Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is a small, portable extinguisher with a total weight of up to 20 kilograms. He serves the quenching of small and incipient fires and contains extinguishing agent is discharged through stored or generated at start printing.

Quick Overview - suitability of fire extinguishers

• Danger of fire spread
• Danger of violent, explosive reaction may
• Danger of explosion fat
• Marking by code letters is not a standard procedure, see section extinguishing agents
• Extinguishing fires gaseous, escaping pressurized substances is difficult and only possible with special fire extinguishers, the presence of which today tends towards zero.
• Partial fat extinguishers are also available for the classes ABF

EN 3

Since mid-1992 portable fire extinguisher in Germany according to DIN standard DIN EN 3 are allowed in Austria since mid-2003 after the corresponding ÖNORM EN 3 (from July 2006: Part 7, 8, 10 ):

• The main difference with the previous approval, the assignment and auditing of the assets of each extinguishing the fire extinguisher on the basis of test objects ( delete objects, Standard fires) instead of its capacity.
• In January 2005 ( DIN) and December 2004 ( ÖNORM ) makes the newly created fire class F a revision necessary.

Fire extinguisher to the previous standard DIN 14406-1 ... 3 continue to be approved in Germany.

Fire classes and fire fighting capability

The extinguishing agent used a fire extinguisher are suitable due to their quenching effect for certain types of fires, which are divided into fire classes.

The fire classes for which a fire extinguisher can be used are indicated on each fire extinguisher and illustrated with pictograms and abbreviated by the letters A, B, C, D, and F. From the suitability of a fire extinguisher for specific fire ratings also often the colloquial name derives, as an ABC extinguisher is suitable for example for fire classes A, B and C.

The test objects are graded as follows: In case of fire the

• Fire Class A: 3A, 5A, 8A, 13A, 21A, 27A, 34A, 43A, 55A
• Fire Class B: 8B, 13B, 21B, 34B, 55B, 70B, 89B, 113B, 144B, 183B, 233B
• Fire Class C: is checked only if the fire extinguisher burning gas is quenched, which emerges at the end of a pipe.
• Fire Class F: 5F, 25F, 40F and 75F. Example: A extinguisher has a rating of 40F, ie quenching capacity for 40 liters of burning cooking oil
• Fire Class E: Fire Class E was abolished which was planned for fires in electrical low voltage systems (up to 1000 volts). All of today's fire extinguisher can be used in low-voltage systems, provided the printed price on the fire extinguisher safety distance is maintained.

In the technical regulation for workplaces ASR A2.2 (as of November 2012 ) to find the mapping tables of fire class to units of extinguishing agent: From the Table provided 2 "Assignment of extinguishing assets to units of extinguishing agent " can be seen that the 13A extinguisher has four units of extinguishing agent (LE ).

For the basic equipment of a workplace with fire extinguishers is given in Table 3 ( the ASR A2.2 ) " units of extinguishing agent as a function of the base of the workplace" how many LE are needed. Accordingly, requires a working area of ​​200 m² basic equipment with fire extinguishers, which together have 12 LE.

Marking on fire extinguishers

Fire extinguisher to EN 3-5 have five writing fields

Extinguishing media

The extinguishing agent non-flammable gases, extinguishing powder, foam and water or aqueous solutions are used. Until the mid- 1990s and halons were used as fire extinguishing agents that use but has since been banned because of the extreme ozone layer damage.

The following abbreviations for extinguishing agents are therefore no longer be found to EN 3 more part of the label, and newer fire extinguishers. These short characters actually have therefore only historical significance:

• Code letter K: Kohlenstoffdioxidlöscher ( fire class B, only as a special fire extinguisher C)
• Code letter P: Powder extinguisher for pure flame fires (fire class B and C )
• Code letter PG: Powder extinguisher for flame and Glutbrände ( Class A, B and C)
• Code letter PM: powder extinguishers for fires involving metals ( fire class D)
• Identification letter W: water extinguisher / fire extinguisher fat = aqueous solutions (Fire Class A F)
• Code letter S: foam extinguisher ( fire classes A and B)
• Code letter H: Halo extinguisher ( fire class B and C) are primarily prohibited because of the ozone-depleting effects of halons 1211 and 1301, see Montreal Protocol

Pressure generation

After the architecture of the pressure generating one distinguishes the following types of fire extinguishers:

Extinguisher

Extinguisher consist of two containers ( extinguishing agent container and propellant tank), extinguishing agents and propellant are thus separated. Principle: a connection between the two containers is established, for example, by opening the valve at the propellant container, the propellant flows ( fuel gas, such as carbon dioxide ) in the extinguishing agent container and sets it under pressure. It is said that the extinguisher is "charged " - he is now ready to expel the extinguishing agent. A distinction extinguisher with inside or outside ( in the extinguishing agent container ) mounted LPG bottle.

Extinguisher is available for the extinguishing agent is water, foam and powder, as a premixed solution or as a cartridge with foam concentrate.

Stored pressure (Permanent extinguisher)

For stored pressure extinguishers located extinguishing agent and propellant are together in an extinguishing agent container. Principle: the propellant contained in the extinguishing agent container (nitrogen or carbon dioxide ) exerts a persistent (permanent) pressure on the extinguishing agent. After actuation of the triggering device, such as a shift lever valve, the extinguishant pressure rises through the riser pipe and exits via the extinguishing hose with the discharge nozzle of the fire extinguisher.

Advantage of this design is the low technical effort, which is why these extinguishers are priced standard class. Disadvantage is that the extinguishing agent container is constantly under pressure (and thus subject to the pressure vessel legislation). This creates the danger that escapes through small leaks on the extinguisher ( so-called creep gases), the propellant unnoticed and the extinguisher so that is inoperable.

Stored pressure extinguishers are also available for extinguishing media Use water, foam and powder.

Gas extinguisher

Another way, the pressure storage, so-called " gas quencher ", for which the erasing means ( carbon dioxide, CO2) is the blowing agent at the same time.

Chemical pressure generation (deprecated)

Chemical extinguisher with pressure generation are no longer included in the current standard EN 3 and should be retired by now everywhere. Chemical pressure generation was formerly mainly in water and foam extinguishers usual: In the extinguishing agent alkaline salts were dissolved; commissioning an acid ampoule was smashed by a blow button - the following chemical acid -base reaction led to the formation of carbon dioxide, which acted as a propellant.

The following abbreviations for pressure generation are no longer prescribed in EN 3, are therefore no longer be found on newer extinguishers and also therefore have only historical significance:

• Code letter C: Chemical pressure generation during commissioning
• Code letter H: extinguisher, a separate propellant container sets the extinguishing agent container at start-up under pressure. The propellant container may be mounted either outside of the extinguishant container and thus be more easily recognized as such or within, where it therefore usually detects only the label.
• Code letter L: Stored pressure, the extinguishing agent container is constantly under pressure. Due to the design, they are cheaper.

Term of office of powder extinguishers

The duration of the powder output is sometimes unrealistically high estimated. Indeed, one can expect these times:

Although powder extinguishers have a very small effect under 2 kg load, they are commercially available. They are used among other things in motor vehicles or boats.

Review

In order to check a fire extinguisher is available in Germany the DIN EN 3 in Austria ÖNORM F -1053 Inspection and Maintenance (11/ 2004) and the provisions adopted by the manufacturer, testing and filling instructions.

According to these standards, a fire extinguisher in the rule must be reviewed before the end of two years on its function ( special rules must be observed ). The review is mainly used:

When properly review it receives a inspection sticker on the shows when it was last checked. Triggered fire extinguishers are to be passed appropriate specialist enterprises to restore the standby.

Since January 2008 it is in Germany for operators of fire extinguishers obligation to leave this check in accordance with the Ordinance on Industrial Safety from a 1203/2 formed by TRBS competent person.

Fire extinguisher on the road

For transport of dangerous goods and for buses, in some countries, like Belgium and Greece also for cars, fire extinguishers are required. For trucks, these are not mandatory, but it should be at least a 6 -kg extinguisher carried. For cars you should at least carry a 2-kg extinguisher, as with a smaller - which are also commercially - an untrained person can hardly achieve a successful suppression. It should also be readily available stored mounted ( for example, under the passenger seat ) and not easily accessible.

Fire extinguisher in the air transport

Despite the questionable ecological halon extinguishers be carried in aircraft because of their good extinguishing effect today.

In an aircraft fire (eg in the cabin) one must always remember very specifically to delete, because the erasing time of a 6 -kg extinguisher s is only about 6 to complete depletion. In small aircraft even smaller extinguishing agent containers are often carried.

In aircraft fires ideally be erased with a quenching distance of about 70-100 cm.

For aircraft, it should be noted that after the use of CO2 extinguishers already at exposure times of 30 seconds (assumed concentration: 10 %) may cause dizziness, which may impair your ability to further flight operations.

Fire extinguishers in the workplace

With a fire extinguisher calculator for places of work the required number of fire extinguishers in the workplace for different extinguisher types can be determined interactively.

Calculation basis for the equipment with fire extinguishers depending on the fire hazard are the units of extinguishing agent (LE ). They were introduced in order to compare the different quenching effects (rating number) of different extinguishers (water, foam, powder, carbon dioxide ) with each other. A fire extinguisher can have up to 15 LE. A wall hydrant equivalent to 18 LE.

In Germany is the basis for the calculation method the workplace regulation ASR A2.2 as well as the German version of the European standard DIN EN 3 In accordance with workplace guidelines, it is mandatory to provide fire extinguisher. In orientation to the trade association regulations BGR 133, the output result is optimized in terms of units of extinguishing agent, without this arrangement adopted by the workplace regulation ASR A2.2 and DIN EN 3 are touched.

In Austria - next ÖNORM EN 3-7 and ÖNORM F -1053 - the TRVB F 124 shall prevail.

History

An early predecessor of the fire extinguisher was invented by the Englishman George William Manby. The minimax company founder Wilhelm Graaff patented with the " cornet " the first mass fire extinguisher at hand, and brought him in December 1902 on the market. In the spin - dry fire extinguisher, there was no pressure vessel, the powder was applied by spin coating of the container on the fire.

The " International Fire extinguisher mbH " (later TOTAL fire protection GmbH ) presented in 1912 in Berlin, the first " quick -dry fire extinguisher ." This extinguisher was patented in 1912 " 1912 compressed gas extinguishers with a serving as a pressure medium gas extinguishing 277836 vz as" by the Imperial Patent Office under the Patent number. It can be seen as a forerunner of all modern, portable fire extinguishers and revolutionized firefighting.

Also the comet method for producing foam, patented in 1932 by Clemens Wagner, was further developed by Total.