Extinguishers on Forklift Trucks

[blue-spud]

Could anyone advise me if there are any specific regulations relating to extinguishers on FLT's?

Is it a nice to have or is it a requirement?  

Cant seem to find anything myself.

[jasper]

did a job years ago for walkers and specified co2 extinguishers to the flt's as the warehouse was so large that from some areas it was over 30m to an extinguisher, also they are sources of ignition (flt's)

[AnthonyB]

No regulations, but as above they can be judged as an ignition risk & it's more realistic to tackle the fire as it starts in the FLT than when it's spread to the packaging.

In the good old days you would bracket a 1.5kg BCF to the FLT but these days you have a variety of choices:

- 1 kilo ABC Powder: Compact, all purpose, fast, cheap BUT messy,doesn't penetrate well, doesn't cool
- 1* or 2 litre AFFF:Still compact, very good at cooling & preventing reignition, relatively cheap BUT, not advisable above 12/24V, doesn't penetrate too well
- 1* or 2 kilo CO2: Non messy,covers the risks it's there for, great penetration BUT doesn't cool, poor outside or in draughts, bigger, need special separate transport bracket, horn at risk of damage rendering it useless and most expensive.

* I know the EN3 purists will leap up & down at these, but 1L AFFF & 1kg CO2 are still readily available new.

I've seen all different types in use, it's down to you to weigh up the pros & cons as to which is best for your workplace.

[blue-spud]

Thanks for the comments.

The reason i asked is that have just replaced the forklift fleet and no one took the old ones off, i asked for it to be done but didn't check, and now the supplier cant find them

[jasper]

bring back BCF it only harms the atmosphere when not used on fires but great for putting them out!

[AnthonyB]

I know, the humble 1.5 kg BCF was handy for many applications, but I very much doubt we'll see it's like again outside of aircraft and Public Order situations

[John Webb]

There are several companies selling extinguisher systems which can be placed in the FLT and which automatically operate if a fire occurs. Would this be a feasible alternative?

[blue-spud]

There are several companies selling extinguisher systems which can be placed in the FLT and which automatically operate if a fire occurs. Would this be a feasible alternative?

Think that might be going little to far for the current climate but will research these system for the future

[kurnal]

I would ask why you are looking for fire fighting equipment on the FLT.
Is it because the FLT is considered a potential hazard or ignition source for which an extinguisher is an appropriate control measure-......
or is it because fires in warehouses traditionally were discovered by people and the people were on the fork trucks, so it made sense to put an extinguisher on the truck for fastest intervention should they discover  a fire?

This question will determine the appropriate type and rating of extinguisher.

[AnthonyB]

Good point - if you go for the CO2 option rather than Powder or AFFF you are restricting yourself to the FLT and any electrical kit you may chance upon

BUT

The only other material likely to be involved than the above are the stored goods & if it's started to involve them perhaps it is time to retire, smash a call point on the way and leave it to the sprinklers...

[blue-spud]

I would ask why you are looking for fire fighting equipment on the FLT.
Is it because the FLT is considered a potential hazard or ignition source for which an extinguisher is an appropriate control measure-......
or is it because fires in warehouses traditionally were discovered by people and the people were on the fork trucks, so it made sense to put an extinguisher on the truck for fastest intervention should they discover  a fire?

This question will determine the appropriate type and rating of extinguisher.

That's kinda why i asked the orginal question.  The only answer i can get onsite is that we have always had them on the trucks.  

Will have to reassess i think :/

[kurnal]

Most places dont have extinguishers on the FLTs these days. In fact I cant remember when I last saw one. Are we talking battery, diesel or LPG trucks?
Good preventative maintenance regime in place?
Fault protection on the electrics and battery isolator switches?
No hot parts or exhaust fumes?
Regular gas safety checks ?

Sprinklered warehouse?
Nature, ignitability, value of contents?

I would make a judgement based on these factors as to the need to provide an extinguisher on the truck.

In a warehouse solely occupied by fork lift truck drivers I may be tempted to recommend carrying a class A extinguisher on the truck to save money on the 30m rule but would need to think about the risks of rapid fire spread, working alone, danger of tackling a fire before sounding the alarm, risk of not checking your exit is clear by fetching the extinguisher from a safe area.  And then I would dismiss the idea.

[AnthonyB]

One large multinational company's warehouse in the West Midlands in the last couple of years has put 5 (yes 5!) kilo CO2 extinguishers on each FLT.

This is despite A, B & E class cover in fire points every 15m on row ends and each final exit around the wall & E cover at special risks (FLT chargers, distribution boards) and not forgetting the quick response sprinkler system with in rack heads!

Other than a small section of the warehouse it's normal combustibles. Apparently the H&S person thought they were important despite never having a FLT fire.