Introduction to Fire Safety Management

8.1.4 Heaters and heating systems
Fires caused by heaters and heating systems can be 
divided into two key areas; those that are caused by 
faulty systems including poor design, inappropriate instal-
lation or lack of planned preventive maintenance; and 
those that are caused by inappropriate use or misuse.
Poor design and installation can allow the heat 
produced from the system to come into direct contact 
with combustible materials, perhaps such as wall 
linings through which the system’s ducting is routed. As 
previously discussed with regard to cooking equipment, 
a lack of maintenance may allow heat controlling devices 
to malfunction. In addition if moving or rotating parts are 
included in a heating system any bearings may run dry 
or seals fail due to a lack of maintenance.
Inappropriate positioning of combustible or fl amma-
ble items in close proximity to heaters and parts of 
heating systems may prevent air circulation, causing a 
heat build-up, or if these materials are in direct contact 
or within range of any radiated heat a fi re may start.
Figure 8.3
A typical thermostatically controlled food 
servery

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Causes and prevention of fi re
139
8.1.5 Chemical and LPG (hazardous materials)
The Chemicals (Hazards Information and Packaging for 
Supply) Regulations classify substances representing 
certain hazards. If a substance has been classifi ed 
under CHIP as being dangerous for supply, anyone sup-
plying it must conform to the requirements concerning 
the provision of hazard information to those who may 
subsequently come in contact with it. Until the CHIP 
Regulations were brought in the only legal requirement 
covering the provision of information on dangerous sub-
stances from the supplier was contained in section 6 of 
the HSWA, where suppliers were required to pass ‘rele-
vant information’ to customers.
The exact nature of this information was never 
elaborated upon, so the CHIP Regulations were 
introduced to fi ll this gap, leaving the suppliers and 
customers in no doubt as to the information required to 
be provided to users.
The CHIP Regulations lay down requirements for the 
packaging and labelling of these dangerous chemicals. 
The packaging requirements are straightforward, requir-
ing only that the container for these types of substances 
shall be suitable for their contents, and shall be sealed 
when supplied.
The labelling requirements are that a package 
containing a dangerous substance or preparation bear a 
label of an approved design, and be of a specifi c size 
relative to the size of the package, containing relevant 
information.
The classifi cations of dangerous substances under 
CHIP 2002 are illustrated in Table 8.1.
Fires that involve chemicals and LPG are generally caused 
by inadequate arrangements for their safe use, transporta-
tion, storage and disposal. The lack of appropriate levels 
of training (and where appropriate levels of supervision) 
when using chemicals may lead to reactive chemicals 
being mixed causing a fi re or explosive cocktail, or allow-
ing the release of fl ammable vapours which can fi nd an 
ignition source to start a fi re. Mishandling or poorly con-
necting LPG gas cylinders can have a similar effect.
LPG gas cylinders can represent a serious risk if 
they are involved in fi re and although they are less often 
seen as the direct cause of a fi re they can produce 
devastating effects when involved. Poorly maintained 
equipment and installations are also seen as a signifi -
cant risk when using LPG and can cause a release that 
can in turn result in a fi re or explosion.
Poor storage and transportation arrangements 
are also responsible for causing fi res involving both 
chemicals and LPG. Storing chemicals such as cleaning 
agents which may include acids and oxidisers in the 
same cupboard may precipitate a reaction if leakages 
and poor storage arrangements allow the chemicals to 
come into contact with one another.
The same can be said of disposal arrangements 
when substandard procedures allow reactive chemicals, 
fl ammable mixtures and LPG cylinders to come into 
contact with sources of ignition or with other reactive 
chemicals.
Fires can also start from poorly planned dismantling 
or disposal of equipment containing residues of fl amma-
ble liquids or when dealing with spillages as part of 
environmental spill protection procedures.
Explosive 
Solid, liquid, pasty or gelatinous substances and preparations which may 
react exothermically without atmospheric oxygen thereby quickly evolving gases, 
and which under defi ned test conditions detonate, quickly defl agrate or upon 
heating explode when partially confi ned.
Oxidising 
Substances and preparations which give rise to a highly exothermic reaction 
in contact with other substances, particularly fl ammable substances.
Extremely
Liquid substances and preparations having an extremely low fl ash point 
fl ammable 
and a low boiling point and gaseous substances and preparations which are 
fl ammable in contact with air at ambient temperature and pressure.
Highly
The following substances and preparations, namely –
fl ammable 
(a) Substances and preparations which may become hot and fi nally catch fi re 
in contact with air at ambient temperature without any application of energy,
(b) Solid substances and preparations which may readily catch fi re after brief 
contact with a source of ignition and which continue to burn or to be consumed 
after removal of the source of ignition,
(c) Liquid substances and preparations having a very low fl ash point, or
(d) Substances and preparations which, in contact with water or damp air, evolve 
extremely 
fl ammable gases in dangerous quantities.
Flammable 
Liquid substances and preparations having a low fl ash point.