Rank: New forum user 
|
Dear Colleagues,
I have a question here, and need your thoughts and expertise on the following matter:
Would you allow to extinguish electrical fire (fire caused by an overheat of electrical cables) with a Foam type of FE? The answer may look quite banal, as we know that Foam FE are suitable for category A and B, and not for electrical fires (sometimes classed as E).
However, I’ve recently noticed that some Foam type FE include a sentence on it saying – “SUITABLE FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES BELOW 1000 kV” written on the FE under the standard pictures and letters of A and B class. And that they successfully passed dielectric test. (Although still only category A and B are indicated). There is a link for more details http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/extinguishers
Now regarding the situation that I have been informed about: there was a small electrical fire caused by the overheat of cables in the office. An employee took the nearest Foam FE and extinguished the fire. The fire was put off and nobody was injured.
- Does it mean that one can use Foam FE to extinguish fires caused by the fire in the facility where electrical supply is 220 V?
- If no, would you admit using it if there is no other type of FE in this area and the nearest CO2 or Powder FE is located maximum 50 meters away?
Note: it is NOT known whether electricity at the moment of the incident is still live or not; it is NOT known that the Foam FE has passed dielectric test.
I am having debate with my colleagues here :) , so would like to get some help on the case from OHS professionals
Thank you in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
We have thousands of fire extinguishers across our estate. Some are rated for elctrical fires to 1000v, whilst others are not. However for our UK sites our policy is that we still use the tradional CO2 (or DP) only approach for electrical fires. The rationale is:
We have a mix of foam extinguishers, only some are electrically rated. How do we communicate this to/train staff? Some of our electrical equipment has componants in excess of 1000v - for example think of capacitors etc, even within low voltage appliances & plant - so the user would need technical knowledge of that apparatus before being able to RA if the possible voltage was under 1000v.
So to keep things simple when you have 1000s of staff (and perhaps around 1200 of them fire extinguisher trained) we keep it simple and have a policy which is foam for class A&B fires only.
When asked about the dielectrical markings on the extinguishers, our policy states that these extinguishers have been purchased with this feature to protecte satff against accidential exposure to electrical risks and not for foam to be used as an alternative to CO2 or powder.
|
 1 user thanked mssy for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Thank you mssy!
Edited by user 28 November 2016 08:59:09(UTC)
| Reason: typo
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Farid,
When I was introduced to a new 'type' of foam extinguisher soome years ago as the AFFF, this was supposed to be 'safe' on some electrical fires, but cannot remember what the maximum voltage would be.
So, in reply to the basic question, yes certain types of foam extinguishers (in theory) can be used on 'electrical' fires.
Regards,
Badger
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Thanks Barrie(Badger)Etter . Can you then answer the two questions of mine please? Interesting to know your opinion.
Regards,
Farid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Hi Farid,
When delivering fire safety training, to keep things nice and simple, extinguishers are divided in to wet or dry. Wet = water, foam, wet checmical; and dry = CO2 and powder. There is also sand and a fire blanket, but we'll ignore those for now!
I train delegates that if the fire involves an electrical item, or electrical equipment is in the immediate vicinity, pick a dry extinguisher. If there is no electricity near by and it is a dry fire (wood, paper etc) then pick a wet extinguisher such as water or foam.
In specific answer to your questions:
1) as mssy suggested, you would need to ensure that all foam extinguishers on site were the same type and rated for electrical fires under 1000v, and provide appropriate, specific training for your staff
2) no - any fire where you had to travel 50 mtrs to get an extinguisher, and come 50mtrs back to fight a fire is either a) too big; b) too unsafe to tackle - instead travel the 50mtrs to a fire exit, raising the alarm, calling the fire service, and staying safely outside. I would also look again at the specification of extinguishers and ensure an adequate number of CO2 are located closer to electrical equipment.
Hope that helps.
All the best, Jonathan
|
1 user thanked Jonathan Hughes for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Jonathan Hughes, thank you for answering my questions! I also think 50m is too long distance, and would not risk using foam FE in that particular case and evacuate. Nevertheless people do their own risk assessments .. )
Regards,
Farid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Asnwer 1) Foam yes - PROVIDING its a AFFF.
Answer 2) Distance quoted - forget it and keep going for nearest exit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.