The importance of have working fire extinguishers in our plants
cannot be understated. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incident
after incident where proper use of a fire extinguisher was able to control a
fire. On our tours around the globe we have seen hundreds if not thousands of
fire extinguishers. On occasion we will glance at the inspection tag on a fire
extinguisher. We look for the date of the last inspection. Making sure that the
last inspection was within the last 12 months. If not we make sure the plant
manager is aware. The following story deals with a safety notice involving a
fire extinguisher model that we have seen in many aluminium plants. Here is the
story:
'Norfolk
Range' large dry powder fire extinguishers, manufactured before 2009, may be affected
by moisture ingress at a threaded joint at the base of the unit, rendering the
unit inoperable. The problem may not be identified during routine service
inspections.
Users
should identify if their extinguishers are likely to be affected. If yes and
the extinguisher has been left exposed to adverse conditions since its last
extended service, the condition of the elbow joint at the base of the unit
should be examined by a competent service engineer.
If you
are unsure if your extinguishers are affected by this safety alert, consult
Britannia Fire Ltd.
Service
engineers should closely examine, and if necessary, remove the elbow to confirm
if there is evidence of water ingress to the discharge tube. If there is any
doubt about moisture affecting the powder in the discharge tube, consider
subjecting the extinguisher to an extended service including full replacement
of the dry powder.
Introduction:
At a
recent fire on a chemical plant, three wheeled dry powder fire extinguishers,
containing 45kg of Monnex dry powder, failed to discharge when activated. This
safety alert relates to dry powder units manufactured between 1970 and 2009. An
identifying feature of these units is that the discharge hose is coupled at the
base of the unit via a threaded metal elbow joint.
Photograph
1 shows the type of unit covered by this alert.
If you
are unsure if your units are affected by this safety alert, consult Britannia
Fire Ltd.
Background:
The
units operate by opening a CO2 cylinder attached to the body of the
extinguisher. The main body of the extinguisher holds the dry powder. The
powder is discharged through a hose and is pushed out by the pressure of CO2.
The units in scope of this alert have a discharge hose attached to the base of
the body of the extinguisher by a piped metal elbow.
Photo
2: Rusted joint and caked powder from unit that failed to operate
HSE
examined three of the above units that failed to operate. Each had rust visible
on the inside of the elbow joints. The extinguishers had been kept outdoors
under plastic covers and had been serviced every six months. The service
engineers had noted the rust but it was not thought to affect the operation of
the units.
The
flexible discharge hose is normally removed during servicing however the elbow
joint is not usually disturbed. It is believed that water ingress at this joint
resulted in caking of the dry powder within the elbow joint. The caked powder
may fall back from the discharge tube into the body of the extinguisher and so
not seen during basic servicing. Upon activation of the extinguisher, the caked
powder can block the discharge hose and render the unit inoperable.
Photo
3: Post 2009 model with discharge hose on top
Photograph
2 shows the rusted joint and caked powder from a unit that failed to operate.
When the flexible discharge hose was removed the blockage was not visible. It
was only identified when the elbow was removed from the body of the
extinguisher.
The
revised design of ‘Norfolk Range’ extinguishers produced by Britannia Fire Ltd
is not affected by this problem. The design of the later versions features
hoses mounted to the top of the unit, as shown in photograph 3.
Action
required:
You
should inspect any ‘Norfolk Range’ wheeled dry powder fire extinguishers and
confirm if you have a unit with a discharge tube connected to the bottom of the
unit.
If the
extinguisher has been left exposed to adverse conditions since its last
extended service, the condition of the elbow joint should be examined by a
competent fire extinguisher service engineer.
Service
engineers should closely examine, and if necessary, remove the elbow to confirm
if there is evidence of water ingress to the discharge tube. If there is any
doubt about moisture affecting the powder in the discharge tube, consider
subjecting the extinguisher to an extended service including full replacement
of the dry powder. Service engineers should advise clients to consider storing
this type of extinguisher in a location where it is protected from rain or very
damp conditions.
References:
BS
5306-3:2009 Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises.
Commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice
Further
information:
Britannia
Fire Ltd, Ashwellthorpe Ind Estate, Ashwellthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR16 1ER,
tel: 01508 488416
website:
http://www.britannia-fire.co.uk/ link to external website
The Health and Safety Executive had posted “Please pass this
information to a colleague who may have this Product/ Equipment or operate this
type of system/process.” We can assure the readers that on every future plant
visit we will be asking about the plant’s fire extinguishers.
Our concern is that this safety issue has not been successfully put
forth to all the aluminium plants in our industry. In addition we wonder if the HSE tested any other models? It would be our recommendation that if your plant has any other models made by this manufacturer that you request that the areas of clogging and rust formation listed above be inspected during your annual fire extinguisher inspection.
Please Comment.
thanks for the posting. I am not affected by this Recall / Danger to Life, however it does remind me to be just a it more proactive. I have a Service Company with impeccable credentials and certifications who services our Ship LP CO2, Fire Extinguishers and I am comfortable with their knowledge and expertise. They do condemn units that are not up to snuff and we replace them with new units and then tag then Destroy the Old Units. This article just keeps me on notice. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. We do question sometimes when Service Company's fail an extinguisher because of it's age, not because it won't work. Age should only be a contributing factor, not the main factor for failing an extinguisher. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI worked in many phases of Magnesium production after getting out of the military in 1968. It all was about molten mag until it was poured into peg lock bars, alloy, or anodes for shipping industry (oceans). When ever we had spills, and often a mag pot would burp over, molten mag would flow down the brick floor and start burning like a flare (they also used mag for flares such as used in Vietnam). We had 55 gallon drums of graphite powder (G-1 Powder) to shovel on the fires. If a molten mag crucible over filled in the basement, it would cause a big fire, intensifying when it finds water. G-1 powder was found in many places in the basements and operating floor. The basements had Rail Road track running through each building, moved by a diesel tractor to the casting plant. I have seen mag spilled in the basements so bad it would warp the rail road tracks from the heat, and this was the real rail road track material. The company I worked for got out of the mag business years ago, couldn't compete.
ReplyDeleteMagnesium fires are real hazard. In aluminium plants the potential for molten metal explosions is a hazard that many young workers have not experienced (yet). The greyer the hair the more the worker has experienced in our opinion in incidents. Regardless, molten metal explosions in magnesium plants are commonplace. Workers that we have speaken to are well versed in how to deal with them when they occur. Glad you made it out safely. Thanks for the comments!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post/warning!
ReplyDelete