Fire Extinguishers

Portable Fire Extinguishers are the best available first response to tackle the fire at its incipient stage.

Fire extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

 

The type of extinguisher is identified by a colour coding as indicated below as per the standard is

BS EN 3 part 5 "Portable Fire Extinguishers.

 

·       Water extinguishers are coloured signal red.

·       Other extinguishers will be predominantly signal red with the manufacturers label, a band or Circle covering at least 5% of the surface area of the extinguisher of a second colour to indicate the contents of the extinguisher.

 

Symbols for Fire Extinguisher Classes

                                                    

Fire extinguisher Parts

Fire Extinguishers Inspection

The fire extinguishers shall be inspected, serviced and maintained once every year, all previous inspection reports and daily/ monthly inspection records, Service, maintenance and repairs reports copies shall be available.

 fire extinguisher inspection includes the following:

·       The location, designated place and appropriate type/rating of extinguisher for

The hazard shall be verified and ensure that it is as per consultant and Civil Defence approved drawings (Portable extinguishers shall be installed in an accessible spot, free from blocking by storage and equipment, and near room exits that provide an escape route).

·       Extinguisher shall be installed at proper height (not more than 1.5 m above the

floor and not less than 30 cm from the bottom of extinguisher to the finished

floor).

·       The extinguisher shall be free of obstruction to access or visibility and in compliance with maximum travel distance requirements (Class A Fire shall not be more than 30 m, Class B Fire shall not be more than 15 m, Class C Fire shall not be more than 9 m).

                                                 Fire extinguisher inspection

·       Safety seals and tamper indicators shall be in place and not damaged or missing.

 

Tamper seal is proken  and need replaced!                                                  Tamper seal is intact and                                                                                                                                                 extinguisher is ready to fire!

·       Operating instructions and labels on nameplates shall be legible and facing forward and visible.

·       Extinguisher shall be fully charged determined by weighing or “hefting weighing correctly as per manufacturer’s specification.

·       Fire extinguishers shall be free of physical damage, dents, corrosion, leakage.

·       Nozzles and spray horns shall be free of clogging.

·       Pressure gauge reading, or indicator shall be in the acceptable range as per manufacturer’s specifications.

Yellow arrow indicates the extinguisher needs charging                                                   yellow arrow indicated the                                                                                                                                                       extinguisher is ready to fire

·       Where wheeled or trolley mount extinguishers are installed, condition of tires,

wheels, carriage, hose and nozzles shall be in good working condition.

·       Visual signage, pointing at the location of extinguisher, both in Arabic and English shall be in place and visible.

 

Obsolete Extinguishers

The following types of extinguishers are considered obsolete and should be removed from service and replaced:

i. Chemical foam (excluding film-forming agents)
ii. Vaporizing liquid
iii. Cartridge-operated water
iv. Cartridge-operated loaded stream
v. Copper or brass shell fire extinguishers (excluding pump tanks) joined.
by soft solder or rivets
vi. Extinguishers rated prior to 1955 and marked B-1, C-1 on the nameplate.
vii. Fire extinguishers not listed or labeled.
viii. Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 Agents.