{"id":14443,"date":"2024-03-26T09:28:29","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T09:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.chubbfs.com\/uk-en\/?p=14443"},"modified":"2025-05-08T15:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T15:10:14","slug":"changes-to-the-extinguisher-selection-and-positioning-standard-using-powder-extinguishers-indoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.chubbfs.com\/uk-en\/changes-to-the-extinguisher-selection-and-positioning-standard-using-powder-extinguishers-indoors\/","title":{"rendered":"Changes to the extinguisher selection and positioning standard \u2013 using powder extinguishers indoors"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Thursday, November 30th, The British Standards Institution (BSI) unveiled revisions to their BS 5306-8:2023 code of practice. This updated code provides comprehensive guidance on fire safety measures, including the recommended quantity of fire extinguishers, criteria for selecting appropriate extinguisher types, and optimal placement strategies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our first blog, we discussed the use of water-based extinguishers on electrics<\/a><\/span>. <\/span>In this blog, we\u2019ll be looking at the use of powder fire extinguishers indoors.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does the British Standard say about powder?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide misinterpretation of one clause in the 2012 Standard led many to believe that powder could not be used indoors and, therefore, must be removed.\u00a0 With hindsight, dwelling on a single disadvantage of a single extinguishing agent was not representative, and that clause has since been removed.\u00a0 Instead, the new standard gives us pros and cons for all extinguishing agents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The new standard asks that customers and extinguisher installers share information, so the right extinguishers are selected by matching fire-fighting needs with acceptable effects on people, property, and the environment. This makes sense, for example, if you protect your workplace with foam extinguishers you might wish to consider having a small powder extinguisher in the storeroom where valuable historic paper archives, oil or watercolour paintings are kept. But why, when powder would make a mess? A small fire in that room might damage one archive box, and the general mess that fire creates would need to be cleared up. But you would have that whatever extinguisher is used. The powder can easily be vacuumed along with the soot. Use of foam, however, might cause additional inks and pigments to run, rendering nearby artworks worthless or archives useless. That is just one example; the new Standard encourages you and your service provider to jointly make an educated judgement on which extinguisher is best – on balance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Helpfully, the standard offers commentary to help us decide with advice on each agent:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n