Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are not considered to constitute a fire class on their own, as electricity is a source of ignition that will feed the fire until removed. When the electrical supply has been isolated, the fire can be treated (generally) as ‘Class A’ for extinguishing purposes. However, you should always isolate the supply before fighting the fire; if this is not possible then a non-electrical conducting extinguishing agent is to be used regardless of the power status on all occasions.
5.1 Extinguisher Quick Guide
5.2 Types of fire portable extinguishers The fire-fighting extinguishing medium in portable extinguishers is expelled by internal pressure, either permanently stored or by means of a gas cartridge. Generally speaking, portable fire extinguishers can be divided into five categories according to the extinguishing medium they contain:
1 Water
2 Foam
3 Powder
4 Carbon Dioxide
5 Vaporising liquids
Some fire extinguishers can be used on more than one type of fire. For instance, AFFF extinguishers can be used on both Class 'A' fires and Class 'B' fires. Your fire equipment supplier will be able to advise you.
The most useful form of fire-fighting equipment for general fire risks is the water-type extinguisher or hose reel. One such extinguisher should be provided for approximately every 200 square meters of floor space, with a minimum of one per floor. If each floor has a hose reel which is known to be in working order and of sufficient length for the floor it serves, there may be no need for water-type extinguishers to be provided.
Areas of special risk involving the use of oil, fats, or electrical equipment may need carbon dioxide, dry powder or other types of extinguisher. If you are not sure what to provide in any given circumstances, your local fire authority will be able to advise you. British Standard 5306: Part 3 provides advice about the selection and allocation of portable fire extinguishers.
Fire extinguishers should conform to a recognized standard such as British Standard EN 3 for new ones and British Standard 5423 for existing ones. For extra assurance, you should look for the British Standard Kitemark, the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) mark or the Loss Prevention Council Certification Board (LPCB) mark.
Fire extinguishers may be color-coded to indicate their type. Previously, the entire body of the extinguisher has been color-coded, but British Standard EN 3: Part 5 (which came into effect on 1st January 1997) requires that all new fire extinguisher bodies should be red. A zone of the r of up to 5% of the external area, positioned immediately above or within the section used to provide the operating instructions, may be used to identify the type of extinguisher. This zone should be positioned so that it is visible through a horizontal arc of 180° when the extinguisher is correctly mounted. The color-coding should follow the recommendations of British Standard 7863.
Fire extinguishers, if properly maintained and serviced, may be in service for at least 20 years. So there may be situations where a building will have a mixture of new and old fire extinguishers with the same type of extinguishing medium but with different color-coded markings. In these cases and to avoid any confusion, it is advisable to ensure that extinguishers of the same type but with different color-coded markings are not mixed, either at the same location in single-story buildings or on the same floor level in multi-storey buildings.
Old-style fire extinguishers must not be painted red to try and comply with the new standard, as this would contravene British Standard EN 3 which covers technical changes during the manufacturing stage.
Fire extinguishers should normally be located in conspicuous positions on escape routes, preferably near exit doors. Wherever possible, fire-fighting equipment should be grouped to form fire points. These should be clearly visible or their location clearly and conspicuously indicated so that fire points can be readily identified. Where workplaces are uniform in layout, extinguishers should normally be located at similar positions on each floor.
If for any reason extinguishers are placed in positions hidden from direct view, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require that their location should be indicated by signs and, where appropriate, directional arrows.
5.3 hose reels and fire blankets Where hose reels are provided, they should be located where they are conspicuous and always accessible, such as in corridors.
Fire blankets should be located in the vicinity of the fire hazard on which they are to be used, but in a position that can be safely accessed in the event of a fire. They are classified as either light-duty or heavy-duty. Light-duty fire blankets are suitable for dealing with small fires in containers of cooking oils or fats and fires involving clothing. Heavy-duty fire blankets are for industrial use where there is a need for the blanket to resist penetration by molten materials.
Hose reels and fire blankets should conform to relevant British Standards.
If you are unsure about the number or type of portable fire-fighting equipment or hose reels you need, you should check with the local fire authority before purchasing any such equipment.
5.4 Allocation and Siting of Extinguishers. For the home, a fire blanket and a 2kg dry powder extinguisher in the kitchen would be considered satisfactory for most situations. The domestic tap using a suitable container or a hose reel is satisfactory for most of the class A fires in the home but remember if in doubt, get out and always call the fire service out.
Commercial organization's need to be more professional by conducting a survey to ascertain the number and type of extinguisher that is required and a more substantial fire extinguishing capability will be required. As a rule of thumb, you need one 9-liter water extinguisher for every 200 sq meters of floor space with a minimum of two extinguishers. Special risks other than Class "A" must be considered separately. Companies that are FETA approved should be used and this will ensure the installation and maintenance is of the highest standard.
Electrical fires are not considered to constitute a fire class on their own, as electricity is a source of ignition that will feed the fire until removed. When the electrical supply has been isolated, the fire can be treated (generally) as ‘Class A’ for extinguishing purposes. However, you should always isolate the supply before fighting the fire; if this is not possible then a non-electrical conducting extinguishing agent is to be used regardless of the power status on all occasions.
5.1 Extinguisher Quick Guide
5.2 Types of fire portable extinguishers The fire-fighting extinguishing medium in portable extinguishers is expelled by internal pressure, either permanently stored or by means of a gas cartridge. Generally speaking, portable fire extinguishers can be divided into five categories according to the extinguishing medium they contain:
1 Water
2 Foam
3 Powder
4 Carbon Dioxide
5 Vaporising liquids
Some fire extinguishers can be used on more than one type of fire. For instance, AFFF extinguishers can be used on both Class 'A' fires and Class 'B' fires. Your fire equipment supplier will be able to advise you.
The most useful form of fire-fighting equipment for general fire risks is the water-type extinguisher or hose reel. One such extinguisher should be provided for approximately every 200 square meters of floor space, with a minimum of one per floor. If each floor has a hose reel which is known to be in working order and of sufficient length for the floor it serves, there may be no need for water-type extinguishers to be provided.
Areas of special risk involving the use of oil, fats, or electrical equipment may need carbon dioxide, dry powder or other types of extinguisher. If you are not sure what to provide in any given circumstances, your local fire authority will be able to advise you. British Standard 5306: Part 3 provides advice about the selection and allocation of portable fire extinguishers.
Fire extinguishers should conform to a recognized standard such as British Standard EN 3 for new ones and British Standard 5423 for existing ones. For extra assurance, you should look for the British Standard Kitemark, the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) mark or the Loss Prevention Council Certification Board (LPCB) mark.
Fire extinguishers may be color-coded to indicate their type. Previously, the entire body of the extinguisher has been color-coded, but British Standard EN 3: Part 5 (which came into effect on 1st January 1997) requires that all new fire extinguisher bodies should be red. A zone of the r of up to 5% of the external area, positioned immediately above or within the section used to provide the operating instructions, may be used to identify the type of extinguisher. This zone should be positioned so that it is visible through a horizontal arc of 180° when the extinguisher is correctly mounted. The color-coding should follow the recommendations of British Standard 7863.
Fire extinguishers, if properly maintained and serviced, may be in service for at least 20 years. So there may be situations where a building will have a mixture of new and old fire extinguishers with the same type of extinguishing medium but with different color-coded markings. In these cases and to avoid any confusion, it is advisable to ensure that extinguishers of the same type but with different color-coded markings are not mixed, either at the same location in single-story buildings or on the same floor level in multi-storey buildings.
Old-style fire extinguishers must not be painted red to try and comply with the new standard, as this would contravene British Standard EN 3 which covers technical changes during the manufacturing stage.
Fire extinguishers should normally be located in conspicuous positions on escape routes, preferably near exit doors. Wherever possible, fire-fighting equipment should be grouped to form fire points. These should be clearly visible or their location clearly and conspicuously indicated so that fire points can be readily identified. Where workplaces are uniform in layout, extinguishers should normally be located at similar positions on each floor.
If for any reason extinguishers are placed in positions hidden from direct view, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require that their location should be indicated by signs and, where appropriate, directional arrows.
5.3 hose reels and fire blankets Where hose reels are provided, they should be located where they are conspicuous and always accessible, such as in corridors.
Fire blankets should be located in the vicinity of the fire hazard on which they are to be used, but in a position that can be safely accessed in the event of a fire. They are classified as either light-duty or heavy-duty. Light-duty fire blankets are suitable for dealing with small fires in containers of cooking oils or fats and fires involving clothing. Heavy-duty fire blankets are for industrial use where there is a need for the blanket to resist penetration by molten materials.
Hose reels and fire blankets should conform to relevant British Standards.
If you are unsure about the number or type of portable fire-fighting equipment or hose reels you need, you should check with the local fire authority before purchasing any such equipment.
5.4 Allocation and Siting of Extinguishers. For the home, a fire blanket and a 2kg dry powder extinguisher in the kitchen would be considered satisfactory for most situations. The domestic tap using a suitable container or a hose reel is satisfactory for most of the class A fires in the home but remember if in doubt, get out and always call the fire service out.
Commercial organization's need to be more professional by conducting a survey to ascertain the number and type of extinguisher that is required and a more substantial fire extinguishing capability will be required. As a rule of thumb, you need one 9-liter water extinguisher for every 200 sq meters of floor space with a minimum of two extinguishers. Special risks other than Class "A" must be considered separately. Companies that are FETA approved should be used and this will ensure the installation and maintenance is of the highest standard.
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