Fire Safety in the Lab

[Engineer]

Originally Posted by Roger

What kind of fire extinguisher would you recommend for a metal shop? And for our large "field room" which has computers, shelves of leftover stuff, and some boxes of paper (copier room next door stores extra paper here).

You want a fire extinguisher rated for Class C fires. Class C is for electrical fires. Don't use water on electical fire. Most of the fire extinguishers mounted on the wall are rated for Class A, B, and C.

Class A is for 3D fires like houses, boxes, and structures.

Class B is for 2D fires like oils and liquids.

There are other sub classes (Charlie will know about these) but we don't need to go there.

[charlie1218]

Originally Posted by Engineer

You want a fire extinguisher rated for Class C fires. Class C is for electrical fires. Don't use water on electical fire. Most of the fire extinguishers mounted on the wall are rated for Class A, B, and C.

Class A is for 3D fires like houses, boxes, and structures.

Class B is for 2D fires like oils and liquids.

There are other sub classes (Charlie will know about these) but we don't need to go there.

I would Recommend a CO2 Extinguisher for your computer equipment, as it will not damage it, and Class ABC dry chem as well for your standard cobustibles. Is your metal flamable (lithitium, sodium, etc) if so you need a Class D extinguisher. If it is just steel, aluminum, etc, go with a large ABC dry chemical extingusiher ( 1 10-15 lbs extinguisher for every 100 sq ft)

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by charlie1218

( 1 10-15 lbs extinguisher for every 100 sq ft)

Could you elaborate? I doubt I need 13 extinguishers in my garage....

[charlie1218]

In an area you should have one extinguisher on the wall within 35 feet of every point. So if you have a room 100 x 100, you should have roughly 8 extinguishers, to per wall placed 35 feet from each corner. I recommend that they be 10-15 lbs because that is quite a bit of supression. If you have alot of stuff crammed in there, get more or heavier extinguishers. In general use ABC dry chem. For electrical that you dont want harmed, get CO2 have a dry chem to go with it. this is b.c CO2 cant be used on Class A (wood, paper, rags, trash, etc)

[MrForbes]

Ok, that's quite a bit different from one extinguisher per 100 square feet...100 square feet is a 10' x 10' area.

I have 3 extinguishers in the 30' x 44' shop, by each of the doors. Although they're getting old, should they be replaced periodically or inspected or what? the gages all show pressure, and there is no fire suppression company in our small city.

[charlie1218]

Inspect guages every month. replace every 10 years, or when rust shows, or paint chips

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by charlie1218

Inspect guages every month. replace every 10 years, or when rust shows, or paint chips

and of course if ever used, I have met some people that used them and put them back thinking they recharge them selves.

[charlie1218]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Ok, that's quite a bit different from one extinguisher per 100 square feet...100 square feet is a 10' x 10' area.

I have 3 extinguishers in the 30' x 44' shop, by each of the doors. Although they're getting old, should they be replaced periodically or inspected or what? the gages all show pressure, and there is no fire suppression company in our small city.

Is this in the school? If so, you are required to have them proffesionally inspected yearly.

[MrForbes]

No, it's my home shop. There is no workshop for the students at school....the FRC build happens on Fort Huachuca, and they are pretty good about fire safety there. We built the underwater robot at my house over the summer, and a promotional robot here this fall.

[MTS]

Wowzers splended topic Chuck! This Charlie fellah knows what he is talking about...he is a fire safety fanatic if I say so myself! And a swell guy to boot! This is definatly an important topic to cover and it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Good luck to everyone this year and for Pete's sake...be safe out there roboteers! Kick some bot!