What is a fire point?
A fire point is a specific place in an industry or multinational company or in an office specified by the EHS department where everything is available which are necessary for a fire emergency. You can also say “The point or place where fire risks and the availability of fire emergency-related equipment are necessary at this point”.
Significance of Fire Points in Fire Prevention
The fire point plays a very important role in fire prevention and control of fire as soon as possible. Fire points are the places where everything is available which used to control fire. Employees know about the fire point location when a fire suddenly appears so employees go to this point and pick the desired element to control the fire on time. Fire points are the first fire safety.
Imagine you are on duty and a fire suddenly appears. You do not have anything to control the fire.
- First, you go to your locker for personal safety equipment like a safety helmet, mask, etc.
- Second, go to the MCP (manual call point) and Saron to be aware others about this fire.
- Then go to the fire extinguisher to control the fire.
- If you can’t access the fire or you cannot control the fire at an early stage then you need the extra helping equipment to control it.
In these actions, you spend a lot of time that is very dangerous in a fire emergency. Because fire spread in seconds.
With all your safety equipment, fire control equipment, and helping equipment available in a single place, it’s easy and quick to control fire.
Location of Fire Point
The fire post’s location is a very important factor due to ease of access for everyone and near to fire risk places like stores and fuel tanks. The fire point surrounding the area should be clear and marked. The isle mark should be clear and highlighted. You can control the fire at an early stage by using the fire control equipment at the time. The location of the fire point is very important in high-fire-risk areas. Below are high-fire-risk areas of the industry.
- Petroleum products storage tanks
- Raw material stores
- Packing Material Store
- Waste store
- Electric main transmission and panels
NOTE
Keep clear the surroundings of the fire point. The isle marking should be highlighted and clear. The route to the fire point should be clear.
🔥 Fire point element.
| Sno | Element Name | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) | Personal Safety |
| 02 | Fire suite | Personal Safety |
| 03 | Safety Helmet | Personal Safety |
| 04 | Gas mask | Personal Safety |
| 05 | Torch / Flashlight | Personal Safety |
| 06 | MCP manual call points | Be aware |
| 07 | Manual saron/ megaphone | Be aware |
| 08 | Fire buckets. | Fire control |
| 09 | Fire extinguishers (Small size) | Fire control |
| 10 | Fire extinguishers (Large size) | Fire control |
| 11 | Wire cutter/lock cutter | Help Tool |
| 12 | Fire blanket | Help Tool |
| 13 | Ladder | Help Tool |
| 14 | Firebeater | Help Tool |
| 15 | Hooker | Help Tool |
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
A device is worn to provide breathable air in case of a fire emergency when a fireman controls the fire in a smoky environment. It protects from dangerous gases, and airborne contaminants that may be dangerous to breathe.
Fire suite
A fire suit worn by firefighters during firefighting operations. It, also known as turnout gear or bunker gear, is a type of protective clothing made with specific fire and heat-resistant material.
Safety Helmet
Helmets are used for head safety while working in construction, industries, and where work at height and where head injury risk.
Here are the 6 color safety helmets:
White: Supervisor, Engineer, Manager and Forman
Yellow: For Labour and Earth-moving Operators
Red: For Fire Fighters
Orange: Welder, Worker with high heat applications
Green: For Safety Officers
Blue: For Electrician, Carpenter, and Technical Operators
Gas mask
A chemical mask protects a worker from hazardous chemical inhalation. Chemical masks used in cases of:
- During a fire emergency
- During spillage of hazardous chemical
- During chemical Handling
- While working in a confined space
- During evaporation
- During work in a chemical store
Torch / Flashlight
An angled torch or flashlight can save lives during firefighting operations at night. Because a lot of smoke and dust in the environment in a fire emergency that makes it difficult to see.
MCP manual call points.
The manual call point is a button with a cover of a piece of glass. The button is connected to the emergency alarm system. MCP should be placed near all emergency doors, exit points, and fire points. In case of an emergency, any one of the emergency response team members first press this button to alert all about the emergency.
Manual saron/ megaphone
Sometimes during an emergency, the electric system is damaged or needs to be cut off. So, in this case, manual saron and megaphone are the best sources to be aware of all people in an emergency.
Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is a type of cylinder filled with fire control material under high pressure.
There are 5 types of fire control material according to the type of fire.
1. Water Type
3. Foam Type
5. Wet Chemicals
2. CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
4. DCP (Dry Chemical Powder)
Fire buckets
A fire bucket is a bucket filled with dry sand or water. It needs to be used in a fire or spillage emergency.
Wire cutter/lock cutter
Wire cutter or lock cutter used during an emergency. Sometimes fire occurs in a room that is already locked or covered with a fence. Then you need to cut the lock and fence wires.
Fire blanket
Fire blankets are mostly used during the control of kitchen fires. It is used to control fire when a worker is suffering from fire. It’s also used for covering the human body or burning a car to control the fire by cutting off air or oxygen supply.
9. Ladder
It used to climb high-roof buildings for fire fighting and rescue the people. It’s available in different types and sizes in the market.
Fire beater
Fire beaters can be used to put out general fires in open areas when the fire is at an early stage. It is used only in the A-class fire type. It is also used to beat the fire to remove it.
Hooker
A hooker is a stout pole with a metal hooker and head and is especially used during firefighting. It’s used to tear down burning material placed at height. It’s especially used to cut off the material supply to the fire by making the distance between flammable material.
Fire Point Training
Arrange training for all workers about the fire point. Highlight the points
- Describe the importance of fire points in the industry.
- A detailed description of each element of the fire point is the key point for workers’ training.
- How to use the Fire Point element?
- Train all workers to operate and use elements of fire points.
- Use elements appropriate for this type of emergency.
- Check the safety matrix skills of each worker.