Section 10 Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers · 2013-07-31 · Fire Extinguisher Servicing Frequencies ... Section 10 – Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers General Requirements

Section 10 – Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers Bob Goninon

Learning and Development Specialist

FPA Australia

All slides are Copyright of FPA Australia 2013 Content from AS1851-2012 reproduced with permission from SAI Global Ltd under Licence 1301-c095

Section 10 of AS1851-2012 applies to:

• Water (gas container) type.

• Water (stored pressure) type.

• Wet chemical type.

• Foam (gas container) type.

• Foam (stored pressure) type.

• Powder (gas container) type.

• Powder (stored pressure) type.

• Carbon dioxide type.

• Vaporizing liquid type.

Section 10 – Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers

General Information


Safe Work Practices • Don’t overload with equipment not required

• Apply appropriate manual handling techniques

• Use appropriate Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

• safety helmets

• safety vests

• eye protection

• hearing protection

• respiratory protection

• hand and arm protection

• foot and leg protection • Appropriate use of safety cages for pressurising and pressure testing

• Hazards associated with foam-based and wet-chemical extinguishers


General Requirements


Adverse Operating Environments Any environment or condition that may adversely affect

the reliability of fire protection systems and equipment.

• Section 10 establishes minimum requirements where

extinguishers are subject to an Adverse Operating

Environment.

• The 5 yearly routine service schedule should be

conducted every 3 years unless protected from the

effects of the environment.



System / Equipment 6 Monthly Yearly 5 Yearly

Fire Extinguisher Servicing Frequencies


Water Quality

The presence of salts and minerals in water stored under pressure can

have significant corrosive affects and result in deposits that can clog the

water path.

• Only potable (clean drinking water) should be used to refill fire

extinguishers

• Where the potable water supply has higher than normal concentrations

of salts and minerals (hard water), AS1851-2012 requires either:

• specially treated cylinders to be used; or

• a corrosion inhibitor (in accordance with the manufacturers

instructions) to be added each time the extinguisher is refilled.

• Where a corrosion inhibitor or an anti-freeze solution is added to a

water extinguisher, the discharge test and subsequent refill is to be

conducted more regularly.




Water Quality

Analysis of water hardness in major Australian cities by the Australian

Water Association shows a range from very soft (Melbourne) to very hard

(Adelaide).

Water hardness classification and typical results in Australia



Canberra: 40

Melbourne: 10–26

Sydney: 39.4–

60.1

Perth: 29–

226

Brisbane: 100

Adelaide: 134–

148

Hobart: 5.8–

34.4

Darwin: 31


Water with Additive (Stored Pressure)

• These are specially manufactured extinguishers that

contain an additive to improve the fire suppressing

capabilities of the water.

• They are treated very similar to foam (stored

pressure) extinguishers in AS1851


General Requirements – Water Based Fire Extinguishers

Note: A water (stored pressure) extinguisher that due to

environmental reasons contains a corrosion inhibitor or a freezing

point depressant is NOT the same as a water with additive

extinguisher and therefore they are treated differently in the

Standard




Pressure test marking

Other than CO2 extinguishers, all other portable extinguishers that have passed

the hydrostatic test shall have the month and year of the pressure test clearly

identified on the extinguisher by one of the following means:

a) Permanent marking (by stamping, embossing or engraving) on the skirt or

neck ring of the cylinder, provided that it is not applied to part of the pressure

retaining portion of the cylinder.

b) Recording on a durable label affixed to the cylinder. The label shall be self-

destructive when removal from the cylinder is attempted.

c) A plastic indicator ring retained under the valve such that it can only be

installed/removed from the extinguisher by fully removing the valve from the

extinguisher.




Service Provider Labels

Any label applied to the extinguisher by a service provider after servicing shall not

exceed 90 mm × 50 mm in size and shall not be applied on the coloured

identification band, over any manufacturer’s labels or instructions, or on the

service tag or label.


Six Monthly Routine

Service Schedule

Portable and Wheeled

Fire Extinguishers


6 Monthly – Table 10.4.1




Anti-tamper removal and replacement

1. Item 1.2 is designed to check whether the extinguisher has been

tampered with. It is not intended to suggest that the ATS not be

removed to complete the rest of the routine activities (i.e. Item 1.17)







Note:

Ensure the tag does not pose a safety risk to the potential user or affect

the operation of the extinguisher including the removal of the safety pin

or the ability to read the gauge.











Notes

1. If bracket is secured to plaster walls,

ensure appropriate fixing is used,

especially where the removal of the

extinguisher can act as a lever against

the bracket.

2. Preference is to locate extinguishers

on solid walls (timber studs, concrete

or masonry)




Notes

1. Where powder is not free flowing, lightly tapping the sides of the

extinguisher can assist to loosen the powder.

2. WARNING! - Striking the bottom of the extinguisher may result in a

surge of pressure through the extinguisher body resulting in

catastrophic failure of the extinguisher head.





6 Monthly – Table 10.4.1 – Additional tasks for wheeled extinguishers


Yearly Routine Service

Schedule


Fire Extinguishers


Yearly – Table 10.4.2





Notes

1. Remaining items in table 10.4.2 are unchanged from the 2005 edition

2. Those activities that are known to be done poorly have largely been

identified as part of the 6 monthly activity discussions




5 Yearly Routine Service

Schedule


Fire Extinguishers


5 Yearly – Table 10.4.3


Notes This activity (copied from the yearly table) is missing from the 5 yearly table for water (stored Pressure), wet chemical, powder (stored pressure), carbon dioxide and vaporizing liquid. This has been raised with Standards Australia




Notes

There is a subtle change in the standard that allows extinguishing agent to

be re-used if this is consistent with the advice provided by the

manufacturer.









Documents

Section 10 Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers · 2013-07-31 · Fire Extinguisher Servicing Frequencies ... Section 10 – Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers General Requirements