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Amerex Corporation is an affiliate of
McWane Inc. Amerex Corporation has been providing QUALITY
and INNOVATIVE fire fighting products for over 30 years. Amerex
is recognized worldwide as a leader in the manufacture of
hand portable and wheeled fire extinguishers and has recently
taken this wealth of experience to new dimensions with pre-engineered
automatic restaurant systems, vehicle fire suppression systems,
gas detection, industrial systems and fire detection devices.
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| BREAKING
NEWS |
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NFPA 10 2007 Edition
NFPA 10 – 2007 Edition – Notable Changes from the 2002 Edition
by Craig Voelkert
The entire document has been changed in accordance with a new NFPA mandated
“Manual of Style”. As a result, Chapters have been renumbered and paragraphs have
been moved from one Chapter to another as deemed appropriate under the mandated
“Manual of Style”. A direct comparison of a numbered paragraph in the 2002 Edition
with the same numbered paragraph in the 2007 Edition will in most cases be impossible.
No paragraph is allowed to have more than one sentence so many paragraphs containing
multiple sentences in the 2002 Edition of NFPA 10 now have the exact same wording but
are split into multiple paragraphs.
Any wording that was not considered “enforceable” has been either changed to
enforceable language or has been moved to the Annex which is meant for informational
purposes only.
No “exceptions” are allowed and as such some of the paragraphs had to be changed,
renumbered or expanded in order to comply with this mandate.
In the past, any new Edition of an NFPA Standard would have a solid bar next to a
paragraph that was changed or if the paragraph was a new requirement, making it easy to
spot the differences between the previous Standard and the new Edition. Since the entire
Standard has been changed, there are no solid bars indicating new material in the 2007
Edition of NFPA 10.
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: NFPA Standards such as NFPA 10,
are just that – Standards, not enforceable Code. They must be adopted into the applicable
Code, usually referencing the specific Edition, before they are considered enforceable.
Be certain to check with your local or State authority regarding which Edition of the
NFPA 10 Standard, if any, is referenced in the current fire code before presenting any of
these changes as “being required to meet code”.
While the 2007 Edition will require careful reading and time to gain a working
knowledge of the new sections and Chapters, there are many positive changes that will
improve fire protection and the role of portable extinguishers. The following list is by no
means all inclusive of the changes and those involved with the selection, purchase, sale,
inspection, maintenance and installation of portable extinguishers should read the 2007
Edition of NFPA 10 very carefully.
Amerex Corporation cannot represent the NFPA 10 Committee, speak for the Committee,
give Formal Interpretations on the Standard or represent the Committee in any way. Any
views or opinions expressed in some of our explanations are strictly those of Amerex
Corporation
Chapter 3 Definitions:. A definition for Certified Person has been added and is an
extremely important item later in the Standard. Definitions for Maintenance,
Inspection, Hanger, Cabinet and Bracket are now found as “Extinguisher
Maintenance”, “Extinguisher Inspection”, etc. Other definitions have also been moved
within this chapter as sub headings under broader definitions. The definition for
“Automatic Residential Fire Extinguisher Unit” has been dropped.
Chapter 4 – General Requirements (New Chapter): Paragraph 4.4 (formerly
paragraph 1.5.4) “Obsolete Extinguishers” has added 5 new categories of obsolete
extinguishers:
(9) Pressurized water fire extinguishers manufactured prior to 1971
This will coincide with material specifications that became mandated at the time.
(10) Any extinguisher that needs to be inverted to operate
While Soda-Acid/ Two Part Chemical Foam and Cartridge Operated Water extinguishers
have been obsolete for some time, there were other types of extinguishers that required
being inverted to operate. This addition will remove them from service so that all
extinguishers in service will be operated upright.
(11) Any stored pressure extinguisher manufactured prior to 1955
This will take many extinguishers using the old UL rating System out of service to avoid
confusion regarding the applicable ratings.
(12) Any extinguisher with 4B, 6B, 8B, 12B, and 16B fire ratings
This will have a similar effect as above.
(13) Stored pressure water extinguishers with fiberglass shells (pre-1976).
Two new important paragraphs have also been added in this Chapter:
“4.4.1 Dry Chemical stored pressure extinguishers manufactured prior to October
1984 shall be removed from service at the next 6 year maintenance interval or the next
hydrotest interval, whichever comes first.”
This requirement coincides with the date of changes to UL 299. For more information on
the importance of UL 299 go to the FEMA (Fire Equipment Manufacturers Association)
website – www.femalifesafety.org. Once in the site, click on “educational materials” then
scroll to “portables” and click on UL 299 brochure or guide. This information may be
downloaded, printed or obtained from Amerex or the FEMA offices.
“4.4.2 Any extinguisher that can no longer be serviced in accordance with the
manufacturer’s maintenance manual is considered obsolete and shall be removed from
service.”
If the extinguishing agent or parts – either manufacturer’s recommended replacement
parts or parts specifically listed for use in the fire extinguisher - are not available, then the
extinguisher cannot be serviced according to the manufacturer’s manual.
A new requirement that was formerly only found buried in the “Scope” – and therefore
often considered unenforceable – has been added: “5.4.2 Selection by Occupancy. Fire
Extinguishers shall be provided for the protection of both the building structure and
the occupancy hazards contained therein regardless of the presence of any fixed fire
suppression systems.”
Cooking areas have been removed from the Extra High Hazard category and are treated
as a separate special hazard as in the 2002 Edition of the Standard.
Under “Class B Fires”, new wording has been added for “Pressurized Flammable
Liquids and Pressurized Gas Fires”. –“5.5.1.1.2 Large capacity dry chemical
extinguishers of 10 lb. (4.54 kg) or greater and a discharge rate of 1 lb. /sec.
(0.45/kg/sec) or more shall be used to protect these hazards. This same requirement is
listed for “Three-Dimensional Fires”.
Previously the only guidance was to “consult the manufacturer of this specialty
equipment”, this wording gives much better guidance. Several manufacturers, including
Amerex make “fast flow” or “high flow” extinguishers which are needed for these and
other hazards.
A new section – 5.5.4 Obstacle Fires - has been added requiring the same flow rates
and capacity as above along with the options of multiple extinguishers to be used
simultaneously or foam extinguishers.
A new section – 5.5.7 Areas Containing Oxidizers – has been added requiring only
water type extinguishers be used and specifically barring the use of ABC dry chemical
in these hazards.
This new requirement adds greater safety. Many manufacturers, including Amerex, have
published warnings and “Tech tips” on this subject. This will help to guide local
authorities towards proper selection of extinguishers under these circumstances.
Chapter 6: Installation – (formerly Chapter 5: Distribution of Fire Extinguishers):
“6.6.3 All solid fuel cooking appliances (whether or not under a hood) with fire boxes
of 5 ft3 (0.14m3) volume or less shall at least have a listed 2-A water-type fire
extinguisher or 1.6 gal (6 L) wet chemical extinguisher listed for Class K fires.”
This brings NFPA 10 in agreement with NFPA 96 for this particular hazard.
Chapter 7 Inspection, Maintenance, and Recharging of Portable Extinguishers –
(formerly Chapter 6):
Personnel performing service of portable extinguishers must now be certified. The
definition for “certified person” in Chapter 3 is: “A person that has been certified by a
recognized organization through a formal certification program or by an equipment
manufacturer that has a certification program, that is acceptable to the authority
having jurisdiction.”
“7.1.2.3 The certification of service personnel shall be required after February 16,
2008.”
There are now 6 steps in the inspection procedures instead of 9. The requirement for
checking the safety seals and tamper indicators; checking to see if the HMIS label is in
place; examination for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle
are all no longer included in the inspection procedures (although these most of these
items remain in the procedures if certain circumstances are present). Those
requirements have been moved to the procedures for annual maintenance. Also,
“hefting” or weighing extinguishers to determine fullness during the inspection is
confined to only self expelling, cartridge operated extinguishers and pump tanks.
An entire section on electronic monitoring, where it can specifically be used and
requirements for its use has been added including 5 paragraphs.
Other paragraphs have been added specifying when electronic monitoring may not be
used in lieu of a physical inspection.
A new table has been added showing the frequency of internal examination intervals,
including an annual internal examination and a paragraph has been added that
requires ab annual internal examination for some extinguishers that are exposed to
temperatures in excess of their listing.
Annex Material: As in previous standards, the items in the Standard marked with an
asterisk (*) will have supplementary material in the Annex. The Annex is still for
informational purposes only and is not considered to be part of the Standard –
therefore the Annex material is not enforceable. Here are some of the more significant
changes to the Annex:
The references and specifications for using dry ice converters for recharging CO2
extinguishers have been removed. In another section it states “Dry ice converters
should not be used to recharge carbon dioxide extinguishers.”
There is a new reference to “Certified Persons” which includes a generic example of a
certification program.
Again, these are by no means all of the changes in the 2007 Edition of NFPA 10. We
strongly suggest that you obtain a copy of the Standard and read it carefully and
thoroughly. Even if your current fire code is using a previous Edition of the Standard,
you will be prepared for the many changes coming your way should the 2007 Edition
become adopted as part of your code. |
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