Identifying issues with the system before it needs to discharge in the event of a fire definitely saves property and potentially saves lives.
Yvonne Damon
No matter what brand of fire suppression system you have on your equipment, it is good practice to perform a pre-shift inspection before starting your workday. In the normal course of operations, hoses can become loose, nozzles could get damaged, cartridges can be taken off for maintenance and not replaced as well as many other things. A knowledgeable operator can spot trouble before it happens. Identifying issues with the system before it needs to discharge in the event of a fire definitely saves property and potentially saves lives.
If an operator is familiar with their equipment, a pre-shift inspection should not take more than five minutes. The operator can incorporate the procedures below in with their existing pre-shift inspection that covers tires, hydraulic hose leaks, etc.
The Pre-Shift Inspection Process
As you walk up to the equipment, look for dry chemical on the ground or on the machine. This would indicate that the system has discharged and the equipment is no longer protected. You must call your service provider to get the system recharged. Look at the ground level remote actuator. Ensure that it has a red strike button, pull pin/safety seal, cartridge in place and that the hose is attached.
One of the tasks to disable the system for maintenance is to completely disarm the system to prevent an unwanted discharge. One of the items on the checklist is to unscrew the actuation cartridges. It is especially important to do an inspection after anyone other than you has been in contact with the equipment or after you wash it.
Look at ground level nozzles. Nozzles are the point of exit for the firefighting chemical. Nozzles are strategically located in areas that have the most potential of having a fire. It is important that nozzles are there and protected from the outside elements clogging the hose. This is usually done with a cap of some sort. They come in all sizes and types. Whatever the type, the cap must be on at all times. If the hose becomes clogged the wet or dry chemical will never make it to its intended target.
Look at the hand held fire extinguisher. Make sure the unit is there and secure in the bracket. Also, look to make sure the unit has not been discharged. Look at the fire suppression cylinders and brackets. Make sure there is no visible damage to any of the components. Look at the hose connections to ensure they are in place and not loose.
Look at nozzles and detection lines located in and around the engine and transmission areas. Detection lines and its components can become loose after maintenance or due to normal wear and tear. If detection lines are not secure it can cause a discharge.
Enter the cab and look at the panel and actuator. The actuator in the cab looks very similar to the one at ground level. The only difference is there will be a wire coming from the panel to the actuator. Of course, check to make sure the red strike button, pull pin/safety seal, cartridge is in place and the hose is attached as well as the wire is in place. Most panels have lights that indicate the condition of the system. Make sure that the light is green and the panel is not making any noises.
This is a quick pre-shift inspection of an automatic system. Some systems are not automatic and will not discharge in the event of a fire without the assistance of an operator. The pre-shift inspection is the same excluding the panel and detection components.
Additional Information Operators Need to Know
Being knowledgeable of how your equipment operates and its limitations will give you the tools you need to help keep you and your machine safe. Take the time to attend a fire system inspection next time your service company is on site and ask questions. Locate every nozzle and hose so you know where to look during your pre-shift inspection.
Routine Preventative Maintenance
Ultimately, who is responsible for the fire suppression system operating as designed? The manufacturer must pass stringent test in order to sell their products in the USA. If installed and maintained as the manufacture requires, most systems operate as designed. The company that installs the system must understand the equipment and the environment the system has to operate.
Failure to install nozzles and detection in the right place or put actuators where operators can access them can lead to the system not working properly. The routine service and inspections is also important. Depending on how often you have your systems inspected you have long periods of time in between when an experienced service technician can ensure the integrity of the system. Many things can happen to the equipment during the normal course of business.
Routine preventive maintenance and washing the equipment can cause components to become out of place or missing. So what is the owner鈥檚 role in ensuring the system will operate as designed? If the manufacturer, the installing company and the service company have all done their job, all the owner needs to do is educate their team and enact policy that integrates into their current safety programs.
In summary, the very few times I have been witness to fire systems not operating as designed, most, if not all, could have been prevented with a pre-shift inspection. If the service company forgot to reinstall a component or a nozzle weld broke, it would have been caught quickly and repaired. Unnecessary exposure could be avoided with almost no additional cost. Adding operator training to your existing training program is an investment not a cost. Ask your service provider if they have a 30-minute class you can they can perform at least once a year for your operators and mechanics. When safety is the goal then everyone wins.
Yvonne Damon is President of All State Fire Equipment (Rowlett, TX), a solutions provider for risk of fire, lubrication, and air quality challenges. For more information, call (844) 455-5777.
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Two Preventable Losses
An operator on a compactor working in the trash saw the dry chemical discharge from the system. He did not stop and investigate. He kept working. The fire that originally caused the system to discharge occurred again. This time the system was not charged to put it out.
An operator suspected his equipment was on fire. The equipment he was operating had a manual only system with no automatic detection. He got off the equipment to confirm his equipment was on fire. Once on the ground he made the right decision not to re-enter the equipment to manually operate the system; however, if he would have discharged the system while still in the cab he could have put the fire out.
Both losses were due to operator error. Usually, the decision to put a fire suppression system on a piece of equipment is not just a safety requirement but also to prevent a financial loss.
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