Posted By anon1234 I can see it now - roll ball towards fire - oh I misaligned my shot and it has stopped away from the fire - decide to go and get it and try again - fire speads - become engulfed by fire - ball goes bang - I'm now not only burnt but missing a leg from the explosion. Surely the answer is fire risk assessment and then sell the need for teh appropriate measures based on that assessment

Posted By Filippo That's the catch, appropriate measures. For several reasons, e.g. risk perception, reluctance to spend money; there is no possibility of obtaining the standard of fire protection which would be considered "normal" in the UK. You have to work within the confines of what is available here, or board the next plane home. As I am still here, I accept it a less satisfactory solution than a fixed installation, but my question remains, is the fire extinguishing ball worth considering in this given situation?

Posted By Jim Walker Filippo, Great device! I want some! To be honest, I think most of us thought you were winding us up. I think you are right to be concerned - I would stick to putting my efforts into prevention if I were you. Not sure how disciplined your workers are, but if these were used in the UK there would be an awful lot of horseplay.

Posted By Filippo Jim, I don't think horseplay is as much a problem here as much as things disappering and turning up on market stalls. Smoke detectors have their batteries removed and the eratic electricity supply often ruins unprotected electrical equipemnt. That rules out a reliable automatic detection system. The situation that is very different to the UK. Simple, robust solutions are the answer, even if they are antiquated by international standards.

Posted By Paul Oliver Have to agree with Jim. Focus your efforts on fire prevention, and remember; fire fighting is best left to the professionals. office users should only need to use fire fighting equipment to aid there escape from the building. Paul

Posted By jackw. Get Ron Wood and Wizard to play at the "Ball" hmm am I the only one old enough to remember the hit song they had.."Fire brigade" think I will go have a nap!!!!!!!!

Posted By TBC There is of course the other version of this where you have these devices (shown in the link attached) hung from the ceiling or fixed to the wall. Some computer rooms used to have similar filled with halon in ye olde days. Not sure if anyone supplies them in the UK anymore. I'm sure someone will know. http://www.globalsources...sher/p/sm/1001851181.htm

Posted By DaveW I daren't even begin to imagine the local H&S Culture limitations that you're dealing with having visited a few of the less advanced parts of that lovely continent myself. You do like a challenge don't you? I think that we can fairly safely forget about quoting UK Regs at your employers other than as recommendations for serious consideration can't we? What's the average response time for emergency services in that neck of the woods? is it stand back and watch it burn until fireman Fred arrives (three days later) or is it (more likely) all hands to the pumps? I'd be reducing fire risks as far as possible, having plenty of fire extinguishers attached to walls on long robust chains and training staff in extinguisher use and how to resist the temptation to sell them at the local market. I'd also ban bolt-croppers from the premesis and try to keep my balls out of the fire.