PILOT SPIN
Spin Zone => Spin Zone => Topic started by: Bob Noel on December 21, 2016, 05:56:45 AM
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There is a building that I sometimes work in that has had the fire extinguishers removed (except for the mechanical room(s)).
Apparently the theory is that there are sprinklers systems in the building.
I can't help but think that some pencil-neck beancounter decided to "save" the money spent on fire extinguishers.
I also can't help but think that they are perfectly happy to let a small fire become a big fire (so that the sprinklers come on).
What am I missing?
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Seems kind of dumb. You may be right, not so much about buying the extinguishers as much as maintaining them. Maybe the company got burned by the Fire inspector and this is their way of fixing it.
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They have to meet the NFPA code. It depends what year they are under.
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They have to meet the NFPA code. It depends what year they are under.
I'm not sure about a government building needing to meet code, if you know what I mean. This same building went more 12 months with an inoperative fire alarm because "a part was order".
and meeting code doesn't necessarily mean it's smart or cost effective.
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I'm not sure about a government building needing to meet code, if you know what I mean. This same building went more 12 months with an inoperative fire alarm because "a part was order".
and meeting code doesn't necessarily mean it's smart or cost effective.
Government building or not, they have to meet code. Maybe the code enforcement officer is looking the other way, though. Yes, just meeting code is not always the best/smartest way to go.
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There is a building that I sometimes work in that has had the fire extinguishers removed (except for the mechanical room(s)).
Apparently the theory is that there are sprinklers systems in the building.
I can't help but think that some pencil-neck beancounter decided to "save" the money spent on fire extinguishers.
I also can't help but think that they are perfectly happy to let a small fire become a big fire (so that the sprinklers come on).
What am I missing?
Regardless of the reason it's stupid idea as a little fire can be quickly dealt with using a fire extinguisher, were as it needs to get much bigger before a sprinkler system activates and a sprinkler wets everything not just the fire. Penny wise pound foolish.
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Let me say that I do believe in the benefit of fire extinguishers. That is why I have three at home and I inspect them annually. Also, when I owned my business, I had the five that were mandated by code, but I also had two extra. One in the store room and one in my office so that I could grab it immediately if needed. This is on top of the built-in fire suppression system that was installed, which was not called for by the code.
That said, I worked in offices for over 40 years and I never, not once, saw anyone need to use a fire extinguisher, except during the occasional training session. If money is an issue, there are other risks that could be better addressed.
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I was in charge of 11 extinguishers, one hose, and 4 hydrants. Annual inspection and maintenance by a certified company was a minimal cost.
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I was in charge of 11 extinguishers, one hose, and 4 hydrants. Annual inspection and maintenance by a certified company was a minimal cost.
That is true. The 5 year inspection does cost more, but it still isn't prohibitive unless you are really on the financial edge. Or you are an anal bean counter.
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That is true. The 5 year inspection does cost more, but it still isn't prohibitive unless you are really on the financial edge. Or you are an anal bean counter.
I do hate counting those anal beans.
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What am I missing?
Liability when you hurt or kill yourself trying to stop a fire with their inferior provided fire extinguishers.
On my first boat "kill the fire fast" was just about the first fire fighting rule that was taught to me - if you were within 30 seconds of being able to move to the fire, you grabbed an extinguisher and ran to it.
About six months before I reported aboard they had a fire in the machinery space where the diesel engine was. The watchstander left to yell to someone, then waited for help to arrive before trying to fight the fire. By that time it had rolled up half the side of the ship. Not saying that he could have stopped it with a fire extinguisher, but if he had called it away over the announcing circuit and then grabbed a fire extinguisher, he might have kept it down until help arrived.
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Liability when you hurt or kill yourself trying to stop a fire with their inferior provided fire extinguishers.
That's what I was thinking. They don't want people trying to fight a fire, they want them to exit the building, period.
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That's what I was thinking. They don't want people trying to fight a fire, they want them to exit the building, period.
Unless you are in a hospital or similar, where for many leaving is not an option. Then it is all hands on deck fighting the fire until the fire dept shows up.
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Unless you are in a hospital or similar, where for many leaving is not an option. Then it is all hands on deck fighting the fire until the fire dept shows up.
There are simple things to do.
If it's an electrical fire, cut the power. 95% of electrical fires go out on their own once the power is removed.
If it's a class-A (combustible ex wood) or class-B (liquid, ex oil), put a fire extinguisher on it. If two fire extinguishers don't put the fire out, you're probably not going to get it out that way. If you're by yourself, the rule is 0 extinguishers.
Avoid the CO2 fire extinguishers. They are nice for not making a mess but they just aren't all that effective. One boat on the pier had a small fire and a policy to use CO2 extinguishers. They used every on on board and borrowed them from other boats, they used about 50 in total and the fire was controlled but wouldn't go out. They finally used a single AFFF (water/foam) extinguisher and the fire was out in 10 seconds.
Don't be a hero. When you see the fire, if you think "holy s**t", then run. Otherwise, if cutting the power and two fire extinguishers don't work, run. Remember, if you're alone, get out.
I've dealt with too many fires over the years and quite a few that never became fires.
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We removed all of the fire extinguishers down here. It was counter productive.
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We removed all of the fire extinguishers down here. It was counter productive.
Methinks you have the wrong type. Type HW (Holy Water) are the ones you need. ;)
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Methinks you have the wrong type. Type HW (Holy Water) are the ones you need. ;)
Uh, no. We want to keep the fires going. ;)