Question One
The portable fire extinguishers play a significant role in putting out the fires that break out within the buildings. In essence, these devices act as a first aid response to the fires and help prevent the destruction of properties as well as loss of lives. The thorough inspection, testing, and servicing of these firefighting devices in buildings is highly recommended under the Australian regulations. The inspection checklists help ensure that the portable fire extinguishers are ready for use if they are ever needed.
The following assessment checklist is for the on-site inspection of the portable aerosol fire extinguisher located near the exit of a building that is used for commercial purposes. Specifically, the fire extinguisher is trying to prevent the loss of lives and destruction of properties in the event that a fire breaks out within the building. The extinguisher is designed for only one use. It is not required to be refilled and be thrown away after any use or depressurized and discarded prior to the expiry date indicated on its label.
The below details must be checked thoroughly during the monthly on-site inspection of the portable aerosol fire extinguisher within the building:
Ensure that the fire extinguisher is positioned in a visible and readily reachable position. According to Standards Association of Australia (2001), the extinguishers should be placed near exits and along normal travel paths. Thus, make sure that the extinguisher always remains near the building’s exit.
Make sure that the fire extinguisher is mounted in a place where any occupant within the building will access it without difficulty to carry out the first attack on the infernos in the event that they break out. The Standards Association of Australia (2001) recommends that the fire extinguishers should be mounted at the appropriate height. So, ensure that every occupant can reach the height at with the extinguisher is mounted.
Confirm that the signage clearly shows the location of the fire extinguisher. The signs of the fire extinguisher should have a white border, symbol, and letters on a red field (Standards Association of Australia, 2001). For this reason, ensure that the border, symbol, and letters of the signs are in white on a red field.
Make sure that the signs are clearly noticeable to the individuals approaching the fire extinguisher as Standards Association of Australia (2001) emphasizes. Specifically, ensure that the individuals from a distance of up to 20 meters can clearly see the signs.
Confirm that there are no hindrances in the areas surrounding the fire extinguisher.
Ensure that the fire extinguisher has a proper bracket or support fitting. Make sure that the fire extinguisher’s front is facing outside if it is placed in an enclosure or a cabinet.
Confirm that the operating instructions on the fire extinguisher are readable and facing outside.
Verify that the locking pin of the fire extinguisher is intact.
Confirm that the tamper seal of the extinguisher is not broken.
Scrutinize the fire extinguisher for obvious leakage, corrosion, or physical damage and replace it in case any of these signs is present.
Ensure that the nozzle and discharge hose of the fire extinguisher are in good condition.
I used the above checklist to inspect an installed portable fire extinguisher shown in the photo within a commercial building in my neighborhood and below is a record of the results that I obtained:
Regarding the location, the fire extinguisher was situated in a visible and readily accessible position as well as near the exit of the building as depicted in the photo.
The extinguisher was also mounted in a place where any occupant within the building could access it without difficulty in case a fire broke out.
There were no impediments in the areas nearby the fire extinguisher, and it also had a proper bracket.
The operating instructions on the fire extinguisher were also readable and faced outside as required.
The device’s locking pin was intact, and the tamper seal was not broken.
I did not find any leakage, physical damage, or corrosion in the extinguisher.
However, there were no signs to show the location of the fire extinguisher within the building.
Question Three
The hydrostatic tests and commissioning tests help to verify that the fire hydrant system’s performance is consistent with the design approval (Committee FP-009, 2005). The commissioning report for the fire hydrant systems must, therefore, contain the information relating to the outcomes of these tests.
Apart from the tests as mentioned above, visual inspections are required to be carried out also to verify that the performance of a hydrant system is consistent with the design approval. Ideally, visual inspections help provide the information about the installation of fire hydrant systems within the premises. Specifically, the installation adequacy, method and type of installation of pipework, and hydrant as well as hose reel location are visually inspected, and the results included in the commissioning report.
Consequently, the information, which ought to be contained in the commissioning report for fire hydrant systems as per AS2419.1-2005 include the information on the design, installation, and functioning capability of the fire hydrant systems that are installed to protect the storage yards, structures, marinas, buildings, wharves, and plant, among other premises.
Question Four
According to the Australian Building Codes Board (2012), a fire hose reel system ought to be provided to serve a fire compartment that has a floor area, which is above 500 m2 where there are no installed internal fire hydrants. The Board further states that “a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part is considered to be a fire compartment.” For this reason, you might find a site with an installed fire hose reel system but not protection of a fire hydrant system in the circumstance that the fire compartment has a floor area, which is more than 500 m2.
Question Five
Fire sprinklers play an imperative role in controlling fires. An automatic sprinkler system is more effective than the manual one since it activates automatically shortly after the fire breaks out. As a result, it enhances the survival probabilities since it limits the spread of infernos as well as the smoke production.
The sprinkler heads for the automatic fire sprinklers are primarily held closed by glass bulbs that are heat-sensitive. These bulbs are of different colors depending on the color of the liquid alcohol inside them.
Sprinkler heads activate different temperatures depending on the color of their bulbs.
The sprinkler head that has a red bulb activates a temperature of 68°C or 155°F.
The sprinkler head that has yellow bulb activates a temperature of 79°C or 175°F.
The sprinkler head that has green bulb activates a temperature of 93°C or 200°F.
References:
Standards Association of Australia, (2001) AS 2444: Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets - selection and location. Standards Australia International Ltd.
Committee FP-009, (2005) Fire hydrant installations. Standards Australia.
Australian Building Codes Board, (2012) NCC 2012 Building Code of Australia-Volume One. Australian Government and States and Territories of Australia.
