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RISK ASSESSMENT

To evaluate the risk assessment of a room, it is necessary to bear in mind various factors, like the presence of highly-flammable materials, the fire propagation speed, the smoke that could be produced by the materials, the area to protect, the highest reachable temperature, the distance to the closer fire extinguisher. In the low-risk category, we can find all the buildings that are different from manufacturing sites (schools, offices, gyms, residential buildings, etc.) and where, usually, there are no highly-flammable materials: the probability a fire will start is low, and so is the probability the fire will spread. The buildings that are open to the public (museums, libraries, hospitals, etc.) and most of the manufacturing sites, where flammable materials that could facilitate the start of a fire are kept, but where the likelihood of a fire spreading is low, they all fall into the medium-risk category. We can find in the high-risk category all the manufacturing sites that process highly-flammable materials, like rubber, paint, fuels, etc., and/or where the likelihood that a fire will spread is high, together with all the buildings made of wood, large buildings and all the places with a high quantity of people with motor difficulties.

HOW TO CHOOSE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Generally speaking, in case of risk of class-A, -B and -C fire, and in case there are electrical appliances, the choice should be a multi-purpose (ABC) dry chemical fire extinguisher. In case of risk of class-B and -C fire, a regular dry chemical fire extinguisher is more effective. When there are electrical apparatus that could be damaged by chemicals, a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is a better choice; on the other hand, these fire extinguishers are not suitable for class-A fires.
Once the number and type of fire extinguishers are decided, these must be places according to the characteristics of the place. If a room contains people, the fire extinguisher should be inside it, if a room is small and does not contain people, or they stay in the room for a short time doing low-risk activities (waiting halls, hospital rooms, hotel rooms, etc.), the fire extinguisher should be put outside of it. Fire extinguishers should be put both inside and outside a large room with a high risk of fire. Obviously, they are placed near the doors and near the most dangerous areas of the room.
In storages, fire extinguishers should be placed along the main aisles, unless it is an automated storage, in which case they will be put at the end of the aisles, out of the shelves. The fire extinguishers should always be easily accessed, clearly visible, protected from impacts and marked by a sign.