SIA Guard Fire Safety — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the three elements of the 'fire triangle'?
- Water, earth, and air
- Heat, fuel, and oxygen (Correct answer)
- Smoke, flame, and ash
- Electricity, gas, and wood
Correct answer: Heat, fuel, and oxygen
The fire triangle consists of heat (ignition source), fuel (combustible material), and oxygen. A fire needs all three elements to start and sustain itself. Removing any one element extinguishes the fire.
Question 2: Which type of fire extinguisher should be used on an electrical fire?
- Water (red)
- Foam (cream)
- CO2 (black) (Correct answer)
- Wet chemical (yellow)
Correct answer: CO2 (black)
CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers (identified by a black label on a red body) are safe to use on electrical fires as CO2 is non-conductive. Water and foam must never be used on electrical fires.
Question 3: Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, who is the 'responsible person' for fire safety in a workplace?
- The fire brigade
- The employer, owner, or person who has control of the premises (Correct answer)
- The newest employee
- The local council
Correct answer: The employer, owner, or person who has control of the premises
The responsible person is the employer (if the workplace is under their control), or the person who has control of the premises. They are responsible for ensuring fire safety measures are in place.
Question 4: What is the correct action if a fire alarm sounds?
- Continue working until you can see flames
- Follow the evacuation procedure immediately, use the nearest safe exit, and go to the assembly point (Correct answer)
- Investigate what caused the alarm before evacuating
- Wait for someone to tell you what to do
Correct answer: Follow the evacuation procedure immediately, use the nearest safe exit, and go to the assembly point
When a fire alarm sounds, evacuate immediately using the nearest safe exit, do not use lifts, close doors behind you, and proceed to the designated assembly point. Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
Question 5: What should a security guard check during a fire safety patrol?
- Only fire extinguisher locations
- Fire exits are clear and unlocked, fire doors are closed, escape routes are unobstructed, fire equipment is present, and no fire hazards exist (Correct answer)
- Only the fire alarm panel
- Only electrical sockets
Correct answer: Fire exits are clear and unlocked, fire doors are closed, escape routes are unobstructed, fire equipment is present, and no fire hazards exist
A fire safety patrol should check: fire exits are unlocked and unobstructed, fire doors are closed, escape routes are clear, fire extinguishers are in place and serviced, no fire hazards are present, and fire signage is visible.
Question 6: Why should fire doors be kept closed?
- To keep noise levels down
- To prevent the spread of fire and smoke between compartments, giving people more time to evacuate (Correct answer)
- To save energy on heating
- To prevent theft
Correct answer: To prevent the spread of fire and smoke between compartments, giving people more time to evacuate
Fire doors are designed to compartmentalise a building, preventing fire and smoke from spreading between areas. This buys time for evacuation and limits damage. Propping fire doors open defeats their purpose.
SIA Guard Fire Safety
What are the three elements of the 'fire triangle'?