Evaluation of Fire Safety
Chapter One
THE PLACE OF FIRE SAFETY
IN THE COMMUNITY
1.1 The nature of the fire hazard
The hazard of fire is the consequence of uncontrolled, exothermic chemical reactions, especially
between organic materials and air. It is particularly associated with combustible materials and
energy sources used by people in everyday life. Although fire threatens both life and property and
its control occasions much expenditure, the hazard must be set against the benefit gained from
these resources so that a balanced view can be obtained. Moreover, living standards are highly
dependent on the use of buildings. The extra danger when fires occur in an enclosure, with the
heat and smoke being trapped rather than moving relatively harmlessly upward, needs to be set
against the intrinsic value of using buildings. It follows that one cannot, in general, eliminate fire
hazard, although one can reduce it to an acceptably low level by suitable design procedures.
1.2 Interaction between fire hazard and other hazards
Fire takes its place al ... read full excerpt from Evaluation of Fire Safety ebook
