How many fire extinguishers?

[fizzy]

I don’t actually know what the point of the OP post was but in our special way, lots has been said.

One thing I’ll add s that it’s sometimes more dangerous to use the wrong type of extinguisher than doing nothing at all

We had just had all our extinguishers replaced by Chubb. I had been talking to the engineer who replaced them and he had commented on how few many places had.

He kindly forgot to take all the old ones away so we now have plenty spare!

I then thought that as this is a welding forum fire prevention should be a good topic - and as you said lots has been said
Always nice to get different perspective's on things and learn

 

[premmington]

Fire extinguishers - we have six 2kg CO2 - in pairs - on a rack by each of the three doors.

That is how they were when I took the workshop over.

Also we have a (part used) 5kg one in the welding bay.


Is is normal to place fire extinguishers in pairs by the exit doors?

 

[Robotstar5]

Fire extinguishers - we have six 2kg CO2 - in pairs - on a rack by each of the three doors.

That is how they were when I took the workshop over.

Also we have a (part used) 5kg one in the welding bay.


Is is normal to place fire extinguishers in pairs by the exit doors?

If it's double doors you need one to hold each door open

 

[Tom O]

Different fire fighting mediums have different uses, and attack fire in different ways. You need the right one for the risk.

Co2 removes the oxygen but as it doesnt cool, reignition happens quickly
Water cools but doesnt remove oxygen so a much slower reignition, but can exacibate an oil fire.
Foam remove oxgen and has a small amount of cooling, reignition is also slower, but there are different types of foam for different fires too, but they all work, just some burn back faster than others.
Powder chemically reacts with the fire action has a very quick knockdown, but again reignition can be quite quick as the heat isnt removed.

Many years ago I spent some time at the Chubb factory in Ferndale, watching extinguisher testing, its quite suprising what a 2 gallon water extinguisher will put out if used properly

For belt and braces for a helicopter crash fire for example, powder, backed up by foam is a good solution.

I have 3 in my workshop 2 co2 and 1 foam AFFF. 2 in the house 1 co2 and 1 water.

I took a fire training course when I was 17 during a summer training program at Nadens damage control there we put out fires that simulated a downed chopper basically a large container in a pool of oil using water with a wand that sprays a fine spray that puts out the fire by smothering it with steam. They never put us through the torch though metal rooms with a grate over the oil.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Fire extinguishers - we have six 2kg CO2 - in pairs - on a rack by each of the three doors.

That is how they were when I took the workshop over.

Also we have a (part used) 5kg one in the welding bay.


Is is normal to place fire extinguishers in pairs by the exit doors?

Normally a 5lt foam and a CO2.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

He kindly forgot to take all the old ones away so we now have plenty spare!

They don't.

Legally they are yours.

It is easier for them to "Forget" than charge from £8 to £15 to dispose of them.

It does not always please customers.

Plus it is a pain to carry dead units around, store them until they can be collected.


Plus they are classed as pressurized containers and few scrap yards will take them. CO2 you need a prove of ownership to scrap them. Some council skips will charge you to take extinguishers. But most will take one or two.

 

[Cuthy246]

Is is normal to place fire extinguishers in pairs by the exit doors

Pretty much standard, you want extinguishers near escape points. Don't want anyone getting trapped if they have to cross the room to get an extinguisher. The way H&S is these days extinguishers are seen as an aid to escape not a piece of fire fighting equipment.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

They always were a aid to allow escape from a building.
But then it was deamed if you were a confident person you could tackle a small incident. To prevent it from spreading.

In most shops now it is a case of:
One out. All out.
This is to stop "have a go hero's."

Being in the trade I have almost heard all the reasons, excuses and "internet' facts.


But the best this year.
In a relegus building.
"We don't need a fire alarm or fire extinguishers.
Our (insert suitable name) has told us we don't.

This week I have seen the chared remains of the building.

One mute point and a bug bare of mine.
A risk assessment is only as good as the day it was carried out.
Bit like the MOT.

So if anything changes please double check you are safe.

 

[rtbcomp]

Posting this on behalf of a member who wants to remain anonymous:

Today I had my first ever fire in a car. I was welding up without my fire watcher who had left for the day, so I had cause to discharge a 2Lb dry powder into the car. Went out quickly thankfully just as the bottle ran out. Couldn’t stop the seat foam smouldering so had to remove the seat and put it outside. Even soaking it didn’t have much effect at first. It continued to smoulder even with a hose on it! Two days later and I am still cleaning up and assessing the damage on mostly irreplaceable parts. The driver's seat took over an hour to go out even with a hose being played on it so it was lucky that I noticed it and hacked the seat out of the car a bit quick. Even if it hadn't caught, it would have made the smell impossible to shift I think.

It was a wake up call and no more hot works will be done without a firewatcher and a sensible head fitted. The local fire equipment supplier has visited yesterday and refurbished my foam extinguisher as well as supplied a CO2 and a dry powder.

My domestic type vacuum blocks instantly on trying to clean up the powder! I need to get a Henry I think. My Kirby seems to deal with it though, thankfully but the powder is so fine that I get some clouding even through the (claimed) HEPA filter.

My fault as I had no fire watcher, he had left early and I needed to crack on. It was fine over most of the job, but there was a cut in ithe body above the area being welded and a spark must have gone through, caught the carpet and that lit the seat. Damage is carpet, driver's seat, door seal, door card, door handle, sun visor and headlining. Steering wheel and dash have slight damage which I hope I can clean up. The powder is EVERYWHERE.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

The fire extinguisher powder will travel.
It will be a long time before it is clear.

A few tips when cleaning it up.
Face mask. It will loosen your bowels.

Sweep with a soft brush in gentle actions to move powder into a pile. Then collect.

Dispose of powder in correct manner.
Not in you domestic bin.

When all visible powder is collected use soft tack cloths to collect the rest.

I also advise that your clothes get washed on a low temp.
Then you wash with a pH neutral soap

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Normally a 5lt foam and a CO2.

Oops 6lt foam and a 2kg co2.
My bad

 

[fizzy]

I hate powder. Makes such a mess and corrodes metals.
Foam or water would have worked better.
I am confident Henry would cope. I was amazed when we had a blocked chimney and Henry filtered the smoke coming out of the Rayburn. Incredible!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I wonder on here who carry out their:
Daily.
Weekly.
Monthly.

Checks on their:
Fire alarms.
Emergency Lights.
Fire extinguishers.
Escape routes.
Muster points.

 

[fizzy]

I wonder on here who carry out their:
Daily.
Weekly.
Monthly.

Checks on their:
Fire alarms.
Emergency Lights.
Fire extinguishers.
Escape routes.
Muster points.

We do - Chubb inspect at correct intervals and we have fire drills etc.

I used to manage a petrol station - and know several people who work in them. NO staff training at all in case of emergencies! No clue on which extinguisher to use. Asda petrol stations around here have 1 extinguisher and half a bucket of sand - that is it!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I wonder on here who carry out their:
Daily.
Weekly.
Monthly.

Not I - but then there's only me

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Asda petrol stations around here have 1 extinguisher and half a bucket of sand - that is it!

Visible to the public and you will have no idea what is in the shop.

As the fire regulations for petrol forecourts is vastly different to what the common man thinks.

 

[daleyd]

We do - Chubb inspect at correct intervals and we have fire drills etc.

I used to manage a petrol station - and know several people who work in them. NO staff training at all in case of emergencies! No clue on which extinguisher to use. Asda petrol stations around here have 1 extinguisher and half a bucket of sand - that is it!

I’m sorry but I don’t believe that whatsoever.

I can actually understand about the lack of extinguishers, as daft as it sounds - at the first sign of anything untoward happening you’d probably want to hit the big red button that operates the fixed system in a petrol station.

 

[fizzy]

I’m sorry but I don’t believe that whatsoever.

I can actually understand about the lack of extinguishers, as daft as it sounds - at the first sign of anything untoward happening you’d probably want to hit the big red button that operates the fixed system in a petrol station.

Don't believe it?
Perhaps staff in Tesco and Asda are better trained but certainly in other petrol stations they are clueless - try asking the girl in your local Applegreen or Texaco which type of extinguisher should be used on which fire.

 

[fizzy]

I’m sorry but I don’t believe that whatsoever.

I can actually understand about the lack of extinguishers, as daft as it sounds - at the first sign of anything untoward happening you’d probably want to hit the big red button that operates the fixed system in a petrol station.

What fixed system? The only big red button I have seen isolates the pumps - that is it. Do you think they have some sort of super sprinkler system or something?

 

[fizzy]

Visible to the public and you will have no idea what is in the shop.

As the fire regulations for petrol forecourts is vastly different to what the common man thinks.

In the shop? Perhaps 2 if you are lucky. And of course at night it is pay at pump.