CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

The hazardous substances are classified into eight classes. These are as under : CLASS 1 CLASS 2 CLASS 3 CLASS 4 EXPLOSIVES GASES, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, DISSOLVED OR DEEPLY REFRIGERATED, INFLAMMABLE GASES, POISON (TOXIC) GASES. INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS INFLAMMABL SOLIDS, SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS CONBUSTION; SUBSTANCES WHICH ON CONTACT WITH WATER EMIT INFLAMMABLE GASES. Division 4.1 Inflammable solids Division 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion. Division 4.3 Substances, which in contact with water, emit inflammable gases. OXIDISING SUBSTANCES Division 5.1 oxidizing substances Division 5.2 Organic peroxides POISONOUS (TOXIC) AND INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES Division 6.1 Poisonous (toxic) substances Division 6.2 Infectious substances RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES CORROSIVES

CLASS 5

CLASS 6

CLASS 7 CLASS 8

For details, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules may be referred.

HAZCHEM CODIFICATION HAZCHEM Code is based on pictorial representations consist of a diamond, as shown in the figure, divided into 4 parts. These parts, starting from left block (in clockwise direction), represent Health Hazard, Flammability Hazard, Reactivity Hazard and Space for additional information such as water reactivity, oxidant and radiation hazard. The colour codes for these hazards are : blue for health, red for flammability, yellow for reactivity and colourless for additional information. The intensity of hazard is grouped into five classes with numerical indications as 0, 1, 2, 3 & 4 in the ascending order of hazard intensity. In the following lines, these hazard intensities are explained, with the numeral on the left indicating the hazard intensity.

HAZCHEM CODE

Flammability (Red)

Health (Blue) W OXY

Reactivity (Yellow Yellow)

W : OXY:

Indicates possible hazard in use of water. Indicates oxidizing chemicals.

Chemical Storage Hazard Class

At a minimum, chemicals should be segregated as:

Corrosives Oxidizers Flammable Liquids Poisons or Toxic Chemicals Reactive (water or time sensitive)
5

NFPA-National Fire Protection Association

HMIS-Hazardous Materials Identification System

FIRE

FIRE IS A RAPID, SELF-SUSTAINED OXIDATION PROCESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE RELEASE OF ENERGY IN THE FORM OF HEAT AND LIGHT OF VARYING INTENSITY.

FIRE RESULTS FROM THE COMBINATION OF FUEL, HEAT AND OXYGEN. WHEN A SUBSTANCE IS HEATED TO A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE CALLED THE IGNITION TEMPERATURE THE MATERIAL WILL IGNITE AND CONTINUE TO BURN AS LONG AS THERE IS FUEL, THE PROPER TEMPERATURE AND A SUPPLY OF OXYGEN (AIR).

FIRE TRIANGLE

OXYGEN

HEAT

FUEL

THREE ELEMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR INITIATION OF FIRE: 1. FUEL IN THE FORM OF VAPOUR, LIQUID OR SOLID. 2. A SOURCE OF IGNITION SUFFICIENT TO INITIATE & PROPAGATE THE FIRE. 3. OXYGEN IN SUFFICIENT PROPORTION TO FORM A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE.

METHODS OF EXTINGUISHMENTS OF FIRE

1. STARVATION 2. SMOTHERING 3. COOLING : : : ELIMINATION OF FUEL LIMITING OF OXYGEN LIMITING TEMPERATURE

STARVATION : STARVATION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY REMOVING COMBUSTIBLES FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE FIRE OR BY REMOVING FIRE FORM THE MASS OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. IT IS ALSO ACHIEVED BY SUBDIVIDING BURNING MATERIALS TO SMALL ISOLATED POCKETS OF FIRE. SMOTHERING : SMOTHERING IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ELIMINATING OR DILUTING THE AVAILABLE OXYGEN WITH INERT GAS OR COVERING THE FUEL SURFACE BY A SMOTHERING AGENT LIKE FOAM. COOLING : IF THE RATE AT WHICH HEAT IS GENERATED BY COMBUSTION IS LESS THAN THE RATE AT WHICH IT IS GETTING DISSIPATED THEN THE COMBUSTION CANNOT PERSIST. APPLICATION OF WATER JET OR SPRAY TO A FIRE RESULTS IN ITS EXTINGUISHMENTS BY THIS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
INDIAN STANDARDS IS:2190 CLASSIFIES THE FIRE IN FOUR CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL BURNING. CLASS A ; FIRES INVOLVING ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL LIKE WOOD, PAPER, TEXTILES ETC. WHERE THE COOLING EFFECT OF WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR EXTINGUISHMENTS OF FIRE. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA-WATER CLASS B : FIRES IN FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS LIKE OILS, SOLVENTS, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, PAINTS ETC. WHERE A BLANKETING EFFECT IS ESSENTIAL TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA-FOAM, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL POWDER. CLASS C: FIRES INVOLVING GASES OR LIQUEFIED GASES IN THE FORM OF A LIQUID SPILLAGE, OR A LIQUID OR GAS LEAK. HERE IT IS NECESSARY TO DILUTE THE BURNING GAS AT A VERY FAST RATE WITH AN INERT GAS OR POWDER. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA - CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL POWDER. THE BEST WAY TO EXTINGUISH SUCH FIRES IS BY STOPPING THE FLOW OF FUEL GAS TO FIRE. CONTAINER IS KEPT COOL WITH WATER SPRAY.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
CLASS D : FIRES INVOLVING METALS LIKE MAGNESIUM, ALUMINUM, ZINC, POTASSIUM ETC. WHERE THE BURNING METAL IS REACTIVE TO WATER AND WHICH REQUIRE SPECIAL EXTINGUISHING MEDIA. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA- SPECIAL DRY POWDER. ELECTRICAL FIRE : ELECTRICAL FIRES ARE NOT TREATED AS A CLASS OF THEIR OWN, SINCE ANY FIRE INVOLVING, OR STARTED BY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MUST, IN FACT, FALL INTO ONE OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES. THE NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IS TO CUT OFF ELECTRICITY AND USE AN EXTINGUISHING MEDIA APPROPRIATE TO WHAT IS BURNING.

WATER
The water is the best extinguishing media for Class A Fires. It is Readily available. Have good absorbing capacity. can be used as cooling agent, fire fighting, producing foam etc. Water extinguishes the fire by cooling , smothering , emulsification [only in case of heavy oils], dilution.

Limitations Limitations: : On
1. Energized equipments and 2. Water reactive metals.

FOAM
It is considered to be the best extinguishing medium for Class B fires. The foam is the mass of air bubbles formed by aeration of foam solution made up of the water and foam concentrate. The foam extinguishes the fire of liquid hydrocarbons Insulating the surface of fuel.Prevent release of vapours. Prevent mixing of vapour and atmospheric oxygen forming a blanket. The foam is classified in two types depending on the method of generation i.e. chemical and mechanical foam

Chemical foam
As the name suggests it is formed by the chemical reaction between the two chemicals namely Sodium bicarbonate and Aluminums Sulphide. The use is restricted to the portable extinguishers and now they are considered as obsolete.
6 NaHCO3 + Al(SO4)3 = 3Na2SO4 + 2Al(OH)3 + 6CO2

Aluminum hydroxide decomposes at about 180 C by absorbing considerable amount of heat in the process and giving off water vapor.

Mechanical foam
This foam is formed by mechanical agitation of the foam solution. There are various types such as protein foam, aqueous film forming foam, film forming fluoroprotein, alcohol resistant foam etc. used for fire fighting. Method of application of foam -- Foam should not be directly applied on the surface of the burning liquid whereas it should be applied in such manner so that it will slide down and spread on the surface of the burning liquid.

DRY CHEMICAL POWDER

The dry chemical powder is used to extinguish the Class B and Class C fires. The DCP for Class A fires is also available and for Class D fires special dry chemical is used. The most commonly used DCP are: 1. Sodium Bicarbonate. 2. Potassium Bicarbonate. 3. Monoammonium Phosphate. It also called as ABC powder as it can be used on Class A, B, C fires. 4. Monnex.: Urea based powder have decrepitating property to shatter into small particles of submicron size on approaching flame front. It is 6 times effective than ordinary DCP. 5. Ternary Eutectic Chloride : TEC powder is used to extinguish the combustible metal fires. The powder melts and forms the crust over the metal surface thereby extinguishing the fires. It is composed of three chlorides namely Sodium , Potassium and Barium Chloride.

EXTINGUISHMENT MECHANISM OF DCP

Sodium Bicarbonate: When DCP enters the combustion zone, it decomposes by the heat of the flame to liberate water, water vapours and carbon dioxide. 2 NaHCO3 ------- Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 The sodium Carbonate further decomposes to give Na2CO3 -------- Na2O + CO Na2O --------- 2NaOH Sodium Hydroxide produced during last step reacts with H & OH radicals which are active in fire to give water vapours. NaOH + H ------- Na + H2O NaOH + OH ----NaO + H2O Also NaO + H ------NaOH Na + OH ------- NaOH This way all the H and OH radicals in fire are removed by breaking the chain reaction and thus extinguish the fire.

CLASS OF FIRE A

DESCRIPTION

EXTINGUISHING MEDIUM

INDIAN STANDARD 934-1976 940-1976 6234-1971 933-1976 2878-1976 2171-1976 (4308)-1982

Fire involving ordinary combustible Water materials like wood, paper, textiles, etc. Where the cooling effect of water is essential for the extinction of fires Fire inflammable liquids like oils, solvents, petroleum products, varnishes, paints etc. where a blanketing effect is essential Fires involving gaseous substances under pressure where it is necessary to dilute the burning gas at a very fast rate with an inert gas or powder. Foam ** carbon dioxide dry chemical powder. Not suitable for alcohol and other water miscible flammable liquids

Carbon dioxide dry chemical 2878-1976 powder. The best way to 2171-1976 extinguish such fires is by (4308)-1982 stopping the flow of fuel gas to the fire. Container is kept cool with water spray 2171-1976 (4861) 1968

Fires involving metals like magnesium, Special dry powder aluminum, zinc, potassium etc. where the burning metal is reactive to water and which require special extinguisher media or technique

*As per IS:21901979

AREA CLASSIFICATION
Area classification is an assessment of dangerous atmosphere where there is possibility of release of a flammable substance in relation to a possible source of ignition from electrical instruments, equipments or static electricity. The aim is to reduce the probability of these risks to the minimum. Hazardous area are divided into three zone Zone 0 Area: An area in which a flammable atmosphere is present continuously, or is present for long periods. Zone 1 Area: An area in which a flammable atmosphere is likely to be present periodically or occasionally during normal operation. Zone 2 Area: An area in which a flammable atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation and if it does occur it will exist for a short time only.