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October 22, 2024October 25, 2024st_admin_wbFire protection

Types of Fire Extinguishers & Their Uses

Fire safety is crucial regardless of the setting, be it at the workplace, at home, or in an industrial setting. The fire can start abruptly and the damage they cause could be devastating if they are not dealt with promptly. It is important to choose the right type of fire extinguisher. It can make the difference between an incident that is minor or an ensuing fire. This blog aims to describe the type of fire extinguishers for fire currently in use along with their unique functions. This information will help you choose the most appropriate extinguisher for your requirements and prevent a flame from escalating.

Why Fire Extinguishers Are Essential

Fires can be caused by a variety of various hazards. Every type of environment, whether industrial or residential, is prone to particular fire risks. In these scenarios fire extinguishers serve as the first line of defence. Extinguishers can be a fantastic method to prevent small fires from growing. Fire safety services in Kerala stress the importance of having the correct extinguishers available as part of a comprehensive safety program.
Furthermore the building codes mandate that residential and commercial structures include fire protection equipment like fire extinguishers. Apart from placing lives and property at risk, failing to comply with the law can be punished with legal consequences.

Types of Fire Extinguishers & Their Uses

There are five kinds of fire extinguishers. They include dry powder (DCP) as well as wet chemicals. To ensure that your home is conforming to the requirements it is essential to put the right fire extinguisher in the proper place. The fire risk is determined by the kind of fuel used to create a fire in a particular location.

1. Water extinguishers Class A Fires

Extinguishers using regular water can be used to extinguish the flames that are caused by materials that ignite. They can be found in a variety of places, like storage and warehouses. The dimensions range from 6L, 9L, 45L and 60L. The water extinguishers possess cooling properties that decrease the temperature and keep the spread of fire. Extinguishers for water are white with an inscription that reads “Water”. Water extinguishers must be marked with a symbol that reads ‘Water Extinguisher.’

Uses:
Fire extinguishers made of water are common because they are considered to be ‘traditional fire extinguishers’. However the current guidelines usually recommend foam extinguishers because they are capable of extinguishing both classes A and B flames.

However, they’re beneficial for locations that have an abundance of combustible material for example, storage facilities, warehouses or paper mills. They also serve as textile factories.

Along with CO2 extinguishers, they are also effective in the home. The categories that are most likely to be associated with fire are therefore covered.

Don’t use water-based fire extinguishers to:

Electric fires can result in electrocution
Cooking fires, for example the chip pan (Class F-type fires)
Inflammable gas fires, such as butane and methane (Class C-type fires)
Incidents involving flammable liquids like paint and petrol (Class B flames)

2. Foam fire extinguishers

Foam extinguishers are also known by the name of AFFF foam extinguishers for fires are typically used to fight fires that are class A (solids) and class B (liquids). They come in 2L, 3L and 9L capacities, though 6 litres are the most commonly used.

It is possible to identify them with the use of a cream-coloured tag on the body that reads “Foam”. Additionally, an ID label is recommended to be placed in their vicinity with the words “Foam Extinguisher’.

Foam fire extinguishers function by two methods. First, they’re water-based which reduces the temperatures of fire. The second is that they put out the flames using their aqueous film which forms foam (AFFF) that smothers the flame, stopping it from sparking again. The foam can be utilized on liquids that contain flammable substances since it acts as an insulating layer between the substance and flames.

Foam fire extinguishers are great for locations that have multiple fire hazards for example, hotels, offices garages, factories and other buildings. The majority of buildings will benefit by having an extinguisher for fire.

What can foam fire extinguishers be used to do?

The fires that involve flammable solids such as wood and paper, as well as the textile industry (Class Fires)
Incidents that involve flammable liquids like diesel, petrol paint, and other flammable liquids (Class A fires)

Don’t use foam fire extinguishers to:

Cooking fires made of grease and oil (Class F Fires)
Incidents involving flammable gas (Class C-type fires)

3. CO2 fire extinguishers

CO2 extinguishers for fires (also called carbon dioxide extinguishers) are mostly used to extinguish electrical fires. They are recommended to be coupled with foam fire extinguishers.

CO2 fire extinguishers are identified with a black tag that says CO2. They feature a distinct black nozzle. They should also be identified by an ID tag that reads CO2 extinguisher..

CO2 fire extinguishers emit carbon dioxide. The gas remains in the form of a liquid, and changes into a gas once released. Since the gas is released quickly, the fire extinguishers are not recommended to be used in conjunction with fires that involve cooking oil since they could cause the fire to spread.

CO2 fire extinguishers cannot reduce fires, but they substitute oxygen with carbon dioxide, which removes the fuel. Because of this, they’re extremely effective in electrical fires. CO2 fire extinguishers can be advised for places where there is a huge number of electrical equipment, such as schools, offices and hospitals, where they must be used in conjunction with foam fire extinguishers. CO2 fire extinguishers can be found in 2kg, 4.5kg, 6.5kg, 9kg, and 22.5kg sizes.

What can CO2 fire extinguishers be employed to do?

The fires can be caused by equipment like generators and all electrical equipment (electrical fires)
The fires that are caused by volatile liquids, including diesel, petrol, or paint (‘class B fires)

Do not use CO2 extinguishers to:

Incidents that are caused by grease and oil (Class F Fires).

4. MAP Extinguishers (Class A, B, C) or Dry Powder

Usage
MAP extinguishers are also known as ABC powder-type fire extinguishers These are multi-functional and can be utilized on fires involving solid substances (Class A) and liquids that are flammable (Class B) as well as gas (Class C). The powder acts by stopping the chemical reaction that is occurring in the fire.

Not Suitable for

These extinguishers are not appropriate for use in tight areas, since the powder may create breathing difficulties. In addition, the powder could make a mess and obstruct vision while fighting fires.

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers (Class F/K)

Usage: Wet chemical extinguishers are designed specifically for kitchen fires that contain cooking oils and fats like those used in deep fat fryers (Class F). The extinguisher releases a chemical that cools the flames. It also creates a soapy layer on top of the oil burning, which prevents ignition.

Not Suitable for: These extinguishers are not suitable for electrical fires or those with flammable liquids, such as gasoline or gas.

Conclusion

Knowing the types of fire extinguishers and their proper use is crucial to maintaining the safety of your workplace or home. A properly functioning extinguisher can stop small fires from becoming out of control. Make sure you check your property for the proper fire safety equipment and then maintain it regularly to ensure that it’s in good working order. For more information about fire security as well as compliance and other solutions, explore fire and safety services in Kerala. Take proactive steps to protect your home and property, and ensure that your home is equipped with the proper tools to respond to emergencies.

August 18, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

Fire breaks out in Bandra high-rise, no casualties

Mumbai: In yet another incident of a fire in a high-rise building in Mumbai, a level 2 blaze erupted on the 14th floor of the ground plus the 21-storey Jivesh building on Bandstand Road in Bandra at 7.

Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) rushed 16 fire engines and jumbo tankers to the spot. Fire fighting operations were carried out using a turntable ladder from the external side of the building, fire brigade officials said. The cooling operation was ongoing till late at night.

Hemant Parab, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), said that the firefighting system in the high-rise was defunct. “The firefighting system was not working and all residents have been evacuated safely. We are carrying out a detailed investigation and depending on its outcome we will send them a notice,” Parab said.

During cooling operations, 31-year-old firefighter Kaushal Rajput received minor injuries.

A senior fire official who was present at the spot said that some repair work was being carried out between the 13th and 14th floors where the blaze erupted. “The actual reason is yet to be ascertained. We have shut down the electricity lines as a precautionary measure and all the residents have been evacuated and are currently sheltered in the basement of the building,” a senior fire department official said.

The residents vacated the building right soon after the fire broke out so no one needed to be rescued. In addition to the fire brigade officials, Mumbai police, ambulances and ward staff were also present at the site.

August 17, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

Mumbai: Fire brigade likely to issue notice to Bandra building over ‘non-functional’ firefighting equipment

A fire broke out at the 14th floor of the 21-storey building in Bandra west.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade is likely to issue a notice to Jivesh Terraces in Bandra west for “non-functional” firefighting systems at the building. The decision came after a fire broke out at the 14th floor of the 21-storey building and the firemen discovered that the firefighting equipment was non-functional. While no resident was injured, one fireman received minor injuries due to suffocation.

“Since the firefighting system was non-functional, we will issue a notice to the building under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention Act. If the firefighting system would have been working, the flames could have been doused much earlier,” said an official from the fire brigade.

The fire department is conducting an investigation to find out the exact cause of the fire which broke out around 7.45 pm and was doused at 10 pm. Officials added that prima facie it appears that the fire started due to a short circuit in the air-conditioning unit of the flat. The power supply of the building will also be restored.

Many residents had assembled at the upper floors of the building and were later rescued safely. More than 20 residents were evacuated from the building.

August 16, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

Navi Mumbai Fire: 1 body found, 1 still missing

Fire officials said that while the major blaze is under control, some of the portions are still catching small fires which are being doused.

NAVI MUMBAI: Around 12 hours after a fire broke out in Khairane MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation), one casualty has been reported, while another person is still missing, fire officials said on Saturday.

While the major blaze is under control, some of the portions are still catching small fires which are being doused. “In the areas wherein the fire is doused, we are conducting cooling procedure. After reaching the terrace of the West Coast Polychem Pvt Ltd on Saturday morning, we found the first body who was later identified as NS Nair. There were no burn injuries on him. He is suspected to have died of suffocation. One person is still missing and we are looking for him,” NMMC fire officer Purushottam Jadhav said.

Nikhil Sanjay Pashilkar (26), a resident of Kalyan is the second person who is still missing. Nair, who is above 60 years of age was also a resident of Kalyan.

The fire call was made at Rabale MIDC Fire station at around 3.17pm on Friday and the first company to catch fire was that of west Coast Polychem Pvt Ltd which later spread to Hind Elastomers. One of the eyewitnesses Amita Shah on Friday said that many female labourers who were sleeping on the terrace of the West Coast Company after their shift had managed to come down somehow during the fire incident safely. “While some seemed suffocated, some were vomiting. They were too traumatised and taken to hospitals,” Shah said.

“The biggest problem in MIDC area is of lack of safety. Even the marginal spaces available between the two companies is used for dumping drums and it becomes a challenge for us to work and douse the fire,” fire officer RB Patil from MIDC said.

August 15, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

Fire at Mumbai airport’s cargo complex

Mumbai Fire Brigade chief officer Hemant Parab said, “Our vehicles from the Mumbai fire brigade quickly and doused the fire. There was a monsoon shed put on the terrace and this caught fire.’’

A tarpaulin shed at a cargo complex inside Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport caught fire on Monday noon. The Mumbai Fire Brigade and the fire services department of the Mumbai airport quickly responded to the emergency and doused the blaze.

The Director General of Civil Aviation, Arun Kumar, said he was informed that the fire was restricted to the cargo complex area.

Mumbai Fire Brigade chief officer Hemant Parab said, “Our vehicles from the Mumbai fire brigade quickly and doused the fire. There was a monsoon shed put on the terrace and this caught fire.’’

The Mumbai Fire Brigade sent three fire trucks and two jumbo tankers, and the fire was completely doused by 12.59 pm.

August 13, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

Car on Fire, Pune-Mumbai Expressway- 7 Passesngers Manage to Escape

28 May 2022 : In a miraculous escape, seven
female passengers of a car that caught fire at
Borghat on Pune-Mumbai expressway, managed

to stay unhurt, police officials said on Saturday.
According to police, the women hailed from
Vichumbe village near Panvel and were heading
to Ekvira Mata Mandir on Friday, when the
incident took place. The other family members
were there in another car, which was ahead of
them.

According to the highway police, the driver saw
smoke coming out of the cars bonnet and alerted
the passengers. All the occupants got down and
moved to a safe distance from the car, which
caught fire and was reduced to ashes within no
time. An elderly women too was helped to alight
and was brought out safely.

The Lonavla police have ordered a probe into the
fire incident. Police Inspector Sitaram Dubal
said, “It was a Nissan Tereno and all the
passengers are unhurt. We will investigate the
case further.”

August 11, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbEntrepreneurs, Uncategorized

Unique Fire Safety Challenges of Tall Buildings

Two other considerations for high-rise fire
safety include exterior wall assemblies and
performance-based fire resistance. Exterior
wall assemblies that include combustible materials
are another fire protection issue that is being
discussed in the media and fire safety community.
These exterior wall assemblies are popular as they
provide the opportunity to make a building iconic
and aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, these
assemblies improve energy efficiency and reduce
water and air infiltration.

Even with these benefits, they have their
shortcomings. In recent years, significant damage
has resulted from rapid and extensive fire spread
over the length of the building's facade either
externally or internally through the insulation
cavity. The investigations into the cause of these
fires have revealed that wall assemblies that contain
combustible materials were a contributing factor to
the rapid fire spread in these incidents.

For example, media reports and social media videos
of tall building fires in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) as recently as March 2016 at the Ajman One
Tower and on New Year's Eve (2015) at the Address
Downtown Dubai Hotel have shown the world how
fire can quickly spread up multiple levels of a high-
rise building that has exterior wall assemblies
containing combustible materials.

Examples of exterior wall assemblies that contain
combustible materials include exterior insulation
finish systems (EIFS), metal composite material
(MCM) claddings, high-pressure laminates, foam
plastic in cavity walls, and water-resistive barriers
(WRB). In regards to fire safety, the combustibility of
the assembly's components impacts its fire hazard.
For example, the foam insulation that is part of EIFS
and MCM assemblies is combustible and
propagates rapid flame spread when exposed to fire.




Common fire spread scenarios include fire spread
up a wall, either via the outside surface or through
concealed spaces within the wall. Additionally, in
the fire events cited earlier, fire spread into the
interior floor areas was controlled by the sprinklers
that were installed in the interior of the building.
However, the sprinklers could not control the fire
from spreading up the building's exterior.

Currently, there are several test standards that
evaluate exterior, non-load-bearing wall assemblies
that include combustible components. In the
United States, the most prevalent test method is
outlined in NFPA 285, Standard Fire Test Method
for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of
Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies
Containing Combustible Components. Other
standards are available in Canada (CAN/ULC S-
134), United Kingdom (BS 8414) and internationally
(ISO 13785).

Moving forward, complying with one of the
applicable test standards is an important step in
reducing the risk that an exterior fire will spread up
multiple levels in a tall building. At the same time,
passing a test procedure does not preclude
designers and engineers from taking other steps to
ensure that adequate life safety is provided
throughout a tall building.

Performance-Based Fire Resistance

The consequences of partial or global collapse of tall
buildings due to a severe fire pose a significant risk
to occupants and the fire service. Tall buildings
often have unique design features whose role in the
structure and fire response are not easily
understood using traditional fire protection
methods. These unique factors may warrant a need
to adopt an advanced structural fire
engineering analysis to demonstrate that the
building's performance objectives are met.
Performance - based design of structural fire
resistance entails three steps: (1) determination of
the thermal boundary conditions to a structure
resulting from a fire; (2) calculation of the thermal
response of the structure to the fire exposure, and
(3) determination of the structural response of the
structure. Guidance on performing this type of
analysis can be found in the SFPE Engineering
Standard on Calculating Fire Exposures to
Structures, and SFPE Engineering Standard on
Calculation Methods to Predict the Thermal
Performance of Structural and Fire Resistive
Assemblies.

August 2, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbUncategorized

IIT Gandhinagar to augment ‘Fire Safety Engineering’ with a new fire testing lab and scholarly activities

The new lab facility will aid research and testing efforts in enhancing fire safety in the country.

The Indian Institute of Technology, IIT, Gandhinagar is going to augment its efforts in Fire Safety Engineering by establishing a new fire testing lab and undertaking multiple scholarly activities to boost research and development in the area of fire safety in the country.

Mukesh Shah, Managing Partner of the Ahmedabad-based Shah Bhogilal Jethalal & Bros (AAAG India), one of India’s leading fire fighting equipment manufacturers, has provided generous support for this cause.

In appreciation of his gesture, the Institute will name its new fire-testing research lab as the ‘Shah Bhogilal Jethalal Laboratory for Passive Fire System Testing’, in memory of Mukesh Shah’s grandfather and founder of the Shah Bhogilal Jethalal & Bros.

HIGH IMPACT RESEARCH BY IIT GANDHINAGAR

IITGN pursues high-impact research and quality education in the field of safety with its Centre for Safety Engineering (CSE), which is committed to promoting a culture of safety and is mainly focused on fire safety.

The first facade fire test facility in South Asia was also established at IITGN in collaboration with Underwriters Laboratory, USA. The new lab will help enhance fire safety in high-rise buildings, airports, metro rail, and other infrastructure projects through critical testing of building elements.

With this, the Institute is also going to multiply various activities of the Centre for Safety Engineering with a special emphasis on Fire Safety Engineering.

These will include laboratory development and augmentation, teaching of courses, inviting eminent scholars as visiting professors or scholars-in-residence, and organising seminars, conferences, or other scholarly endeavours in this area.

July 10, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbLeadership

PHDCCI meet on fire safety: Safety practices a must to avert industrial hazards, says Dy CM

Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak was speaking at an interactive conference and expo on “Uttar Pradesh Industrial Safety, Fire Safety and Disaster Response” organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), U.P. Chapter, in collaboration with Safety Controls and Devices Pvt Ltd in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak encouraged stakeholders for more preparedness and awareness towards industrial hazards, safety practices and equipment.

He said chances of dangers and accidents tend to increase hand-in-hand with the size of the industry unit and therefore it becomes very significant to incorporate awareness and protection protocols in any given unit.

Pathak was speaking at an interactive conference and expo on “Uttar Pradesh Industrial Safety, Fire Safety and Disaster Response” organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), U.P. Chapter, in collaboration with Safety Controls and Devices Pvt Ltd in Lucknow on Tuesday.

He said awareness towards the hazards gain more importance in rural areas where the usage of LPG is still new and gathering momentum. The deputy CM also said the state would soon come up with 17 new airports to enhance connectivity.

He said that the government had been able create a safer and healthier ambience and the same was reflected when women and senior citizens were seen moving out on the streets confidently and fearlessly.

Additional chief secretary (home), U.P., Awanish Kumar Awasthi said the government was acting proactively towards the prevention of industrial hazards, especially fire accidents. He said industrial accidents and hazards can be prevented if only careful attention is given to the safety control part and awareness trainings are given to workers.

Awasthi also said the fire services department had succeeded in setting up fire stations in all tehsils of the state and was now aiming to put up fire stations in all 819 blocks of the state to reduce fire accidents.

He appreciated the good work being done by the PHDCCI and said he was elated on being invited to such meaningful symposiums organised by the Chamber frequently.

Avinash Chandra, DG, fire services, U.P., spoke on the significance of industrial safety and disaster response. He said for any given industry unit, it becomes very important to include safety practices in its area of operations and preparedness against the foresighted accidents.

He also said 65% of fire hazards happened due to short-circuits simply because the wiring after it turned old would become danger prone. He said that was why it became very important to do periodic audits to check wiring for any faults.

Rajnish Chopra, managing director, Safety Controls and Devices Pvt Ltd. who was is the chairman of the conference, gave the theme address and appreciated the subject experts who gathered from different parts of the country.

July 8, 2022October 23, 2024st_admin_wbFranchising

When will fire safety regulations be implemented, HC asks state

The PIL also sought directions for the issuance of the final notification on Special Regulations for Buildings Vulnerable to Man-made Disasters in the DCPR-2034

Mumbai The Bombay high court (HC) has asked the state government to report the progress of implementing draft regulations for fire safety in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters within a week.

The directions were issued after a public interest litigation (PIL), which raised a grievance that though the draft regulations were formulated in 2009 in the aftermath of the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, nothing was done to implement the same.

The PIL also sought directions for the issuance of the final notification on Special Regulations for Buildings Vulnerable to Man-made Disasters in the DCPR-2034. Though the state sought four weeks’ time, the HC declined it and posted the hearing after a week.

The division bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice M S Karnik, while hearing the PIL filed by advocate Abha Singh, was informed by advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, special counsel for the state government, that it would take at least four weeks to implement fire safety regulations and guidelines, after conducting the requisite research and studies. The state had informed the bench of the guidelines on April 11.

In light of the submission by the state, advocate Aditya Pratap appearing for Singh said that the state was probably not implementing the fire safety regulations due to the interest of developers and builders.

After hearing the submissions, the bench observed that the state ought to have filed an affidavit bringing on record their stand on the status of implementation of the regulations and adjourned hearing of the PIL after a week.

Earlier, the state had filed an affidavit informing the bench that objections and suggestions had been sought from the public on the draft regulations and based on advancements made in the field of science and technology, it wanted to ascertain whether the special regulations needed to be implemented by appointing an expert committee for the same.

The bench also sought to know as to why the state had failed to include the special regulations in the DCPR- 2034, which came into effect in 2018 and the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), which came into effect in 2020.

The bench then noted that the state had failed to justify its complete inaction from incorporating the stipulations of the regulations in the DCPR-2034 and the UDCPR. “Unfortunately, a complete abdication of public duties and functions is discernible, which is wholly opposed to public interest and public concern,” added the bench.