EmbersTrace

04/07/2023

Why Diesel Fire Pumps must be run for 30 minutes?

As per NFPA 25 (National Fire Protection Association) : Diesel engine driven fire pumps have always been required to run weekly for 30 minutes. This allows the engine to establish a running speed and confirm that no problems exist such as overheating or lack of combustion air for the engine.

- This requirement is intended to allow the pump and driver to reach operating temperature, which is the point most experts agree that overheating problems can be detected. The 30-minute operating time is also intended to consume enough fuel to prevent the fuel from stagnating. Running the driver long enough to get up to rated temperature also helps prevent wet stacking. Wet stacking is a condition where unburned fuel residue collects in diesel engine cylinders and exhaust. Over a prolonged period, this buildup can seriously degrade engine performance, increase fuel consumption, and ultimately cause engine failure.

30/05/2023

29/05/2023

International Firefighting Foam Standards

International Firefighting Foam Standards – What are the firefighting foam certifications?

Several certifications exist in the world of firefighting foams. Fire departments and industries generally comply with certifications applied in the country or within a specific industry such as aviation.

Firefighting foam standards attest that the foam meet specific criteria. It could be criteria based on the extinguishing performance such as:

extinguishing time on specific fuel
extinguishing performance via a specific mean of application
foam capacity to resist to reignition
performance using different type of water, i.e., fresh, brackish or sea water
But it could be physical properties such as stability of the foam concentrate over time, foam viscosity or corrosion. Certain fire foam certifications also look at firefighting foam composition, toxicology, ecotoxicology and biodegradibilty.

GreenScreen certification is the first ecolabel for PFAS-free firefighting foams which preserve environment and health.

Among national and international firefighting foam certifications:

European standards:

EN 1568-1 : medium expansion on hydrocarbon fires
EN 1568-2 : high expansion on hydrocarbon fires
EN 1568-3 : low expansion on hydrocarbon fires
EN 1568-4 : low expansion on polar solvents
US Standards:

UL 162
NFPA 18, 11, 150
USDA Forest Service
Milspec 24385…
Oil & Gas:

LASTFIRE
GESIP
Civil aviation:

ICAO
Marine:

IMO Circ 1312
IMO 670
National standards:

GOST in Russia
ABNT BNR in Brazil
CNBOP in Poland
GB 15308 in China

03/10/2022

A Little knowledge from NFPA 14, 2019

4.6.1.1.1 Within the cabinet, the hose connections shall be located so that there are at least 2 in. (50 mm) between any part of the cabinet, other than the door and the handle of the valve when the valve is in any position ranging from fully open to fully closed.

4.7.5* Hose connections shall be located so that there is at least 3 in. (76.2 mm) clearance between any adjacent object and the handle of the valve when the valve is in any position ranging from fully open to fully closed.

7.2.3* Maximum Pressure at Hose Connections. 7.2.3.1 Where the residual pressure at a 1 1/2 in. (40 mm) hose lconnection available for trained personnel use exceeds 100 psi (6.9 bar), a listed pressure-regulating device shall be provided to limit residual pressure at the flow required by Section 7.10 to 100 psi (6.9 bar).

7.3.1.1 Hose connections and hose stations shall be unobstructed and shall be located not less than 3 ft (0.9 m) or more than 5 ft (1.5 m) above the floor.

7.8.1 Minimum Design Pressure for Hydraulically Designed Systems. Hydraulically designed standpipe systems shall be designed to provide the waterflow rate required by Section 7.10 at a minimum residual pressure of 100 psi (6.9 bar) at the hydraulically most remote 2 1/2in. (65 mm) hose connection and 65 psi (4.5 bar) at the outlet of the hydraulically most remote 1 1/2 in. (40 mm) hose connection.

7.10.1.1* Flow Rate.
7.10.1.1.1 For Class I and Class III systems, the minimum flow rate for the hydraulically most remote standpipe shall be 500 gpm (1893 L/min), through the two most remote 2 1/2in. (65 mm) hose connections, and the calculation procedure shall be in accordance with 7.10.1.2.

7.10.2.1.1 For Class II systems, the minimum flow rate for the hydraulically most remote hose connection shall be 100 gpm (379 L/min).

NFPA 25, 2020
13.3.1.5 Sealing or electrical supervision shall not be required for hose valves.

21/09/2022

There are huge differences between fall protection and fall prevention. Fall
protection is systems and equipment that are used once a fall has actually
occurred. Fall prevention is procedures, equipment, and systems utilized to
ensure that a fall never occurs. It is obvious that fall prevention is the preferred choice of the two. Fall protection systems will include such equipment
as body harnesses, anchor points, connectors, lanyards, deceleration devices,
and safety nets. Fall prevention systems may include such equipment as
handrails, guardrails, and ladder cages. Specific requirements for fall protection and arrest systems are found in 29 CFR 1910.29.

13/09/2022

NFPA 20, 2022

4.12.2* Suction.

4.12.2.1 Unless the requirements of 4.12.2.4 are met, a gauge having a dial not less than 3.5 in.
(89 mm) in diameter shall be connected to the suction pipe near the pump with a nominal 0.25 in.(6 mm) gauge valve.

4.12.2.3 The gauge shall have a pressure range two times the rated maximum suction pressure of the pump.

01/09/2022

Auditory Strength Protection Program:

🔴 Sound measurements:

🔷The sound pressure is measured in a unit called decibel (db)

🔴What is Despeel?
🔷Decibels are the slightest difference between one sound and another that the human ear can feel.
🔹The Occupational Safety and Health Specification has defined 90 dB as the permissible limit on noise exposure for eight hours a day, five days a week without damage.

🔹 It also considers that 85 dB is the limit at which safety and health measures must be taken to protect the auditory powers of workers.

🔴Allowed sound levels:

Time period noise levels
💠· 90 dB 8 hours
💠· 92 dB 6 hours
💠· 95 dB 4 hours
💠· 97 dB 3 hours
💠· 100 dB 2 hours
💠. 102 dB 1.1/2 hours
💠. 105 dB 1 hour
💠. 107 dB 3/4 hours
💠. 115 dB 1/4 Hours

🔴 A simple way to assess the appropriate volume:
🔹Stand at a distance of arm length away from a colleague in the workplace and talk to them in your normal voice; if they can't hear you and there is a need to talk to them too loudly (screaming) to hear you, it means that the volume in the place you work is high and needs to be lowered.

🔴 Raised noise:
🔊 • Crushing and damaging ciliary cells..
🔊 • Affects the eye.
🔊 • There is a relationship between noise and psychological and mental stress.
🔊 • Affects the pregnant woman as it affects the fetus.
🔊 • Affects the heart and blood pressure.
🔊 • Lack of ability to concentrate on performing mental work.
🔊 • Physiological effect of dizziness - nausea - imbalance.
🔊 • Difficulty communicating with others.

🔴OSHA program for the protection of auditory forces

💠 1. Follow-up and examination
🔹Where the employer makes measurements of the noise level in all work sites and determines the locations that reach
The average noise is 85 dB or more within eight hours and the names of the workers working in
These sites.

💠2 - Examination of auditory forces
🔹 • A medical examination is carried out on the hearing ability of workers.
🔹 • This examination is carried out within a period not exceeding 6 months from the date of appointment and giving the worker a rest 14 hours before the examination.
🔹 • The results of the initial examination are retained.

💠3 - Annual inspection of employees
🔹 • An annual medical examination of the auditory forces and a comparison of the annual examination and the initial examination to determine
The changes that have occurred and determine the type of prevention needed for each change.

🔷 • Use personal protective tasks to protect hearing aids.
🔊 1 - Ear coverings
🔊2 - Earplugs

🔹 Each of the above types has a Rating Reduction Noise (NRR) noise reduction rate that is subtracted from the noise rate to which it is exposed to reach the permissible limit.

🔴4. Record Keeping
The medical records of the employees are kept in order to identify changes in real time and determine the appropriate means of prevention.

10/06/2022

09/06/2022

31/03/2022

30/03/2022

How Radiation will affect your body ?

27/03/2022