Fire-extinguishers

Coded symbols for recommended fire extinguishers are listed in Appendix ALL 

Extinguishing a fire in a warehouse can be accomplished by fixed sprinkler systems, fire suppressant systems, or fire extinguishers. The chart in Table 5-1 identifies the fire classifications as well as means of extinguishing. 

Class A fires are in wood, paper, cloth, rags, plastics or rubber. Class A fires have hot embers and must be cooled by water to absorb the heat. The fire must be stirred around after extinguishing to ensure all the embers have been extinguished. 

Class B fires are associated with flammable liquids such as oil, gasoline, solvents, and alcohols. In addition, flammable gases, greases, and some rubber and plastics are also in this classification. 

Class C fires are predominately in live electrical systems. 

These fires involve combustible metals such as lithium, titanium, magnesium, sodium, zirconium, and potassium. 

This subsection covers the basic type of equipment used to fight and control fires. The first type of equipment, known as a fixed system, includes automatic sprinklers, standpipe hoses, and various pipe systems. Supplement fixed systems by providing appropriate types and sizes of portable extinguishers. Train personnel expected to use portable fire extinguishers on their operation and safe use. 

Pull the pin on the extinguisher Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire Squeeze the handle firmly Spray in a sweeping motion 

Occasionally, sprinklers will activate around electrical equipment. Prompt dry-out and clean-up should be done to prevent extensive equipmentdamage. 

A safety plan provides a means of realistically dealing with electrical system hazards. It means taking the time to consider the task and the activities involved, but it also means taking an active interest in one s personal safety. The following Safety Planning steps are recommended  

Lockout/tagout is a means of controlling the exposure of people to unguarded energy sources. Frequently, these unguarded energy sources are an electrical hazard. 

In addition to the Lockout/Tagout Pohcy statement, specific, written lockout/tagout procedures must exist. These procedures should not be complicated. The intent is a document that can easily be followed and assures the system is safely de-energized. 

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Most of the trichloroethylene produced is used for metal degreasing. Other important uses are in the scouring of wool and as an extractive solvent, e.g. for olive and soya bean oils. Minor uses are as a heat transfer medium, anaesthetic, insecticide and fumigant, paint remover and fire extinguisher. 

Carbon dioxide is used in the manufacture of sodium carbonate by the ammonia-soda process, urea, salicyclic acid (for aspirin), fire extinguishers and aerated water. Lesser amounts are used to transfer heat generated by an atomic reactor to water and so produce steam and electric power, whilst solid carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, a mixture of solid carbon dioxide and alcohol providing a good low-temperature bath (195 K) in which reactions can be carried out in the laboratory. 

Sand. Buckets of dry sand for fire-extinguishing should be available in the laboratory and should be strictly reserved for this purpose, and not encumbered with sand-baths, waste-paper, etc. Most fires on the bench may be quickly smothered by the ample use of sand. Sand once used for this purpose should always be thrown away afterwards, and not returned to the buckets, as it may contain appreciable quantities of inflammable, non-volatile materials e.g., nitrobenzene), and be dangerous if used a second time. 

Carbon tetrachloride must not be dried with sodium as an explosion may result. Fire extinguishers containing this solvent (e.g., Pyrene ) cannot therefore be applied to a fire originating from sodium. 

Finally, the student should familiarise himself with the contents of the Section in the Appendix upon Laboratory Accidents, with the position of the fire extinguisher, buckets of sand, first aid cabinet, and the fireproof blanket. 

It is usually better to use a fire extinguisher charged with carbon dioxide under pressure this produces a spray of solid carbon dioxide upon releasing the pressure intermittently and is effective for extinguishing most fires in the laboratory. 

Fire control Fire damp Fired heaters Fire extinguishants Fire extinguisher Fire extinguishers... 

Production and Shipment. Estimated adiponitrile production capacities in the U.S. in 1992 were about 625 thousand metric tons and worldwide capacity was in excess of lO metric tons. The DOT/IMO classification for adiponitrile is class 6.1 hazard, UN No. 2205. It requires a POISON label on all containers and is in packing group III. Approved materials of constmction for shipping, storage, and associated transportation equipment are carbon steel and type 316 stainless steel. Either centrifugal or positive displacement pumps may be used. Carbon dioxide or chemical-foam fire extinguishers should be used. There are no specifications for commercial adiponitrile. The typical composition is 99.5 wt % adiponitrile. Impurities that may be present depend on the method of manufacture, and thus, vary depending on the source. 

Shipment. The DOT/IMO shipping information is shown in Table 6. Approved materials of constmction for shipping, storage, and associated transportation equipment are lined carbon steel (DOT spec. 105 S 500W) and type 316 stainless steel. Water spray, carbon dioxide, chemical-foam, or dry-chemical fire extinguishers may be used. 

In this sequence the Cl also acts as a catalyst and two molecules are destroyed. It is estimated that before the Cl is finally removed from the atmosphere in 1—2 yr by precipitation, each Cl atom will have destroyed approximately 100,000 molecules (60). The estimated O -depletion potential of some common CFCs, hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, HCFCs, are presented in Table 10. The O -depletion potential is defined as the ratio of the emission rate of a compound required to produce a steady-state depletion of 1% to the amount of CFC-11 required to produce the 1% depletion. The halons, bromochlorofluorocarbons or bromofluorocarbons that are widely used in fire extinguishers, are also ozone-depleting compounds. Although halon emissions, and thus the atmospheric concentrations, are much lower than the most common CFCs, halons are of concern because they are from three to ten times more destmctive to O, than the CFCs. 

Sodium Bicarbonate. Many soda ash plants convert a portion of their production to sodium bicarbonate [144-55-8], NaHCO. Soda ash is typically dissolved, carbonated, and cooled to crystallize sodium bicarbonate. The mother Hquor is heated and recycled. The soHd bicarbonate is dried in flash or tray driers, screened, and separated into various particle size ranges. Bicarbonate markets include food, pharmaceuticals, catde feed, and fire extinguishers. U.S. demand was approximately 320,000 t in 1989 world demand was estimated at one million metric tons. 

H-1211 fire extinguishant HCFC-123 HBFC-22B1 HBFC-124B1 PFC-51-14 HFCs... 

C. N. Fletcher, P. Jones, and M. Winterton, "Clean Agent Fire Extinguishant Break-Down Products," 1990 International Conference on CEC and Hahn Altematipes, Baltimore, Md., 1990. 

Industrial Applications. Perfluoroacylbenzene sulfonates, used as additives in fire-extinguishing compounds and galvanizing baths have been prepared (88). Perfluoroacylbenzenesulfonate salts prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction of perfluoroacyl haUdes and benzene, and subsequent sulfonation have been used as surfactants (89). 

Storage areas for maintenance, janitorial, and other service organizations must be provided. Safety items such as fire extinguishers, firehose cabinets, safety hoops on permanent ladders, guard rads, shielding for acid pumps, clearance for electric panel boards, etc, are needed. Manholes and cleanouts for sewer pipes within the facility as well as in the landscape and parking areas should be provided. 

Underwriters Laboratories 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, Id. 60062 Standards for Safety is ahst of more than 200 standards that provide specifications and requirements for constmetion and performance under test and in actual use of a broad range of electrical apparatus and equipment, including household appHances, fire-extinguishing and fire protection devices and equipment, and many other nongenerady classifiable items, eg, ladders, sweeping compounds, waste cans, and roof jacks for trader coaches. 

Some dry-chemical fire extinguishers contain sodium or potassium bicarbonate these should not be used on nitromethane or nitroethane fires. Dry chemical extinguishers can be used on nitropropane fires. 

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