The installations that Astra Paints can use may be fixed or portable installations which include Carbon dioxide

extinguishing systems, foam installations, vaporizing liquid and dry powder.

Oil paint fires are classified under Class B fire which can be extinguished using foam and vaporizing liquids.

FIXED INSTALLATIONS

These are permanent installations that cannot be removed from the building. -Foam installations

These installations are often used with fired boilers and oil storage tanks. It is a pump operated mechanism consisting of a foam concentrate tank located in the vicinity of the area that requires fire protection. The tank has a water supply pipe inlet and outlet. When the water pump is switched on, the pressure at the foam pipe connection is reduced resulting in a mixture of foam concentrate and water discharging through the outlet pipe.

A premixed foam installation may also be used. This consists of a storage tank containing foam solution. When a fire occurs in the protected area, a fusible link is broken, releasing the weight which falls to open a valve on the carbon dioxide cylinder. The foam solution is forced out of the tank to discharge over the protected equipment.

Diagram 1: Pump operated mechanical foam installation Diagram 2: premixed foam installation

-PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

These contain fire extinguishing agents and are not a permanent part of the building. They can be carried and moved around the building. They are colour coded for easy identification

of the extinguishing agents that they use. They can be foam, carbon dioxide and dry chemicals as their extinguishing agents.

AGENT Foam Carbon dioxide Dry chemicals

CODING Red with crme band Red with black band Red with blue band

The fire is extinguished by the removal of heat, the fuel, and oxygen in other words, by inhibiting the process of combustion.

-Inversion type Soda-acid water portable fire extinguisher

Diagram 3 -Chemical foam portable fire extinguisher (inversion type)

The foam is formed by a chemical reaction between Sodium Bicarbonate and Aluminium sulphate dissolved in water in the presence of a foaming agent. When the extinguisher is inverted, the chemicals are mixed, and then react, forming the foam under pressure. The foam is then forced out through the nuzzle.

Diagram 4

-Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

Liquid Carbon dioxide is pressurised in a cylinder. Striking the knob at the top of the cylinder pierces a disc to release the carbon dioxide which converts to a gas as it de-pressurises through the nuzzle.

Diagram 5

FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES These routes are mainly passageways, stair cases and lobbies. In the case of a fire breaking out, these escape routes may be pressurised to clear smoke and provide an unimpeded escape route. The air pressurisation is usually between 25 and 50 pascals depending on the height of the building and the degree of exposure to the fire.

Methods of Pressurization

1) Pressurisation plant is disengaged but it is automatically switched on by a smoke or fire detector. 2) Pressurisation plant runs continuously at a reduced capacity and output along the hours of building occupancy but the fire detection automatically brings it up to full output. It is important to provide openings for the displacement of smoke from the escpe routes to the outside air. This can be done through window vents.