A fire extinguisher is considered one of the most common fire extinguishing agents. Therefore, it is very important to know the number of fire extinguishers per room area (you can find the norms in this article).
A few introductory words
This unit is very simple to put into action, without having at the same time special skills. With its help, you can easily cope with the fires of the initial stage. That is why a fire extinguisher can be found in almost any building, starting from a warehouse and ending with public and industrial premises.
That is why it is very important to understand how many fire extinguishers are needed per room area, norms, types of devices, how to use and in which place it is better to install. The answers to these questions can be found in this article.
The correct calculation scheme
Not so long ago, to ensure fire safety, it was necessary to be guided by the "Fire Safety Rules 01-03". However, now the "Fire Safety Rules" are considered the most important document in charge of fire safety. Given the standards specified in this document, you can protect your building from fires.
In order to understand how to properly place fire extinguishers in a building, you need to understand the floor plan, and also take into account a special design scheme.
The number of fire extinguishers per room area (norms are specified in this article) is determined taking into account the following data:
- the purpose of the building itself, as well as the performance of its functions;
- definition of the category of explosion hazard;
- the area of the facility and its layout;
- fire classification;
- proper selection of fire extinguishers and their installation.
It is in accordance with these points that the calculation is carried out. Therefore, you can not be guided by only one area of the room to determine the required number of fire extinguishers.
Object Assignment
The purpose of the object is to mean the functions that it performs. To do this, you need to establish whether your premises are public, or warehouse, or industrial. If the building is considered public, then in this case it is not necessary to determine the category of fire hazard. This is done only for warehouses and industrial premises.
Layout of the source object
At this stage, making the calculation is not so simple. However, the layout of the building must be taken into account without fail.
The number of fire extinguishers per floor area, the norms of which are indicated in a special state document, must be taken into account, based on the layout of the building. In this case, it is worth paying special attention to the distance from the fire extinguisher itself to a possible ignition area, as well as to the amount of composition filling the unit itself.
Typical fire extinguisher posture standards draw attention to the categories of rooms. Based on this, the distance is determined. If you intend to install fire extinguishers in a public institution, the distance from the device itself to the likely source of fire should not exceed twenty meters. If the room has one of the categories A, B or C, then in this case the distance can be increased to 30 meters. For a building of category G - 40 meters, and category D - up to 70 meters.
Unofficial Calculation Method
Specialists also recommend paying attention to the amount of fire fighting substance in a fire extinguisher. Usually one kilogram of a foamy substance is enough for twenty-five square meters. If the room is small, and there is a possibility of small fires, it is best to install a hand-held portable fire extinguisher. But if there is a risk of significant fires, it is best to use mobile units.
A few nuances
Standards for equipping rooms with hand-held fire extinguishers indicate that there must be at least two units on each floor. A smaller amount should not be used categorically.
You can install both manual and mobile fire extinguishers in your room. If you have several rooms of a small area, then in order to calculate the required number of fire extinguishers, it is allowed to summarize these areas and consider them as a whole.
For a room of category D, you can not install fire extinguishers at all, provided that the area of the room itself does not exceed one hundred square meters.
If your building has a special automatic fire extinguishing system, then the required number of fire extinguishers can be reduced by half.
Fire classification
The calculation of the number of fire extinguishers, the norms of which are indicated in this article, must also be done taking into account the class of fire. This is done based on the materials in the room itself. The most important thing is to determine what can cause a fire in the room and, based on this, calculate the required number of fire extinguishers. In office premises it can be wiring and solids. In chemical laboratories, metals or alloys. But in garages, car washes and gas stations - flammable liquids.
It would also be nice to consider additional and secondary sources of fires. These include, for example, decoration and building materials.
The right fire extinguisher
After determining the required number of fire extinguishers is done, you need to choose the devices themselves. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the ability of the filling substance to cope with the fire. The type of fire extinguisher depends on what type of fire this fire extinguisher will handle. However, experts recommend giving preference to precisely universal units.
Place these devices in a convenient and visible place near the exit at a height of no more than 150 centimeters.
Proper maintenance of fire extinguishers
In order for the device to work correctly and properly, it must be constantly monitored. To do this, there are special requirements for the care of fire extinguishers:
- be sure to appoint a responsible person who will monitor the health of the device;
- each unit must undergo a special periodic check, the results of which should be regularly recorded in the journal;
- when sending a fire extinguisher to recharge it must be replaced with a similar device;
- each fire extinguisher must have a serial number; it is customary to apply white paint on the case of the device itself.
Some nuances when choosing a fire extinguisher
If you choose a water-based device, then pay attention to the temperature conditions of the room. Unlike powder and carbon dioxide aggregates, in water devices the temperature limit is very small.
Powder extinguishers, although cheaper than carbon dioxide, should be used with extreme caution. This is not recommended to be done in rooms with equipment, as well as in museums or archives. After all, powder dust very quickly fills all the cracks with itself, and removing it will not be so easy.
In no case do not ignore the typical standards for fire extinguishers. Indeed, not only the safety of your property, but also the lives of many people can depend on this. Therefore, take full responsibility for the selection and installation of a fire extinguisher. Believe me, it’s better to protect yourself than to regret all consequences afterwards.