Men injured when fire extinguisher exploded

Taking proper precautions when filling system bottles is always our top priority. Recharges to fire extinguishers and system bottles can be extremely dangerous. Always treat every tank as if it is fully charged and under high pressure. Our thoughts are with the injured men and we wish them a speedy recovery.

Click here for the original story.

Because they are All About the Bass....

Interesting things are coming in our industry. Check out this article about a new fire extinguisher two students at George Mason University created that puts out flames using only sound!



All about that bass: fire extinguisher uses only sound waves - KABB - San Antonio Top Stories - News, Sports, Weather, Traffic

HAZCOM Standard adoption...FSSA Town Hall

At the February 2014 Installers Division Meeting during the Town Hall the topic of HAZCOM Standard adoption by OSHA was discussed.  FSSA would like to provide you with the following preliminary information that may be useful to you since it is time sensitive.  FSSA will continue to provide more information regarding this topic in the coming months. 
There are new hazardous shipping standards that OSHA is adopting to align their HAZCOM standard with the UN Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Standards.  These standard update new labeling elements, as well as a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) .  By December 1, 2013, employers are expected to have completed training their workers on the new label elements and safety data sheet format required under the revised Hazard Communication standard (HCS).
For more information, please view the following article on J.J. Keller & Associates Inc.’s website.
To view a presentation “HAZCOM What You Need to Know” submitted to FSSA by Roger Bourgeois, please click here. 
As an additional resource, please view the free OSHA training tutorial here.

If you have information or documents you are using in your business that you think could benefit your fellow FSSA members, please send to Vince Mullhausen at FSSA Headquarters.

FFEDA offering Spring CE's

Continuing education is an important part of our industry.  Make sure you take every opportunity to expand your industry experience.  

UL Extends withdrawal date.

Tyco Acquires Westfire..

Tyco Acquires Westfire, Will Fold It Into SimplexGrinnell

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November 14, 2013 | Comments (0) | Post a comment

Tyco announced today it has acquired Westfire Inc., a provider of fire protection services with operations in the United States, Chile and Peru. Westfire, which specializes in hazard analysis as well as system design, installation, testing, inspection and maintenance, will become part of Tyco SimplexGrinnell.

The acquisition will strengthen SimplexGrinnell’s ability to meet the special hazards fire protection needs of customers in the mining, telecommunications, energy and data storage industries, according to a press release.

"Westfire is a powerful addition to Tyco's capabilities. It expands our service footprint and recurring revenue base along with adding a highly-skilled and experienced team of engineers and technicians. In addition, we are adding vertical market expertise in special hazard detection and suppression applications," says Brian McDonald, Tyco's COO for Installations & Services.

Westfire’s U.S. operations are concentrated in the Western United States, with offices located in Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle. SimplexGrinnell has more than 100 company-owned and operated offices in the U.S., including offices serving the territories covered by Westfire. The company is expected to generate approximately $80 million in annualized revenues in fiscal year 2014, according to Tyco.

“Westfire’s engineering, installation and service expertise, combined with Tyco SimplexGrinnell’s comprehensive special hazards capabilities, creates an exceptional combination of solutions to help customers throughout North America,” says Bob Chauvin, president of SimplexGrinnell. “In addition, this acquisition expands Tyco’s service capabilities for the mining industry in Chile and provides an entry into the Peruvian market, both of which are important growth markets for Tyco.”

The transaction closed on Nov. 8. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

 

To view the original article click here: http://www.securitysales.com/channel/fire-life-safety/news/2013/11/14/tyco-acquires-westfire-will-fold-it-into-simplexgrinnell.aspx

Fire Extinguisher Accident

Freak accident with fire extinguisher

Posted: Aug 28, 2013 9:33 AM EDTUpdated: Aug 28, 2013 9:33 AM EDT

13abc.com Bill Hormann - email

 

Tom Orvis of Plainville, Conn., is fortunate he wasn't in the wrong place when a fire extinguisher flew nearly a quarter-mile through the air and into his house. Connecticut officials say a machine operator was cutting beams at a metal recycling company Tuesday and accidentally cut into the extinguisher, causing it to explode. Orvis says he was in the kitchen when he heard a loud noise, and now has a small hole in his roof. The company says it'll fix the damage.

Click the link for the original story from 13ABC.com : http://www.13abc.com/story/23276652/freak-accident-with-fire-extinguisher

Just a friendly PSA, remember that extinguishers can be dangerous if they are not handled properly!

We here at A-Gas RemTec hope you all have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!! 

Thank you for giving your lives to protect others

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fire Fighters and their families. 

You will forever be remembered as heroes.

DOT Transportation of Fire Extinguishers: July Update

The US DOT recently issued two interpretations that directly affect the transportation of fire extinguishers. The PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration) conducted a two-day seminar in Atlanta on June 19-20 to review their hazardous material regulations. This seminar included a breakout session dedicated to the transportation, labeling, marking, and shipping paper entries for fire extinguishers. NAFED's federal regulations committee was represented at this seminar by committee chairman John Lewandowski and committee members John Gioseffi and Norb Makowka. The DOT representatives at this seminar were very informative and provided their interpretations on several areas. Two key interpretations discussed were: fire extinguishers can no longer be labeled and marked as "Nitrogen, Compressed UN1066" and only specific fire extinguishers (detailed below) may be transported as "Materials of Trade."

The DOT has opened a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 77 FR31274 [Docket No. PHMSA 2009 0126 (HM 215K)] that provides you the opportunity to view the DOT's proposed revisions to CFR 49 Section 173.309 Fire Extinguishers and allows you to propose changes to this section. The closing date for comments is July 24, 2012. You can view this NPRM at this link.

The following is a list of key points in the DOT's interpretations. As a reminder, the DOT definition of fire extinguishers in CFR 49 Section 173.309 is:
§173.309 Fire extinguishers
(a) Fire extinguishers charged with a limited quantity of compressed gas to not more than 1660 kPa (241 psig) at 21° C (70° F) are excepted from labeling (except when offered for transportation by air) and the specification packaging requirements of this subchapter when shipped under the following conditions. In addition, shipments are not subject to subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter, to part 174 of this subchapter except §174.24 or to part 177 of this subchapter except §177.817.
(1) Each fire extinguisher must have contents which are nonflammable, non-poisonous, and noncorrosive as defined under this subchapter.
(2) Each fire extinguisher must be shipped as an inner packaging.
(3) Nonspecification cylinders are authorized subject to the following conditions:...

Key Points

1. When required, fire extinguishers that are not shipped as an inner packaging (not in a box or 6-sided enclosure) must be marked and labeled as " Fire Extinguishers, UN 1044" and shall not be marked or labeled as "Nitrogen, Compressed."
2. Shipping paper entries must identify the extinguishers as "UN1044, Fire Extinguishers, 2.2."
3. Fire extinguishers that are shipped as an inner packaging (in a six-sided enclosure) meet the requirements for limited quantity and therefore the weight of those extinguishers does not apply to placarding considerations. However, you must also change the shipping paper entry to read: UN1044, Fire Extinguishers Limited Quantity, 2.2. You are allowed to abbreviate "Limited Quantity" to "Ltd Qty". (*See note.)
4. Shipping papers are required for fire extinguishers that are transported as Limited Quantity regardless of the exception allowed in CFR 49 Section 177.200 (b)(3).
5. Only fire extinguishers that are being used for training purposes or as "loaners" can be transported as a Material of Trade (MOT) in accordance with CFR 49 Sections 171.8
   and 173.6.
6. All fire extinguishers that are not transported as inner packaging must be properly secured and must be marked as "Fire Extinguisher, UN1044" and labeled with a Division 2.2 label.

*Note: A change last year in the regulations requires that the packaging containing a Limited Quantity Material must be marked with both the proper shipping name and the UN identification number. This means that any box, crate, etc., that is used to contain fire extinguishers needs to be marked "Fire Extinguisher, UN1044."

Don't be surprised if during a DOT facility inspection they ask to review your shipping methods and paperwork related to the transportation of fire extinguishers. NAFED recommends that when you bring in any fire extinguishers that are labeled as "Nitrogen, Compressed" or "Air, Compressed" you remove or cover that label until you replace it with a "Fire Extinguisher, UN1044" label.