The Installation, Service, Repair, Tests, Inspections and Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems. Practicing Fire Safety and Fire Prevention. Safety, Building and Fire Codes in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Athens, Sandy Springs & Macon, Georgia.
Liquefied
gas extinguishers are compressed gas fire extinguishers that are designed for
specific area use, such as computer rooms, file storage facility, precious
valuables designed to handle Class A fires such as organic solid material such
as wood, Class B fires that involve liquid such as gas and oil, and Class C
fires that involve electricity.
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Foam fire
extinguishers generally are stored with compressed with air and use different
types fire extinguishing agents that are all designed for specific point of use
and are created for high flammable areas. Foam fire extinguishers are generally
used for Class A fires such as organic solid material such as wood and Class B
fires that involve liquid such as gas and oil.
Wikipedia states, “Applied to fuel fires as either an aspirated (mixed & expanded with air
in a branch pipe) or non-aspirated form to form a frothy blanket or seal over
the fuel, preventing oxygen reaching it. Unlike powder, foam can be used to
progressively extinguish fires without flashback.”
Foam Fire Extinguishing Materials
·AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) used on A and B fires and
for vapor suppression. The most common type in portable foam extinguishers, It
contains fluoro ten sides [12] which
can be accumulated in human body. The long-term effects of this on the human
body and environment are unclear at this time.
·AR-AFFF (Alcohol-resistant aqueous film forming foams), used on
fuel fires containing alcohol. Forms a membrane between the fuel and the foam
preventing the alcohol from breaking down the foam blanket.
·FFFP (film forming fluoroprotein) contains naturally
occurring proteins from animal by-products and synthetic film-forming agents to
create a foam blanket that is more heat resistant than the strictly synthetic
AFFF foams. FFFP works well on alcohol-based liquids and is used widely in
motorsports.
·CAFS(compressed air foam system) Any APW style extinguisher
that is charged with a foam solution and pressurized with compressed air.
Generally used to extend a water supply in wildland operations. Used on class A
fires and with very dry foam on class B for vapor suppression.
·Arctic Fire is a liquid fire extinguishing
agent that emulsifies and cools heated materials more quickly than water or
ordinary foam. It is used extensively in the steel industry. Effective on
classes A, B, and D.
·FireAde, a foaming agent that emulsifies burning liquids and
renders them non-flammable. It is able to cool heated material and surfaces
similar to CAFS. Used on A and B (said to be effective on some class D hazards,
although not recommended due to the fact that fireade still contains amounts of
water which will react with some metal fires).
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Where
precise equipment, expensive or priceless valuables are present you may want to
look at doing a fixed system fire extinguisher. The fixed system fire
extinguisher ideal is to extinguish or prevent a fire from occurring in areas
where your special valuables may be located.
The fixed
system fire extinguisher is best located in areas such as safes, galleries,
computer rooms, and file storage facilities.
□ Are fixed extinguishing system components and
agents provided that are designed and approved for use on the specific fire
hazards that they are expected to control or extinguish? 1910.160(b)(1)
□ Are employees notified and assured their safety if
a fixed extinguishing system becomes inoperable? Any defects or impairments
must be fixed by trained personnel. 1910.160(b)(2)
□ Is a distinctive alarm or signaling system
provided that complies with 1910.165 and is capable of being
perceived above noise or light levels? Discharge alarms are not required on
systems where
discharge is immediately recognizable. 1910.160(b)(3)
□ Are employees warned against entry into discharge
areas that remain hazardous to their health? 1910.160(b)(4)
□ Are warning signs posted at the entrance to, and
inside of, areas protected by fixed extinguishing systems that use hazardous
agents? 1910.160(b)(5)
□ Are fixed systems inspected annually and
maintained in good operating condition? 1910.160(b)(6)
□ Are weight and pressure of refillable containers
checked at least semi-annually? If the container shows a loss in net content,
weight, or pressure, it must be subjected to maintenance.
1910.160(b)(7)
□ Are factory charged non refillable containers that
have no means of pressure indication weighed at least semi-annually? The
container must be replaced if it shows a loss in net weight or content
exceeding 5 percent. 1910.160(b)(8)
□ Are inspection and maintenance dates recorded and
kept until the container is checked again or for the life of the container,
whichever is less? 1910.160(b)(9)
□ Are employees who inspect, maintain, operate, or
fix extinguishing systems trained and subsequently given annual review, as
appropriate? 1910.160(b)(10)
□ Is use of chlorobromomethane or carbon
tetrachloride prohibited as an extinguishing agent where employees may be
exposed? 1910.160(b)(11)
□ Are systems that are susceptible to corrosion
constructed of non-corrosive material or otherwise protected? 1910.160(b)(12)
□ Is automatic detection equipment approved,
installed and maintained in accordance with 1910.164. 1910.160(b)(13)?
□ Do all systems work properly in areas with extreme
climates? 1910.160(b)(14)
□ Is at least one manual station provided to
activate each fixed extinguishing system? 1910.160(b)(15)
□ Are the hazards identified for which manual
operating devices provide protection? 1910.160(b)(16)
□ Is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
provided and assured for rescuing employees trapped in areas that have become
hazardous due to an agent discharge? 1910.160(b)(17)
Total Flooding System Requirements
□ Is an emergency action plan provided in
accordance with 1910.38 for each area within a workplace that is protected by a total
flooding system? 1910.160(c)(1) Systems installed in areas where
employees cannot enter during or after the system's
operation are exempt from the requirements of this section. 1910.160(c)(2)
□ Is a pre-discharge employee alarm on total
flooding systems provided that complies with 1910.165, which is
capable of being perceived above light or noise levels, and which gives
employees
time to safely exit the area before discharge? 1910.160(c)(3)
□ Are approved fire detection devices installed and
connected to pre-discharge alarm systems, which automatically activate total
flooding systems, and which permit employees to safely exit the
Enter your cell, home or work phone number you wish to use. Google Voice will directly connect you with the Atlanta Fire Protection Company Toll Free in the US.
Where
precise equipment, expensive or priceless valuables are present you may want to
look at doing a fixed system fire extinguisher. The fixed system fire
extinguisher ideal is to extinguish or prevent a fire from occurring in areas
where your special valuables may be located.
The fixed
system fire extinguisher is best located in areas such as safes, artwork,
computer rooms, and file storage facilities.
□ Are fixed extinguishing system components and
agents provided that are designed and approved for use on the specific fire
hazards that they are expected to control or extinguish? 1910.160(b)(1)
□ Are employees notified and assured their safety if
a fixed extinguishing system becomes inoperable? Any defects or impairments
must be fixed by trained personnel. 1910.160(b)(2)
□ Is a distinctive alarm or signaling system
provided that complies with 1910.165 and is capable of being
perceived above noise or light levels? Discharge alarms are not required on systems
where
Discharge is immediately recognizable. 1910.160(b)(3)
□ Are employees warned against entry into discharge
areas that remain hazardous to their health? 1910.160(b)(4)
□ Are warning signs posted at the entrance to, and
inside of, areas protected by fixed extinguishing systems that use hazardous
agents? 1910.160(b)(5)
□ Are fixed systems inspected annually and
maintained in good operating condition? 1910.160(b)(6)
□ Are weight and pressure of refillable containers
checked at least semi-annually? If the container shows a loss in net content,
weight, or pressure, it must be subjected to maintenance.
1910.160(b)(7)
□ Are factory charged non-refillable containers that
have no means of pressure indication weighed at least semi-annually? The
container must be replaced if it shows a loss in net weight or content
exceeding 5 percent. 1910.160(b)(8)
□ Are inspection and maintenance dates recorded and
kept until the container is checked again or for the life of the container,
whichever is less? 1910.160(b)(9)
□ Are employees who inspect, maintain, operate, or
fix extinguishing systems trained and subsequently given annual review, as
appropriate? 1910.160(b)(10)
□ Is use of chlorobromomethane or carbon
tetrachloride prohibited as an extinguishing agent where employees may be
exposed? 1910.160(b)(11)
□ Are systems that are susceptible to corrosion
constructed of non-corrosive material or otherwise protected? 1910.160(b)(12)
□ Is automatic detection equipment approved,
installed and maintained in accordance with 1910.164. 1910.160(b)(13)?
□ Do all systems work properly in areas with extreme
climates? 1910.160(b)(14)
□ Is at least one manual station provided to
activate each fixed extinguishing system? 1910.160(b)(15)
□ Are the hazards identified for which manual
operating devices provide protection? 1910.160(b)(16)
□ Is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
provided and assured for rescuing employees trapped in areas that have become
hazardous due to an agent discharge? 1910.160(b)(17)
Total Flooding System Requirements
□ Is an emergency action plan provided in
accordance with 1910.38 for each area within a workplace that is protected by a total
flooding system? 1910.160(c)(1) Systems installed in areas where
Employee’s cannot enter during or after the system's
operation are exempt from the requirements of this section. 1910.160(c)(2)
□ Is a pre-discharge employee alarm on total
flooding systems provided that complies with 1910.165, which is
capable of being perceived above light or noise levels, and which gives
employees
time to safely exit the area before discharge? 1910.160(c)(3)
□ Are approved fire detection devices installed and
connected to pre-discharge alarm systems, which automatically activate total
flooding systems, and which permit employees to safely exit the
Enter your cell, home or work phone number you wish to use. Google Voice will directly connect you with the Atlanta Fire Protection Company Toll Free in the US.
The most
common household fire extinguisher is the dry chemical extinguisher. The dry
chemical extinguisher is designed to handle Class A fires such as organic solid
material such as wood, Class B fires that involve liquid such as gas and oil,
and Class C fires that involve electricity. The dry chemical extinguisher can
be designed and installed for fixed system use and portable extinguisher use.
If using a portable dry chemical extinguisher use caution when fighting active
fires and contact authorities should the fire breach the contained area.
Fire has a
long history of presenting issues to humankind through loss of life, loss of
property, and personal possessions. The first patented fire extinguisher was
created in 1723, by Ambrose Godfrey designed to extinguish a fire should the
need arise. Since then many improvements have been made and fire extinguishers
are now designed for specific use, such as the dry chemical fire extinguisher.
DRY
CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
Wikipedia states there are several types of
dry chemical fire extinguishing agents that are listed below.
Dry
chemical This is a powder based agent that extinguishes by separating the four
parts of the fire tetrahedron. It prevents the chemical reaction involving
heat, fuel, and oxygen and halts the production of fire sustaining
"free-radicals", thus extinguishing the fire.
Mono ammonium phosphate, also known as "tri-class",
"multipurpose" or "ABC" dry chemical, used on class A, B,
and C fires. It receives its class A rating from the agent's ability to melt
and flow at 177 °C (350 °F) to smother the fire, more corrosive than other dry
chemical agents, pale yellow in color.
Sodium bicarbonate, "regular" or
"ordinary" used on class B and C fires, was the first of the dry
chemical agents developed. In the heat of a fire, it releases a cloud of carbon
dioxide that smothers the fire. That is the gas drives oxygen away from the
fire, thus stopping the chemical reaction. This agent is not generally
effective on class A fires because the agent is expended and the cloud of case
dissipates quickly, and if the fuel is still sufficiently hot, the fire starts
up again. While liquid and gas fires don't usually store much heat in their
fuel source, solid fires do. Sodium bicarbonate was very common in commercial
kitchens before the advent of wet chemical agents, but now is falling out of
favor, as it is much less effective than wet chemical agents for class K fires,
less effective than Purple-K for class B fires, and is ineffective on class A
fires, white or blue in color.
Potassium bicarbonate (aka Purple-K), used on class B and C
fires. About two times as effective on class B fires as sodium bicarbonate, it
is the preferred dry chemical agent of the oil and gas industry. The only dry
chemical agent certified for use in ARFF by the NFPA, Violet in color.
Potassium bicarbonate & Urea Complex (aka Monnex/ Powerex),
used on Class B and C fires. More effective than all other powders due to its
ability to decrepitate (where the powder breaks up into smaller particles) in
the flame zone creating a larger surface area for free radical inhibition. Grey
in color.
Potassium Chloride or Super-K dry chemical was developed in
an effort to create a high efficiency, protein-foam compatible dry chemical.
Developed in the 60s, prior to Purple-K, it was never as popular as other
agents since, being a salt, it was quite corrosive, for B and C fires, white in
color.
Foam-Compatible, which is a sodium bicarbonate
(BC) based dry chemical, was developed for use with protein foams for fighting
class B fires. Most dry chemicals contain metal stearates to waterproof them,
but these will tend to destroy the foam blanket created by protein (animal)
based foams. Foam compatible type uses silicone as a waterproofing agent, which
does not harm foam. Effectiveness is identical to regular dry chemical, and it
is light green in color (some ANSUL brand formulations are blue). This agent is
generally no longer used since most modern dry chemicals are considered
compatible with synthetic foams such as AFFF.
MET-L-KYL / PYROKYL is a specialty variation of sodium
bicarbonate for fighting pyrophoric liquid fires (ignite on contact with air).
In addition to sodium bicarbonate, it also contains silica gel particles. The
sodium bicarbonate interrupts the chain reaction of the fuel and the silica
soaks up any unburned fuel, preventing contact with air. It is effective on
other class B fuels as well, blue, red in color.
OSHA
has the following requirements for commercial buildings and public use
facilities:
• Part Number: 1910
• Part Title: Occupational Safety and Health Standards
This section applies to all fixed
extinguishing systems, using dry chemical as the extinguishing agent, installed
to meet a particular OSHA standard. These systems shall also comply with
1910.160.
1910.161(b)
Specific requirements
1910.161(b) (1)
The employer shall assure that dry chemical agents are compatible with any
foams or wetting agents with which they are used.
1910.161(b) (2)
The employer may not mix together dry chemical extinguishing agents of
different compositions. The employer shall assure that dry chemical systems are
refilled with the chemical stated on the approval nameplate or an equivalent
compatible material.
1910.161(b) (3)
When dry chemical discharge may obscure vision, the employer shall provide a
pre-discharge employee alarm which complies with 1910.165 and which will give
employees time to safely exit from the discharge area prior to system
discharge.
..1910.161(b) (4)
1910.161(b) (4)
The employer shall sample the dry chemical supply of all but stored pressure
systems at least annually to assure that the dry chemical supply is free of
moisture which may cause the supply to cake or form lumps.
1910.161(b)(5)
The employer shall assure that the rate of application of dry chemicals is
such that the designed concentration of the system will be reached within 30
seconds of initial discharge.
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