A Class B fire in the UK refers to a fire that involves flammable liquids or gases. Liquids and gases such as petrol, oil, alcohol, paraffin, grease, paint or solvents can be highly flammable and are especially dangerous if allowed to spread quickly and produce toxic fumes.
Whilst all fire scenarios pose serious dangers to public safety, Class B fires are among the most threatening. Class B fires, which can be referred to as flammable liquid fires, can be ignited by a single spark or by heating hazardous elements to extreme temperatures.
What Causes Class B Fires?
The causes of Class B fires are wide and varied, ranging from individual carelessness to improper use or storage of flammable materials in industrial facilities.
If flammable liquids are stored improperly, a Class B fire can occur in a wide range of settings. Flammable liquids should be stored in approved containers in cool, ventilated areas, and kept away from sources of ignition such as flames, sparks and electrical equipment. Such practises are crucial in industrial settings where flammable liquids are stored, utilised or manufactured. Similarly, a leak or spill of flammable liquids can cause outbreaks if not immediately rectified.
Smoking near flammable liquids, such as at a petrol station, can cause major Class B fires. The heat of a cigarette or smoking paraphernalia can ignite the vapours of a flammable liquid, even if there is no direct contact. Moreover, careless cigarette disposals can cause Class B fires if there is a presence of flammable liquids on the ground or refuse areas.
Faulty electrical equipment and overloaded electrical circuits commonly cause a spark which can ignite flammable liquids. It’s crucial that electrical equipment is properly maintained and used responsibly.
How to Prevent a Class B Fire
To prevent a Class B fire, businesses and nominated industrial facility personnel can get a fire risk assessment to assess whether your property poses any risks.
Flammable liquids and gases should be stored in approved containers in cool, well-ventilated areas. This helps to minimise exposure to potential sources of ignition. Moreover, these flammable materials should be as far away from open flames, sparks, electrical equipment and sources of ignition as possible.
A positive measure which can be taken is to store flammable liquids in steel cupboards, which can create a barrier between the material and an outside fire. This can provide approximately 30 minutes of valuable time to either extinguish the flames or evacuate safely.
Smokers should not smoke or use smoking paraphernalia near flammable liquids or gases, and should ensure their cigarettes are properly diffused and safely disposed.
Flammable liquids should regularly be inspected by an approved fire safety expert for leaks or spills.
What to do in the event of a Class B Fire
When using a fire extinguisher to battle Class B fires, it’s important to distinguish which type of fire extinguisher you’re using. The most effective fire extinguishers for Class B fires, similarly to Class A fires, are foam and powder. However, a water fire extinguisher should not be used for a Class B fire – this is because water quickly evaporated into steam, which can cause flammable liquids fires to spread quickly.
Foam and dry powder fire extinguishers effectively work by impeding the chemical reaction which can cause a fire outbreak from flammable liquids.
Alternatively, if there is not a foam or dry powder fire extinguisher, an approved fire blanket can be used to quickly extinguish the blaze.
To prevent the loss of life, a proper fire evacuation plan is essential. All personnel should evacuate the area as quickly as possible, as Class B fires can spread quickly and become lethal. If you’re not trained or equipped to deal with a Class B fire, you should get as far away as possible. Identifying a Class B fire and swiftly reporting to fire departments can help firefighters extinguish flames more quickly.
