Auto Powder extinguishers for Oil fired boiler

[DavyFire]

Hi everyone.
Has anyone views or comments on installing fixed auto powder extinguishers over a oil fired boiler in a large factory. The boiler house is self contained and seperated from the main factory. It has been requested by the insurance advisor. I have seen them in boiler rooms and in engine rooms of boats. In an earlier life I had the opportunity of discharging them as part of the extended service - very impressive.
As there appears to be no standard for manufacture, size or siting does anyone know where to get any useful information

[Phoenix]

If the sole motivation behind its installation is the request of the insurance advisor then no one but he or she can specify the standard to which it must conform.

Stu

[AnthonyB]

I'd query the need, particularly if the room is separate from the main insured risk anyway.

But of they cannot be got to back down then hanging one of these over the front end is normally what you get put in.



Never seen anything less than a 6 kilo used for boilers.

Of course there is no cooling or flashback resistance so the area needs automatic detection that will trigger before the unit as there is a risk of reignition and if oil is leaking it could reach an area shielded from the discharge.

Traditionally you saw a 'Mulsifyre' type sprinkler system installed for oil fired boilers where insurers deemed automatic supression important.

[DavyFire]

Thanks AB.
I knew that I could depend on you. I have seen them fitted generally over the burner unit. In one boiler room with two large boilers, one auto powder was fitted centrally between them. Don't know if that is acceptable or not. It seems difficult to get real info on them.
Thanks, again

[John Webb]

Is there much in the way of machinery in the boiler room? Just wondering if you could argue that DP might put out a fire but the clear-up would cost a lot more because of the powder getting into bearings? Just a thought!

[DavyFire]

This is solely a boiler room, but with stored items which is the norm. I have asked for stored items to be removed.
There is no other machinery in there and there is AFD so I dont see the point of an auto powder

[John Webb]

No machinery? What about fan motor and water pump motors?

[DavyFire]

Sorry John.
There is a fan on the boiler burner and a heating pump as expected in a boiler room. I was too quick off the mark, thinking you meant other machinery in there

[AnthonyB]

One between two wouldn't work as it's not directly over the risk and is local application, so won't be very effective, needs one over each installation.

Damn messy as stated and not 100% effective.

I don't see the point and would ask the insurers to reference what guidance the requirement is coming from.

If you seriously needed to protect such a risk you need a Mulsifyre sprinkler system or failing that CO2 total flood or to be really obscure a pre-mix automatic foam installation. In reality I've only ever seen the Mulsifyre installation and the suspended powder's I've seen were in the Irish Republic in an Ulster Bank boiler room (which was gas with a fair chance of ending up with an explosion as a result - they should have had a detector and valve solenoid instead)

[DavyFire]

I agree there is no need for this other than to satisfy the insurance assessor. There doesn't seem to be ratings like portable fire extinguishers to ascertain the possible coverage of a fixed unit. Also the mess and damage will possibly be worse than the fire. It does seem common practice in the Republic of Ireland to fit them above every boiler on the go, whether they are effective or not.
Interestingly the case of the two boilers with one auto powder was in N. Ireland, but fitted by a fire extinguisher operative from the Rep of Ireland