Fire Extinguishers Essay

Fire extinguishers
The laboratory should be designed for fire protection wall and doors be constructed to contain a conflagration until firefighting equipment and personnel can be mustered (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).

Fire exits must be provided for emergency evacuation of personnel. Rooms that have an area larger than 1000 square feet and all rooms in which inflammability concerns are present should have at least two doors that open to exit corridors or to the outdoors (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).

A fire alarm system should be located in or near the laboratory. This may be a bell or public address system, but it must be audible in all areas of the facility, including storage areas, dark rooms and lavatories (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).

Class A devices are appropriate for wood and paper fires, class B devices for ignitable solvents and class C devices for electrical fires. Three types commonly found in clinical laboratories are organic halogen gas, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical. Each is effective against solvent and electrical fires and the label on deice will be specify the rating of the unit (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).
Extinguishers using organic halogens are rapidly effective. They are most commonly found in electrical applications such as computer rooms because their vapor will not damage delicate equipment (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).

Carbon dioxide acts by smothering and cooling a fire. Devices of this type are equally rapid but may cause thermal damage to instruments in the vicinity of use (Kenneth and McClatchey, 2002).

Both types should be used only in well-ventilated areas or by a person wearing SCBA.

Dry chemical types are the least expensive. They are particularly effective against oil and grease fire, but cleanup is laborious and equipment damage can be expected (Kenneth and McClatchey,