With much of the UK suffering from extended periods of hot weather, it is important for businesses to consider how heatwaves affect the fire management of their buildings and premises.
There is a perception that the UK is a very wet and temperate country. But over the years, average temperatures have soared, and heatwaves are becoming more common. As a result, businesses should consider this within their fire risk assessments, especially those that use flammable chemicals or those potentially at risk from arson.
Flammable chemicals
Extremely flammable liquids have a flashpoint - the lowest liquid temperature at which a liquid gives off vapours in a quantity to be capable of forming an ignitable vapour/air mixture - lower than 0°C and a boiling point (or, in the case of a boiling range, the initial boiling point) lower than or equal to 35°C.
Examples are chemicals such as benzene, pentane, and many other solvents in use in industries today.
Highly flammable liquids have a flashpoint below 21°C but are not extremely flammable.
Acetone is an example. It is used in many industries, from workshops and machining to the personal care industry such as nail salons, and can easily be ignited by heat, sparks, or flames. Vapour which mostly are heavier than air also may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Not just that, when heated, the containers may explode.
Other common examples are petrol and ethanol (which can be used in as a cleaning agent).
The main issue with the above chemicals is storage, nearby ignition sources and mixing with incompatible substances. In extremely hot weather and without cooled or sufficiently ventilated storage, these flammable chemicals can give off more vapour, which is easily ignited by stray ignition sources, even sparks.
I have seen many businesses store flammable chemicals in buildings which aren't ventilated, nor have any way of detecting vapour release. As UK average temperatures continue rising, businesses should review their fire risk assessments to understand the risks posed by the chemicals they store in and around their buildings.
Arson risk
Arson is always a risk to businesses, especially those with limited storage space for combustible waste. It can be easy to stack wooden pallets or store rubbish against buildings, which can be targeted by potential arsonists.
Incorrect storage of waste is especially dangerous in periods of prolonged hot weather as moisture is forced out, making it easier to ignite. It's extremely difficult to prevent a determined arsonist from starting a fire in an external location of a building but correct storage of waste away from buildings will deter casual arson attempts.
I have seen many businesses store wooden pallets up against the walls of their building, sometimes blocking fire escape routes. Businesses need to consider how combustible their waste is when reviewing their fire risk assessments, especially noting how easy it can be to ignite it in prolonged periods of hot weather.
For more information visit the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
