Fire Extinguisher Safety: How Can We Prevent Dangerous Incidents Like This?

Fire Extinguisher Safety Concerns

I want more information about the fire extinguisher because a major incident happened near my company during training, where there was a possibility of the metal cap coming off and hitting a person's neck (Extinguisher - DCP - 5kg).

Possible Causes of the Incident

Possible reasons include:

• Lack of proper servicing
• Loose metal cap
• Mishandling of the extinguisher
• Pressure build-up due to blockage

Please provide any other relevant information to prevent such incidents in the future. Also, what is the working pressure of the extinguisher?

Thank you.

Dear all,

I want more information about the fire extinguisher because one major incident happened near my company during training, and there may be the possibility of the metal cap coming off and causing injury to a person. (Extinguisher - DCP - 5kg) What may be the possibility of such an incident, such as:

• Improper servicing
• Loose metal cap
• Anyone playing with the extinguisher
• Pressure buildup inside due to choking

Please provide information on any other reasons to avoid further incidents and what the working pressure of the extinguisher is.

Thanks and Regards,
L.P. Shinde

Dear Mr. Shinde,

About 2-3 years ago, I heard of a similar incident in a chemical industry. Such incidents can be avoided by taking proper care, as you mentioned.

Line of Fire Safety

One important point is the Line of Fire. One should not stand or put themselves in the line of fire while operating such equipment or instruments. One must take a position away from the hazard's path, e.g., when striking the fire extinguisher's knob, opening the gas cylinder valve, etc.

It's good to see that you are participating in this forum and discussing your safety concerns.

Thanks,
Abhay

Request for Standards and Investigation Insights

Abhay Sir, thank you. If anyone has IS 2171 & IS 2878, please provide them to investigate the above-mentioned incident. As per the investigation, it seems that:

1. It may be due to the metal cap being left loose by the servicing agency during servicing/refilling.
2. It may be a manufacturing defect.

Please discuss and cooperate.

Thanks & Regards,
L.P. Shinde

Conditions Indicating Mechanical Failure of an Extinguisher

The following conditions, as per IS 2190:19912, indicate the probability of mechanical failure of an extinguisher and render it unsafe for use:

• Corrosion, wear, or damage to the threads of any pressure-retaining part.
• Corrosion of welds.
• Extensive general corrosion or severe pitting.

Regards,
Hansa Vyas

Sorry to hear about the incident. These types of incidents are not unheard of. It seems like the incident occurred on a stored pressure extinguisher with a CO2 cartridge.

Possible Causes

The following could be the possible causes:

Powder

- There is also a chance of the discharge tube getting blocked due to caking in the powder (which can occur due to poor quality of powder, moisture getting in the powder, powder not taken out during periodic inspection, and de-caked).
- Powder not replaced on time.

Cap and Throat

- Loose threads on the cap or the cap itself placed loose after periodic inspection.
- Threads got disintegrated due to corrosion.
- Vent hole on the cap was blocked and not cleared during servicing.
- The extinguisher might have been repeatedly used for demonstration, and the cap not placed properly after in situ refilling.

Operation

- Plunger got stuck, and more effort was put to activate.
- Someone tried to open the cap after the extinguisher failed to discharge without giving time for the gas to escape through the vent hole.
- Placing face right on top of the extinguisher thereby coming in line of fire.

Thanks and Regards,

Unnikrishnan Nellanat
Process Specialist-HSE
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Sorry to hear about the incident. These types of incidents are not unheard of. It seems like the incident occurred on a stored pressure extinguisher with a CO2 cartridge. The following can be the possible causes:

- **Powder:**
- There is also a chance of the discharge tube getting blocked due to caking in the powder (which can occur due to poor quality of powder, moisture getting in the powder, powder not taken out during periodic inspection and de-caked).
- Powder not replaced on time.

- **Cap and Throat:**
- Loose threads on the cap or cap itself placed loose after periodic inspection.
- Threads got disintegrated due to corrosion.
- Vent hole on the cap was blocked and not cleared during servicing.
- The extinguisher might have been repeatedly used for demonstration and cap not placed properly after in situ refilling.

- **Operation:**
- Plunger got stuck and more effort was put to activate.
- Someone tried to open the cap after the extinguisher failed to discharge without giving time for the gas to escape through the vent hole.
- Placing face right on top of the extinguisher thereby coming in line of fire.

Thanks and Regards,
Unnikrishnan Nellanat
Process Specialist-HSE
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Good inputs from your post. Thanks, Hansa. In my view, such emergencies need to be included in the Onsite Emergency Plan.

Thanks,
Abhay

To avoid such incidents, regular inspection of fire extinguishers needs to be carried out. During fire training and demonstration, it should be taught to trainees to keep their body away from the fire extinguisher. This incident should be quoted as an example so that they understand the consequence of operating a fire extinguisher in its line of fire. Show them how to operate it while keeping their body away. This is what I used to do during my fire training sessions.

Regards,
Hansa

To avoid such types of incidents, regular inspection of fire extinguishers is to be carried out. Fire extinguishers kept outside should be protected from environmental factors such as heat and rain. In-plant training should be practiced regularly. Yes, it's true that such incidents can occur in pressurized CO2 cartridge type extinguishers.

Regards,
Deepak Dorik

Two more incidents occurred in the same manner. While operating the fire extinguisher, the metal cap was removed, and the cylinder hit the operating person, causing him to lose his life. Following these incidents, the Government has implemented changes to fire extinguisher regulations. Instead of the bang type cylinder, companies have introduced the squeeze type cylinder, which is much safer to use. With the DCP cylinder, once it is operated, the powder will be released entirely. However, with the squeeze type cylinder, depending on our requirements, we can control the release by squeezing. It is advisable to use the squeeze type cylinder to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Regards