About time I bought a fire extinguisher for the workshop...

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I was surprised they were not stopped using them before now.

They have, but this year all Halon units should be removed.
2015 was the last year that they could be fitted, as they have a 5 year life span before they need an extended service, 2020 means they should be gone.

As they can not be field striped it is out with old, in with new.

 

[ukracer]

True.
As BAFE registered engineer I have to stay with their views, that he did the correct thing.

Same problem. They were good at making up rhymes about calling the Fire Brigade out and getting out etc.
Sadly I have seen carnage caused by a small fire that could easily be extinguished by someone capable of operating a milling machine and lathe and a simple bit of training along with the foresight to buy an extinguisher.

BUT my suggestion scheme entry to provide free on-site training (whilst we were on call and doing local topography reconasance) was deemed to lack value.

 

[metalmelt]

Same problem. They were good at making up rhymes about calling the Fire Brigade out and getting out etc.
Sadly I have seen carnage caused by a small fire that could easily be extinguished by someone capable of operating a milling machine and lathe and a simple bit of training along with the foresight to buy an extinguisher.

BUT my suggestion scheme entry to provide free on-site training (whilst we were on call and doing local topography reconasance) was deemed to lack value.

Because there is no profit in it.

 

[addjunkie]

Bcf was also used for explosion supression too, not sure if the MOD still use it for that.

Use of an extinguisher in my opinion is something Id dscribe as a basic life skill like first aid, and as such should be taught in schools under the "common sense class" sadly its not hence the fear and lack of basic undestanding

 

[metalmelt]

addjunkie, pity I cant like this twice.

Basic life skills should be taught at school and I particularly like your idea of the Common Sense clases.

 

[fizzy]

Same problem. They were good at making up rhymes about calling the Fire Brigade out and getting out etc.
Sadly I have seen carnage caused by a small fire that could easily be extinguished by someone capable of operating a milling machine and lathe and a simple bit of training along with the foresight to buy an extinguisher.

BUT my suggestion scheme entry to provide free on-site training (whilst we were on call and doing local topography reconasance) was deemed to lack value.

An old fireman mate of mine said that nearly all fires start very small. A bit of very basic knowledge can save many lives.

 

[Robotstar5]

I used to do a fair bit of training when I did rally rescue as we may have to use extinguishers as a means to rescue rally car crews.

On one weekend at an RAF base they had an old car with a couple of railway sleepers inside soaked in aviation fuel so they could keep re-lighting it after we had put it out, there was an experienced guy on "guard duty" with an extinguisher at the ready to keep an eye on us, once we had finished they told him to put the fire out for the last time and his extinguisher didn't work someone called the control tower and one of their big crash trucks came trundling over, a couple of seconds blast from the roof monitor soon sorted it

 

[Tangledfeet]

Whilst the suggestion that teaching children the use of fire extinguishers at school might sound common sense... one might like to consider that this might just empower some young minds with yet another tool in their arsenal with which they can disrupt the school day and cause havoc and mayhem?!

Could schools just be allowed to stick to the important stuff like basic numeracy, reading an analogue clock, timekeeping, and being able to save files with sensible names and in the correct place, etc... nevermind qualifications!

I don't think it is a school's place to undertake such a task; but perhaps technical college or a specific course delivered by local fire brigade, Duke of Edinburgh, Scouts, Army Cadets, etc.

 

[Robotstar5]

Whilst the suggestion that teaching children the use of fire extinguishers at school might sound common sense... one might like to consider that this might just empower some young minds with yet another tool in their arsenal with which they can disrupt the school day and cause havoc and mayhem?!.....

Our school locked away all the extinguishers on the last day of term to prevent that

 

[jimbo84]

Whilst the suggestion that teaching children the use of fire extinguishers at school might sound common sense... one might like to consider that this might just empower some young minds with yet another tool in their arsenal with which they can disrupt the school day and cause havoc and mayhem?!

Could schools just be allowed to stick to the important stuff like basic numeracy, reading an analogue clock, timekeeping, and being able to save files with sensible names and in the correct place, etc... nevermind qualifications!

I don't think it is a school's place to undertake such a task; but perhaps technical college or a specific course delivered by local fire brigade, Duke of Edinburgh, Scouts, Army Cadets, etc.

Our school locked away all the extinguishers on the last day of term to prevent that

Every kid in our school knew how to use an extinguisher and did regularly, never saw a fire though

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Our school locked away all the extinguishers on the last day of term to prevent that

Every kid in our school knew how to use an extinguisher and did regularly, never saw a fire though

That is why now it is a criminal offence to do that and set of a fire alarm with out good reason.

Never seen any one in court through, or pay the bill for doing it.

 

[Tangledfeet]

That is why now it is a criminal offence to do that and set of a fire alarm with out good reason.

Never seen any one in court through, or pay the bill for doing it.

We have problems several times a year with kids hitting the fire alarm buttons maliciously... don't know if any parents have actually been made to pay the fee the fire brigade charges the school.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It is a shame that places like schools don't.
I have been told they don't go down that road because of the bad press.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I seem to remember when I worked at a filling station during the school holidays, there were 'automatic' extinguishers which fired off if they were knocked over? Happened a few times, decidedly unintentional because if you were responsible....you cleaned up.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Last job today.
Go to a small car restoration workshop.
One I had supplied 8 Fire extinguishers.
Supply only. Not commissioned.

Well he was due a service visit.
They were still in the supply box's.
I had to explain to him that they would not work as they were, showing him he suddenly saw what I meant.

So I had to commission all 8.

But he did have a tin of Fox's biscuits.

 

[johnyev]

OMG that is incredible. They talk of progress - that must date back to the 50s or 60s?
I think I would fit an electric start though

I’d love one, like a little apu!

 

[Wallace]

Last job today.
Go to a small car restoration workshop.
One I had supplied 8 Fire extinguishers.
Supply only. Not commissioned.

Well he was due a service visit.
They were still in the supply box's.
I had to explain to him that they would not work as they were, showing him he suddenly saw what I meant.

So I had to commission all 8.

But he did have a tin of Fox's biscuits.

Show him how well brake cleaner burns, that should make his rear twitchy.

 

[Arash]

Legally they are yours.
It now falls to you to dispose of them legally.
If the Chubb had removed them because they were years old for a water or powder based unit. He did not do his job. He should offered a Discharge test and refill and this should ne documented on the paper work.
If he removed as there were condemned, it is his legal duty to decommission them in accordance with BAFE and HSE. Failure to do so is a breech of the BAFE regulations.

The units should be marked up accordingly.

Now he could offer to dispose of the units, unless they are subject to environmental control he is not allowed to charge for that service. Halon will always have a charge to dispose.

Very few companies do refills any more as it requires the discharge of the extinguisher to check it works in accordance with manufaturer spec, ie discharge distances etc.. trouble is except for plain water ones, none of the others can be drained into the sewer system due to harmful additives. You are supposed to have some sort of waste liquid container (ie an IBC with correct bunding) that gets collected by a waste carrier to be recyled...... How is some one supposed to do that out of the back of the van?
How do I know all this? Just been on the poxy course!

 

[northwest]

Right, after a bit of a look about, this appeared: https://firexo.com/

So, magic anti-fire? Is it powder, water foam? Natural ingredients apparently.

 

[addjunkie]

Amonium sulphate and water, propelled by nitrogen. Is this what others call smart water?