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Fire Extinguishers For Small Workshops

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Peter Gain07/12/2009 12:19:00
103 forum posts
Hi,>>

Are there any Fire Officers out there who are also model engineers?>>

Will someone with authoritive knowledge of fire protection please comment on a suitable fire extinguisher for use in a typical model engineer's workshop? Ie. containing (say) a propane bottle, some small cans of various paints, thinners, oils, & etc. Sensible suggestions from qualified persons will be appreciated.>>

Peter Gain.>>

David Clark 107/12/2009 13:17:09
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3357 forum posts
112 photos
10 articles
Hi There
I know just the man.
Will ask  him if he will do an artilce for Model Engineer or Workshop about fire prevention.
regards David
 
Peter Gain07/12/2009 14:05:19
103 forum posts
Hi David,
Thanks. Please place the article in ME. I subscribe to this one!
Regards,
Peter Gain.
D.C.Clark07/12/2009 14:47:17
16 forum posts
8 photos
I keep a dry chemical fire extinguisher in each of my workspaces.   Also a steel can with a tight fitting lid for flammable waste.  Smoke detectors too.
 
My band saws and larger drill press have to live in an outdoor shed.  When I'm working out there in winter, I use propane and kerosene heaters.  So have a carbon monoxide level detector and alarm in addition to all of the above.
 
David Clark in Southern Maryland, USA
Billy Mills08/12/2009 02:38:19
377 forum posts
Hi All,
I'm not a FO but have Fire Risk Asesment experience in a commercial context and other stuff. Fire safety is more a state of mind than collecting extinguishers, it is about  learning how to avoid needless risk  and to reduce the impact of the unexpected.  Only small fires can be tackled with an extinguisher, you also need to know how to use it!
 
Depending on the unexpected situation, the "window of opportunity" to put out a fire is often only  a few seconds, in a small confined space the oxygen can be consumed in a matter of seconds so another form of extinguishing can happen.
 
 Propane bottles should  be outside, A defective valve or failure to shut off  could create a potentially explosive gas/oxygen ratio, all you need is a spark ie the one you get when you switch the lights on.
 
 
Inflammable liquids should be in a steel cabinet, any wipers with flammable fluids on should be inside a suitable metal container or disposed.Only small quantities of flammables- this is one risk control method, if you can't avoid the risk then reduce the potential severity. One  aspect of  the metal cabinet concerns what happens when you have a fire, a Fireman may be inside an unknown  building which contains roasting aerosol containers of highly flammable solvents- the least you can do is to minimise quantities and to have some metal containment.
 
Grinding is a particular risk, grinding Ali  or other light metals is best not done at all. As was recently mentioned, linishing ali and rusty iron should never be attempted with the same belt or even with the same machine without removing the previous dust.
 
Grinding operations are a potential ignition hazard, consider where the sparks go!
 Same goes for welding , gas or arc or plasma. The hot parts could also be an ignition source when placed on the wrong surface.
 
Smoking is also an ignition source to be considered, it is a very significant cause of domestic fires.
 
The workshop should be tidy -for a lot of safety reasons- no wood shavings or dust piled up and no oily rags. A rccd should be fitted, ideal to have power removed when the workshop is not in use.             
 

 
The selection of fire extinguishers is a well known topic, there is a lot of published advice on what to use. A Carbon Dioxide  extinguisher is useful in a variety of  situations but should not be used on burning liquids. A Blanket extinguisher  may be the best for slow burning liquids if you do not have a lid.  Metal fires from light metals are best smothered with  sand.
 
Anyone can call on the Fire Service for advice, they are normally pleased to advise people BEFORE they get into trouble.
 
Hope this helps someone sometime.
Alan.
 
 
 
 
Ian S C08/12/2009 12:21:21
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7468 forum posts
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An interesting case here in Wellington NZ a few years ago.A house was blown up.It was found to be caused by a leaking LPG cylinder in the basement,a car was also there,and a spark in the electric clock in the car set off the explosion when the critical ratio of gas was reached.Ian S C

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