Step 1. Identifying fire hazards

For a fire to start, three things are needed:

• A source of ignition
• Fuel
• Oxygen

If any one of these is missing, a fire cannot start. Taking measures to avoid the three coming together will therefore reduce the chances of a fire occurring. The remainder of this step will advise on how to identify potential ignition sources, the materials that might fuel a fire and the oxygen supplies that will help it burn.

You can identify the potential ignition sources in your premises by looking for possible sources of heat which could get hot enough to ignite material found in your premises. These sources could include:

• Smokers' material, e.g. cigarettes, matches and lighters
• Naked flames, e.g. candles or gas or liquid-fuelled open-flame equipment
• Electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters (fixed or portable)
• Hot processes, e.g. welding by contractors or shrink wrapping
• Cooking equipment
• Faulty or misused electrical equipment
• Lighting equipment, e.g. halogen lamps or display lighting too close to stored products
• Hot surfaces and obstruction of equipment ventilation, e.g. office equipment
• Arson

Indications of 'near-misses', such as scorch marks on furniture or fittings, discoloured or charred electrical plugs and sockets, cigarette burns etc., can help you identify hazards which you may not otherwise notice.

Anything that burns is fuel for a fire. You need to look for the things that will burn reasonably easily and are in enough quantity to provide fuel for a fire or cause it to spread to another fuel source. Some of the most common 'fuels' found in offices and shops are:

• Flammable liquid-based products, such as paints, varnishes, thinners and adhesives
• Flammable liquids and solvents, such as white spirit, methylated spirit,cooking oils and disposable cigarette lighters
• Flammable chemicals, such as certain cleaning products, photocopier chemicals and dry cleaning that uses hydrocarbon solvents
• Packaging materials, stationery, advertising material and decorations
• Plastics and rubber, such as video tapes, polyurethane foam-filled furniture and polystyrene-based display materials
• Textiles and soft furnishings, such as hanging curtains and clothing displays
• Waste products, particularly finely divided items such as shredded paper and wood shavings, off cuts and dust
• Flammable gases such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

You should also consider the materials used to line walls and ceilings, e.g. polystyrene or carpet tiles, the fixtures and fittings, and how they might contribute to the spread of fire.

The main source of oxygen for a fire is in the air around us. In an enclosed building this is provided by the ventilation system in use. This generally falls into one of two categories: natural airflow through doors, windows and other openings; or mechanical air conditioning systems and air handling systems. In many buildings there will be a combination of systems, which will be capable of introducing/extracting air to and from the building.

Additional sources of oxygen can sometimes be found in materials used or stored at premises such as:

• Some chemicals (oxidising materials), which can provide a fire with additional oxygen and so help it burn. These chemicals should be identified on their container by the manufacturer or supplier who can advise as to their safe use and storage
• Oxygen supplies from cylinder storage and piped systems, e.g. oxygen used in welding processes
• Pyrotechnics (fireworks), which contain oxidising materials and need to be treated with great care