Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008 - (Page 55)

Equipment Lifecycles class of fire extinguisher and type of discharge works best. 3. Distributing and placing fire extinguishers When taking into account the number of extinguishers to use and where to place them, the most important factors to consider are location, even distribution, accessibility, placement, visibility, and hazardous conditions. First, fire extinguishers should be evenly distributed throughout the facility, with at least one per floor. Fires can break out at any part of a building, making it necessary to have proper extinguishers easily accessible from anywhere on the floor. Moreover, accessibility is just as important as placement, meaning extinguishers need to be within reach without obstacles that make them difficult to grab in a Table 1 Extinguisher Class A Use Common combustibles Agent types • Water (typically used for wood, paper, or grass) • Multipurpose dry chemical (typically used for paper, wood, and tires; in garages, schools, and hospitals) • Dry chemical (garages, service shops, factories, delivery vehicles, cars) • Dry chemical (offices, warehouses, factories) • Carbon dioxide (electrical cabinets, electrical generators, clean rooms) • Clean agent (computer rooms, electrical cabinets, hospitals, telecommunication equipment, laboratories) • Class D dry powder (machine shops, factories working with turning/cutting metals, municipal fire trucks, auto body shops) • Wet chemicals (commercial kitchens) Typical applications Paper, cloth, wood, tires, rubber, plastics, garbage, and grass hurry. Additionally, placing extinguishers near normal paths of travel add to the tool’s visibility and will also likely make response times to fires quicker. Lastly, positioning extinguishers near entrances and exits can enable people to escape if necessary should a fire block a door or stairway. Protecting extinguishers is another key to fire safety. When identifying potential locations, ensure that extinguishers are clear of any hazards such as mobile equipment that may damage or block the extinguisher during an emergency. Ordinarily, fire extinguishers can be placed on a standard hanger hook. However, if an B C Flammable liquids and gases Energized electrical equipment Gasoline, diesel, hydraulic oil, paint thinner, flammable gas, and grease Computers, power cords, telecommunication equipment, and lights D Burning metals Potassium, magnesium, sodium, lithium, and titanium Oils and fats used in cooking Source: Tyco Fire Suppression & Building Products F Combustible cooking oils Consulting-Specifying Engineer • NOVEMBER 2008 Source: ANSUL 55

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008 Contents Viewpoint News M/E Roundtable Comissioning Lighting Controls Prevent Plugholing: Smoke Control Done Right Commercial Geothermal Heating and Cooling System Design Codes &�Standards Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008

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