Office Fire Warden

1. OFFICE FIRE
WARDEN
TRAINING

2. Contents
Aims & objectives
Fire Theory
Office Fire Warden Duties
Fire Prevention
Fire Classification
Fire extinguishers, reels & blankets
How to use extinguisher
Rules for fire fighting

3. AIM
• To assist you in becoming competent office fire
wardens
• To help you providing assistance to Azfen to be a
safe place to work.

4. OBJECTIVES
To give you a better understanding of:
• Causes of fire
• Classification of fire
• How we can all prevent the outbreak of fire
• The correct extinguisher to use
• You role as a fire warden for Azfen

5. Fire Theory
OXYGEN
What is fire?
A chemical reaction that
produces:
Heat, Light,
Toxic products of combustion
For a fire to start,
and continue to burn,
3 things are required

6. Fire Theory
Fuel
 Wood
 Paper
 Plastics
 Flammable
gases
 Cooking oils
 Flammable
liquids
Heat
 Matches
 Lighters
 Welding torches
 Overheating
machinery
 Electrical faults
 Hot cooking
surfaces
Oxygen
 The air around us
 Oxygen cylinders
 Medical gases
 Manufacturing
processes

7. OFFICE FIRE WARDEN’S DUTIES
Now that you know a little about fire, you need to
remember one thing- WE WANT TO PREVENT FIRES,
NOT FIGHT FIRES!

8. OFFICE FIRE WARDEN’S DUTIES
• To ensure the safe evacuation of people within the building
• Be aware of the fire hazards in your area. These items
have an effect on the likelihood of a fire starting, influence
its spread and can affect the means of escape.
• Regularly check all external fire doors (if applicable) to
ensure they open easily from the inside
• To check that fire extinguishers are where they should be
and no obvious misuse or defect has occurred

9. OFFICE FIRE WARDEN’S DUTIES
• Inspect evacuation routes for obstructions
• Keep fire exits clear at all times
• Report any issues affecting the above to line management.
• Names and photograph of Fire Wardens for the floor /
premises will be displayed prominently so all personnel,
irrespective of the employer based at the facility are
familiar.

10. ON DISCOVERING FIRE, OFFICE FIRE
WARDEN’S DUTIES
YOUR ROLE AS A FIRE WARDEN
1. On hearing an alarm, wear Hi-Vis waistcoat and Instruct
ALL personnel in your assigned area to leave the building
2. Check that all persons have left the area, paying attention
to toilets and other remote areas
3. Sweep through the allocated area to be sure that all
personnel evacuated.
4. Turn off equipment and close doors/windows in passing
but not delay own escape unduly, while encouraging
people to leave via the nearest fire escape route.

11. YOUR ROLE AS A FIRE WARDEN
5. Proceed to assigned local muster point
6. Only re-enter the building when you are instructed that it
is safe to do so
7. NOT go into areas containing smoke
8. NOT go into area where you can see established fire
9. If a very minor fire is noted, tackle it with an extinguisher,
if safe to do so.
10. However if the fire is established, do not attempt this.
ON DISCOVERING FIRE, OFFICE FIRE
WARDEN’S DUTIES

12. YOUR ROLE AS A FIRE WARDEN
11. Once you have left a fire, whether you believe it is
extinguished or not, do NOT return to it.
(The local fire department and / or emergency response team
will need to check whether it is really out )
12. Report to the local Assembly Checker/Marshal that the
area is clear (or to report anyone who can’t or won’t leave the
building)
REMEMBER: Your number one priority is to get out - and
to help others do the same.
ON DISCOVERING FIRE, OFFICE FIRE
WARDEN’S DUTIES

13. Fire Prevention
Prevent fires by not letting the three sides of the triangle
come together
Most common causes of workplace fires are:
 Improperly used or maintained electrical equipment
 Careless smoking
 Improperly used or stored flammable liquids
 Poor housekeeping

14. Fire Prevention
How do we reduce the risk of fires occurring?
 Rubbish – Ensure good housekeeping.
 No accumulations of combustible materials near sources of
ignition
 Electricity – Report faulty equipment.
 No overloading of electrical sockets or extension leads.
 Only competent persons to work on electrical equipment.
 Switch off lights and equipment at end of shift
 Smoking – Observe smoking rules.
 No smoking inside buildings
 Flammable liquids and gases – Ensure they are stored in
suitable containers in a safe place away from sources of
ignition

15. Fire Prevention
Heaters are another potential fire hazard.
Use them when necessary, but make sure the heater:
 Is approved for your use
 Is used only with good ventilation
 Cannot tip over
 Is kept away from flammable materials
 Has no clothing left on top of it
 Is turned off and cooled down before leaving at night

16. Fire Classification
There are 5 classes of fire
Solids
Liquids
Gases
Metals
Cooking Oil, Fat

17. Fire Classification
What about electricity?
Ignition source
Any class
Isolate supply
Electrical fires are workplace
enemy No.1
Electrical equipment causes the largest number of workplace
fires

18. Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
DATA PLATE
PRESSURE GAUGE
(not found on CO2
extinguishers)
BODY
DISCHARGE LEVER
DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN
AND SEAL
DISCHARGE HOSE
DISCHARGE NOZZLE
DISCHARGE ORIFICE
CARRYING
HANDLE

19. European color code and its type
19
Body color red
ID color
Water
Foam
Halon
Powder
Carbon Dioxide
Liquid agent – Bright yellow
Fire Extinguishers
Body color red

20. Fire Extinguishers
Water
Class A fires
 Works by cooling

21. Fire Extinguishers
Foam
Class A + B fires
 Works by smothering

22. Fire Extinguishers
Dry powder
Class A + B + C fires
 Works by Chemical interference and smothering
 Difficulty in breathing
 Obscures vision
 Not suitable for sensitive equipment

23. Fire Extinguishers
Carbon Dioxide
Class B + C fires
 Works by smothering
 Could be an asphyxiate in confined
spaces

24. Fire Extinguishers
Class D powder
Class D fires
 Works by smothering
 Low velocity application
 Specialist fire fighting

25. Fire Extinguishers
Wet chemical
Class F fires
 Works by cooling, emulsifying
and sealing the surface

26. Fire Hose Reels and Blankets
Smothering
Fire retardant material
Once use only
Water

27. How to use a Fire Extinguisher
 Pull the pin, stand back about 2.5 METERS, aim at the
base of the fire, and squeeze the trigger
 Make sure you are on target – generally fire extinguishers
are empty after approximately 20 seconds
 Make sure you don’t blow burning paper out of
wastebasket fires
 Never put water on electrical fires
 Do not attempt to fight a fire which is too big for you

28. 28

29. Rules for Fight Fire
NEVER FIGHT A FIRE IF:
 You don't know what is burning
 If you don't know what is burning, you don't know what
type of extinguisher to use.
 Even if you have an ABC fire extinguisher, there may be
something in the fire that may explode, or produce highly
toxic smoke
 Chances are, you will know what's burning, or at least
have a pretty good idea, but if you don't, leave it and
evacuate to a safe place

30. ANY QUESTIONS?