Liquefied Gas Fire Extinguishers

Los Angeles Liquefied Gas Fire Extinguishers

Liquefied gas extinguishers are compressed gas fire extinguishers that are designed for specific area use, such as computer rooms, file storage facility, precious valuables designed to handle Class A fires such as organic solid material such as wood, Class B fires that involve liquid such as gas and oil, and Class C fires that involve electricity.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

LOS ANGELES DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS

The most common household fire extinguisher is the dry chemical extinguisher. The dry chemical extinguisher is designed to handle Class A fires such as organic solid material such as wood, Class B fires that involve liquid such as gas and oil, and Class C fires that involve electricity. The dry chemical extinguisher can be designed and installed for fixed system use and portable extinguisher use. If using a portable dry chemical extinguisher use caution when fighting active fires and contact authorities should the fire breach the contained area.

Fire has a long history of presenting issues to humankind through loss of life, loss of property, and personal possessions. The first patented fire extinguisher was created in 1723, by Ambrose Godfrey designed to extinguish a fire should the need arise. Since then many improvements have been made and fire extinguishers are now designed for specific use, such as the dry chemical fire extinguisher.

DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

Wikipedia states there are several types of dry chemical fire extinguishing agents that are listed below.

Dry chemical This is a powder based agent that extinguishes by separating the four parts of the fire tetrahedron. It prevents the chemical reaction involving heat, fuel, and oxygen and halts the production of fire sustaining "free-radicals", thus extinguishing the fire.

Monoammonium phosphate, also known as "tri-class", "multipurpose" or "ABC" dry chemical, used on class A, B, and C fires. It receives its class A rating from the agent's ability to melt and flow at 177 °C (350 °F) to smother the fire. More corrosive than other dry chemical agents. Pale yellow in color.

Sodium bicarbonate, "regular" or "ordinary" used on class B and C fires, was the first of the dry chemical agents developed. In the heat of a fire, it releases a cloud of carbon dioxide that smothers the fire. That is the gas drives oxygen away from the fire, thus stopping the chemical reaction. This agent is not generally effective on class A fires because the agent is expended and the cloud of case dissipates quickly, and if the fuel is still sufficiently hot, the fire starts up again. While liquid and gas fires don't usually store much heat in their fuel source, solid fires do. Sodium bicarbonate was very common in commercial kitchens before the advent of wet chemical agents, but now is falling out of favor, as it is much less effective than wet chemical agents for class K fires, less effective than Purple-K for class B fires, and is ineffective on class A fires. White or blue in color.

Potassium bicarbonate (aka Purple-K), used on class B and C fires. About two times as effective on class B fires as sodium bicarbonate, it is the preferred dry chemical agent of the oil and gas industry. The only dry chemical agent certified for use in ARFF by the NFPA. Violet in color.

Potassium bicarbonate & Urea Complex (aka Monnex/Powerex), used on Class B and C fires. More effective than all other powders due to its ability to decrepitate (where the powder breaks up into smaller particles) in the flame zone creating a larger surface area for free radical inhibition. Grey in color.

Potassium Chloride, or Super-K dry chemical was developed in an effort to create a high efficiency, protein-foam compatible dry chemical. Developed in the 60s, prior to Purple-K, it was never as popular as other agents since, being a salt, it was quite corrosive. For B and C fires, white in color.

Foam-Compatible, which is a sodium bicarbonate (BC) based dry chemical, was developed for use with protein foams for fighting class B fires. Most dry chemicals contain metal stearates to waterproof them, but these will tend to destroy the foam blanket created by protein (animal) based foams. Foam compatible type uses silicone as a waterproofing agent, which does not harm foam. Effectiveness is identical to regular dry chemical, and it is light green in color (some ANSUL brand formulations are blue). This agent is generally no longer used since most modern dry chemicals are considered compatible with synthetic foams such as AFFF.

MET-L-KYL / PYROKYL is a specialty variation of sodium bicarbonate for fighting pyrophoric liquid fires (ignite on contact with air). In addition to sodium bicarbonate, it also contains silica gel particles. The sodium bicarbonate interrupts the chain reaction of the fuel and the silica soaks up any unburned fuel, preventing contact with air. It is effective on other class B fuels as well. Blue/Red in color.

OSHA has the following requirements for commercial buildings and public use facilities:
• Part Number: 1910
• Part Title: Occupational Safety and Health Standards
• Subpart: L
• Subpart Title: Fire Protection
• Standard Number: 1910.161
• Title: Fixed extinguishing systems, dry chemical.

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1910.161(a)
Scope and application. This section applies to all fixed extinguishing systems, using dry chemical as the extinguishing agent, installed to meet a particular OSHA standard. These systems shall also comply with 1910.160.
1910.161(b)
Specific requirements.
1910.161(b)(1)
The employer shall assure that dry chemical agents are compatible with any foams or wetting agents with which they are used.
1910.161(b)(2)
The employer may not mix together dry chemical extinguishing agents of different compositions. The employer shall assure that dry chemical systems are refilled with the chemical stated on the approval nameplate or an equivalent compatible material.
1910.161(b)(3)
When dry chemical discharge may obscure vision, the employer shall provide a pre-discharge employee alarm which complies with 1910.165 and which will give employees time to safely exit from the discharge area prior to system discharge.
..1910.161(b)(4)
1910.161(b)(4)
The employer shall sample the dry chemical supply of all but stored pressure systems at least annually to assure that the dry chemical supply is free of moisture which may cause the supply to cake or form lumps.
1910.161(b)(5)
The employer shall assure that the rate of application of dry chemicals is such that the designed concentration of the system will be reached within 30 seconds of initial discharge.

[45 FR 60712, Sept. 12, 1980]

Fire Alarms

Los Angeles Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are designed to alert you of the presence, risk or danger from the devastating effects of fire. There are heat detection alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms. The fire alarms main job is alerting you to the presence, risk or danger of fire, alert off-site facilities/authorities (Fire Department) and initiate the fire sprinklers and fire protection system.

There are manual operation fire alarms, such as pull switch that are generally located in public buildings and schools.

Automatic fire alarms, such as carbon monoxide, and smoke are generally found in most buildings including public and private residences.

Los Angeles Fire and Heat Detection Alarms

Fire and heat detection alarms work differently than a smoke detector and should not replace the smoke detectors in your building or facility. The following heat detection alarms are, fixed temperature heat detectors and rate of rise heat detection alarms.

The fixed temperature heat detection alarms are designed for a set temperature setting that once triggered activates the fixed temperature heat detection alarm.

The rate of rise heat detection alarms are based on an increase in temperature within a set time such as 12 degrees within a minute. The rate of rise heat detection alarms can generally operate at a lower temperature threshold than a fixed temperature heat detection alarm.

Fixed System Fire Extinguishers

Los Angeles Fixed System Fire Extinguishers

Where precise equipment, expensive or priceless valuables are present you may want to look at doing a fixed system fire extinguisher. The fixed system fire extinguisher ideal is to extinguish or prevent a fire from occurring in areas where your special valuables may be located.

The fixed system fire extinguisher is best located in areas such as safes, artwork, computer rooms, and file storage facilities.

OSHA has a Fixed System Fire Extinguisher Checklist: (Please check OSHA for recent updates that may have occurred)

Fixed Extinguishing Systems Checklist

General requirements

□ Are fixed extinguishing system components and agents provided that are designed and approved for use on the specific fire hazards that they are expected to control or extinguish? 1910.160(b)(1)

□ Are employees notified and assured their safety if a fixed extinguishing system becomes inoperable? Any defects or impairments must be fixed by trained personnel. 1910.160(b)(2)

□ Is a distinctive alarm or signaling system provided that complies with 1910.165 and is capable of being perceived above noise or light levels? Discharge alarms are not required on systems where

discharge is immediately recognizable. 1910.160(b)(3)

□ Are employees warned against entry into discharge areas that remain hazardous to their health? 1910.160(b)(4)

□ Are warning signs posted at the entrance to, and inside of, areas protected by fixed extinguishing systems that use hazardous agents? 1910.160(b)(5)

□ Are fixed systems inspected annually and maintained in good operating condition? 1910.160(b)(6)

□ Are weight and pressure of refillable containers checked at least semi-annually? If the container shows a loss in net content, weight, or pressure, it must be subjected to maintenance.

1910.160(b)(7)

□ Are factory charged nonrefillable containers that have no means of pressure indication weighed at least semi-annually? The container must be replaced if it shows a loss in net weight or content

exceeding 5 percent. 1910.160(b)(8)

□ Are inspection and maintenance dates recorded and kept until the container is checked again or for the life of the container, whichever is less? 1910.160(b)(9)

□ Are employees who inspect, maintain, operate, or fix extinguishing systems trained and subsequently given annual review, as appropriate? 1910.160(b)(10)

□ Is use of chlorobromomethane or carbon tetrachloride prohibited as an extinguishing agent where employees may be exposed? 1910.160(b)(11)

□ Are systems that are susceptible to corrosion constructed of non-corrosive material or otherwise protected? 1910.160(b)(12)

□ Is automatic detection equipment approved, installed and maintained in accordance with 1910.164. 1910.160(b)(13)?

□ Do all systems work properly in areas with extreme climates? 1910.160(b)(14)

□ Is at least one manual station provided to activate each fixed extinguishing system? 1910.160(b)(15)

□ Are the hazards identified for which manual operating devices provide protection? 1910.160(b)(16)

□ Is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) provided and assured for rescuing employees trapped in areas that have become hazardous due to an agent discharge? 1910.160(b)(17)

Total Flooding System Requirements

□ Is an emergency action plan provided in accordance with 1910.38 for each area within a workplace that is protected by a total flooding system? 1910.160(c)(1) Systems installed in areas where

employees cannot enter during or after the system's operation are exempt from the requirements of this section. 1910.160(c)(2)

□ Is a pre-discharge employee alarm on total flooding systems provided that complies with 1910.165, which is capable of being perceived above light or noise levels, and which gives employees

time to safely exit the area before discharge? 1910.160(c)(3)

□ Are approved fire detection devices installed and connected to pre-discharge alarm systems, which automatically activate total flooding systems, and which permit employees to safely exit the

area before the system discharges? 1910.160(c)(4)

Fire Suppression Systems

Los Angeles Fire Suppression Systems

Fire suppression systems are part of the network of a fire protection system; they work in conjunction with the smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire sprinkler systems. They are designed to extinguish fires for areas of high fire risk, or where highly flammable materials are present.

Fire Suppression Systems Include:

Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

                Designed to extinguish where fires start and spread quickly

Restaurant Fire Suppression Systems

                Designed to extinguish highly flammable areas such as grease fires

Industrial Fire Suppression Systems

                Designed to extinguish high temperature and highly flammable items such as molten metals