Not all fires are created equal. Every blaze
requires three parts — oxygen, heat and
fuel — in an unbroken chain of events.
But the specific elements that create and
maintain a fire determine the proper way to
fight it.
“Fire extinguishment is based on the
removal of key elements of the triangle or
interruption of the chain of events of the fire
triangle,” says Andy Dolhyj, risk control property specialist at Westfield Insurance. “All
forms of fire extinguishers, automatic sprinkler systems, special protection and manual
firefighting are based on the principle of
removing parts of the fire triangle or disrupting the chain of events to stop the fire.”
Smart Business learned from Dolhyj how
commercial property owners can protect
themselves from disastrous fires.
Who is responsible for the choice of fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems in a building?
Generally, it is the building owner’s responsibility to install fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems and to also maintain them at the
site. Various fire protection contractors, the
insurance company and, on occasion, the
local fire department can assist in choosing
the correct type of equipment for a facility.
What are some of the options?
Extinguishers: These devices have many
different contents. Some types of extinguishment forms include: water, inert gases like
nitrogen and carbon dioxide, HALON and
HALON alternatives, dry chemicals, and
water-based foam.
Automatic sprinklers: This fire protection is almost exclusively water-based, either
with straight water or water-based foam.
Engineers use actual live fire tests to design
custom sprinkler systems. In these trials,
they ignite various occupancies and commodities and adjust the water density to the
point where the fire is under control.
How should building owners choose fire suppressants?
This goes back to the point that not all fires
are created equal. Fires have distinct properties based on their type, fuel and origin. There is a multitude of fuel sources, and each fuel
source causes a different type of fire in terms
of heat of ignition, fire spread and BTU output. One type of fire suppression medium
does not suitably control all types of fire.
Firefighters must apply the correct agent to a
fire to remove one of the elements of the fire
triangle or disrupt the chain of events.
For instance, water is not the most effective
on flammable liquid fires, such as gasoline.
And HALON or a HALON alternative is not
the best way to control a deep-seated fire,
such as one in a storage area for various commodities.
Overall, water does work best in suppressing and controlling many types of fires. This
medium tops the charts in terms of penetration and heat absorption. Water also works
effectively because of the principle of
‘prewetting.’ This means preventing ignition
by cooling down the surrounding objects. On
top of these other advantages, water also
costs less than other agents. However, as
noted above, without the addition of various
chemicals, such as foamers, water may not
always be the best medium for certain types
of fires.
Whom should facility owners consult about their
options?
First, they should obtain assistance from a
fire professional, such as a fire protection contractor, insurance consultants specializing in fire or the local fire department. These
advisers can help determine the best possible
fire protection for the current occupancy and
storages/commodities and analyze the cost
considerations. And, as mentioned previously, water is the cheapest fire suppressant.
What legal requirements should decision-makers keep in mind?
Legal ramifications vary from state to state
and community to community. However, in
almost all instances, the authority having
jurisdiction, usually a fire official or building
official of some type, has the final say on
approvals of installation and acceptance of
fire protection.
How can these decisions affect businesses’ liability?
Again, the rules vary, but inadequate or
improper forms of fire protection or extinguishment media give the occupants of a
building a false sense of security. Not
installing and maintaining the correct suppression systems could actually contribute to
the fire and its spread.
What else should business owners know?
Some insurance companies offer client
services in which they perform plan reviews
prior to the installation of automatic sprinkler systems. They can also offer on-site evaluations of fire protection that include looking
over fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems.
The standards applicable for all extinguishers, sprinkler systems and other forms of fire
suppression come from the National Fire
Protection Association and Factory Mutual
Engineering.
ANDY DOLHYJ, P.E., is the risk control property specialist at
Westfield Insurance and a professional engineer specializing in
fire and fire protection. Reach him at (602) 910-1808 or
[email protected]. In business for more than 158
years, Westfield Insurance provides commercial and personal
insurance services to customers in 17 states. Represented by
leading independent insurance agencies, the product we offer is
peace of mind and our promise of protection is supported by a
commitment to service excellence. For more information, visit
www.westfieldinsurance.com.