Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 108 THE door industry journal summer 2023 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Smoke: The Silent Killer More Deadly than Fire No Smoke without Fire According to the Fire Rescue Service, fires and fire-related fatalities increased last year. And with the most common cause of fire death recorded as being ‘overcome by gas or smoke,’ we must understand the real danger smoke presents so measures can be put in place to prevent smoke from immediately accessing our environments in the event of a fire. The smoke produced by an indoor fire is highly toxic. All combustible materials cause poisonous smoke when burning, and the more manufactured materials set alight, the more toxins are emitted. And as a significant two-thirds of fabrics are now made from petrochemicals and most homes and business premises contain increasing amounts of synthetic materials, the smoke from a fire today poses an ever more serious threat. Today’s Fires are More Dangerous The burning of synthetic materials, such as plastics, foam, or rubber, is particularly toxic when inhaled and can even cause potential cyanide poisoning. A poisonous chemical gas, cyanide (CN), reduces respiration and can prevent your body from being able to absorb oxygen, causing suffocation and why smoke inhalation is often likened to drowning. Being deprived of oxygen, even for a short time, can cause irreparable damage to your health. Smoke both poisons and causes asphyxiation, as it contains highly toxic chemicals and removes the oxygen from the air so you can’t breathe. Did you know the outside air we breathe is approximately 21% oxygen? But when fire and smoke reduce oxygen even to 17%, you’ll experience impaired coordination and judgment. Fatigue, nausea, and dizziness will set in as the oxygen drops to 12%; this disorientation is why many fire victims struggle to evacuate a familiar building. As the oxygen levels drop further to 9%, unconsciousness sets in. And at 6% oxygen, victims experience respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and death. Besides being more toxic, indoor fires develop five to ten times faster than they would have in the 1950s. They burn more quickly and create more poisonous smoke. This is due to having more manufactured materials, the popularity of openplan spaces and the closer proximity of domestic and commercial premises. The burning of synthetic materials creates black smoke, so buying as much time as possible to evacuate a building on fire safely is extremely important. What is Black Smoke? Most smoke from an indoor fire, whatever its colour, is likely to be toxic. But black smoke is particularly dangerous to your health if inhaled. Black smoke suggests the fire is more volatile, and the smoke is highly toxic. Usually due to the burning of heavy fuels or synthetic, artificial materials, black smoke contains more poisonous particles than a more transparent plume. Even if you survive an indoor fire, lasting physiological damage can be caused by smoke inhalation. Did you know the biggest threat to your life in an indoor fire is the smoke produced rather than the fire itself? It’s estimated that smoke causes a staggering 50% to 80% of all fire-related deaths. But why is smoke so deadly?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg2Nzk=