| The Regulatory Reform Order in the UK places a | | | | be used on fires with flammable gases such as |
| duty of care on what it describes as the | | | | butane and propane. They are also safe on |
| 'Responsible Person' in each place of work to | | | | electrical fires, but are likely to cause more |
| make sure that there is adequate provision of fire | | | | damage than a Carbon Dioxide extinguisher. Due |
| fighting equipment and that this equipment is | | | | to the nature of the fine powder produced, they |
| maintained in good working order. | | | | are not recommended for use in confined spaces |
| The Responsible Person is the person in charge of | | | | or by people with breathing problems. |
| the work premises, usually either the business | | | | Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers |
| owner or manager. This responsibility can be | | | | These fire extinguishers are the only sort that are |
| shared in premises used by several organisations. | | | | suitable for use on burning oil such as cooking fat |
| In other words, providing appropriate fire | | | | or lard. The extinguisher produces a gentle spray |
| extinguishers in your place of work is not an | | | | which reacts to seal the surface of burning oil or |
| optional extra, you are legally obliged to do it. This | | | | fat to prevent it re-igniting. |
| article should help you to check that the fire | | | | Halon Fire Extinguishers |
| extinguishers you have are the best type and | | | | Halon fire extinguishers have been banned in the |
| that you have enough of them in the appropriate | | | | UK since, 2002, apart from very limited |
| places. | | | | exceptional circumstances. The reason for the |
| Bear in mind that having fire extinguishers in your | | | | ban is the serious ozone depleting property of the |
| workplace is not so that people can stick around | | | | inert gases they release into the atmosphere. If |
| and fight a fire, but in case they are needed to | | | | you have any halon extinguishers in your place of |
| help exit the building safely. | | | | work you need to arrange for the safe disposal |
| Types of Fire Extinguisher - Colour Coding | | | | of them. |
| Colour coding of fire extinguishers in the UK | | | | Types of Fire Extinguisher - How Many Should I |
| changed a while ago to bring the UK in line with | | | | Have? |
| other European Union countries. Moving away | | | | For general work areas such as offices, shops |
| from a system where the entire fire extinguisher | | | | and similar areas with no special hazards, you |
| was a certain colour to one displaying just a block | | | | ought to be providing water fire extinguishers. In |
| of colour was seen by some as a backward step. | | | | terms of the number you need to supply, the |
| The UK had a very effective system with fire | | | | official requirement is that you need one for |
| extinguishers easily identifiable, but it was seen as | | | | every 200 square metres of floor space, subject |
| easier to drop down to EU standard that try to | | | | to a minimum of two fire extinguishers on every |
| bring all the other countries up to UK standard. | | | | floor. |
| The colour coding system now is that most fire | | | | Where Should The Fire Extinguishers Be Located? |
| extinguishers are red in colour, with a block of | | | | Unless an extinguisher is being provided to deal |
| colour corresponding to the extinguisher type just | | | | with a specific risk, they should be located at key |
| above the operating instructions. The colour codes | | | | points on your emergency escape routes. Key |
| are as follows: | | | | locations are next to fire exit doors, near the exit |
| Water: red | | | | from a floor or room, etc. |
| Carbon Dioxide: black | | | | If an extinguisher is intended to cover a particular |
| Foam: cream | | | | risk, such as a hot fat fryer in a kitchen, then it |
| Dry Powder: blue | | | | obviously needs to be sited in the room near to |
| Wet Chemical: yellow | | | | the hazard it relates to. |
| What Each Different Type of Fire Extinguisher Is | | | | The best method of fixing is to attach your fire |
| Used For | | | | extinguishers to a wall by a special bracket. This |
| Water Fire Extinguishers | | | | places them at a good height for visibility and |
| These fire extinguishers are ideal for use on fires | | | | access as well as offering a degree of protection |
| involving everyday materials such as paper, wood | | | | from being knocked over or moved. Where this is |
| and fabrics. They produce a steady jet of water | | | | not possible, you can get free standing units that |
| that can be directed on to the fire. These are not | | | | the fire extinguisher sits in. This helps to give |
| suitable for using on fires on live electrical | | | | them a more permanent position than if they |
| equipment or burning oil or fat. | | | | were just on their own and makes them less |
| Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers | | | | likely to be moved or damaged. |
| These fire extinguishers are idea for situations | | | | Maintenance And Testing of Fire Extinguishers |
| involving live electrical risks or flammable liquids. | | | | Part of the duty on the Responsible Person is to |
| Because they are just producing a gas they | | | | properly maintain all your fire fighting equipment, |
| cause very little damage and so are good for use | | | | as it may as well not be there if it is not in |
| on printers, photocopiers faxes, etc. Though they | | | | working order. The best way to ensure this is to |
| can be used perfectly safely on any electrical | | | | set up a maintenance contract with a specialist |
| equipment, they cannot be guaranteed not to | | | | company to inspect your extinguishers at least |
| cause any damage at all to delicate electronic | | | | annually. This will then also give you documentary |
| devices and IT equipment. | | | | evidence that you have taken proper precautions, |
| Foam Fire Extinguishers | | | | should anything go wrong in future. |
| These fire extinguishers are safe on the same | | | | In between inspections you should carry out your |
| kind of materials that you would use a water | | | | own regular checks. These will just involve |
| extinguisher on, and in addition can be used on | | | | recording the fact that you have checked that |
| flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, solvents | | | | each extinguisher is in its proper place and has not |
| and spirits. They produce a foam which seals in | | | | been discharged or damaged. You should keep a |
| vapours to prevent the fire re-igniting. These | | | | record of this in a log book in case the Fire |
| extinguishers are not, however, suitable for use | | | | Authority wish to inspect it. Again the |
| on deep fat fryers. | | | | documentary proof of your inspections could be |
| Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers | | | | very useful. |
| These are a versatile fire extinguisher, which can | | | | |