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Minot North Dakota

Fire Code

Minot ND follows the guidelines of the

2009 International Fire Code, which referances NFPA 10, 2007 Edition.

See some important sections from NFPA 10, 2007 listed below

 

NFPA Section 4.4 Obsolete Fire Extinguishers.

 

The following types of fire extinguishers are considered obsolete and shall be removed from service:

(1) Soda acid

(2) Chemical foam (excluding film-forming agents)

(3) Vaporizing liquid (e.g., carbon tetrachloride)

(4) Cartridge-operated water

(5) Cartridge-operated loaded stream

(6) Copper or brass shell (excluding pump tanks) joined by soft solder or rivets

(7) Carbon dioxide extinguishers with metal horns

(8) Solid charge–type AFFF extinguishers (paper cartridge)

(9) Pressurized water fire extinguishers manufactured prior to 1971

(10) Any extinguisher that needs to be inverted to operate

(11) Any stored pressure extinguisher manufactured prior to 1955

(12) Any extinguishers with 4B, 6B, 8B, 12B, and 16B fire ratings

(13) Stored-pressure water extinguishers with fiberglass shells (pre-1976)

 

4.4.1 Dry chemical stored pressure extinguishers manufactured

prior to October 1984 shall be removed from service at

the next 6-year maintenance interval or the next hydrotest

interval, whichever comes first.

 

4.4.2 Any fire extinguisher that can no longer be serviced in

accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance manual is

considered obsolete and shall be removed from service.

NFPA Section 4.1 Listing and Labeling.

4.1.1 Portable fire extinguishers used to comply with this

standard shall be listed and labeled and shall meet or exceed

all the requirements of one of the fire test standards and one

of the appropriate performance standards shown as follows:

 

(1) Fire Test Standards:

(a) ANSI/UL 711, Standard for Rating and Testing of Fire Extinguishers

(b) CAN/ULC-S508, Standard for Rating and Testing of Fire Extinguishers

 

(2) Performance Standards:

(a) Carbon Dioxide Types. ANSI/UL 154, Standard for Carbon-Dioxide Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S503, Standard for Carbon-Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

(b) Dry Chemical Types. ANSI/UL 299, Standard for Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S504, Standardfor Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

(c) Water Types. ANSI/UL 626, Standard for 21⁄2-Gallon Stored-Pressure,Water-Type Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULCS507, Standard for Water Fire Extinguishers

(d) Halon Types. ANSI/UL 1093, Standard for Halogenated Agent Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S512, Standard for Halogenated Agent Hand and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers

(e) Film-Forming Foam Types. ANSI/UL 8, Standard for Foam Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S554, Standard for Water Based Agent Fire Extinguishers

(f) Halocarbon Types. ANSI/UL 2129, Standard for Halocarbon Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers; CAN/ULC-S566, Standard for Halocarbon Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers

 

If the fire extinguisher is not obsolete from the information in section 4.4 it must have one of the ratings listed in yellow above on its label, or it should not be in service for use.

Good information on why CO2 is better for sensitive electrical equipment.

 

C.3.4 Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers.

The principal advantage of CO2 (carbon dioxide) fire extinguishers is that the

agent does not leave a residue after use. This can be a significant

factor where protection is needed for delicate and costly

electronic equipment.

 

C.3.6.4 The potassium and urea-potassium base bicarbonate

agents are selected in preference to sodium bicarbonate, principally

because of their greater fire-extinguishing capabilities.

If corrosion is not a factor, potassium chloride can also be

included in this group. However, the potassium chloride base

agent is corrosive and does not have any specific extinguishing

characteristics that are superior to the potassium bicarbonate

base agents.

 

C.3.6.5 The ammonium phosphate base agent (multipurpose)

is the only dry chemical agent that is suitable for Class A

protection. In addition to Class B and Class C protection, the

residues of multipurpose dry chemical, when left in contact

with metal surfaces, can cause corrosion.

 

C.3.6.6 Where dry chemical fire extinguishers are utilized for

Class C protection, it is important to consider that the residue of

potassium chloride is more corrosive than other dry chemicals

and that a multipurpose base agent is more difficult to remove

because it first softens when in contact with hot surfaces and then

hardens when it cools. Any of the other dry chemical agents, depending

on protection requirements, could

Important information on pool chemical storage areas and ABC fire extinguishers

 

Oxidizers, such as those used for treating swimming pools, have specific requirements for storage and fire protection. These requirements can be found in NFPA 43A, 1990 Edition, Code for the Storage of Liquid and Solid Oxidizers. It is important to know that using the wrong type of portable fire extinguisher on certain oxidizers could result in a violent reaction or explosion.
NFPA 43A contains the following paragraph:
2-11.4* Manual Fire Fighting. Manual fire fighting equipment in the form of portable water fire extinguishers or water hose reel stations shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 10, Standard for the Installation of Portable Fire Extinguishers and NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems.
Note 1: The placement and use of multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers (Class A:B:C) is specifically prohibited in areas where oxidizers that can release chlorine are stored.
Note 2: Halon extinguishers shall not be used in areas where oxidizers are stored.
The following paragraph from Appendix of NFPA 43A contains additional information on what extinguishing agents should not be used:
A-2-11.4 Do not use an A:B:C type dry chemical fire extinguisher on chlorine-containing oxidizers. The reaction between the oxidizer and the ammonium salts in the fire extinguishing agent may produce an explosive compound (NCl3). Carbon Dioxide or other agents that depend on their smothering action for effective use will be of no value in extinguishing fires involving ozidizers. Halon extinguishers should not be used on fires involving oxidizers because they may react with the oxidizer.
It is apparent from the above excerpts that the “agent of choice” for fighting fires involving oxidizers is WATER. In fact NFPA 43A states that “portable water fire extinguishers or water hose reel stations shall be provided.” There really isn’t any choice, the agent shall be water. This is certainly a perfect application for the Model 272NM Water Mist extinguisher. Remember that choosing the wrong type of extinguishing agent could be disastrous.
Your customers that use or store oxidizers should consider that the hazards of oxidizers may manifest themselves in one or more of the following hazardous situations:
1. They increase the burning rate of combustible material.
2. They may cause spontaneous ignition of combustible materials.
3. They may decompose and may liberate hazardous gases.
4. They may undergo self-sustained decomposition, which may result in an explosion.

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