In every fire class the extinguishing capacity is defined by a numbering that indicates the quantity of material that the single Fire-extinguisher can put out, as per standards established by the Ministry of the Interior. The highest is the number, more is the quantity of material that the Fire-extinguishers can put out. For example a Fire-extinguishers with the class 55A 233BC can extinguish:

55 A : A stack of wooden Pine joists 40 x 40 mm thich with the humidity of 10/15% made of seven layers of five little beams each, of the length of 5.500 mm separate between then by an other seven layers of 55 little beams of the length of 500 mm each.

233 B: A circular basin with the diameter of 3000 mm filled with 156 lt. of petrol and 77 lt of water.

C: A jet of gas, fed by two tanks of propane of 25 kg. each united parallelly, that comes out from a tube of the diameter of 22 mm.

It is important to underline that if there is the write “DO NOT USE ON APPARATUS UNDER TENSION “ together with the relative sign, the Fire-extinguishers SHOULD NOT be used on electric cable or electric apparatus under tension because there is danger of Folgoration. Normally this write appears only on Hydric or Foam Fire-extinguishers , while on powder, HydroCarbon or Carbon Dioxide Fire-extinguishers there is the write “USABLE ON APPARATUS UNDER TENSION”and they can be used also in presence of electric tension until 1000 Volts.

INFORMATION FOR USE

The Fire-extinguisher is a recipient under pressure, so it is recommended to handle it with care, trying to avoid
falls during the transport or the installation that could cause dents to the tank or breaks to the organs of distribution or control. In accordance to the DM 20.12.82 point 2.9 and the DM 10.03.98 point 5.4, the Fire-extinguisher should be fixed on the wall by the special Support at the height of about 150 cm. from the ground (this height could change related to the places of use). It is recommended to avoid to place it on the ground, as pouring of water or condensation on its bottom could cause the corrosion of the epossidic powder varnish. It is recommended the eventual use of Support with staff and sign (accessories not included). The Fire-extinguisher should be located in places sheltered by accidental dangers and easily accessible, better near the ways of escape, far from sources of heat and sunrays, and it should be signalled by the sign with the notice “Fire-extinguisher”, in accordance to the actual regulation.
The instructions for the use are clearly reported also on the label on the Fire-extinguisher.

Take off the safety pin on the valve
Hold the rubber hose
Push the control lever on the valve
Direct the jet on the Basis of the flames.

In case of use :

not inhale or swallow the fire-extinguishing agent more than the indispensable quantity and possibly wear a mask against the powder. The products used are neither dangerous nor toxical or harmful, but they
could be the cause of irritations to the respiratory ways or to the eyeball. In case of direct contact with the fire-extinguishing agent, wash immediately the concerned parts with neutral soap and water. If it is necessary, contact a general doctor showing the safety data sheet of the fire-extinguishing agent.The Fire-extinguisher should be refilled and controlled by qualified personnel also in case of partial use, anyway every 6 months it should be submitted to the periodical maintenance in accordance to the UNI 9994 regulation. Check if the spare parts used are original, in order to avoid the decay of the homologation and of the guarantee.

The fire-extinguishing agent should be changed with this periodicity:

Every 36 months the Powder Fire-extinguishers
Every 72 months the Halogenated Hydrocarbon Fire-extinguishers
Every 60 months the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire-extinguishers
Every 18 months the Hydric or Foam Fire-extinguishers

It is an apparatus under pressure, so , in accordance to the UNI 9994 regulation, the tank should be submitted to periodical test every 6 years, that consists in an hydraulic test lasting 1 minute at the pressure of 35 Bar. The CO2 Fire-extinguishers are subjected to a test of the I.S.P.E.S.L. every 10 years, in accordance to the actual regulation for the transport of the compressed gases (Ministry of the Transportation - ADR).

The elimination of the obsolete Fire-extinguisher should be effected in accordance to the actual regulation about rubbish. It is advisable to address to qualified personnel for the dismounting and the demolition of the Fire-extinguishers. It is advisable to pay the maximum attention to the dismounting of the parts of the Fire-extinguisher, depressurizing the tank by the control valve.
The elimination of the fire-extinguishing powder should be effected by an authorized eliminator that send it to a collecting center and the definitive inertization of the exhausted powder, with the emission of the formulary of identification of rubbish (Cod. CER 16.05.09 - ex 16.05.02)