Extinguishers banned as ?fire risk?

mister_manji

mister_manji

I have tired of this
Fire extinguishers may be removed from blocks of flats across Britain after they were deemed dangerous by buildings risk assessors at two blocks on the South Coast.

Many residents regard the distinctive red extinguishers as the first response to fire, giving vital time until professional firefighters arrive.

But a review of two residential blocks in Bournemouth has raised concerns that householders could delay their escape to tackle a blaze. There is also concern that the use of extinguishers by untrained people could add to the danger.

The report has the backing of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and extinguishers have already been removed from the two blocks – Admirals Walk and the 10-storey Avon House.

Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 the managing agents of every private block of flats must hire professional assessors to carry out a risk assessment .

Residents of Admirals Walk were informed in a letter from their managing agents that “unless all residents are trained to operate the fire extinguishers, there is no legal requirement to maintain these in communal areas of residential blocks”.

Hamilton Townsend, managing agents for Avon House, confirmed that the recommendation was to remove extinguishers.

Pete Whittaker, the protection policy manager at Dorset Fire and Rescue, said: “As part of the assessment, the assessors now look to see whether fire extinguishers are actually required in that particular block. In some cases, they are no longer needed and provide more of a hazard being there.

“We do not want to encourage people to leave their flat to fetch a fire extinguisher from a hallway and then return to a blaze. We want people to get out safely.

“Obviously in some cases, an extinguisher could come in useful in a communal area but with new building regulations, every escape route should be completely fireproof. It very much depends on the individual property and what the assessor believes is the correct course of action.”

Residents described the ban as ridiculous. Mike Edwards, a 61-year-old retired printer who lives in Avon House, said: “I was absolutely staggered to discover the fire extinguishers were to be taken out. How can removing fire extinguishers be a safe decision?

“The risk assessor said an extinguisher could cause a hazard if the person using it has not been trained. They are worried they will point it in the wrong direction or use the wrong extinguishers on a certain type of fire but if you are trapped in a burning building, you will certainly work out how to use an extinguisher.

“Our eldest resident is 103 but even she said she could quickly work out how to use an extinguisher in an emergency.” He added: “Our block is very high and there is one fire extinguisher in the communal area on every floor. People feel safe knowing they are there. The fire service can’t quickly get their equipment above the eighth floor. If someone is trapped above that level, are they just expected to sit and burn?”

Spray jobs

Water Colour: Red. Cheapest and most widely used for Class A fires (solids such as paper, wood, plastic)

Foam Colour: cream. More expensive but more versatile. Used for Class A and Class B fires (liquids such as paraffin, petrol, oil). Not recommended for fires involving electricity but still safer than water

Dry Powder Colour: blue. Multi-purpose. Can be used on classes A, B & C (gases such as propane, butane, methane) fires. Best for Class B fires

CO2 Colour: black. Ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B liquid fires, but no postfire effect and fire could reignite

Source: MFS extinguishers
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How does removing the only way residents can stop a kitchen fire make them more safe?
 
Now this is just funny.

But wait, won't running away from the fire also be a risk? I mean, they could trip and not be able to escape! Best thing to do is just sit there and let the fire consume you. After all, if you try to do anything, you just might get hurt.
 
Oh, I didnt need an extinguisher anyway. I'm a trained Nerutu Sand Ninja!, i can smother flames (and my face) with my magical sand powers. :3
 
I see it as a disease that the government of the UK has caught: 'Ban anything that could possibly hurt somebody.'
 
You guys :facepalm
The extinguishers were removed because untrained people using it (and failing) could get delayed and get themselves in shit, which is precisely the opposite of firefighters' main goal - to ensure the safety of all lives.
I thought this was sensible.
 
GrimaH said:
You guys :facepalm
The extinguishers were removed because untrained people using it (and failing) could get delayed and get themselves in shit, which is precisely the opposite of firefighters' main goal - to ensure the safety of all lives.
I thought this was sensible.
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Shut up, GrimaH.

It's much more fun for all of us to gang bang people we don't know.
 
Thats fucking moronic logic. I have yet to hear a case of anyone running back in to a burning building with a fire extinguisher and and dying.
 
Tsukiyomi said:
Thats fucking moronic logic. I have yet to hear a case of anyone running back in to a burning building with a fire extinguisher and and dying.
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Quoted for emphasis. I've never heard of anyone dying because of that. On the other hand, now people won't have any efficient method of stopping a relatively small fire before it spreads and engulfs the whole building. Idiots... :facepalm
 
And of course your common sense >>>>>>> a detailed analysis by professionals and the official backing of the fire service. :/
 
GrimaH said:
And of course your common sense >>>>>>> a detailed analysis by professionals and the official backing of the fire service. :/
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Lets look at it this way: People who run back into a blazing building with only a fire extinguisher need to be out of the gene pool anyway.
 
How are they supposed to remove the fires?
 
The Health and Safety police strike again. :facepalm

Whilst it's not as ridiculous as some of their other escapades (banning conkers? refusing field trips to a wet park?) since I can at least understand the reasoning behind getting people to run out of a burning building, instead of trying to play Fireman and save their precious possessions, it's still stupid.

We need an end to Labour and their endless micromanagement "We can do everything that you do better" mentality.
 
GrimaH said:
Indeed, that sounds a lot more sensible :nod
Other than wasting the time you could escape by several minutes and trapping yourself in of course :awesome
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In case you're trapped, you just pour the water over yourself and you get water armor that protects you from water! :thumbs
 
mister_manji said:
I see it as a disease that the government of the UK has caught: 'Ban anything that could possibly hurt somebody.'
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Did you know that in 2005 they were seriously considering expanding the "child porn" philosophy to encompass violent pornography in the UK? That is, it's not only illegal to sell it, it's illegal to POSSESS it and download it.
 
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