A Class B fire is one that's caused by burning petroleum products. As such, great care must be exercised in putting such a blaze out because the wrong type of extinguisher (e.g. water and foam) can spread the burning fuel over a wider area.
What is a Class A fire? This is the most common type of fire and is caused by the burning of ordinary materials such as paper, wood, cloth and plastics. These fires are typically fought with water and foam extinguishers that work by eliminating heat and smothering the fire.
While you may think that all fire extinguishers are the same, the truth is, they aren't. Class A fires (ordinary combustibles) for instance, can be extinguished by a water and foam extinguisher but a Class K fire (cooking oil and grease) will require a wet chemical extinguisher.
Have you ever wondered how fire sprinklers activate? The heads make use of fluid-filled glass bulbs that are set to fail at specific temperatures. Typically, the bulbs fail when the heat source is nearby thus ensuring that the water released will have an immediate effect.
A conventional fire alarm is one that divides a structure into zones in order to identify where a particular fire is burning. As such, the control box for this system has a lot of input ports so that multiple detectors can installed in many areas.
To keep a fire burning, all elements of the fire triangle—a heat source, fuel and oxidizing agents— have to be present. If you eliminate just one of these components, the reaction will immediately stop and the flame will consequently go out.
There are many fire alarm systems available but they generally fall into four distinct groups: conventional, addressable, intelligent and wireless. Knowing what works best for you will help you narrow your choices before you settle on something specific.
Did you know that fire sprinklers help save water? Should a fire break out, a sprinkler will discharge a minimum of 60 liters per head per minute. A single fire hose on the other hand, will discharge 500 liters in the same period.
What is a Class K fire? This is a type of fire fueled by cooking oil and grease as well as animal and vegetable fats. Given their fuel sources, these fires mostly occur in kitchens thus making the presence of a suitable extinguisher necessary.
For factories and warehouses that are potential fire risks, a deluge sprinkler system would be the best thing to use. Unlike other sprinkler types, a deluge system discharges a large amount of water over a given area by simultaneously releasing it from several valves.
Did you know that the water supply for sprinklers come from different sources? In low to medium risk structures, the sprinklers can be fed from the town's mains. In heavy risk structures however, the water comes from huge reservoirs that are connected to powerful pumps.
Among the most useful fire protection devices you can install in your home are smoke detectors. These instruments can potentially save your life and property as they will buy you the time you need to either fight the blaze or evacuate.
If you're building a structure in a place that's pretty cold, one fire protection system you could go for would be a dry-pipe system. This setup is composed of piping and sprinklers but is filled with air instead of water. If a fire breaks out, the air is released and water rushes in to fill the void.
If the weather in your area varies, one fire protection system you can have installed is a hybrid sprinkler. Also known as a wet and dry sprinkler, the pipes in this system are charged with water for as long as the temperature is above freezing, but will switch to dry mode when colder weather arrives.
A working fire alarm system provides two services. First, it warns family members, students, tenants, or employees of a fire. Second, it notifies the fire department of the problem so they can quickly dispatch help.
Fire alarms and smoke detectors, in compliance with NFPA 72, must be connected to each other. If we are installing a fire alarm system, let us know where any existing smoke detectors are located so we can configure them properly.
Arson is the principal cause of fires in vacant buildings, both secured and unsecured, and most of these incidents occur on four dates – January 1, July 4 and 5, and October 31. With a fire sprinkler system installed and activated, you can protect your building from destruction by vandals.
Because of the zoning capabilities of fire suppression systems, your product and office inventory is better protected in case there is a fire. Because a fire is extinguished quickly, smoke damage is minimized as well.
If you have a commercial fire system, it should be inspected and tested quarterly. A quarterly inspection also involves a water flow test. In addition, the system should have a complete inspection and service every five years, and records of them must be kept.
For new building construction, especially for any high occupancy building, we recommend working with us during the design phase. Local building codes dictate how many pull stations will be needed, where they must be placed, and govern how they should be installed.
Fire safety systems are required to have a standby power source in the event that the electrical system is compromised. The batteries used must supply power greater than the minimum required for all components of the system.
A fire sprinkler system is an investment in safety, protecting your property, family, employees, and guests as well as neighboring buildings and firefighting crews. They are among the most important safety upgrades you can make.
In multi-story building construction, you can help control fires by combining two methods. Use fire resistant materials in the floors that separate levels and include sprinkler systems in every room in the structure.
Before a fire alarm system can be installed, the plans must be submitted to local code officials for review and approval. The plans are submitted in two forms: Riser and Point-to-Point. The Riser plan functions as a basic summary of the installation; the Point-to-Point contains specific details.
In any building where there is a possibility that there may be hearing impaired individuals on-site, visual notification systems must be included in the fire alarm system along with auditory notification.
Do not neglect your fire alarms and their audible system - test them every six months. It is also a good idea to have regularly scheduled fire drills in conjunction with the local fire department.
If you are a property manager for commercial or industrial buildings, your goal is to keep rental space filled. Retrofitting buildings with fire suppression systems is a great way to provide added value for existing and potential clients.
Keep in mind that fire codes are based on minimum standards and dictate the conditions concerning when and where specific types of fire protection are needed. It is highly recommended to always exceed code requirements.
Always look around the different stations before you open your restaurant for business, and at different times during the day. Flammable items such as linens, cardboard boxes, receipts, and the like that are left too close to flame sources can ignite unexpectedly, creating an emergency.
Fire extinguishers have a number/letter rating on their labels. The letters (A, B, C, D, K) indicate which type of fire it will extinguish, and the extinguishing agent that is used. The number indicates how large a fire (area-wise) it can extinguish.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 in New York, while one of the most deadly and tragic fires of the 20th century, was the impetus for major changes to fire codes, both nationally and internationally. Among the code changes was requiring sprinkler systems in all new commercial construction.
Clean agent fire protection systems are for areas where irreparable damage can be caused by water or moisture. It is an excellent system for data storage areas, libraries and museums, and similar locations.
If your budget is limited, you can still protect your family from fires. In addition to smoke detectors, install fire alarms and add a few strategically placed, handheld fire extinguishers. When your budget allows, upgrade to a sprinkler system.
One area to check in your building is the space in openings for wires and pipes. If too large, it creates a channel for fire to be fed and to help it spread. In addition to adding sprinkler systems, these areas should be sealed off where possible.
Fire suppression systems work by changing at least one of the agents needed for a fire. Either the heat must be reduced, oxygen supply cut off, or the chemical reaction altered. Our systems can be configured to address all three elements.
Because grease and fats are the most common cause of restaurant kitchen fires, it is important to monitor their buildup at all times. Make sure grease traps are cleaned on a daily basis (or more frequently) and that ventilation ducts are kept free of grease buildup.
Any hallways and walkways need to be free of clutter. Not only does it impede safe exiting of the building in the event of a fire, it also provides fuel that helps a fire spread. A daily walk through will identify areas that need cleaning up.
Fire suppression systems for restaurant kitchens dispense a special powder formulated to extinguish grease fires. Once the system has been discharged, it will need to serviced before you can resume business.
Dry pipe fire sprinkler systems are designed to prevent water from freezing in pipes in uninsulated areas during cold weather. The purpose is to prevent malfunctions should a fire occur.
While a fire extinguisher is something we never hope to use, it is something that our homes, offices, and even vehicles should never be without. These devices allow us to respond immediately to a starting fire, thus providing an opportunity to stave off total disaster.
For Type B and B:C fire extinguishers, the numbers indicate how many square feet can be extinguished. The larger the number, the greater the fire extinguishing ability. Thus a 30 B:C dry-chemical extinguisher can put out a fire of not more than 30 square feet.
Among the components of a fire suppression system is the fire alarm control panel. This unit is linked to sensors and alarms all over the building and can pinpoint the location of a fire that’s broken out inside the structure.
Most restaurant kitchens will incorporate a kitchen hood fire suppression device to ensure that any flare-ups are immediately controlled. These systems are composed of nozzles and pipes that are installed in ventilation hoods and connected to a supply of wet chemical fire retardants.
While you may think that fire is fire, did you know that there are different types? Class A fires are solid-fueled, Class B fires are liquid-fueled, Class C fires are fueled by gases, Class D fires are fueled by metals, Class E fires are electrical in nature, and Class F fires are fueled by fats and oils.
A fire that breaks out in a home can be fueled by different things, so it’s important to have a multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher around. The chemicals used for such extinguishers are very effective on class A, B, and C fires and are non-conductive, so they can also be used for electrical fires.
What is a CO2 fire suppression system? This fire safety device is among the most effective around as it deprives a fire of the oxygen it needs. By shooting non-combustible carbon dioxide into the blaze, the fire loses a source of fuel as the air it feeds on is displaced.
Some homes and establishments have elaborate fire suppression systems, but they still augment them with the most basic tools. Fire extinguishers, in particular, are indispensable as they are foolproof and very simple to use.
While a CO2 fire suppression system is very effective, its use is limited to areas that are not occupied. As such, they should not be used in offices or other enclosed spaces with a lot of people as the high volume of CO2 pumped out may cause asphyxiation.
While you may not need an elaborate fire suppression system in your home, you should at least have a fire extinguisher or two around. These devices are very important to have around, as they will give you a fighting chance of containing a blaze before it starts to spread.
While a fire protection system is usually automatic, there are also manual controls. Alarms, in particular, will have control stations positioned throughout the facility that can be activated by anyone who encounters a fire.
If you’re faced with a fire that’s being fueled by paper and wood, you’re going to want a water and foam fire extinguisher around. Though other types may also work, such extinguishers are preferred as they actively eliminate the heat element from the fire triangle.
Businesses that rely heavily on computer servers will need to keep their assets safe from fire. As such, sprinkler or wet chemical systems can’t be used as the moisture will do almost as much damage to the computers as fire would.
If you’re faced with a fire that’s being fueled by paper and wood, you’re going to want a water and foam fire extinguisher around. Though other types may also work, such extinguishers are preferred as they actively eliminate the heat element from the fire triangle.
In particularly cold areas, a fire suppression system to consider would be a dry-pipe setup. Such a system doesn’t have water in its pipes, so it isn’t in danger of being damaged when temperatures dip below freezing.
What is a conventional fire alarm panel? This is a central control station for fire alarms as well as the heat and smoke sensors that are installed throughout a structure. Typically, these controls are found on older structures as newer buildings make use of more precise addressable systems.
Businesses that rely heavily on computer servers will need to keep their assets safe from fire. As such, sprinkler or wet chemical systems can’t be used as the moisture will do almost as much damage to the computers as fire would.
If you’re faced with a fire that’s being fueled by paper and wood, you’re going to want a water and foam fire extinguisher around. Though other types may also work, such extinguishers are preferred as they actively eliminate the heat element from the fire triangle.
One of the most important reasons to have a fire protection system in place is that it buys you more time to escape. An alarm system, in particular, should be able to rouse you from sleep soon enough so you can pick up a few important things on your way out.
While nothing replaces the work of firefighters, fire protection systems are still good to have around. Aside from allowing people to escape quickly, such systems also actively protect structures, thus buying the fire department crucial time to arrive at the scene.
In particularly cold areas, a fire suppression system to consider would be a dry-pipe setup. Such a system doesn’t have water in its pipes, so it isn’t in danger of being damaged when temperatures dip below freezing.
What is a conventional fire alarm panel? This is a central control station for fire alarms as well as the heat and smoke sensors that are installed throughout a structure. Typically, these controls are found on older structures as newer buildings make use of more precise addressable systems.
Businesses that rely heavily on computer servers will need to keep their assets safe from fire. As such, sprinkler or wet chemical systems can’t be used as the moisture will do almost as much damage to the computers as fire would.
