Portable fire extinguishers (SOLAS requirement, Spare requirement, markings & types)

           

           

                  

 Portable fire extinguishers :

                        (SOLAS Requirement) 

• ships of 1000GT and above have at least 5PPE(portable fire extinguishers).

• total weight shall not more than 23 kg. 

• fluid content should not less than 9 liter & not more than 13.5 liters.

• CO2 (PPE)  shall not be used inside accomdation.

• PPE should be ready to use & easily available, stowed near the entrance to that space.

• PPE shall be provided with a space, which indicate whether they have been used.

• ship designed to carry IMDG to have 12 KG  DCP ( dry chemical powder) for every cargo space.

                Spare requirement :

1) capable of being recharged onboard 

     • 100% for first 10 no's. 

     • 50% of the remaining PPE 

     • but total space not less than 60 no's

2) cannot recharged onboard 

     • 100% for all such PPE provided.

           Markings on extinguishers :

• Name of manufacturer

• type of fire for which the extinguisher is suitable.

• approval details

• instructions for use & recharge

• year of manufacture

• temperature range over which the extinguisher will operate satisfactorily test procedures.

             Types of extinguishers

• water

• foam

• DCP ( dry chemical powder)

• CO2

1) water fire extinguishers 

• they are filled up to the mark inside, pressurized with CO2.

• extinguishes fire by cooling the surface of the fuel.

• minimum charging capacity 9 liters

• maximum charging capacity 13. 5 liters

• required 60 gram CO2 catridge for pressurizing

• inner pressure 17 to 18 bar.

• range 6 meters for first 30 sec.

• duration 90 sec.

• maintenance - weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually.

• hydraulic pressure test 05 years.

2) AFFF - Aqueous film forming foam extinguisher

• height 600mm,  diameter 189mm, overall width 300mm

• working principle =  smoothering effect

• maximum charging capacity 13.5 liters +270 gram of AFFF.

• required 60 gram CO2 for pressurizing.

• inner pressure 17 to 18 bar.

• range 6 meters for first 30 sec. 

• maximum duration 40 sec for 9 liters.

• maintenance - weekly, monthly,  quarterly 

• Annual inspection after 01 years. 

• hydraulic pressure test 05 years. 

3) Dry chemical (ABC)  fire extinguisher

For 5 KG 

• DCP extinguishers are blue. they range 5 &10 KG

• filled with dry chemical powder greater proportion of mono ammonium phosphate 

• min charging capacity 05 KG

• required 120 gram CO2 catridge for pressurizing 

• inner pressure 17 to 18 bar

• range 3 to 4 metres

• min duration 10 to 15 sec

• maintenance - weekly,  monthly,  quarterly

• Annual inspection after 1 year.

• Hydraulic pressure test after 5 years

For 10 KG

• required 200 gram CO2 catridge.

• min duration 15 to 23 sec.

4) CO2 extinguisher 

• working principle - smoothering

• CO2 cylinders are black

• pressure inside CO2 extinguisher 53 bar

• Weight of charge inside may vary from 05 to 6.8 KG

• min charging capacity 05KG

• range 1.5 metres

• min duration 10 to 15 sec

• maintenance weekly, monthly, quarterly

• annual inspection after 1year

• tested to 207 bar to 236 bar.

• hydraulic pressure test 05 years.

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