Some fire hazards are obvious, such as open flames or unsafe electrics. But others can take people by surprise. Here are some common fire hazards that you may or may not be aware of.
Oxygen fire hazards
Some fire hazards are specific to sources of oxygen – one of the three elements of the fire triangle. A fire needs heat and fuel to burn, and many people forget that ready sources of oxygen can be a fire risk. So these include areas such as open doors and windows, holes in a wall or structure, air conditioning systems, oxygen cylinders and systems, and any oxidising systems. Suddenly, the reason for fire doors becomes clear!
Surprising sources of fuel
Fuel is the most obvious source of a fire hazard and one of the areas that most people consider first when carrying out a fire risk assessment Gloucester such as //apmfireandsecurity.com/fire-risk-assessment/gloucester/. These hazards can include plastics, wall linings, paints and inks, waste and packaging, paint, textiles, insulation, wood, structural materials, metals and fixtures and fittings.
Ignition fire hazards
These are the last element of the fire triangle ,and they explain where the heat source comes from that needs to interact with fuel and oxygen to create a blaze. But again, they aren’t limited to open flames and electrical faults. They can be caused by heat, cooking equipment, boilers, radiated heat, sparks and even static electricity.
Together, these three categories show why fires are so risky in homes and workplaces and why a regular fire risk assessment in Gloucester is so essential.