Fire is a terrible phenomenon, the consequence of which is the destruction of buildings of various degrees, the destruction of property, harm to human health and life. In all institutions, fire extinguishers are installed to ensure safety. But in order for the fire extinguisher not to fail at the crucial moment, it is necessary to regularly check the device and evaluate its condition.
Types of devices
Fire extinguishers are divided into several types depending on the purpose and class of fire.
- Powder A universal device suitable for extinguishing fires of classes A, B, C, E. The device is designed to extinguish small fires and ignitions of solids of organic origin, melting materials and electrical installations at voltages up to 1000 V.
- Airy foam. Suitable for extinguishing fires on solid surfaces, flammable liquids, fats and oils. They are used to extinguish fire sources of long smoldering materials. It is not allowed to use devices of this type to eliminate the fire of buildings and structures made of aluminum, materials in which sodium, magnesium, potassium and other alkaline earth metals are present, for extinguishing devices included in the power supply network.
- Liquid or water types of fire extinguishers. They are used to extinguish fires of class A (when igniting solids) and class B (when burning liquid substances). They are considered the safest for human health.
- Air-emulsion. Suitable for extinguishing fires of class A, B and E. They are not used to localize fires of substances in a gaseous state, alkaline earth metals and cotton.
- Gas and carbon dioxide. The use of fire extinguishers of this type is not advisable for the localization of fires and fires at facilities made of materials containing magnesium, sodium and aluminum. The device is not suitable for extinguishing pipelines and equipment operating at high temperatures.
Fire extinguisher inspection rules
All devices located in the organization are evaluated. Fire extinguishers are regularly checked and recharged after the devices are put into operation. All devices located in the organization are evaluated. Fire extinguishers are checked by a specially trained person who has knowledge of the regulatory and technical documentation and all the necessary requirements that each fire extinguisher must comply with. The check is most often carried out by a
fire safety engineer
.
The verification procedure consists of several stages:
- assessment of the appearance of the device;
- assessment of the location of the device and verification of compliance with the documentation;
- monitoring the pressure shown on the pressure gauge.
The results of the verification are recorded in the documents. Data on testing the device are entered in a special log of fire extinguisher verification. In the same document, the specialist who assessed the device enters data on the recharging of the device. In addition, an act of checking fire extinguishers is issued. It indicates information on the availability of devices for extinguishing fires and fires, data on their condition. In addition, the condition assessment procedure should be carried out within the strictly specified time frame for checking fire extinguishers.
Inspection Frequency
Testing of fire extinguishing devices is carried out in strictly defined periods. There are three types of checks:
For each audit, there are certain indicators that are evaluated by specialists. As a rule, a more thorough check is carried out during the annual inspection.
Quarterly check
It is conducted by a
fire safety specialist every three months. During the inspection, the place where each fire extinguisher is located is evaluated. Checking is also carried out with the purpose of visual inspection of the device.
The main indicators of the assessment are the condition of the cylinder coating, the availability and integrity of the operating instructions for the device, the health of the pressure gauge, the good condition of the parts that spray the contents of the cylinder, the mass of the extinguishing agent and the standard pressure in the cylinder.
Annual inspection
It is carried out once a year. The method of verification depends on what type of fire extinguisher is presented to the inspector. Testing of powder fire extinguishers is carried out by a selective method. It consists in checking a certain number of devices located on the site. The number of tested devices should not be less than 3% of the total. A specialist will open each selected fire extinguisher. The check is carried out in order to assess the state of the active substance intended for the localization of fires. Checking carbon dioxide fire extinguishers is carried out in order to assess the external state of the device and the integrity of the surfaces, the locking and starting mechanism, the safety of seals, tags for recharging the device and operating instructions. If there is a discrepancy in the requirements of at least one device, all devices are sent to recharge or replace.
Full check
It is made at least once every 5 years. All devices are freed from the internal contents, thoroughly cleaned from the inside and dried. Then they are tested for strength and tightness. Important indicators of the healthy condition of the device are:
- condition of the surfaces of the fire extinguisher;
- no signs of corrosion;
- warranty and trial periods of the device;
- current state of sealing and filtering devices, locking elements and valves.
Fire extinguisher placement requirements
There are certain requirements for the location of the fire extinguisher. Checking the placement of the device is carried out during each inspection by fire safety experts.
The extinguishing device must be placed so that direct sunlight does not fall on it, it is not exposed to vibrations, it is protected from aggressive environment and high humidity. The location of the device should be easily accessible and in sight, so that in case of fire it was possible to immediately find a fire extinguisher and perform the necessary extinguishing actions.
The recommended location for the device is walkways and exits. Fire extinguishers should not impede the free evacuation of people in the event of a fire. Devices can be placed on brackets or in fire cabinets, in special panels or stands.
To place fire extinguishers on the territory of warehouses and industrial premises, special fire panels must be equipped.
In territories saturated with various equipment that obscures fire extinguishing devices, there must be indicators of the location of the devices, made in accordance with GOST.
Recharge primary fire extinguishing devices
Recharge of fire extinguishers is performed in order to maintain the device in good condition and technical suitability for a period specified by the manufacturer. During the check, the contents of the fire extinguisher cylinder are analyzed; in the case of checking powder devices, the degree of flowability and humidity of the internal contents are measured. If a discrepancy is found, the contents of the device are replaced. In the event that the device is in good condition and no defects are detected during inspections, the fire extinguisher is recharged based on the timing of the start of operation. Powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishing devices are recharged once every five years. The procedure for recharging water and foam fire extinguishers, as well as fire extinguishers with water additives, is necessary more often - once a year.
In addition, recharging the fire extinguishing device is necessary in case of:
- partial or full expenditure of the substance contained in the cylinder during the extinguishing of the fire;
- leakage of content in excess of the permissible rate.
Foam fire extinguishers are recharged once a year. Recharge and verification of primary fire extinguishing devices located in an open area should be performed twice as often.
Conclusion
The availability of primary fire fighting equipment is mandatory for each institution. It is important not only to correctly place the devices on the territory of the facility, but also to carefully monitor the status of the devices. The timely conduct of inspections is an essential component of the fight against the occurrence of possible fires. A functioning fire extinguishing device will help to cope with fire and to avoid human casualties and material losses.