FV 1501 COMMunity Fire Safety

Short Report

Name: Lai Siu Hang Harris

UCLan ID: G20969124
 Home Safety Message – What to do in case of fire at home?

1) Introduction
Fire was leading humanity to evolve and being the leader of all species in the
Earth. However, it also causes tons of problems in our life, like forest fire and
building fires etc. In this short report, it will focus on home fire safety of
domestic buildings with discussing in different perspectives, since domestic
buildings fire were one of the categories which fire occur the most in Hong
Kong by reported by Fire Services Department. (Table 1) First, it will simply
define what fire and domestic buildings are and to make a simple concept of
these two main factors in this report for the target audiences. Second, it will
discuss what reasons or issues mainly causing the fire in home. Third, it will
go to introduce different Fire Safety Installation (FSI) like Hose reel and fire
extinguishers and explain how to process those tools. And finally, it will
educate the target audiences how to escape from fire when it occurs.

2) Definitions
- Fire
In general, fire can be classified into five classes, which each of the classes of the fire
are representing the types of fire with the meaning of what materials or matters are
combusting, like Class A (rubber, paper, and wood, etc.), Class B (flammable
liquids or gases, oils, and tars, etc.), Class C (electrical equipment), Class D
(combustible metals) and Class K (involving combustible cooking media).

- Domestic Area
“Domestic building means a building constructed or intended to be used for
habitation and the expression domestic purposes shall be construed
accordingly.” Pursuant to Section 2 Interpretation of Cap. 123 Buildings
Ordinance.

3) Risks of Fire at Home

The causes of fires were classified into various categories by the statistics from
official website of the (Fire Services Department of The Government of the
HKSAR). Among of those causes, careless disposal of joss sticks, paper and
candles, stove overcooking, careless handling, or disposal of cigarette ends,
matches, and candles, and general electrical fault were participating the most
of causes of the fires. (Table 2)
 - Electric devices
Electric devices were the most common causes of causing the fire at home,
due to the short circuit of the device used. It happens since the user bought the
devices with no proper QC or by using it carelessly. For example, using the
device with no fuses, overusing the plugs, adaptors, or extension units by
plugging large among of devices and making it overheat, and using the
devices in a wet condition.

- Overcooking
There are few reasons of overcooking, like the user went out while he/she
don’t remember he/she is boiling the food, and oil temperature was way to
high and catching fire.

- Smoking
Fire occurs commonly due to the user didn’t making sure the cigarette was
totally winked out or fall to sleep while smoking.

- Perfume candle
Perfume candle is popular in these few years, and it used to make the area
smells good and help the users feel relaxing. The risks of using perfume
candle are much higher than the other various categories mentioned above.
First, perfume candle is burning fire by melting the wax and perfume. Second,
the home that the user was petting pets like cats and dogs also is the risk that
leading the higher risk catching fire, due to the pets may carelessly knock over
the candle. While perfume candle would commonly place in the bedroom or
shelter, and it’s easily to catch fire by burning the materials nearby, such as
papers, books, pillows, curtain, or other decorations etc.

4) Handling Fire
Domestic building fires mostly getting serious due to the people misunderstanding
or don’t know how to handle it with not using the fire service installations
properly while fires occur. Thus, it would be going to introduce some of the
installations which commonly see in the domestic building.

- Fire extinguishers
There are different types of fire extinguishers, such as, carbon dioxide type,
water type, and dry powder type.
 1) Carbon dioxide type extinguishers are used to put out of electric fires,
flammable liquids, important documents or in confined spaces. Which
there have some reminders recommend to the users. First, ice vapor will
form at the end of the horn, users should be aware of their hands by not
putting it on the horn while using it. Second, users should be aware that
withdraw to open area after use.
2) Water type extinguishers are used to put out of fires which involving
woods and papers. Which users should be aware that water type
extinguishers are suitable for fires involving electrical or flammable metals
or liquids.
3) Dry powder type extinguishers are used to put out most of fires, which are
much easier to handle with most of the small fires.

- Fire blanket
Fire blanket is made up by some inflammable materials to resist heat and fire,
also it’s small to store in the home area and easy to operate.

- Smoke detector
Smoke detector is used to detect smoke which generated by the fires with
producing a single for users to notice, and it’s one of the FSI that must be
installed nowadays for the domestic buildings with open kitchen.

By looking for feasibility and convenience, dry powder type extinguishers, fire
blanket, and smoke detectors are the most proper FSI that using at home
whatever the area is large or tiny, since the overall sizes of those three FSIs are
much smaller compare with the other FSIs mentioned above. Besides that, or
though those FSIs mentioned above are used to put out fires at home, however
users should be analyzing the actual situation and their own condition to
decide whether put out the fire or not, since those FSIs are used to put out
small fires.

5) Escape from fire

In case the fire breaks out at home, the first thing to do is keep claim and tell
everyone that your unit is on fire, then break the ‘breakglass’ to activate the
fire alarm and call the ‘999’. Also, when decided to escape from home, people
must bring mobile phone, keys and wet towel along with themselves, making
sure that the door of your unit was closed and the escape route is free of
smoke.
References
Hong Kong Fire Services Department (2021). Statistical Information. Available from:
Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Web site:
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/publications/statistic/ [Accessed: July 4, 2022].

Hong Kong Fire Services Department (2021). Fire Escape. Available from: Hong
Kong Fire Services Department, Web site:
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/education/brochures/ [Accessed: July 4, 2022].

Hong Kong Fire Services Department (2021). Fire Prevention in the Home. Available
from: Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Web site:
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/education/brochures/ [Accessed: July 4, 2022].

Hong Kong Fire Services Department (2021). Proper Selection of Fire Extinguishers.
Available from: Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Web site:
https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/education/brochures/ [Accessed: July 4, 2022].
Appendix

Table 1

Table 2