TECHNICAL UPDATE

Class F - The New Fire Classification from the British Standards Institution.

What is Class F? In March 2000, the British Standards Institution introduced a new classification for cooking oil and cooking fat fires, Class F. This means that under BS 7937:2000, the class F rating officially acknowledges the very specific risk posed by cooking oil.

As such, in addition to class A, B, C and D, the UK now recognises a class F Like classes A and B, fire ratings can be achieved against this standard.The four benchmark test fires are 5,15, 25 and 75 litres of cooking oil heated to a point where auto-ignition takes place. This occurs at temperatures around 3600C, the results of which are fire ratings of 5F, I 5F, 25F and 75F.

One of the main drivers behind the introduction of class F is the inability of traditional extinguishers to extinguish large quantities of burning cooking oil and fat. Independent tests reveal that water is inappropriate for this risk as it will actually aggravate the fire. For large quantities of burning oil, traditional high-powered foam and C02 extinguishers are also ineffective. Even with powder, whilst an initial knockdown may be achieved, the flash back and re-ignition can potentially be more dangerous than not tackling the fire at all. Likewise, fire blankets are also ineffective and present hidden dangers when dealing with fires over a certain size.

The Solution

To meet the needs of class F, Thomas Glover has launched their new Wet Chemical extinguisher. Having achieved the maximum fire rating of 75F, this 6 lItre extinguisher meets the pending kitemark standard and will be one of the first to receive a kitemark once the scheme is approved later this year. TGs extinguisher contains a specially formulated chemical which, when applied to the burning oil or fat, cools and saponifies the oil, sealing the surface and preventing "flash-back" re-ignition.

Importantly this is a new innovation in fire extinguisher technology. It deals with a specific risk and, as such, should not be seen in the same light as other extinguishers. The only genuine alternatives are metal vat hoods, which cost in excess of £1,000, and expensive fixed systems that cost considerably more. Essentially, Thomas Glovers Wet Chemical extinguisher should be seen as a risk specific, premium product that should be sold accordingly.

It should specifically be sold into large catering facilities, such as:

• 9 Ltr Water Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 21a
• 9 Ltr Water Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Gas Cartridge Operated Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 13a
• 9 Ltr Water Fire Extinguisher Stainless Steel, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 13a
  
  
• 1 Ltr AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 3a 21b
• 2 Ltr AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 8a 55b
• 3 Ltr AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 8a 70b
• 6 Ltr AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure (Tn Class) Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 13a 144b
• 9 Ltr AFFF Foam Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure (Tn Class) Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 21a 183b
  
  
• 1 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 8a 55b
• 2 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 13a 70b
• 4 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 21a 113b
• 6 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 34a 183b
• 9 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Stored Pressure Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 43a 233b
• 12 Kg Powder Fire Extinguisher Colour Red, Gas Cartridge Operated Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 43a 233b
  
  
• 2 Kg Co2 Fire Extinguisher Colour Red Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 34b
• 5 Kg Co2 Fire Extinguisher Colour Red Controllable Discharge Fire Rating 70b
  
  
• Fire Blanket (1.2m x 1.2m & 1.8m x 1.8m) Superslim, Glass Fibre Woven Topspec Super Light Duty Conforms to BS EN3 1869

All extinguishers are supplied with wall hooks.