Choosing A Fire Extinguisher
Fire Kills
Each year nearly 700 people die from fire in their own home. A further 14,000 are injured. The best way to avoid this danger is to prevent fire from starting in the first place. But what should you do if you discover a fire in your home? You must get everyone out as quickly as possible and call the fire brigade.However you may discover a fire in its very early stages and think that you can deal with it yourself. The first thing that you should remember is that fire spreads very quickly. Even a small contained fire can quickly spread, producing smoke and fumes which can kill in seconds. If you are in any doubt do not tackle the fire, no matter how small.
You can put yourself at risk by fighting the fire. If in doubt get out, get the brigade out, stay out.
Before you tackle a fire...
Many people put out small fires in their homes quite safely. Sadly, however,
some people die or are injured by tackling a fire which is beyond their capabilities.
Here is a simple home fire code to help you decide whether to put out or get
out.
* Only tackle a fire in its very early stages.
* Always put your own and other peoples safety first. Make sure you can escape
if you need to and never let a fire block you exit.
* Fire extinguishers are only for fighting a fire in its very early stages.
Never tackle a fire if it is starting to spread of has spread to other items
in the room or if the room is filling with smoke. Around 70% of fire deaths
are caused by people being overcome by smoke and fumes.
* If you cannot put out the fire or if the extinguisher becomes empty, get
out and get everyone else out of the building immediately, closing all doors
behind you as you go. Then telephone the fire brigade.
Safety marks - buy wisely
Whatever type of make of fire extinguisher you choose, make sure if conforms
to the appropriate British Standard. Look for the kitemark or the special
BAFE mark.
Where to fix your extinguisher
Fix an extinguisher where you can reach it quickly. The best place is on an
escape route, that is near an outside door, or on the route from the living
areas to an outside door, or adjacent to a specific risk. It should be properly
fixed to the wall at a height where it can be reached. Keep it out of the
reach of children.
Fire extinguishers should be fixed where they can be easily seen. Fixing them inside cupboards or behind doors will only waste valuable time if a fire breaks out. Do not place them over cookers or heaters or in places of extreme temperatures.
Maintenance
The manufacturers instructions will tell you what you need to do to keep your
extinguisher in good working order. After an extinguisher has been used, even
if only partially, it must be recharged according to the manufacturers instructions.
The extinguisher should be properly serviced once a year. You should use a company registered by the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE).
BAFE is a Government recognised national organisation. You can get details of approved products and advice from
British Approvals for Fire Equipment,
48a Eden Street,
Kingston upon Thames,
Surrey, KT1 1EE
(Tel: 0181 541 1950).
They can also supply a list of companies approved by them to service portable fire extinguishers.
Fire blankets
They are particularly useful for smothering fat pan fires or for wrapping
round a person whose clothing is on fire. Fire blankets conforming to BS 7944:1999
and BS EN 1869:1997 are suitable for use in the home. These will be marked
to show whether they should be thrown away after use or used again after cleaning
in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
A fire blanket or damp cloth should be used on a fat pan fire. Never use a fire extinguisher on a fat pan fire. Fire blankets should be kept in the kitchen.
Further information
Always follow the manufacturers instructions. If you require any further information
about the type of fire extinguisher of fire blanket you should buy, ask your
local fire brigade. They will be glad to help you and their advice is expert
and free of charge. They will also be able to provide you with general fire
safety advice.
Types of Extinguisher ( & Colour Coding)
The main types of extinguisher that you will come across are,
* Water (Red)
* CO2 (Black) See Cut-away section
* Dry Powder (Blue) See Cut-away section
* Foam (Cream)
These have been colour coded so that you can identify them quickly and you do not use the wrong extinguisher and put yourself in danger. The main body colour of the extinguisher have changed a couple of times over the past few years (any extinuishers that are not of the correct colour will be replaced when they become unserviceable), however the type colour has remained the same.
* Water extinguishers are usually coloured signal red.
* Other types of extinguishers fall into a couple of catagories, either:
1. The entire body of the extinguisher is coloured in the type colour
2. Predominantly red with a 5% second colour to indicate the contents of the
extinguisher. Or
3. Predominantly red with a bold coloured block in the relevant colour stating
it's type.
It is recommended that extinguishers within the same building conform to a single colour scheme to avoid confusion.
If you have any doubt then please contact your local Fire Safety department for advice.
In
the following page the extinguishers have been listed with the colour of the
extinguisher matching the colour type. This is to highlight the colour type
only and any new extinguisher purchased or leased will be predominantly red.