Equipment Failure

Definition - What does Equipment Failure mean?

Equipment failure refers to any event in which any equipment cannot accomplish its intended purpose or task. It may also mean that the equipment stopped working, is not performing as desired, or is not meeting target expectations.

Safeopedia explains Equipment Failure

Examples of equipment failure include: engine failure or misfire, brake failure or stop controlling device failure, suspension of operation due to heat or other environmental conditions, failure due to defect in the electronics or circuits, power failure or fuel supply failure, etc..
Equipment failure leads to loss of asset availability, deviation from standard procedure, not meeting the quality and expected target quantity, loss of time, labor and money, and loss of integrated system. Equipment failure can be prevented or reduced through proper maintenance management, inspection, timely finding of problems, rectification of problems, and repair.

Safeopedia explains Fire Fighting Equipment

Fire fighting equipment, generally, is comprised of hundreds of different pieces of equipment and technology.
A categorized list of such equipment might look like this:

• Extinguishers - water type, dry chemical powder type, foam type, carbon dioxide type etc.
• Fire fighter’s gear - fire resistant outer suit, inner lining suit, inner and outer gloves, woolen socks, fire resistant shoes, helmet with or without headlight and communication system, breathing apparatus, water hoses, valves, nozzles and IR camera etc., fire department’s vehicle mounted fire fighting equipment
• Installed fire fighting system - fire main water supply network, hydrant, sprinkler automatic or manual, emergency fuel and electric cut off system, fixed fire fighting system such as carbon dioxide, foam and powder type etc., portable generators and pumps.
• Communication equipment - walkie-talkie, radio, broadcasts, land line telephone, sound powered telephone, cell or mobile phone and voice pipe etc.
• Fire detection and alarm systems - smoke, frame, spark detectors, local, centralized automatic, semi-automatic and manual fire alarm systems
• Other accessories - water and sand bucket, shovel, hammer, fire axe, cutters, hooks, fire beater, hoes, knife, fire blanket, emergency lifesaving apparatus, emergency lights, head lamp etc.

Fire Extinguisher

Six types of fire extinguishers are found in the market depending on their contents. They are used for different applications.

• Water: solid fire
• Foam (aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)): solid and liquid fires
• Carbon dioxide (CO2): solid, liquid, gas, oil, fat and electric fires
• Dry chemical powder: solid, liquid, gas, oil, fat and electric fires
• Wet chemical: solid, oil and fat fires
• Vaporizing liquid: solid, liquid, gas and electric fires

Extinguishing agents are kept under pressure in the cylinders using compressed air, gas or chemicals that produce gas when initiated by suitable means. Once the safety lock is removed and the trigger or handle is s

Class A Fire

Irrespective of the causes of ignition, a class A fire burns solid fuel. It can be extinguished either by water, foam or multi-purpose dry chemical powder. However, for complete extinguishment, class A fires should be entirely cooled down below the ignition temperature of the burning substance. Embers produced in such kind of fire are reignited if they are left above the ignition temperature and come in contact with oxygen. Smothering (or choking) a class A fire does not completely extinguish the fire because it cannot reduce the temperature of the embers. Therefore, CO2 (Carbon dioxide) and ordinary dry chemical powders are not effective against a class A fire.

 Class B fire refers to a fire involving flammable liquids such as petroleum (gasoline, kerosene, petrol, diesel, octane, etc.), paint, alcohol, solvent, oil and tar, etc. that normally do not leave any embers or residues (or very low amounts of residues). Most of these liquids have a high carbon content and the compounds in them and are highly combustible

A small class B fire can also be extinguished by multipurpose dry chemical powder or by water mist that can effectively cool the fire. Re-ignition may also occur if the sources of heating the substance (above the ignition temperature) are not removed. One should never use water stream on a class B fire as it helps to spread the fire since these liquids are lighter than the water

What does Class C Fire mean?

A class C fire refers to a fire that involves flammable gases such as natural gas, petroleum gas, butane, hydrogen, acetylene or propane. These gases are highly combustible and may cause large scale fires and explosions if mixed with enough oxygen.

Safeopedia explains Class C Fire

A class C fire does not leave embers or ashes and can be best extinguished by dry chemical powder and CO2. Before trying to extinguish a class C fire, the source of the gaseous substance must be found and cut off. This could be closing the valve of the gas containing cylinder. A spark in the presence of any of these gasses, with the required amount of oxygen, may also cause an explosion.

Definition - What does Class D Fire mean?

A class D fire refers to a fire that involves in burning of some extraordinary metals such as sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, lithium, titanium, zirconium and some of their alloys.

Safeopedia explains Class D Fire

Most class D fires occur when the combustible metals are in dust, flake, shaving forms or molten. A class D fire cannot be extinguished by water as it produces hydrogen at high temperatures and eventually an explosion occurs and spreads of fire further. It is, therefore, a special extinguishing powder based in sodium chloride (edible salt) or other salts, are used to extinguish a class D fire. Sands are also effective in putting out a class D fire.