Latest statistics on extinguisher use

[AnthonyB]

Summary in this quarters FIA Focus: http://tiny.cc/1mua6

Full raw data- http://tiny.cc/r61ng

(TINY URL used to cut down original links which were very long!)

80% of fires on sites with extinguishers maintained by a member of the trade associations (& thus reported for the stats) were put out only with those extinguishers & no further assistance. 75% of fires did not result in a 999 call and fire service attendance (hence why fire service collated statistics on extinguisher effectiveness are flawed).

The raw data is of use for an insight into causes of fire and the number and types of extinguisher used.

Interestingly smaller capacity extinguishers were more effective than large ones (91% v 86%) with the supposed champion for electrical equipment 2kg CO2 failing on several occasions.

The biggest surprise is that the 3 litre water additive (of which the Chubb Hydrospray is the most common example in use by a long way) extinguisher had 100% success even on fires it is not intended for (electrical). However before everyone runs out to buy one the statistical sample was very, very small.

[BLEVE]

MMMM I like the quantum of a fire size "slightly larger than tread on size" , does this depend on type of footwear and shoe size .
I notice that size of fire is not indicated and it does not provide information whether the individuals using the PFE were trained or otherwise.

[AnthonyB]

It's relatively easy to see the obvious untrained cases, such as where almost every type of extinguisher there is was used on a fire regardless of its class & they still didn't put it out!

But yes, the sats are of some use, but more depth would be better

[kurnal]

Does anybody know the discharge duration of the typical 3 litre water with additive extinguisher eg the hydrospray?
Is the additive an active fire fighting agent or is it just a detergent of some kind to increase the wetting properties?

[colin todd]

Big Al, from recollection off the top of my head, it is about 15-20 seconds.

[AnthonyB]

About 11 seconds, differs slightly between makes.

The agent is a wetting agent that breaks the surface tension of the water and has a synthetic detergent base similar in ingredients to that of AFFF, but without the filming ability to be effective on Class B.

Some catalytic agents that do have a direct fire fighting agent exist, but they are not generally used in Europe, instead having a niche market in the US for wildland fire and motorsport (e.g. Cold Fire used in 2 gallon water extinguishers at NASCAR and similar)

[Phoenix]

Anthony,

I cannot get the second link to work and would be very grateful if you could supply a different route to this data, or get the original link working again if you have anything to do with it.  Thanks.

Stu

[AnthonyB]

Nope, FIA have removed it, perhaps the 2010 figures are due?