BS5306-3 Changes

[Thomas Brookes]

Just come back from a British Fire Consortium meeting, where there was a presentation on the new BS5306-3.

Lots of changes, some are:

Plastic head exts can not be extended serviced (head must be changed for metal or condemned).
UV degradation on plastic heads should be condemned.
Extinguishers made after 2002 must have CE mark or be condemned
Operating Instructions must be in English
Fire Extinguishers must be now Commissioned on the customers site.
All cartridges must be with drawn after 10 years.
New Extinguishers must comply with colour coding of BS7863


These are the ones I can remember, hoping to get some more info soon so will update when I do.

[fireftrm]

I have been waiting for the standard to be published, haven't seen the date released yet is it now out as the BSi don't yet list a newwer version than 2003!

[AnthonyB]

I know the new Part 3 isn't out yet - but the BFC have a member sitting on the BSI panel that are drawing up the standard so I am happy to take what they say in their presentation as true - their 'news from BSI' part of the BFC newsletter has always been accurate and informative before.

It does mean I'm going to have to replace all my training water and foam extinguishers as they are Gloria with a plastic Ceo-Deux head or at the very least re-head them all:-(

I bet that London Securities (and Total) ignore the colour coding bit, they've ignored the obsolescence of strike knob operation of extinguishers for long enough.

Another outcome was they have dropped the idea of a National Examining board for engineers

[Psuedonym]

Colour coding is certainly ignored. We have recently been issued with a Tyco bulletin (No.15022) for their M6L F class wet chemical unit (as we install and service their Ansul kit). They are all red, with a black label stuck on. Certified, according to thier spec sheet to be used on "live electricity to 1000v". So no BSEN3 colour code and pretty dodgy electrical advice. But is ok as they are certified to PED, CE and EN Standards.   

[Thomas Brookes]

Not sure who will comply, assuming any that are BAFE, FIA, BFC etc will have to comply if they want to keep there status within the bodies.
How ever we all know the big companies just do what they want, and because they have th massive marketing budgets etc the gerneral public will believe they are doing a good job.

Incedently I have heard the National Examination Board is back on!!

[AnthonyB]

Just looked that model up - horrific labelling!

It's the standard Total wet chemical extinguisher with their garish Ansul label on instead of the standard Tyco/Total labelling that is correctly done (white lettering on red with canary yellow section)

Ansul via Wormald tried importing some horrible strike knob Scandinavian strike knob cartridge AFFF & Powder extinguishers in the early 90's. The powder model was OK with a blue label, but the AFFF had the Ansul black & white label with the electrical approval (despite no 35kv test).

Fortunately not too many were put in, presumably due to the need for non standard parts & catridges, and Wormald stuck to Thomas Glover or UK Fire Britannia through the 90's until they moved to Gloria & now as part of Tyco, FPS Bristol/Firemark

[Psuedonym]

At Wormald Mcr we sold Saffire or TG from just up the road if they where out of stock. I'm not sure who they sell now though. At the time there wasn't any intercompany cross dealings. Politics I believe..

[fireftrm]

Has anyone the information as to the release date of these revisions?

[Thomas Brookes]

It was supposed to be march, but who knows with BSI