OSU English Fire Hazards Discussion

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snevf97

Humanities

Ohio State University

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Assignment 1-

Using your current residence as an example, choose one fire hazard (coffee pot, candle, etc.) to analyze the confines of the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. Begin by discussing the anticipated fire hazards presented by this item and evaluate its competency as a fire hazard. Next, discuss the protection mechanisms that are in place to ensure that said fire hazard does not cause a fire, or if it does cause a fire, is confined to its relative area of origin. Be very specific and utilize the terminology in the Fire Safety Concepts Tree.

Assignment 2-

Part 1: In all aspects of our lives we are weighing cost-benefit of specific actions, whether consciously or subconsiously. This is especially true in regards to risk assessment, for example, there is a risk in driving to work each morning, we do so because internally, the costs of doing so (probability of getting in an accident, cost of gas, stress of traffic, etc.) does not outweigh the benefits (getting paid, keeping job, providing for family, personal satisfaction, etc.).

Provide an example of a cost-benefit analysis in terms of fire safety risk assessment. This could be personal or professional. Provide costs and provide benefits and provide your own subjective opinion on which one outweighs the other. 

Part 2: What is engineering judgment? What does it mean to you personally? Does your ability to make engineering judgment scare you? How can you handle it on a personal basis?


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FSE Week 1 Assignment (25 Points) Fire Safety Analysis Using your current residence as an example, choose one fire hazard (coffee pot, candle, etc.) to analyze within the confines of the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. Discuss the protection mechanisms that are in place to ensure that said fire hazard does not cause a fire, or if it does cause a fire, is confined to its relative area of origin. Be very specific and utilize the terminology in the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. Hint: Make sure you have looked through NFPA 550. Papers should be double spaced, Arial font. No minimum length, but be sure to cover the topic in detail. Assignment 1b - Week 1 Focus Paper Using the following questions, write a focus paper. Use APA 7th edition formatting. There is no length requirement, but you must be thorough and informative. Part 1: In all aspects of our lives we are weighing cost-benefit of specific actions, whether consciously or subconsiously. This is especially true in regards to risk assessment, for example, there is a risk in driving to work each morning, we do so because internally, the costs of doing so (probability of getting in an accident, cost of gas, stress of traffic, etc.) does not outweigh the benefits (getting paid, keeping job, providing for family, personal satisfaction, etc.). Provide an example of a cost-benefit analysis in terms of fire safety risk assessment. This could be personal or professional. Provide costs and provide benefits and provide your own subjective opinion on which one outweighs the other. Part 2: What is engineering judgment? What does it mean to you personally? Does your ability to make engineering judgment scare you? How can you handle it on a personal basis? Fire Safety Analysis A common fire hazard that is apparent in many places is candle fire. Most homes tend to use a candle for lighting purposes whenever there is an electricity blackout. In other instances, candles are used for intrigue purposes among people who want to create an aesthetic appeal in their rooms. Some holidays such as Christmas are also linked with a high purchase of these items as individuals objectify to decorate their homes in order to align with the trending event. However, there is a purported danger associated with candles which can lead to fires thus damage to properties or loss of lives. The fire safety concept tree can be utilized to analyze the scope of this common hazard, and device protection mechanisms which can be adopted to ensure the negative outcomes are mitigated. Statistics on Candle Fire Statistics released by the National Fire Protection Association ascertain that the country’s fire departments responded to an average of 8,000 home structure fires which were caused by candles from 2012-2016 (National Fire Protection Association). The estimated annual deaths linked with this situation is placed at 80 and another 770 individuals usually suffer from related injuries. Similarly, the damage to destroyed property is placed at an average of $264 million every year (National Fire Protection Association). Other statistical data reveal that almost 23 home candle fires occur every single day with three days in the year attributed with higher incidences (National Fire Protection Association): New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Christmas. Many agencies have stipulated measures that can be adopted or sustained by individuals to prevent such situations. However, it is essential to approach this matter in a more dynamic way in order to ensure everyone is informed and updated about related aspects. Protection Mechanisms The statistical report regarding candle fires justifies this incidence as a competent fire hazard. Ideally, there is a potential of atrocities occurring in residential places reason for an integrated protection mechanism. The fire safety concept tree conceptualizes on the objective of mitigating the fire including measures that can be sustain by individuals and responders on site. Fire Safety Objective The fire safety objective in this context would be to mitigate the risk direct towards human life including damage to properties. Another goal would be to prevent fire ignition through proper education antics where people within a residence are informed about linear strategies they can adopt. Preventing Fire Ignition One of the prevention strategies that can be considered is to blow out all candles when a person leaves a room or about to enter their beds. It is also advisable to keep candles away from the bedroom or any other place where individuals usually fall asleep. Another prevention aspect that can be sustained is to keep candles almost 30 centimetres or 1 foot away from anything that can burn (National Fire Protection Association). Finally, it is proper to purchase flameless candles, especially in homes characterized by a high number of young children. Managing Fire Impact The process of managing or mitigating the impact of a candle fire can be categorized into two groups. In order to manage a fire, two activities would need to be considered. Firstly, it is crucial to control the combustion process. One way of perpetuating this is for individuals to use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame and ensure the wick is not glowing (National Fire Protection Association). Another procedure is to get hold of a fire extinguisher and spray the content over the starting fire. The goal of these endeavors is to limit the combustion process and possibly suppress the fire. Secondly, the occupants in a specific residence can notify emergency responders once they detect a candle fire is spreading (McCaffrey and Olsen 3). Firemen can be sent to the site to eradicate the fire using specialized equipment and force. In some situations, the fire can be controlled by creating a physical structure around the affected zone. The other dimension of managing the fire impact is to protect and care for the exposed individuals. Seemingly, the process of managing exposure needs external or professional assistance, especially if the incident has become catastrophic. People within the residence can limit their exposure to the fire by using emergency exits designated within the building or seeking shelter in a place or room which has not be been affected by the fire. (National Fire Protection Association) It is in these locations that first aid measures can be initiated on injured individuals. Moreover, the residents can contact emergency responders from the place and ensure safe evacuation occurs. Figure 1: Fire Safety Concepts Tree Conclusion The discussion has reviewed specific aspects related to candle fire as a potential hazard in a residential place. It has been ascertained that related incidences are still on the rise, and this can be attributed to lack of knowledge regarding safety measures among individuals. A fire safety concept tree was created and used to foster a linear understanding regarding actual precautions that can be considered and adopted both by individuals within the specified vicinity and emergency responders. The best approach to mitigating negative outcomes is to prevent the fire hazard before it arises. Works Cited McCaffrey, Sarah M., and Christine S. Olsen. "Research perspectives on the public and fire management: a synthesis of current social science on eight essential questions." 2012, pp. 1-7. National Fire Protection Association. "Candles." 2019, www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Firecauses-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Candles. Accessed 29 Aug. 2019. Analysis of Fire Hazard Fire incidences are hazardous if not mitigated with the shortest time possible. Research indicates that most of the fire incidences of up to 77% occur in residential areas in the U.S. The fire causes significant loses because of loss of property and lives. It is essential to identify a type of fire hazard and provide mitigation approaches to safeguard the homestead. The chosen hazard for this analysis is candles fires, which is one of the major causes of residential fires. Other sources of similar hazards at home include cooking, electrical sources, heating, smoking, and washing machines. Candle fire is far much dangerous especially if left unattended to in the house because it could topple or burn low to cause a fire incident. The identified fire hazard in this research is the candle. The fire accident that could occur in the residential area is by candles left unattended to in a place with combustible material. The use of candles depends on occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas preparation parties, special moments, interior designs, and for acoustic purposes (Almeida et al., 2014), among other occasions. The candle will pose a danger to the people around when left unattended to or when not firmly fitted. The candle burns low and before it diminishes completely, it burns any combustible material around to start a fire. The major precautions to take if the surface on which the candle is placed. Placing a candle on the surface made of wood, cloth, plastic. Alternatively, combustible material exposes individuals residing in the area to fire hazards. Safe surfaces include metal areas, concrete, sand, or any non-combustible material that will aid in putting off the candle (Almeida et al., 2014). In the recent past, the use of candles has generally reduced especially when the user does not have artistic requirements that utilize candles. However, the use of candles during celebrations increases the susceptibility of Fire incidences because surfaces exposed to the flame are likely to be the targets. The decision to not that prevention of fire depends on human action and proper maintenance of the area in which they decide for rapid response in case of a fire incident. Data from NFPA shows that 9300 Home Fires emerged from unattended candles and led to the death of 86 people and causing injuries to 827 victims. The value of property destroyed through this type of fire was $374 million. On average, statistics indicate 25 candle accidents take place daily in the USA (Hoffmann et al., 2014). The numbers indicate that the hazard needs critical interventions to explain the safety tips that people should follow to prevent the occurrence of this accident. Some of the aspects that would prevent the occurrence of such accidents include blowing out naked candles in the room when someone is leaving. Candles topple and burn the surface on which they are placed, leading to a fire hazard. In the Fire Safety Concept Tree (NFPA 550), one of the proactive methods of fire safety includes the prevention of ignition, which involves putting off the candle. The control source strategy is suitable in fire safety and precautions because it enables the person exposed to the danger to handle the threat before it occurs (Decker, 2016). NFPA guidelines observe that fire in an unattended scenario is the first risk to the population in a residential area. According to Cervantes et al. (2019), precautionary measure is to avoid using a candle in the bedroom and use candleholders whenever in use. The bedroom has combustible materials that increase the hazard. The fire precautions are a form of control fuel intervention because as highlighted in the NFPA 550, the prevention mechanisms are important to ensure that the chances of suffering the negative effects of fire are mitigated effectively. An innovative way of using candles involves placing it in a transparent glass bottle that contains sand. This method explained by Cervantes et al. (2019) uses a precaution of ensuring the candle burns below the brim of the bottle. The safety method ensures that even if the condom falls, it is likely going to stop burning or the effects will not be adverse unlike when it is burning in the open. The advantage of this strategy is that nothing interferes with the direction of the flame, which means there is a controlled combustion of the material. The household gadget for holding the candle ensures that it is possible to use it at any point in the house. The candle should not burn all the down because this leads to fire in case the underlying part is combustible. The user must make sure to replace the burning piece with a new candle to reduce the chances of a fire incident. According to Shai, D. (2017), most fire accidents occur because of human error, which makes it paramount to focus on the surroundings and avoiding making wrong decisions that would risk the lives of the people within the residence. The wick of the candle needs to be trimmed to provide a steady flame and reduce the risk factor of the fire. Similarly, it is important to keep the candle out of reach of children because they could mishandle it and cause a fire. In case a fire starts because of candle accidents, it is essential to use the NFPA 550 guidelines that show the method of managing the fire impact. The fire from a candle should be handled to suppress the fire whereby the fire extinguisher should be aimed at the source of the fire. Hoffmann et al. (2014) explained that the characterization of the fire helps in the fight to extinguish it. Similarly, an individual must manage exposure to the fire by attacking it from the angles that could allow the flow of air and should use the correct clothing such as the asbestos reflector to minimize the effects of the fire. When the fire is huge, the control aspect should be an evacuation of the people from the building to avoid fatalities. Some of the important factors to focus on include the evacuation strategy that involves the relocation of the victims. The statistics in the USA indicate the need for continuous interventions in fire prevention and management strategies to lower the incidents. The candle that is unattended means that the chances of increasing the danger are high and the residents in the area will be at danger. The most important thing to do is to use the right methods of handling candles in a residential area. The common method that has proved to be successful is the use of an open jar with sand at the bottom. References Almeida, M., Azinheira, J. R., Barata, J., Bousson, K., Ervilha, R., Martins, M., ... & Silva, J. (2014). Analysis of fire hazard in camping park areas. Advances in forest fire research.Coimbra: Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, 635-647. Cervantes, R., Schulman, D., Van As, S., & van Niekerk, A. (2019). The Safer Candle Project: preventing fires from fallen candles. Global Health Innovation, 2(1). Decker, D. M. (2016). U.S. Patent No. 9,261,275. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Hoffmann, D. J., Burr, M. T., Kroll, M. J., & Logan, L. M. (2014). Characterization of Flaring and Non-Flaring Container Filled Votive Candles. Fire Technology, 50(6), 1379-1389. Shai, D. (2017). Residential Fire-Related Injuries and Deaths in Anchorage, Alaska, 2007–2012: Causes and Prevention. In The Frontiers of Applied Demography (pp. 67-73). Springer, Cham. 8/19/21 MAGNITUDE OF FIRE HAZARD *2018 fire loss data includes California W ildfires 4 RECENT FIRE EVENTS • • 5 STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME FIRE HAZARD • • • • 6 2 8/19/21 STRUCTURAL FIRE SAFETY • • • 7 EVALUATING FIRE RESISTANCE • • 8 STRUCTURAL FIRE SAFETY IN MODERN CONSTRUCTION • • • • 9 3 8/19/21 QUESTIONS??? 10 4 8/19/21 FIRE SCENARIOS IN BUILDINGS • • • 4 STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME FIRE HAZARD • • • • 5 STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME FIRE HAZARD • • • • 6 2 8/19/21 FIRE SAFETY CONCEPT TREES • • • 7 FIRE SAFETY CONCEPT TREES 8 FIRE SAFETY CONCEPT TREES 9 3 8/19/21 FIRE SAFETY CONCEPT TREES 10 CODES AND STANDARDS • • • • 11 QUESTIONS??? 12 4
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Explanation & Answer

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Fire Hazards

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Fire Safety Analysis

Coffee pots are one of the common fire hazards in many homes since many people own
coffee pots. The coffee pots utilize electricity to heat an element, and the heating elements are
likely to bring damage if not properly monitored (Vogel, 2017). If the coffee pots are left on for a
long time, the coffee inside the pot may burn, therefore heating the objects like napkins around the
coffee pots, which could catch fire (Vogel, 2017). Similarly, the heat from the coffee pot may
damage the electrical wiring. Besides, coffee pots are disreputable for being among the sources of
burns and fire in residential homes in the United States, especially if the machine lacks an
automatic shut-off mechanism. If the coffee pot does not automatically shut off after use, it may
continue to heat the plastic parts and flask, thus causing a fire outbreak (Vogel, 2017).

Additionally, fire outbreaks from the coffee pots could also be due to malfunctioning
thermostats, which is generally an issue when switching the coffee pot off. Still, the corrosion of
insulation around the wiring of the coffee pots is also among the causes of fire (Vogel, 2017). For
instance, insulation or wiring made of thermoplastic materials may disintegrate, causing electrical
currents to be directed to the coffee pots' metal parts, resulting in the likelihood of fires or electrical
shocks.

Statistics on Coffee Pots Fire

According to the NFPA report, cooking using electricity has been the main cause of almost
half of all fire injuries and home fires, and in 2014-2018, it w...


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