Fire warning signals

If gasoline or any other flammable liquid, combustible liquid, or gas seeps or leaks from a fuel container or a commercial motor vehicle stopped upon a highway, flame-producing warning signals may only be placed at a distance from the liquid or gas that will assure the prevention of a fire or explosion. 

If the warning is perceived as a precautionary measure the decision to move may be delayed or in some circumstances even ignored. This will be influenced by the experience of any previous unnecessary evacuations. As previously discussed the UK standard for fire warning systems is given in BS 5839-1 2002, which outlines the requirements for these signals. 

Fire alarm warning signals for people with impaired hearing may also be provided as portable equipment, for example a radio pager or other system using radio communication. 

TM 9-1370-200(1966) (Does not give burning rates of pyrotechnic compns, but lists on Table 1 of Appendix burning times of various pyrotechnic items, such as flares, illumination signals, tracers, smoke signals, simulators, fusee warning RR and starter fire ) 4) AnonJ Military Pyrotechnics Series. Part 1. Theory and Application ,... 

On most older chemical facilities, the basic component of the emergency warning system is the fire alarm. It is essential that there be different signals to distinguish between an actual fire and other threatening events, as the action taken in response to a toxic gas release, for example, may be quite different from that taken in response to a fire. On multi-process sites, the signals also should identify the work unit involved. 

Laboratories must install and maintain an operable alarm system that has a distinctive signal to warn occupants of fire or other emergencies. 

Organizations have been encouraged for many years to employ workers with disabilities and to ensure that their premises provide suitable access for such people. From a health and safety point of view, it is important that workers with a disability are covered by special risk assessments so that appropriate controls are in place to protect them. For example, employees with a hearing problem will need to be warned when the fire alarm sounds or a fork lift truck approaches. Special vibrating signals or flashing lights may be used. Similarly workers in wheelchairs will require a clear, wheelchair friendly, route to a fire exit and onwards to the assembly point. Safe systems of work and welfare facilities need to be suitable for any workers with disabilities. 

Total simultaneous evacuation - the most common way to achieve simultaneous evacuation is that upon the activation of a single call point or detector an instantaneous warning from all fire alarm sounders is given as the signal for an immediate evacuation. This is referred to as a single stage evacuation. 

Portable alarm devices - it is possible to provide portable alarm devices to supplement the primary means of giving warning in case of a fire. It is common for these systems to be operated by local radio signals. If this is the case the portable devices should meet the following criteria ... 

Among a number of special masks developed before the war was the optical gas mask, standardized in 1939. This mask, originally requested by the Navy and later by AGE for Signal, Coast Artillery, and Antiaircraft personnel using aircraft warning and fire control instruments, contained... 

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