Fire Prevention and Control
Fire triangle, hot work, flammable materials, housekeeping, alarms, escape, extinguishers and evacuation priorities.
How to prepare for a CITB Specialist test
Lock in common site safety first, confirm the exact route with the card scheme, then add the relevant specialist hazards and competence boundaries.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Fire prevention controls ignition, fuel and oxygen sources through storage, housekeeping, equipment and authorised hot-work arrangements.
Exam cue: Remove combustible waste and protect flammable stores from ignition.
Concept 2
Workers must know how to raise the alarm, use escape routes and assemble; escape takes priority over fighting a developing fire.
Exam cue: Keep routes, doors, alarms and firefighting equipment unobstructed.
Concept 3
An extinguisher may be used only when trained, the correct type is available, the fire is small and a safe exit remains.
Exam cue: Raise the alarm first and leave if smoke, heat, size or uncertainty makes intervention unsafe.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using water on live electrical equipment or burning flammable liquid.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Finishing hot work without the required fire watch or area check.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Re-entering to collect tools or personal belongings.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Memory anchors
Heat, Fuel, Oxygen
Break the fire triangle by controlling ignition, combustibles or oxygen where appropriate.
Alarm Before Attack
Warn others and secure escape before considering an extinguisher.
Exit Behind You
Only attempt a small fire if trained and a safe escape route remains.
Hot Work Is Controlled
Use authorisation, area preparation, suitable equipment and post-work checks.
Routes Stay Clear
Escape doors, corridors and assembly access must remain usable.
Out Means Out
Do not return until the authorised person or emergency service declares it safe.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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