Protect the Parts Cleaning Dip Tank
The dry chemical system is good for class B fires. The hazard falls into class B because the chemicals in the clean dip are inflammable. The agents are, usually, sodium bicarbonates transported through gases to aid the fluidization process (Bryan n.pag.). The particles extinguish fires by coating them and cutting off oxygen supply. Type 80-B extinguishers should be installed 50 feet apart. The local application system serves well because the extinguishing exercise only concentrates on the exposed part of the tank.
Design
NFPA 17 recommends IND-25 and IND-50 cylinders. UL 300 requires a manual fuel shut-off pull for all power sources (Bryan n.pag.). On the other hand, UL 1254 requires systems to discharge the dry chemicals on the protected area (“Fire extinguisher placement” par. 3).
Containers that store these chemicals should be non-reactive metals that can store 200lbs of the agent. The nozzles, piping and fittings should also be non-combustible and compatible with the agents (Bryan n.pag.). They should withstand the gas pressure. Stainless steel and copper work very well.
The visual inspection should check the installation method, the type of nozzles, pipes, and agents. On the other hand, discharge tests should include verifying the operation of the nozzles, capturing and weighing the products and using balloons to capture the agents (Bryan n.pag.). The acceptance test should involve confirming the operation of the device and activating the alarm and the manual and automatic release. Maintenance should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. The company should schedule maintenance and tests after one month, six months and one year.
Advantages
- Effective at putting out class B fires
- No water-related damage to the equipment
Disadvantage
- The chemicals react with some metal containers.
Paint Spray Booth
The total flooding delivery system is the best method for applying halons in the booth because it is an enclosure. Several nozzles should be used to fill the booth with the halon. The best halon agent is 1301.
Design, Type and installation
According to UL 1254, the system should have 3 IND-50 cylinders, 1 IND-25 cylinder and eight nozzles on the face of the booth. It should also have two total flood nozzles on the work area, two duct nozzles on the plenum area and two duct nozzles on the duct area. The liquids in the booth are inflammable. Hence, class B extinguishers should be installed 50 feet away from each other (Bryan n.pag.).
According to NFPA, there should be weekly and monthly inspections to eliminate conditions that hinder operations. Inspections should also help establish changes in the hazard and monitor damages or leakages on the equipment. The company should also check the liquid and pressure levels and conduct ten-minute pneumatic pressure tests to establish leakages. Furthermore, they should conduct puff tests and enclosure integrity tests to ensure the continuity of the pipe and prevent leakages (Bryan n.pag.). The tests ensure that concentration levels remain at 80 %.
Advantages
- They effectively break down the reactive chains of the fire
- They are not reactive with materials in the surrounding
Disadvantages
- They do not work well on reactive metals, areas with oxygen and metal hydrides.
- They have a negative effect on the environment.
Computer Room
Clean agents are very good at fighting Class C fires. There are two categories of these substances: halocarbons and inert gas-based category. They extinguish fires through breaking their chain reactions and eliminating all the heat. Inert gasses have the designation IG and they are mixtures of neon, helium, argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide (Bryan n.pag.). They lower the amount of oxygen in protected regions.
Total flooding is very common when using clean agents because they mostly work in enclosed regions. Applying clean agents requires 10 seconds for halocarbons and 60 seconds for inert gasses.
Clean agents require a visual inspection to verify the installation of all the necessary equipment and signage. They also require an operational testing to check the working of all the mechanical and electrical devices. In addition, a pneumatic test to check for leakages is also necessary. Lastly, the puff test ensures the continuity of piping (Bryan n.pag.). Poor testing may result in the reduction of agents to unacceptable levels.
Advantages
- Are environment-friendly
- Do not cause electrocution
- Do not leave residues
Disadvantages
- They produce dangerous by-products.
- Prolonged exposure to them causes health problems
Commercial Cooking Equipment
Wet chemicals are, usually, the best for extinguishing class K fires. The chemicals protect all the kitchen equipment from the effects of fire. They use water as a medium of transmitting the agent.
Designs
According to NFPA 17A, UL 300 and 1254, the pre-engineered designs are adaptable to many situations and do not require any calculations (Bryan n.pag.). Full engineering designs are necessary for some categories of hazards.
The amount of the agent required is the basis of such designs and calculations are critical in determining the quantity and rate of flow of the agent and the sizes of the nozzles and pipes. The system includes containers, expelling gas cartridges, piping and fittings, nozzles, activation devices, system alarms and indicators (Bryan n.pag.).
The storage containers must be non-reactive and able to handle high pressure (Bryan n.pag.). The most common metals are schedule 40 black iron and stainless steel. Fire extinguishers rarely mix wet chemicals with expelling gasses. According to NFPA 17, the nozzles should be non-combustible and should have in-line strainers (Bryan n.pag.).
The activation system should be both automatic and manual for continuity in case one fails. The wet chemical systems should start the alarm after activation. The flooding system is the most appropriate for enclosed kitchens. The agent occupies the entire region and breaks the reaction chain of the fire. The amount of agent and size of nozzles depend on the manufacturer’s prescription.
Agent
Wet chemicals are liquids made up of water and potassium acetate, potassium carbonate and potassium citrate (Bryan n.pag.). Sometimes, they are mixtures of all these chemicals
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
Visual inspection checks the manner of installation, the type of nozzles and the type and size of pipes (Bryan n.pag.). The discharge tests assess the working condition of the equipment while acceptance tests analyze the operation of different parts: whether automatic or manual.
Companies should carry out monthly inspections to identify issues that may cause failure. They should also carry out inspections after six months to check agent distribution piping, alarms and interlocks (Bryan n.pag.). Trained personnel should carry out their inspection annually to replace fusible elements. Companies should also carry out full discharge tests after six years and hydrostatic and high-pressure components tests after every twelve years (Bryan n.pag.).
Fire Extinguishers for Tall Areas of the Facility
In the warehousing area, 5-B extinguishers should be located after every 30 feet while those with a rating of 10-B should be 50 feet apart (“Fire Extinguisher Placement” par. 4). These extinguishers are good for light hazards. Ordinary hazards require extinguishers rated 10-B after every 30 feet and 20-B after every 50 feet. For high hazards, extinguishers rated 40-B should be 30 feet apart while 80-B should be 50 feet apart.
In the machining area, extinguishers for class C and D should be provided. The distance between the extinguishers should not be more than 75 feet (“Fire Detection & Suppression System, International Fire Service Training Association” n.pag.). In the dip tank and spray booth area, class B gadgets should be 50 feet away from each other.
References
Bryan, John. Fire Suppression and Detection Systems. Beverly Hills, CA.: Glencoe Press, 1974. Print.
Fire Detection & Suppression System, International Fire Service Training Association : Fire Protection Handbook. Quincy, MA: NFPA, n.d.. Print.
Fire Extinguisher Placement 2014.