Fire is a terrible phenomenon, the consequences of which are the destruction of buildings of varying degrees, the destruction of property, causing harm to the he alth and life of people. Fire extinguishers have been installed in all establishments 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 intended for extinguishing small fires and fires of organic solids, consumable materials and electrical installations up to 1000 V.
- Air foam. Suitable for extinguishing fires of hard surfaces, flammable liquids, fats and oils. They are used to extinguish fires of long-smoldering materials. It is not allowed to use devices of this type to extinguish the fire of buildings and structures made of aluminum, materials in which sodium, magnesium, potassium and other alkaline earth metals are present, for extinguishingappliances connected to the power supply.
- Liquid or water types of fire extinguishers. They are used to extinguish fires of class A (when igniting solid substances) and class B (when burning liquid substances). Considered the safest for human he alth.
- Air-emulsion. Suitable for Class A, B, and E fires. Not suitable for containment of gaseous, alkaline earth, and cotton fires.
- Gas and carbon dioxide. The use of fire extinguishers of this type is not advisable for localizing fires and fires at objects made of materials containing magnesium, sodium and aluminum. The device is not suitable for extinguishing pipelines and equipment operating at high temperatures.
Rules for testing fire extinguishers
All devices hosted by the organization are evaluated. Regular checks and recharging of fire extinguishers are carried out after putting the devices into operation. All devices hosted by the organization are evaluated. Testing of fire extinguishers is carried out by a specially trained person who has knowledge of the regulatory and technical documentation and all the necessary requirements that each fire extinguisher must meet. The inspection is most often carried out by a fire safety engineer.
The verification procedure consists of several steps:
- assessment of the appearance of the device;
- evaluate device placement and check compliance withdocumentation;
- monitoring the pressure shown on the pressure gauge.
The results of the check are recorded in the documents. Data on the testing of the device are entered in a special fire extinguisher test log. In the same document, the specialist who evaluated the device enters data on the completed recharging of the device. In addition, a certificate of inspection of fire extinguishers is drawn up. It indicates information about the availability of devices for extinguishing fires and fires, data on their condition. In addition, the condition assessment procedure must be carried out within the strict time limits for checking fire extinguishers.
Check frequency
Checking fire extinguishing devices is carried out in strictly defined periods. There are three types of checks:
- full;
- annual;
- quarterly.
For each check, there are certain indicators that are evaluated by specialists. As a rule, a more thorough check is made during the annual inspection.
Quarterly review
It is conducted by a fire safety specialist every three months. During the inspection, the place where each fire extinguisher is located is assessed. The check is also carried out for the purpose of visual inspection of the device.
The main indicators of the assessment are the condition of the cylinder coating, the presence and integrity of the instruction manual for the device, the serviceability of the pressure gauge, the serviceable condition of the parts that ensureatomization of the contents of the cylinder, the mass of the extinguishing agent and the standard pressure in the cylinder.
Annual review
Operated once a year. The method of verification depends on what type of fire extinguisher is presented to the inspector. Checking powder fire extinguishers is carried out by a selective method. It consists in checking a certain number of devices placed on the site. The number of checked devices should not be less than 3% of the total number. The specialist opens 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 condition of the device and the integrity of the surfaces, the locking and starting mechanism, the safety of the seals, the recharge tags of the device and the operating instructions. If at least one device is found to be non-compliant, all devices are sent for recharging or replacement.
Full check
Produced at least once every 5 years. All devices are freed from internal contents, thoroughly cleaned from the inside and dried. Then they are tested for strength and tightness. Important indicators of the good condition of the device are:
- condition of fire extinguisher surfaces;
- no signs of corrosion;
- warranty and trial periods of the device;
- current condition of sealing and filtering devices, locking elements and valves.
Requirements for placement of fire extinguishers
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 specialists.
The fire extinguishing device must be placed so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight, it is not subjected to vibrations, it is protected from aggressive environments and high humidity. The location of the device must be easily accessible and in sight, so that in the event of a fire, you can instantly find a fire extinguisher and take the necessary extinguishing action.
Recommended placement of the device - passages and exits. Fire extinguishers should not interfere with the free evacuation of people in the event of a fire. Devices can be placed on brackets or in fire cabinets, in special shields or stands.
Special fire shields must be equipped to place fire extinguishers on the territory of warehouses and industrial premises.
In areas saturated with various equipment that obscures fire extinguishing devices, there should be device location indicators made in accordance with GOST.
Recharging primary extinguishing devices
Fire extinguishers are recharged to keep the device in good condition and technical suitability for the period specified by the manufacturer. During the check, the contents of the fire extinguisher cylinder are analyzed, in the case of checking powderdevices, the degree of flowability and moisture content of the internal contents are measured. If a discrepancy is found, the contents of the device are replaced. If the device is in good order and no defects were found during the checks, the fire extinguisher is recharged based on the start of operation. Powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishing devices are recharged once every five years. It is necessary to carry out the procedure for recharging water and foam fire extinguishers, as well as fire extinguishers with water additives, more often - once a year.
In addition, recharging the extinguishing device is necessary in case of:
- partial or complete consumption of the substance contained in the cylinder during fire extinguishing;
- Leaking more content than allowed.
Foam fire extinguishers are recharged once a year. Recharging and testing of primary fire extinguishing devices located in open areas should be done twice as often.
Conclusion
The availability of primary fire extinguishing equipment is mandatory for every institution. It is important not only to correctly place the devices on the territory of the facility, but also to carefully monitor the condition of the devices. Timely inspections are the most important component of the fight against the occurrence of possible fires. A well-functioning fire extinguishing device will help to cope with a fire and avoid loss of life and property.
