Marked Fighting Knife

Thursday, 26 June 2008 12:26 Last Updated on Thursday, 26 June 2008 12:26 Written by Hoboken 0 Comments

Lord Mandelson: interview with a vintage politician
Lord Mandelson talks to Matthew Norman about life with Blair and Brown, his future plans and why he could be the next Jonathan Ross.

Have you heard of the AFFF fire extinguishers? If not, there is no need to be upset as you are not alone on this. AFFF actually stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam and is the most common type of portable foam fire extinguishers. Many are not aware that it is considered as one of the most effective way to put off household fires resulting from combustible solids such as paper, wood, and textile and also suitable for flammable or combustible liquids like gasoline, grease, oil, and solvents. It can also put fires off on electrical equipments but there is the possibility of corrosion making these equipments unusable.

This fire extinguishing device works by producing a smothering of foam that has low viscosity enabling it to quickly spread and cover the item on fire thereby sealing off any supply of oxygen that eventually extinguish the flames. It is like a blanket of foam preventing oxygen and the burning material from making any contact thus avoiding further combustion. The AFFF fire extinguisher also enables a cooling down effect on the temperature when the water contained on the foam starts to evaporate.

This type of fire fighting agent is easily identified as its red canister has a cream panel over the operating instructions. The newer versions for the foam fire fighting equipment is so much lighter than before making it much more convenient to use. Although this is basically suitable for Class A and B fires meaning perfect to put out both solid and liquid burning fires and not designed for electrical fires, the AFFF fire extinguisher have a conductivity rating of 35KV which means it is resistant to electricity that is why it is safe to use near live electrical fires. It is still best to use a CO2 extinguishing agent to stop fires caused by electrical appliances, circuit breakers, switches and the like.

In the UK, there are two maintenance requirements for fire extinguishers under this category. It must go through an annual basic inspection in order to check the weight and with the help of a special tool check if it has the correct pressure as well. The canister is also examined for any sign of damage and corrosion while all mechanisms are tested to ensure that they are all in good working order and the legibility of the labels is also inspected. A more detailed inspection is made every 5 years that includes a test discharge and recharging of the extinguisher as it is the only way to know if there is internal damage or corrosion.

Fighting fires is dangerous but early detection coupled with the right course of action can help lessen any injury or damage resulting from it. If you have the right equipment and have the knowledge to use it, you can easily contain fires that are just starting out. Always remember that if you think that the fire is too big to fight or you do not have the right kind of fire extinguisher for it, the best thing to do is leave the premises but always remember to call for help no matter what.

Bennett Glover is a professional fire safety expert and consultant for commercial businesses to help promote fire safety and awareness in the UK area. He regularly writes articles to inform the general public about the safest ways of handling fires and how to prevent them in the first place. His knowledge and expertise has earned him many writing and speaking engagements. He enjoys teaching fire safety to students, business owners, and learning institutions to help save lives. For more tips and information about AFFF fire extinguishers, please visit fire extinguishers.