FIRE THEORY WELCOME TO THIS MORNINGS SESSION

FIRE THEORY AND FIRE FIGHTING Circuit and speed marshals THE SESSION TODAY IS FOR TRAINEE MARSHALS YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK PLACE, ON CIRCUIT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THE PRACTICAL SESSION LATER TODAY WILL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE EQUIPMENT.

It Can Happen Anywhere REMEMBER FIRE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. NOT JUST ON THE CIRCUIT NOT ALWAYS DURING THE RACE INCIDENT AT THE SPAINISH GP, OCCURRED AFTER THE WILLIAMS DRIVER WON THE RACE

Session trainer today Trainer Slide PAUL WILTSHIRE - BEEN A RACE MARSHAL FOR 23 YEARS, STARTING MY 24TH YEAR THIS YEAR. WORKED MY WAY THROUGH THE GRADING SYSTEM AND IS NOW AN EXAMINING POST CHIEF HAS MARSHALED AT CLUB, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. MARSHALED FOR TOURING CARS, F3 GT’S, GOODWOOD, ALSO AT GRAND PRIX IN THE UK AND ABU DHABI, DUBHAI. WORKED IN THE NHS FOR 28 YEARS IN MAINTENANCE. CARRIED OUT MANY ROLES FROM STERILISER REPAIRS, SUPERVISOR, AND LATERLY AS THE TRUSTS FIRE AND WASTE OFFICER. CARRYING OUT STAFF TRAINING AND FIRE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. BEFORE TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT IN 2011. ATTENDED THE MSA TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AN MSA PROBATIONARY TRAINER . THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME TODAY.

Evaluation - evaluation sheet for you to fill in thank you Opening Course Outline - Fire theory Equipment used on circuit Questions – As we go Duration - 30 mins Evaluation - evaluation sheet for you to fill in thank you

To preserve the vehicle Fire Fighting Outcomes To preserve life To preserve the vehicle Aims Fight fires Safely, Effectively and Rapidly Reach a burning vehicle and have the fire under control or extinguished At fixed venues in 30 seconds At non-fixed venues as quickly as possible NO PLACING YOURSELF IN DANGER EFFECTIVELY PUTTING OUT THE FIRE USING THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED. 30 SECS YES, BUT SAFETLY. YOU WILL BE SHOWN IN THE PRACTICAL SESSION LATER TODAY HOW TO CARRY AN EXTINGUISHER HOW TO USE THE EXTINGUISHER CORRECTLY

OXYGEN HEAT FUEL The Triangle of Fire Remove one element The fire dies You must have three things in order to have a fire Something to burn Oxygen Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature. Open discussion - get the attendees to name different fuels/volatility/persistence – Petrol Methanol Diesel Batteries Magnesium Bodywork Trim Etc. etc. Remove any one and the fire will go out. You can: Remove heat with a cool liquid - water, foam - or a dry powder extinguisher Remove fuel - turn off the fuel supply, remove flammable materials or remove the vehicle from the flammable material – for example, push it off dry grass and onto hard standing. Remove Oxygen - seal with foam

Classification Of Fire Types Class A Solids - Mainly carbon based combustibles e.g - Wood, Plastic, Paper Class B Flammable liquids. E.g Petrol, Oil, Alcohol Class C Gases - Not common on circuit, but some touring cars run on LPG Class D Certain metals. E.g Magnesium, Aluminium Class F High temperature cooking oils. Metals can be found as component parts in race engines or wheels. Magnesium burns fiercely with a bright white light. hard to extinguish, will burn even under water. Safest thing to do is bury it, never handle it. Foam may make it burn more intensely. LPG raises other problems. the best way to put the fire out is to isolate the fuel source. this was highlighted in touring cars. Cordon off the area, use large foam based or water bowsers to cool down the LPG storage tanks. Some cpmponents found in engine compartments are dangerous - if they come into contact with the skin. These are mainly fluoroelastomers – rubber compounds which degrade to form hydrofluoric acid when burned and water is added – causes burns which are impossible to stop. Get to hospital FAST! Do not touch the wounds. Calcium glutinate gel will slow the burn, but not stop it. Another reason always to wear gloves!

Dry Powder extinguishers Knocks down flames Removes oxygen No cooling or sealing properties Make sure the wind is behind you Use in short bursts Empty in 20 seconds Start from 12 feet / 4 metres away Direct at base of fire Stored pressure extinguishers operate slightly faster than the other type. Use the Dry Powder extinguisher first to knock the flames down. Make sure the wind is behind you and deliver short bursts of powder. If you just squeeze the trigger you will exhaust the extinguisher in about 20 seconds. If the driver is still in the car, you should focus on keeping the flames away from the cockpit. If the driver is out, target the main seat of the fire. Make sure you don’t walk through any flames and start from about 12 feet away, directing the extinguisher at the base of the fire. If you get too close, the pressure will spread the flames. Dry powder extinguishers provide cooling and, if the powder is a special type of powder called Monex, it also interferes with the chemical reaction sustaining the fire.

Dry Powder Checks Stored pressure Pin Pipe Powder Pressure Weight Cartridge Pin Pipe Powder Weight European Union regulations say fire extinguishers must be red or unpainted stainless steel with a coloured label or band to indicate the type of extinguisher. A Blue label indicates a Dry Powder extinguisher. The extinguisher is two thirds full of powder, with Nitrogen or air under pressure, stored in the extinguisher itself or Carbon Dioxide, stored in a sealed cylinder inside the extinguisher which is punctured when the trigger is squeezed. The stored pressure extinguisher can be distinguished by the fact it has a pressure gauge. You should check the: Pin - ensure the pin is present and secure. Pressure - if the extinguisher has a pressure gauge, check the needle is in the middle section of the gauge. Pipe - check the hose is not blocked and is intact. Hoses become frayed with age and damaged where they bend. Powder - The powder in an extinguisher will settle and form a plug at the bottom if the extinguisher is left to stand for a long period. Turn the extinguisher upside down and put it on your shoulder. Listen for the powder moving. If it does not, shake the extinguisher to loosen it. Weight - be suspicious of light bottles. Always ask for a replacement if you suspect the extinguisher may not work when you need it!

Foam Excludes air by forming a film over the surface Provides additional cooling Allow to fall on the surface Wash clothing if you get foam on yourself to avoid damage AGAIN THE FOAM TYPE EXTINGUISHER IS FOUND IN TWO DESIGNS, STORED PRESSURE AND CARTRIDGE. BOTH HAVING THE SAME FEATURES AS THE DRY POWDER TYPE

Foam Checks Stored pressure Pin Pipe Pressure Weight Cartridge Pin THE CHECKS ARE THE SAME AGAIN AS FOR THE DRY POWDER TYPE Again - Always ask for a replacement if you suspect the extinguisher may not work when you need it!

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Not commonly found on circuit, but often used in pits/paddock/assembly area Quickly snuffs out brake or small petrol fires Used commonly to fight electrical equipment fires. The only type to be used on an electrical fire if the electric supply is not turned off Used on the startline at drag racing to snuff out Nitrous Oxide fires Does not work well in open spaces with high winds INSERT FILE NAME

Extinguisher uses RED _ WATER EXTINGUISHER, used for class “A” fires (wood, paper, textiles) carbon based materials – not usually found on circuits BLUE _ DRY POWDER suited to mixed fire environments, good all round extinguisher, used for class “B” fires as well as class “A”. fast knockdown, poor cooling CREAM _ FOAM EXTINGUISHER often clled aqueous film forming foam or AFFF, used on class “A” and “B” fires. Slow to knock down fire but cools and seals BLACK - CO2 EXTINGUISHER can be used for class “b” fires, especially for electrical products. often used in the pits to control engine fires. Works well if not too much wind. Quick knock down, no sealing or cooling. No damage to the vehicle YELLOW - WET CHEMICAL you will not see these on circuit, used for class “f” cooking oil/deep fat fryers

Teamwork – 4x2 four marshals, two types of extinguisher A team of four – two with powder, two with foam One person leads Approach from upwind side if possible Use the powder and foam extinguishers in pairs The powder extinguishers are used first to beat down the flames The foam extinguishers are then used to cool and smother the fire. Work as a team Controlled bursts Use the extinguishant to fight the fire DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE! Stress the teamwork aspect – better to wait for help than go it alone. INSERT FILE NAME

On-board Systems Mechanical or electrical One or two bottles Twice as much to engine bay as cockpit Foam-based Can be thermally triggered May not work upside down ALL CARS SHOULD HAVE BUILT IN FIRE SUPPRESSANT SYSTEMS UNDER THE MSA REGULATIONS ONE THING TO CHECK IF YOU ARE WORKING IN THE PADDOCK ON THE DUMMY GRID DRIVERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LEAVE THE THE PINS IN EVEN FOUND A SCREWDRIVER IN ONE

  Dressed for Action WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST? LEFT OR RIGHT? WEAR THE CORRECT CLOTHING, MAN MADE FIBRES WILL MELT AND STICK TO THE SKIN, NATURAL MATERIALS ARE BEST EVEN IN SUMMER TIME, COVER UP DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS ALWAYS USE GLOVES WHEN FIGHTING A FIRE OR JUST ATTENDING AN INCIDENT

Be careful with waterproofs Cover your arms Don’t clash with the flags Protective Clothing Wear natural fibres Be careful with waterproofs Cover your arms Don’t clash with the flags Loose fitting gloves (or specific marshalling ones) Stout boots Eye protection WELDING GLOVES ARE IDEAL, THEY CAN BE REMOVED EASILY STRONG BOOTS NOT TRAINERS SOME PEOPLE WEAR NOMEX TYPE UNDERWEAR (LIKE THE DRIVERS WEAR PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE FIRE MARSHALS ROLES. ALL CAN WEAR THEM

REMEMBER GOES WITHOUT SAYING - OR DOES IT? MOTORSPORT IS DANGEROUS, WE ARE HERE TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF THAT DANGER IF IN DOUBT ASK AN EXPERIENCED MARSHAL OR THE POST CHIEF BE SAFE YOUR SAFETY FIRST THEN YOUR FELLOW MARSHALS THEN THE DRIVER FORGET THE CAR

KEEP SAFE WE WANT SAFE HEROS SO REMEMBER YOUR SAFETY FIRST YOUR FELLOW MARSHALS SAFETY THEN THE DRIVERS SAFETY

With the support of the Motor Sport Training Trust Acknowledgements With the support of the Motor Sport Training Trust