Portable Fire Extinguishers & Yacht Training & Safety and Sea Survival Instructor Conference

Transcription

1 Portable Fire Extinguishers & Yacht Training & Safety and Sea Survival Instructor Conference 6 th & 7 th June 2012

2 Fire Extinguisher Classifications (AS / NZS 1850:1997). Extinguishers are classified by one or more of the following letters, designating the class or classes of fire, they have found to be most effective on: Class A Fires that involve carbonaceous solids such as, wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Class B Fires that involve flammable and combustible liquids. Class C Fires involving combustible gases. Class D Fires involving certain combustible metals. Class E Fires involving electrically energized equipment. Class F Fires involving combustible cooking oils or fats.

3 Fire Extinguisher Ratings

4 Extinguisher Ratings Each extinguisher has a rating label, advising the rating classification it has achieved. Class B Rated Extinguished a size 80 tray fire. 6A: 80B: E Class A Rated Extinguished a size 6 Crib Fire Class E Rated Tested on Energised Electrical Equipment and Passed.

5 Class A Fire Ratings ( Crib Fire) Class A Pictograph The A Rating is determined by the extinguishers ability to extinguish a crib fire, using specified sizes of wood, fuel, and tray.

6 Class B Fire Ratings (Flammable Liquid Fire) Class B Pictograph The B Rating is determined by the extinguishers ability to extinguish a flammable liquid fire of specified area and volume.

7 Class C Fire Ratings ( Gas Fires ) The C Class Rating has not been actively pursued by the Australian Fire Industry, with few or no extinguishers having a C rating. This is mainly due to the opinion that extinguishing a gas fire, leaves behind an even greater risk, that of accumulating unburnt gas, posing a possible explosion risk. It is therefore preferable to shut off the gas supply, where possible. The C Class rating is determined by an extinguishers ability to extinguish a gas fire created using apparatus as defined by AS1850:1997

8 Class D Fire Ratings (Metal Class Fires) Metal Class Fire Extinguishers are not manufactured to an Australian Standard, and therefore do not have a D Class Rating The extinguishant contained in Chubb Fire Safety s Metal Class Extinguisher is suitable for use on: Lithium, Magnesium, Sodium, & Potassium based fires. Lith-X will contain, and sometimes completely extinguish, fires of Zirconium, Titanium, and Sodium Potassium Alloy.

9 Class E E Fire Ratings (Electrical Non-Conductivity) Class E Pictograph The E Rating is determined by the extinguishers ability to pass a Non- Conductivity Test. An extinguisher can only obtain an E Rating if it already has an A, B,or F rating.

10 Class F F Fire Ratings (Fat Fire) The F Rating is determined by the extinguishers ability to extinguish a cooking oil fire using specified pan and oil content. Rating Pan Diameter Volume of Oil 1F Litres 2F Litres 3F Litres 4F Rectangular Tray 75 Litres Approx

11 AS / NZS The following Australian Standards specifies the requirements for portable extinguishers, and covers the construction, materials, performance requirements, mechanical testing, and markings of fire extinguishers. Standard No Part AS1841 Part 1 Portable Fire Extinguishers General Requirements AS1841 Part 2 Portable Fire Extinguishers Water Type Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 3 Portable Fire Extinguishers Wet Chemical Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 4 Portable Fire Extinguishers Foam Type Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 5 Portable Fire Extinguishers Powder Type Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 6 Portable Fire Extinguishers Carbon Dioxide Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 7 Portable Fire Extinguishers Vaporizing Liquid Specific Requirements AS1841 Part 8 Portable Fire Extinguishers Non-Rechargeable Specific Requirements

12 AS /NZS 1850:1997 Portable Fire Extinguishers Classification, Rating, and Performance Testing. Standard AS 1850 covers the testing of Fire Extinguishers to obtain their performance class ratings. AS Standard AS 1851 covers maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment.

13 AS Portable Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets Selection and Location Standard AS 2444 covers the selection and location of Fire Extinguishers, and Fire Blankets. The requirements for the location and distribution of extinguishers, takes account of extinguisher classification and rating, travel distance, and floor area and hazard classification. Note: Application of this standard should take in to account any local regulations..

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15 Types & Usage Carbon dioxide Is especially effective on electrical fires, Class E Fires, being a gas; it does not leave any residues which might further harm the damaged equipment. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) also works on Classes B and E Fires by displacing the less dense oxygen. This can be problematic in enclosed occupied spaces as we need oxygen too!

16 Types & Usage Water Cools burning material. Cools burning material by absorbing heat from burning material. Effective on Class A fires, it has the advantage of being inexpensive, harmless, and relatively easy to clean up. Water Mist uses a fine misting nozzle to break up a stream of deionized water to the point of not conducting electricity back to the operator. Class A and E rated. It is used widely in hospitals for the reason that, unlike other clean-agent suppressants, it is harmless and non-contaminant.

17 Types & Usage Foam Foam is an effective extinguishant for Class A and Class B fires and of limited effectiveness on Class F fires. It wets Class A fuels, lowering their temperature as well as excluding air Foam provides a lasting layer to control the fire and it can also be used as a vapour-suppression barrier over flammable-liquid spills.

18 Types & Usage Wet Chemical This extinguishant reacts with the oil or fat, creating a surface barrier which seals off the air supply. The solution is usually alkaline, and consequently will corrode some metals, especially aluminium. It may also irritate eyes and skin. Prompt clean-up is advised. It must not be used on fires involving energized electrical equipment

19 Types & Usage The Powder Fire Extinguisher ABE Distinguished by a white coloured band around the top of the cylinder, is the most widely used type of fire extinguisher suited for fires occurring in the house, boat, garage, car or caravan. They discharge a fine powder that absorbs fuel molecules, depriving the fire of a fuel source. Powder fire extinguishers are not generally suitable for confined places, as they can affect visibility and also cause problems for people with breathing symptoms

20 Types & Usage BE Sodium bicarbonate, "regular" or "ordinary" used on class B and E 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 gas dissipates quickly, and if the fuel is still sufficiently hot, the fire starts up again. 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, less effective than Purple-K for class B fires, and is ineffective on class A fires. White or blue in color.

21 Types & Usage ABE Monoammonium phosphate, also known as "tri-class", "multipurpose, DCP, "ABC" or ABE dry chemical, Used on class A, B, and E 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.

22 Types & Usage Purple K Potassium bicarbonate (aka Purple-K), Used on class B and E 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.

23 Types & Usage Monnex Potassium bicarbonate & Urea Complex ( aka Monnex / Powerex ) Used on Class B and E 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.

24 Fire Blankets A fire blanket is a flexible sheet of non-flammable material Smothers fire by physically excluding oxygen. Light manageable protection against a number of fire risks, generally suitable for small Class F fires, fires in clothing worn by a person and as a thermal barrier. Fire blankets require minimum maintenance

25 Aerosol Fire Suppression

26 Features Pre-engineered aerosol generating fire extinguishing units Compact (weight & space saving of up to 90% compared to gaseous systems) Easy to install (non-pressurized, no cylinders or pipework) Thermal, Manual or Electrical actuation Extinguishes fire by generating extremely fine aerosol

27 Features Provides highly effective rapid fire suppression for enclosed volumes Non- corrosive, non-conductive safe for delicate equipment Rugged, Stainless Steel construction Environmentally friendly - Zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) & Global Warming Potential (GWP) CSIRO ActivFire listed, marine approvals Safe for personnel at normal design parameters

28 How Does It Work? Extinguishing Mechanism Heat Argonite Carbon Dioxide Inert Gases FM-200 Novec 1230 inhibits the chemical chain reaction of fire resulting in extremely quick and efficient fire suppression

29 Top 3 Benefits 1. Compact & effective - Rapid fire suppression with small amount of agent 2. Low cost & easy to install - No pressure vessels, manifolds, nozzles or pipework - Virtually maintenance free 3. Automatic & self contained - Thermally activated unit available - 24 hour protection

30 Cost Effective Stat-X provides very cost effective protection: Low unit cost Low installation cost (no pipework, pressure vessels) Virtually maintenance free Visual inspection Replace after 10 years or after discharge Easy post fire clean up

31 Demonstrations