Page 27 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2018

pound per second discharge rate. It is true that stored pressure fire extinguishers of- fer a slower flow rate and longer discharge time of the dry chemical agent. Such fire extinguishers also receive a higher UL rat- ing than high-flow models. However, the slower flow of these stored pressure extin- guishers is less effective on Class B pres- surized flammable liquids and gas fires. Specialized high-flow fire extinguishers, on the other hand, meet or exceed the minimum one pound per second flow rate required for these fire scenarios.
“These pressure-related fire hazards are incredibly varied,” said Brohmer. “Whether it’s a paint spray operation, gasoline fuel pumps, processing equipment, high-pres- sure hydraulic equipment, or LPG tanks, op- erators need an extinguisher that delivers a lot of agent and delivers it fast. In the end, it’s going to help protect people and property.”
Over and Above
High-Flow Performance
Beyond achieving the NFPA 10 mini- mum one pound per second flow rate, cartridge-operated fire extinguishers offer additional performance enhance- ments. In comparison to stored pressure extinguishers, cartridge-operated models offer safety personnel the ability to re- charge the extinguisher on site without the need for a trained service technician. This means operations can resume within minutes after an extinguisher has been discharged in response to a fire.
Ergonomic design features of cartridge- operated models also enhance and opti- mize the operator’s effectiveness against Class B fires. Whether it’s easier hand por- tability with 45-degree-angle carrying han- dles or greater accuracy with specialized nozzles designed to point at the base of the fire when squeezed, high-flow, cartridge- operated fire extinguishers give personnel the higher level of performance they need to comply with NFPA 10 standards.
“Let’s face it, these environments are tough,” added Rae Lynn Kolbas, Johnson Controls Global Product Manager. “The highest-quality cartridge-operated ex- tinguishers are going to be the ones that withstand the everyday abuses of these in- dustrial settings. This means heavier-gauge steel shells, fewer potential leak paths, and, as a direct result of the cartridge opera- tion, these extinguishers naturally resist the
agent compaction effects of vibrations.”
Moving Forward in
Class B Fire Settings
All fires, whatever the classification, require urgent and appropriate responses. Howev- er, pressurized flammable liquids and gases, gravity fed, or obstacle fires all necessitate a unique and specialized response. NFPA 10 gives industrial safety teams a simple, vital tool to assess preparedness levels of their operations: an easy-to-follow standard for one pound per second of agent flow rate.
What this simple standard reinforces
about these Class B fire scenarios is, speed matters. Time matters. Technique matters. Agent flow rate makes a critical difference.
Sam Boraas is Director of Portable Fire Extinguishers and Agents, Fire Suppression Products at Johnson Controls. As a globally diversified technology and multi-industrial leader, Johnson Controls’ product offering in- cludes ANSUL RED LINE cartridge-operat- ed, high-flow, fire extinguishers requested by safety directors worldwide. © 2018 Johnson Controls. All rights reserved.
www.ohsonline.com
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