{"id":30535,"date":"2021-04-19T13:27:38","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T13:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/?p=30535"},"modified":"2025-05-16T13:00:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:00:49","slug":"fire-safety-what-security-professionals-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/fire-safety-what-security-professionals-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Fire Safety – What Security Professionals Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Awareness & Responsibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fire is a devastating occurrence for life and property. Two of the things that security personnel are charged with protecting. Awareness of fire risk and the actions to take are the responsibility of each security operator. The 6-day training course for your SIA door supervisors licence<\/a> will involve fire awareness training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your responsibility is to maintain that awareness and training. This will enable you to act calmly and efficiently in the event of a fire.  
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Reasons For Being Trained In Fire Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is not just the flames that are dangerous in a fire. 
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\u2705 Smoke inhalation is the most common cause of death in a fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Becoming overcome by the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Lack of oxygen as the fire burns up all the oxygen present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Risk of physical injury as fire-damaged structure starts to fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Not having an escape route due to it being blocked or not able to open an exit.
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Understanding Fire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fire is where fuel + oxygen + heat combines, creating a fire triangle. Remove one of the elements, and you won\u2019t have a fire. The same goes for a fire tetrahedron, where you have a fourth element of chemical reactions. By removing one of the elements, you will put out the fire. Fire extinguishers play an essential role in removing a component to control fire.
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Fire Prevention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is imperative you learn the simple measures you can take in preventing fires on your watch. Things like<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Making sure fire exits are clear and can easily be accessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Keeping the workplace tidy – or taking note when it isn\u2019t and inform the relevant manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Effective management of waste – know what is flammable <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Knowing how to reduce the risk of electrical fires occurring.
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Know the place you are working. Know where the fire exits are and how they open. Be aware if staff or customers don\u2019t respect the need to keep them clear of obstruction. 
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Be alert for telltale signs of a fire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Smell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Noise <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Smoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Flames
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Learn the location of fire alarms and fire extinguishers. Ensure that exit signs are visible, Be aware of any other fire precautions in a building like water sprinklers and fire hoses.
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Fire Extinguishers & Their Uses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Different<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Six Categories Of Fire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Class A fires \u2013 fueled by combustible materials\u2014including wood, paper, and textiles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class B fires \u2013 fueled by flammable liquids\u2014such as paint, petrol or spirits<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class C fires \u2013 fueled by combustible gases\u2014including propane and butane<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class D fires \u2013 fueled by volatile metals\u2014chemicals such as potassium, magnesium or lithium <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electrical fires \u2013 fueled by electrical equipment\u2014computers and photocopiers etc. Removing the electrical component changes the fire\u2019s class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class F fires \u2013 fueled by cooking oils\u2014chip-pan fire or olive oil or butter. 
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It is crucial to have the correct extinguisher for the area. Fire extinguishers are designed to tackle particular fuels. 
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Fire Extinguishers – Water <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common fire extinguishers, these release water under high pressure. They are for Class A fires. 
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Do not use a water fire extinguisher for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Kitchen fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving electronic equipment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires caused by flammable liquids or gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire Extinguishers – Foam <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These extinguishers are for Class B and Class A fires. The foam creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen. 
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Do not use a foam fire extinguisher for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Kitchen fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving electronic equipment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires caused by flammable liquids or gas.
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Fire Extinguishers – Dry Powder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These extinguishers are for Class A, B & C fires and fires that involve electrical equipment up to 1,000v. There are also specialist dry powder extinguishers for flammable metal fires, like titanium. It would be best to avoid using dry powder extinguishers in an enclosed space to prevent inhaling the powder.
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Do not use a dry powder fire extinguisher for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving electronic equipment over 1000v<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Kitchen fires involving cooking oil<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires raging in enclosed spaces.
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Fire Extinguishers – Carbon Dioxide ( CO2)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These extinguishers are the primary option for electrical fires and Class B fires. They are found mainly in business with a high electrical equipment component like server rooms and tech stores\u2014these work by suffocating the fire, removing the oxygen element, which lets the fire die out. 
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Do not use a CO2 fire extinguisher for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving flammable metals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Kitchen fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving materials like paper or textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fire Extinguishers – Wet Chemical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These extinguishers are for Class F fires, with cooking oil, so found in places with kitchens, restaurants, hotels, cafes, chippies, etc. These are also usable for Class A fires\u2014but a foam or water extinguisher would be a better option. They work by starving the fuel of oxygen by creating a foam layer on top of the burning oil. The fine mist it produces when activated is potassium. Potassium reacts to the oil, making a foamy or soapy film. This also acts as a coolant.
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Do not use a CO2 fire extinguisher for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving flammable liquids or gasses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Electrical fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Fires involving flammable metals
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A risk assessment will decide which extinguishers are necessary for a building and where. As a licensed security officer, it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with where they are \u2014the same goes for fire hoses\u2014and how to operate them.
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Like with all aspects of security work, you need to stay sharp and stay calm. Implement the emergency procedures for the building you are in. If there are no such procedures, then be proactive and ask what your role would be in the event of a fire.
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Add Skills With SIA Training Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Security personnel are often the first to detect a fire, so you need to have the knowledge to react quickly and confidently. The Door Supervisor training courses<\/a> you can book via Get Licensed will help you achieve a level of knowledge about fire, its behaviour, and hazards. More importantly, what you can do in fire prevention and in case of a fire.
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Got more questions about the training available to become an SIA licence holder? Take a look at our FAQs here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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