One of the exceptions to high-heat metal fires are any sodium based fires; sodium is highly reactive to both water and air which can cause fire and explosions, so special care needs to be taken when putting them out and we recommend you call trained professionals to do so.

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class D fire?

The only kind of fire extinguisher that can be used to safely suppress a Class D fire is a dry powder extinguisher.

Class D fire extinguishers are tailored to the fuel type; otherwise the fire, while appearing to be put out, it may reignite.

Dry powder fire extinguisher

The only safe extinguisher to use for Class D fires, dry powder fire extinguishers work by separating the fuel from oxygen, or removing heat.

Care should be taken when using a dry powder fire extinguisher on a Class D fire in a confined area, as it can cause breathing, eye and skin irritations, and the removal of oxygen in the area can cause danger to the user.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class D fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more difficult than it looks… especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of water, foam etc
• S – sweep the extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire incident, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire training every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class D fire?

If a Class D fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (triple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your address, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services personnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the building. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class D fire with a Dry powder fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can attempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class D fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to minimise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class D fire, please give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire equipment service needs with one of our expert team.

The post Class D Fire: Combustible Metals appeared first on In2 Fire.

In addition, your Class C fire extinguisher can also be used on any Class A through to class E fires, so they are one of the most useful as a line of defence.

When we talk about common combustibles that can cause a Class C fire, we’re considering stored gas cylinders, fire close to gas sources, or leaks in gas systems like a barbecue or stove top.

At first glance, these may seem a less common fire, but when you consider ovens, heating systems or water heaters, these and other gas powered appliances, as well as stored gas, it’s easy to see how a fire could easily be ignited.

To give you some more examples of this, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of items that can – and do – provide fuel for Class C fires in everyday environments, and which can be put out with a Class C fire extinguisher:

• Gas powered appliances – ovens, stove tops, barbecues, camper stoves, heaters, and water heaters
• Stored gasses – butane, propane.
• Gas powered tools– soldering irons, blow torches, torch ignitors.

As you can see from this list, fires can start in many areas of your home, garage, factory, workspace, or warehouse; however, by far the most common place for a Class C fire to start is in a kitchen.

This includes any prep space with gas appliances and flames, whether that’s in your home, a kitchenette in your office, or a full commercial restaurant kitchen.

And, while the causes of home and workplace fires vary greatly, some of the most common ways in which a fire can take hold is from:

• unattended gas stove top cooking incidents
• gas cylinders stored too close to heat
• a leak in a gas line

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class C fire?

Dry chemical fire extinguishers can be used on a Class C fire. It’s important to note that flammable gasses can often spread quite far from a leak to an ignition source.

So, while a fire may be stifled and some of the flames extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher, it is important to call the fire department as soon as possible, and only approach to use an extinguisher if there is no risk from the explosive nature of the gas.

Dry chemical fire extinguisher

The only safe extinguisher to use for Class C fires. Dry chemical fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and removing oxygen and they are often marked with a white band.

Care should be taken when using a dry chemical fire extinguisher on a Class C fire in a confined area, as it can cause breathing, eye and skin irritations, and the removal of oxygen in the area can cause danger to the user.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class C fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more difficult than it looks… especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of water, foam etc.
• S – sweep the extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire incident, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire training every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class C fire?

If a Class C fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (triple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your address, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services personnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the build-ing. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class C fire with dry chemical fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can attempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class C fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to minimise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class C fire, please give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire equipment service needs with a member of our expert team.

The post Class C Fire: Flammable Gasses appeared first on In2 Fire.

When we talk about common combustibles in a Class B fire, we’re talking about a wide array of items that we use every day in both our personal and professional lives that you may find scattered throughout your home. Consider the oil you keep in the kitchen for cooking, food that when cooked produce a lot of fat or grease, cleaning products under your sink in your kitchen or laundry that you use around the home. What about in your garage where you keep supplies for your car like petrol, coolants, engine oil? Or even the art supplies you keep in your home office like oil paints, or turpentine. You may not realise just how many of these items you have spread around your home or workplace, but they really are common!

To give you a more straightforward example of this, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of items that can – and do – provide fuel for a Class B fire in everyday environments, and which can be put out with a Class B suitable fire extinguisher:

• Cooking liquids – cooking oil, fats, grease
• Cleaning products – chemical cleaning products, glass and window cleaners, sanitizers
• Oils – vegetable oil, engine oil, lubrication oils
• Fuels – Petroleum greases, gasoline, hydraulic fluids, kerosene, petrol
• Alcohols – Drinks, rubbing alcohol, solvents, acetone, methylated spirits
• Art Supplies – oil paints, turpentine, lacquers, strippers, cleaners

As you can see from this list, fires can start in any area of your home, garage, factory, work-space or office; however, by far the most common place for a fire to start is in a kitchen, whether that’s at home, a kitchenette in your office or a full commercial restaurant kitchen. And because these are a fairly common class of fire it is important to remember to never use water or a water-based extinguisher to attempt to extinguish a Class B fire, as doing so can cause the fire to grow by spreading the flammable liquid.

And, while the causes of home and workplace fires vary greatly, some of the most common ways in which a fire can take hold is from:

• unattended cooking incidents
• sparks from machinery
• cigarette butts discarded in bins or on the ground

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class B fire*?

Foam, dry chemical, and CO2 fire extinguishers can be used on some types of Class B fire.

Dry chemical

Very common for Class B fires, dry chemical fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and removing oxygen. Care should be taken when using a dry chemical fire extinguisher on a Class B fire in a confined area, as it can cause breathing, eye and skin irritations and poor visi-bility. These types of extinguisher are commonly marked with a white band.

Foam

Often marked with a blue band, foam fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and sup-pressing potentially dangerous vapours. Again, care should be taken when using a foam fire extinguisher in an enclosed space.

Co2

Co2 extinguishers work by stripping fire of oxygen, while also reducing heat with cold dis-charge, Co2 extinguishers are particularly useful around electrical equipment or machinery, and are often marked with a black band. As always care should be taken when using a Co2 ex-tinguisher in a confined space, as oxygen is being removed from the area, this can become dangerous for the user. It’s also important to note that Co2 extinguishing material can cause frost bite to skin if applied directly, so extra care is needed.

*Special note about fat and alcohol fires: If your site has high concentrations of alcohol stored or used, it’s important to note that an alcohol-resistant extinguisher should be used. For fat fires, a wet chemical or BE fire extinguisher should be activated. Using a dry chemical, foam or Co2 extinguisher may exacerbate the situation and cause the fire to spread.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class B fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more difficult than it looks…especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of water, foam etc
• S – sweep the extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire inci-dent, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire training every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

Photo via Safety + Health.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class B fire?

If a Class B fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (triple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your address, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services per-sonnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the build-ing. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class B fire with a foam, dry chemical, or CO2 fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can attempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class B fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to minimise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about fire extinguishers in Melbourne and how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class A or Class B fire, please give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire extinguisher service needs with one of our expert fire equipment services team.

The post Class B Fire: Combustible & Flammable Liquids appeared first on In2 Fire.

That’s because, when we talk about ordinary combustibles in a Class A fire, we’re really  talking about a wide range of items that we use everyday in our personal and professional lives. Consider the paperwork on top of your desk or all the flammable bits of scrap paper in the bin underneath it. Or what about your timber floors, or your wooden furniture such as chairs, tables and window or door frames? You may not realise how much you have around you in the way of ordinary combustibles, but they really are everywhere!

To give you a clearer example of this, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of items that can – and do – provide fuel for a Class A fire in everyday environments, and which can be put out with a water or foam fire extinguisher:

• paper – newspapers, books, letters, diaries, cardboard
• fabric – curtains, cushions and covers, quilts and bedding, toys, clothing
• timber – chairs, tables, desk tops, benches, wooden doors and windows
• plastics – soft plastic food packaging, rubbish and recycling plastics
• rubber – car, motorbike or bicycle tyres, some furniture items

As you can see from this list, fires can start in any area of your home, garage, factory, workspace or office; however, by far the most common place for a fire to start is in a kitchen, whether that’s at home, a kitchenette in your office or a full commercial restaurant kitchen.

And, while the causes of home and office fires vary greatly, some of the most common ways in which a fire can take hold is from:

• unattended gas stove top cooking incidents
• unattended candles
• cigarette butts thrown into wastepaper or other bins
• fireplace embers falling onto carpet or curtains

Which fire extinguishers can be used on a Class A fire?

Water, dry chemical, foam and wet chemical fire extinguishers can be used on a Class A fire.

Water

In most cases, water is the best and most common choice when fighting a Class A fire because it’s quick to use, is easier to clean up and causes less damage to the surrounding area, particularly if there are soft furnishings, carpets or curtains nearby. Water filled fire extinguishers work on a Class A fire by reducing heat, one of the three essential elements needed for a fire to burn.

Dry Chemical

Also very common for Class A fires, dry chemical fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and removing oxygen. Care should be taken when using a dry chemical fire extinguisher on a Class A fire in a confined area, as it can cause breathing, eye and skin irritations.

Foam

Good for Class A fires with plastics as the fuel, foam fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire and suppressing potentially dangerous vapours. Again, care should be taken when using a foam fire extinguisher in an enclosed space.

Wet Chemical

Usually found in commercial kitchens, wet chemical fire extinguishers work by suppressing burning fuels – it is most effective on burning cooking oils or fats – and deploying a soap-like substance to prevent re-ignition. It is not necessary to have a wet chemical fire extinguisher available for a Class A fire risk, but it can be used if a water or foam extinguisher isn’t available.

How do I use a fire extinguisher on a Class A fire?

While it might look like an easy thing to do, actually actioning a fire extinguisher can be more difficult than it looks…especially in the middle of a fire emergency!

We highly recommend regular workplace training at which our fire experts will give your team hands-on experience in using the PASS method of fire suppression:

• P – pull the pin on the fire extinguisher handle
• A – aim your extinguisher at the fire
• S – squeeze the handle firmly but gently to start the flow of water, foam etc
• S – sweep the extinguisher across the seat of the fire

Workplace fire training not only helps your team learn what to do in the event of a fire incident, but will also help them be more fire safe in their own home. We recommend workplace fire training every 6 months or when you have a new intake of staff.

A good way to remember to book a workplace fire safety training session is to review your level of competency whenever daylight savings comes around.

When should I use a fire extinguisher on a Class A fire?

If a Class A fire breaks out in your workplace you should follow the management and evacuation process that has previously been agreed upon.

While your workplace may differ, the most common process is for you to immediately call 000 (triple zero) and ask for the fire brigade; the operator will ask you for the type of emergency, your address, suburb and any other information that will be useful to emergency services personnel who are turned out to attend the incident.

You should then raise the alarm to alert co-workers and give them time to evacuate the building. Once everyone has left the building or area, no one should go back for any reason.

If you feel it is safe to do so, you can fight a Class A fire with a water, foam, dry chemical or wet chemical fire extinguisher, only if:

• the fire is small with flames shorter than you
• the fire is contained within a small space
• the fire isn’t spreading rapidly
• the room isn’t full of smoke (smoke inhalation can quickly cause unconsciousness)
• you have a clear exit path in case you need to escape the fire

Using the PASS method, and ensuring that you have a clear line of escape at all times, you can attempt to put the fire out prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

However, if you feel unsafe or unable to use a fire extinguisher, then simply don’t risk it. Evacuate the building and wait for the fire brigade to arrive and deal with the fire.

How do I ensure I have the right equipment for a Class A fire?

It makes sense that your fire safety equipment should be maintained to the highest standard so it works well when you need it most.

In a commercial setting, it is a legal requirement that you have your fire extinguishers and other equipment tested on a regular basis (depending on the type of business you run). Therefore, a maintenance schedule is vital to ensuring the safety of you, your staff and site visitors, and to minimise any potential damage to your premises.

Our team of fire safety experts can organise this for you, saving you the time and hassle of having to think about it for your office, factory, warehouse, body corporate, government building or workshop.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you keep your premises and people safe from a Class A fire, please give us a call on 1800 177 915 to arrange an obligation-free visit to discuss your fire equipment service needs with one of our expert team.

The post Class A Fire: Ordinary Combustibles Such As Paper Or Wood appeared first on In2 Fire.

No matter the set up, the maintenance of an apartment block is almost always the responsibility of the body corporate or strata group.

And, whilst the maintenance of a building includes general things like broken windows, it should also include a discussion and an awareness of the emergency procedures and the health and safety issues that may exist in the building.

To identify fire safety issues within an apartment building, all strata titled properties are required to perform annual fire safety inspections of the common property.

Tests of all fire safety installations at regular intervals, ensuring evacuation routes are kept clear of obstructions, checking exits have the correct hardware, staff training in the event of an emergency, the appointment of a Fire and Evacuation Co-ordinator, a review of the fire evacuation plan, a log of these tests kept and a certificate of classification being displayed are some of the ways a commercial building can perform a thorough inspection.

The fire evacuation plan is particularly important; it should be simple and effective, so as not to confuse residents, and should describe the roles, required actions and responsibilities for the buildings key personnel, employees and tenants in the event of a fire emergency.

Fire emergencies can often happen unexpectedly and quickly, but being prepared for the situation can provide focus and direction for residents and visitors alike.

If you live in an apartment block, your strata or body corporate group will be able to provide more information on fire safety precautions and plans. Or, if you’re part of an owners, strata or body corporate group that requires help with fire safety planning, speak to our friendly fire equipment services team today about how we can assist.

The post What About Apartment Block Fire Safety Management? appeared first on In2 Fire.

As with any type of training – such as First Aid or OHS – fire safety is at its most effective when reviewed on a regular basis, whether that’s every six months or annually, but you should also think about running an onsite fire training course if you’ve had a recent additions to your workplace team.

Why should you organise regular workplace fire training in Melbourne? Well, we’re glad you asked! 

Not only will fire safety training keep your onsite team and site visitors safer from the risk of fire related injury, it will also give everyone you work with the confidence and awareness to identify, alert and react to potentially dangerous situations within your commercial premises.

As well as the steps they should take to manage a fire event, participants will learn practical skills like how to handle, hold and operate a fire extinguisher, what a smoke alarm sounds like, and where they should go in the event of an evacuation.

We’ll also run through how the emergency services will respond, how to clearly communicate with your work colleagues and attending emergency personnel, and what each person’s responsibilities are during a fire emergency.

When you book workplace fire training in Melbourne through In2 Fire, we’ll run sessions with small groups of no more than 20 people at a time so everyone can see and hear the information they’ll need to know to keep them safe at work.

It’s easy to organise and could just save a life… so speak to our fire equipment services team today about workplace fire safety training by giving us a call today!

The post Why You Should Organise Regular Workplace Fire Training appeared first on In2 Fire.