The SABS has approved and is legislating the adoption of ISO 14520 as the clean agent gas-extinguishing standard for South Africa. Many years of research and investigation have been conducted by experts in the field of gas extinguishing around the world to develop this standard.
This five-part editorial, presented by the FDIA, is aimed at helping readers understand this new standard.
Part 1: Introduction
Fire-fighting systems covered in ISO 14520 are designed to provide a supply of gaseous extinguishing medium for the extinction of fire.
Several different methods of supplying extinguishant have been developed in recent years and there is a need for dissemination of information on established systems and methods. ISO 14520 has been prepared to meet this need. In particular, new requirements to eliminate the need to release extinguishants during testing and commissioning procedures are included. These are linked to the inclusion of enclosure integrity testing.
It is important that the fire protection of a building or plant be considered as a whole. Gaseous extinguishant systems form only a part, though an important part, of the available facilities, but it should not be assumed that their adoption necessarily removes the need to consider supplementary measures, such as the provision of portable fire extinguishers or other mobile appliances for first aid or emergency use, or to deal with special hazards.
Gaseous extinguishants have for many years been a recognised effective medium for the extinction of flammable liquid fires, but it should not be forgotten, in the planning of comprehensive schemes, that there may be hazards for which these mediums are not suitable or that in certain circumstances or situations there may be dangers in their use requiring special precautions. Advice on these matters can be obtained from the appropriate manufacturer of the extinguishant or the extinguishing system.
"It is essential that fire-fighting equipment be carefully maintained to ensure instant readiness when required." Routine maintenance is liable to be overlooked or given insufficient attention by the owner of the system. It is, however, neglected at peril to the lives of occupants of the premises and at the risk of crippling financial loss. The importance of maintenance cannot be too highly emphasised.
Standards
ISO 14520 consists of the following parts, under the general title 'Gaseous fire-extinguishing systems - physical properties and system design':
* Part 1: General requirements
* Part 2: CF3I extinguishant - Triodine
* Part 3: FC-2-1-8 extinguishant - CEA 308
* Part 4: FC-3-1-10 extinguishant - CEA 410
* Part 6: HCFC Blend A extinguishant - NAF Slll
* Part 7: HCFC 124 extinguishant - FE 241
* Part 8: HFC 125 extinguishant - FE 25
* Part 9: HFC 227ea extinguishant - FM 200
* Part 10: HFC 23 extinguishant - FE 13
* Part 11: HFC 236fa extinguishant - FE 36
* Part 12: IG-01 extinguishant - Argotech
* Part 13: IG-100 extinguishant - IG 100
* Part 14: IG-55 extinguishant - Argonite
* Part 15: IG-541 extinguishant - Inergen
The emphasis of concentration for these articles is on Part 1 only, which is a common code concentrating on installation standards of all the various gases.
ISO 14520 specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, maintenance and safety of gaseous fire-fighting systems in buildings, plant or other structures and the characteristics of the various extinguishants and types of fire for which they are a suitable extinguishing medium.
It covers total flooding systems primarily related to buildings, plant and other specific applications, utilising electrically nonconducting gaseous fire extinguishants that do not leave a residue after discharge and for which there are sufficient data currently available to enable validation of performance characteristics by an appropriate independent authority. This part of ISO 14520 is not applicable to explosion suppression or intended to indicate approval of the extinguishants listed therein by the appropriate authorities, as other extinguishants may be equally acceptable. It must also be pointed out that CO2 is not included as it is covered by other International Standards.
In Part 2 we will discuss use, limitations, safety and system designs.
For further details contact the FDIA on tel: (011) 496 1701.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.
printer friendly version