Fire hazardous objects always attract the increased attention of employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. This is understandable: a possible explosion will not only cause damage to objects of economic activity, but also be able to take the lives of many people. Accidents at fire hazardous facilities are considered the most difficult, and special technologies and special tools are used to localize and eliminate them.
Fires, explosions. Definition
It is customary to call a fire an ignition that covers a certain area. As a result of such a fire, material values are damaged, the environment is damaged, and there is a threat of loss of life or he alth for people. The fire is extended in time: it can last for hours and even days. Often a fire occurs as a consequence of an explosion - with a sharp ignition of a gas, a sharp increase in temperature leads to the ignition of all combustible substances around. There are also reverse cases, when slow heating leads to the detonation of an explosive.
Explosion is a sharp ignition of combustible or flammable compounds, mixtures, solids. Ignition occurs in a very short period of time. AtIn an explosion, the combustible substance ignites sharply, creating a contrast between the ambient temperature and the hot hell at the epicenter of the explosion. From such a difference, even fire-resistant materials are destroyed, which, in principle, can withstand prolonged heating. The main cause of explosions is the detonation of combustibles.
Explosive objects
In most cases, explosive construction sites include buildings for industrial and household purposes. This includes warehouses and production facilities of workshops for the manufacture and storage of explosive substances, mixtures or their components. Most cases of fires, explosions or leaks of hazardous mixtures are registered at industrial facilities specializing in the production of combustible materials and explosives.
The second risk group is mines. Methane and coal dust are the first causes of fires and explosions at mining facilities. These substances are present in every coal mine and pose a considerable danger to the lives of miners. Of course, personal fire brigades are provided at each mining site and all necessary security measures are taken. But this is not a complete guarantee of preventing explosions and fires.
The third risk group is military training grounds, where unexploded shells and mines accumulate in large numbers over time. Their safety is the direct responsibility of the sapper units, but when the situation gets out of control, the case is taken andcivil services of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The consequences of the emergency at the landfills are carefully studied, but the results of the investigations in most cases are hidden from the attention of the general public for reasons of secrecy.
Main causes of occurrence
Fire hazardous situations do not arise from scratch. Experts identify the main causes of fires and explosions at work, including:
- Violation of fire safety regulations and rules by employees.
- Negligent attitude to fire by staff.
- Malfunction or incorrect use of electrical equipment.
- Doing certain jobs without proper equipment and safety rules.
- The consequences of explosions provoked by an emergency or leakage of flammable substances.
- Disregard for order, non-compliance with the rules of cleanliness in the work area.
- Storage of flammable materials and substances in prohibited places.
- Intentional arson.
Intentional and unintentional causes of fires. Whose duty is it
The conditions and causes of fires and explosions are a separate topic, which is carefully studied by employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and various departments responsible for human and environmental safety. As a result of the work carried out, the main factors provoking the occurrence of fires and explosions were identified.
Causes of fires
Safety neglect is the most common cause of fire. In fact, it should be consideredintentional, since fire or explosion in this case is the work of man. These are technical malfunctions, and non-compliance with the technology of production processes, and much more. Damage from such damage is usually covered by the internal reserves of the enterprise or by the person whose actions caused the fire.
A smaller proportion of all emergencies in this area are fires caused by a random combination of circumstances - a lightning strike, an earthquake or a hurricane. Natural causes of fires and explosions are a standard clause in an industrial insurance contract. Damage caused by force majeure may be covered by insurance claims.
Fire and explosion prevention
The conditions and causes of fires and explosions are the prerogative of the safety departments, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and labor protection inspectors. Their joint efforts have developed valuable volumes of instructions and recommendations, the observance of which will significantly reduce the risk of fire or explosion. The entire set of rules aimed at preventing fires is based on an analysis of the causes of fires and explosions, as well as their localization and the creation of algorithms for successful extinguishing.
Measures for the prevention of fires in enterprises can be divided into four groups. Fire safety inspectors and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations work closely with these groups. Let's take a closer look at measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of causes of fires and explosions in enterprises andcommercial real estate.
Technology and control
The first paragraph lists the conditions under which the possibility of fires and explosions is excluded. Here are collected recommendations, the observance of which leads to the prevention of the formation of explosive mixtures and compositions that provoke the occurrence of flames. The developers of the recommendations suggest, if possible, to analyze the causes of fires and explosions, their consequences, to replace hazardous substances with less flammable and explosive ones, or to add inert additives to the compositions. The introduction of additives N2, CO22 into the combustible substance, dilution of gases with carbon monoxide significantly reduces the likelihood of ignition and makes such substances less dangerous during transportation, movement or storage.
Modernization and fire risk
A separate item in this group contains recommendations regarding the improvement of technological processes. This refers to technologies that significantly reduce the amount of hazardous substances in the equipment used. This also includes the automation of processes that reduce human participation in the management of dangerous mechanisms; sealing systems, production plants and industrial tanks.
Protective equipment
The use of protective devices significantly reduces the likelihood of fires and explosions. This item includes the installation of lightning rods, compensators, grounding. This also includes the installation of modern ventilation systems,which direct air flows to designated areas, regular monitoring of the performance of heating systems and electrical networks.
The last point of this group can be considered explanatory work with the personnel of the enterprise, which explains the causes and consequences of explosions and fires using specific examples, compliance with fire safety recommendations and rules of conduct in the workplace.
Preventive measures
Preventive actions are aimed at reducing the probability of occurrence of causes of fires and explosions already at the planning stage of the construction of an industrial facility.
Among such measures are the following:
- eliminating the possibility of large-scale spread of harm caused by an explosion or fire;
- rational determination of the location for development, taking into account the characteristics of the landscape, prevailing winds, climate, roads and other things;
- planning of buildings, temporary structures and permanent structures in compliance with safe distances between construction sites;
- building zoning, road placement, compliance of entrances with fire safety requirements;
- accurate compliance with the recommendations of the developer in terms of the choice of non-flammable materials;
- location and maintenance of existing fire barriers: barriers, firewalls, fire-resistant ceilings and others.
Safe evacuation
Proactive security measures include route planning,which can be involved in the evacuation of material assets and people from the disaster zone. When performing this paragraph, you should pay attention to the following points:
- objects should be placed on floors, taking into account their potential fire or explosion hazard;
- should equip a sufficient number of emergency exits, flights of stairs, doorways, etc.;
- engineers must provide in the main project the possibility of creating emergency discharge systems, traps, tanks, etc.
Conditions for the successful elimination of a fire or an explosion
The causes of explosions and fires can be successfully eliminated if safety precautions are observed. An equally important factor in the destruction of a source of fire danger is the observance of an exact algorithm of actions aimed at eliminating the source of an explosion or fire. These actions include:
- Correct selection and location of fire fighting equipment. The list of fire extinguishing devices must be agreed with the local fire inspector.
- Arrangement of unhindered access to fire extinguishing equipment, as well as to hydrants, reservoirs and water systems.
- Providing facilities under construction and finished with special signaling devices that notify of a sharp increase in temperature or smoke in the premises.
- Develop instructions to enable plant personnel to respond appropriately in the event of a fire.
How development worksinstructions?
Basically, the development of the procedure is based on an analysis of the causes of fires and explosions that occurred earlier at enterprises of the same industrial focus. With this analysis:
- the nomenclature and procedure for using explosive and flammable compounds in production processes are taken into account;
- determines the level of fire hazard in industrial premises;
- factors of the production process are identified, upon the occurrence of which leakage of flammable substances is possible.
This is how experience is gained in preventing fires and explosions in organizations and the procedure is determined, following which you can save the lives and he alth of employees and property of the company. Fire safety specialists are involved in the development of instructions, and control over their execution lies on the shoulders of the administration. Typically, in enterprises where the number of employees exceeds 70-100 people, a special fire safety officer is appointed. In companies where the number of full-time employees does not exceed 70, this position is held by a director or manager.
Causes of home fires
A separate area of research by specialists is the analysis of the causes of fires and explosions at home. Most home fires are caused by:
- violations of the rules for the operation of electrical appliances;
- working with faulty electrical appliances;
- violations of the rules for using gas stoves orcolumns;
- careless handling of open fire.
To reduce the number of domestic fires, preventive conversations are held with the population, and life safety is taught to schoolchildren. The efforts of teachers or inspectors do not always lead to an understanding of the danger of open fire, but work in this direction is ongoing. We hope that soon every child and teenager will know the causes of fires and explosions, and the number of lives claimed by fire will be reduced to zero.
