Chemical fires present a unique set of challenges compared to traditional fires. Not only are the flames unpredictable and difficult to suppress, but they also tend to spread extremely fast.
Effective fire prevention strategies are essential for any business or organization that deals with flammable or hazardous chemicals. However, even the most well-prepared should still have the right equipment and response plans to deal with a chemical fire should the worst happen.
Today, we will cover the best prevention practices for chemical fires. From there, we’ll discuss how to contain and extinguish these types of fires. From choosing the right fire extinguishers to employing a well-maintained fire sprinkler system, you’ll learn how to protect your property from chemical fires.
We’ll even explain how you can prevent fire sprinkler-related water damage by keeping a Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut Off Tool near every fire extinguisher.
Let’s get started!
Why Are Chemical Fires So Dangerous?
Before we discuss ways you can help prevent and react to chemical fires, it’s worth explaining why they are considered to be such a dangerous and difficult type of fire.
Most fire safety experts consider chemical fires more dangerous than a typical fire because they are unpredictable. They tend to spread quickly, and the burning hazardous chemicals can produce toxic fumes, choking and disorienting those trying to escape the flames.
Plus, chemical fumes released during a fire can cause lasting inhalation injuries, which could impact a person’s health long after extinguishing the fire.
Unless they are put out using the correct extinguishing agents and techniques, they can easily trigger secondary fires and explosions. This is why proper training, prevention techniques, and effective response strategies are vital when dealing with these types of fires.
Effective Chemical Fire Prevention Strategies
1. Hazard Identification
The first step in preventing chemical fires is identifying and assessing the potential risks. Thoroughly itemize any type of chemicals stored in the facility, then evaluate how flammable they are.
This information is critical when determining how chemicals will be stored and disposed of. It also helps reduce the risk that a potentially dangerous chemical will be overlooked.
2. Safe Storage, Handling, and Disposal of Chemicals
Once the hazard points have been identified, all employees should be trained in safely handling chemicals. Clear protocols for storing, carrying, and disposing of chemicals must be made clear to everyone. Flammable chemicals must also be stored far away from potential heat and ignition sources.
3. Conduct Regular Inspections and Safety Training Sessions
Once the correct safety procedures are in place, it is essential to ensure that standards do not slip. Conduct regular fire drills focusing on safely evacuating and effectively using fire extinguishers. Regularly check that chemicals are stored correctly and inspect spills and leaks.
How to Suppress a Chemical Fire
While prevention is always preferable to suppression, preparing is still incredibly important. With chemical fires, preparation requires having the correct fire suppression equipment distributed throughout the facility, especially in areas where chemicals are stored and used.
To put out a chemical fire, your business should be equipped with the following:
Have a Well-Maintained Fire Sprinkler System
Fire sprinkler systems aren’t useful for suppressing fires; they help control their spread. By releasing high-pressure water or other extinguishing agents when temperatures reach a level that would indicate a fire, these automated systems can smother a chemical fire and reduce its intensity.
With that said, fire sprinkler systems are susceptible to misfires, accidental activations, or even just running after they successfully extinguish a fire.
This is why it is so important to have a quick shut-off tool that can stop water flow immediately. Building your own Custom Shutgun Case is one of the best ways to ensure you have the correct number and type of sprinkler shut-off tools for your exact needs.
Regular inspections and maintenance are also crucial, as they allow issues to be addressed before the sprinkler system is actually needed.
Use the Correct Fire Extinguishers
Chemical fires present unique challenges, so your facility must be equipped with the correct class of fire extinguishers.
For chemical fires involving combustible liquids and gasses, you will need Class B fire extinguishers, which use a foam extinguishing agent or compressed carbon dioxide (CO2), which can effectively smother these fires. The foam agent acts almost like a blanket, smothering the fire and preventing re-ignition.
C02 fire extinguishers work similarly but starve the chemical fire by displacing the oxygen needed to continue burning. On the other hand, fires fueled by chemical gasses will require a Class C fire extinguisher.
As mentioned, it is recommended that you position at least one fire sprinkler shut-off tool beside every fire extinguisher. This is a good practice because it ensures they are distributed throughout the facility and easily located if a fire sprinkler head needs deactivated. Invest in a Shutgun Kit, as well as Shutgun Wall Mounts, so yours will always be within reach.
Have Access to Other Chemical Fire Suppression Equipment
While fire sprinklers and extinguishers are your first line of defense when putting out chemical fires, having other safety equipment is also essential.
Dry chemical systems are one option for facilities that house significant volumes of flammable chemicals, like chemical plants, laboratories, and chemical storage facilities. These systems work by releasing a fine powder rather than water. The powder smothers the fire, helping to immediately interrupt the reaction when highly flammable chemicals are exposed to heat.
Fire alarms, fire blankets, emergency lighting, and clear emergency exit routes lined by fire-resistant walls can also help the occupants of the building evacuate. While prevention and suppression are extremely important, safe evacuation is also a critical component of fire safety.
Final Words
While chemical fires present their own risks and challenges, it is important to remember that all types of fire pose significant dangers. By equipping your business with the appropriate fire-safety equipment and conducting regular safety inspections and training sessions, you can protect your equipment, property, and personnel from the destructive nature of an uncontrolled fire.
Avoiding the serious water damage risk posed by fire sprinkler systems is also incredibly important. Even when they are regularly inspected and properly maintained, fire sprinkler heads can be triggered unintentionally. With a single fire sprinkler head releasing up to 60 gallons of water per minute, you do not want to be caught waiting for the fire crews to deactivate the system.
Instead, empower yourself with the ability to shut off fire sprinkler heads quickly and easily by investing in the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Head Shut-Off Tool. Thanks to its simple, one-hand operation, it can be used by just about anyone. Prevent tens of thousands of dollars in water damage by clicking the link below: