UK: Extinguishers banned as ‘fire risk’ ("Residents described the ban as ridiculous.")

The Times (U.K.) ^ | March 11, 2008 | Simon de Bruxelles

[Stoat]

Extinguishers banned as ‘fire risk’

 

Simon de Bruxelles

 

Fire extinguishers may be removed from blocks of flats across Britain after they were deemed dangerous by buildings risk assessors at two blocks on the South Coast.

Many residents regard the distinctive red extinguishers as the first response to fire, giving vital time until professional firefighters arrive.

But a review of two residential blocks in Bournemouth has raised concerns that householders could delay their escape to tackle a blaze. There is also concern that the use of extinguishers by untrained people could add to the danger.

The report has the backing of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and extinguishers have already been removed from the two blocks – Admirals Walk and the 10-storey Avon House.

Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 the managing agents of every private block of flats must hire professional assessors to carry out a risk assessment .

Residents of Admirals Walk were informed in a letter from their managing agents that “unless all residents are trained to operate the fire extinguishers, there is no legal requirement to maintain these in communal areas of residential blocks”.

Hamilton Townsend, managing agents for Avon House, confirmed that the recommendation was to remove extinguishers.

Pete Whittaker, the protection policy manager at Dorset Fire and Rescue, said: “As part of the assessment, the assessors now look to see whether fire extinguishers are actually required in that particular block. In some cases, they are no longer needed and provide more of a hazard being there.

“We do not want to encourage people to leave their flat to fetch a fire extinguisher from a hallway and then return to a blaze. We want people to get out safely.

“Obviously in some cases, an extinguisher could come in useful in a communal area but with new building regulations, every escape route should be completely fireproof. It very much depends on the individual property and what the assessor believes is the correct course of action.”

Residents described the ban as ridiculous. Mike Edwards, a 61-year-old retired printer who lives in Avon House, said: “I was absolutely staggered to discover the fire extinguishers were to be taken out. How can removing fire extinguishers be a safe decision?

“The risk assessor said an extinguisher could cause a hazard if the person using it has not been trained. They are worried they will point it in the wrong direction or use the wrong extinguishers on a certain type of fire but if you are trapped in a burning building, you will certainly work out how to use an extinguisher.

“Our eldest resident is 103 but even she said she could quickly work out how to use an extinguisher in an emergency.” He added: “Our block is very high and there is one fire extinguisher in the communal area on every floor. People feel safe knowing they are there. The fire service can’t quickly get their equipment above the eighth floor. If someone is trapped above that level, are they just expected to sit and burn?”

Spray jobs

Water Colour: Red. Cheapest and most widely used for Class A fires (solids such as paper, wood, plastic)

Foam Colour: cream. More expensive but more versatile. Used for Class A and Class B fires (liquids such as paraffin, petrol, oil). Not recommended for fires involving electricity but still safer than water

Dry Powder Colour: blue. Multi-purpose. Can be used on classes A, B & C (gases such as propane, butane, methane) fires. Best for Class B fires

CO2 Colour: black. Ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B liquid fires, but no postfire effect and fire could reignite

Source: MFS extinguishers

[Stoat]

Also:

Fury at canister 'risk in tower blocks' Health & safety ban fire extinguishers The Sun HomePageNews

 

Mike ... ban will hit his 10-storey block

 

 

Extinguishers banned in flats

By JAMIE PYATT

Published: Today

 

 

FIRE extinguishers are being banned from blocks of flats – after they were branded a health and safety RISK.

The canisters could be dangerous if people use them without training, risk assessors said.

And they could encourage people to stay and tackle a blaze rather than flee.

The Fire Service is backing the ban – which could be brought in across the country under new rules.

But Mike Edwards, 61 – who lives in a ten-storey block where extinguishers are to be banned – branded the decision “ludicrous”.

He said: “I was absolutely staggered – Britain has gone mad. How can removing extinguishers be safe?

“If you are trapped in a burning building, you will certainly work out how to use an extinguisher.

“Our oldest resident is 103, but even she said she could work out how to use one in an emergency.”

The retired printer, of Bournemouth, Dorset, said people at a nearby block were “worried sick” about fires after their extinguishers were taken away.

He added: “The Fire Service can’t quickly get their equipment above the eighth floor – so if someone is trapped they are now just expected to sit and burn.”

The Government’s new Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order says every private block of flats must be risk assessed.

 

Escape

 

Extinguishers have already gone from communal areas at 13-storey Admirals Walk in Bournemouth.

A letter to residents from agents said: “Unless all residents are trained to operate the fire extinguishers, there is no legal requirement to maintain these in communal areas of residential blocks.”

Pete Whittaker of Dorset Fire and Rescue said each block would be judged separately over whether it should have the canisters.

He said: “In some cases, they are no longer needed and are more of a hazard.

“We do not want to encourage people to leave their flat to fetch a fire extinguisher from a hallway and then return to a blaze – we want people to get out safely.”

He said new building regulations meant that all escape routes should be fireproof anyway.

The ruling comes months after Bournemouth Council stopped lending armbands at its swimming pools over health and safety fears.

[Stoat]

“cough, cough” (pardon me, the smoke is getting thick in here and I have to run away like a scared little bunny)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

And if you get raped, just lie back and enjoy it until the authorities arrive, at which point they will take over.

[massgopguy]

So, now the Bangers Pan catching fire should be allowed to burn down an apartment building? BRILLIANT!

[6SJ7]

I'm reminded of a scene in the British TV comedy "The IT Crowd" where a fire extinguisher catches fire.

[LilAngel]

There used to be a “deer cross here” sign in front of my house. I removed it, because deer kept getting hit when they tried it.

[Stoat]

So, now the Bangers Pan catching fire should be allowed to burn down an apartment building? BRILLIANT!

Translation Assistance:

banger - definition of banger by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

bang·er  (bngr)

n. Chiefly British

1. A sausage.

2. A noisy old car.

3. A firework that explodes with a sudden loud noise.

 

"Bangers and mash"

[laotzu]

Must show this to my fellow underwriters, especially those at Lloyds.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

NAH...WAY too easy..:)

[marron]

This is the statist mentality. Its only official if an official does it.

It would be better for the building to burn to the ground, than to allow unauthorized people to put the fire out without permission, and this includes most especially the residents of the building.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

I love it. Every day liberals go out of their way to prove that my user name is absolutely right.
The idiot actually said that fire extinguishers are dangerous. Not the fire.
I expect as much from a country which puts innocent people in jail for defending themselves from criminals, and lets the criminals go free.

[radiohead]

NAH...WAY too easy..:)

They write themselves, sometimes, don't they?

[GeorgiaDawg32]

just watch..they’ll come back and say it’s ok for people to use PROVIDED they attend a class and get certification (sponsored by the gov’t of course for a small fee of only 50 pounds)..

[GeorgiaDawg32]

yea, I was going to say something like..

Eliot Spitzer sits down to his wifes homecooked meal after wondering all day where his johnson had disappeared to..

but I won’t say it...ROFL..

[Stoat]

NAH...WAY too easy..:)

 

 

"snicker"

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Here’s an idea for the damned-fool leftist idiots: put a bleedin’ call box next to the bleedin’ extinguishers, with a sign in bloody English, Hindi, Urdu and Arabic.
Bunch of bloody fools!

[eggman]

Can’t give the proles the tools to save themselves and protect their property. That’s the Party’s job. The proles aren’t intelligent enough to survive without big brother.

[Stoat]

And if you get raped, just lie back and enjoy it until the authorities arrive, at which point they will take over.

And if you're a rapist and a thief because of 'desperation', it's all okay anyhow........no worries......

Lighter sentences for 'desperate' thieves - Telegraph

[mamelukesabre]

How stupid do you have to be to screw up a fire extinguisher?