Campus Security

Safety and Health Plan
2001

Fire Extinguishers

General

The provisions of this policy apply to the selection, distribution, inspection, maintenance and testing of portable extinguishing equipment.  The requirements given herein are minimums.  Portable extinguishers are intended as a first line of defense to cope with fires of limited size.  They are needed even when a facility is equipped with automatic sprinklers, standpipe and hose, or other fixed position equipment.

Definitions

The basic types of fires are Classes A, B, C, and D as defined in the following:

Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and many plastics.
Class B fires are fires in flammable liquids
Class C fires are fires that involve energized electrical equipment where the electrical nonconductivity of the extinguishing media is of importance.  When electrical equipment is de-energized, extinguishers for Class A or B fires may be used safely.
Class D fires are fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, and potassium.

Classification and Ratings of Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are classified for use on certain types of fires and rated by testing laboratories for relative extinguishing effectiveness.  The classification and ratings are based upon the preceding classification of fires and the fire-extinguishments potentials as determined by fire tests.

Selection of Fire Extinguishers

The selection of fire extinguishers for a given situation is determined by the character of the fire anticipated.

Distribution of Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers shall be provided for the protection of the building and for the occupancy hazard it contains.  Required building protection shall be provided by extinguishers suitable for Class A fires.  Protection against occupancy hazards shall be provided by fire extinguishers suitable for such Class A, B, C, or D fire potentials as may be present.

Mounting Locations

Extinguishers shall be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible in the event of fire.  They shall be located along normal routes of travel including exits from an area.

Maintenance

Extinguishers needing to be recharged due to use or pressure leakage will be recharged by Maintenance at no cost to the department to which the extinguisher was assigned.  Extinguishers are inspected monthly by Maintenance or Residence Life.

Extinguisher Loss Due to Damage or Theft

It is the responsibility of the using department to institute security measures to prevent losses due to theft.  Replacement cost for extinguishers in residence halls, auxiliary service areas, and assigned rooms will be charged to the department.  Replacement in public areas will be charged to Maintenance.

Inspection

The Maintenance dept staff updates fire extinguisher inspections monthly.  An outside contractor inspects them annually.

© 2004 Lenoir-Rhyne College