The Building By-Law addresses the legal requirement, TO HAVE,
while the Malaysian Standards, deals with the technical part, ie: type of extinguisher, size, performance, safety, selection, maintenance, quality assurance, etc
Malaysian Standards, are code of practice written by a committee consist of technical experts, authorities, industrialist and even representatives from the public. This document are owned by the Department of Standards Malaysia, (DSM) managed by SIRIM BHD.
The code of practice (COP) are very important documents, as they lay down criterias to be followed, for the purpose of standardization and ensure things are fit for pupose (FFP).
Our fire brigade, The BOMBA, are empowered by the minister to carry out enforcement to ensure the Building by Laws and the Code of Practices are adhered to.
BOMBA, recognized only products which are certified by Certification Bodies, such as SIRIM.
SIRIM, now being a private entity (non governmental body), is in turn monitored and regulated by the DSM.
This process is called "Accreditation".
Products certified by SIRIM, means complies to the COP, are allowed to be marked with SIRIM Logo, therefore, we say that product got SIRIM one. I recall when i asked for a 3-pin plug, the hardware shop boss asked "you want SIRIM one, or NO SIRIM one". What he meant is whether i want a plug with SIRIM Logo (comes with a SIRIM logo sticker), or one which does not.
31 October 2009
28 October 2009
Which Law Requires Fire Extinguisher to be equipped?
It is the Uniform Building by-Law of Malaysia which requires Fire Protection Systems to be equipped in specific places according to specific guidelines. This book can be obtained from most Law Book Stores, including Popular Book Store.
Most people wants to know whether private homes and private vehicles needs fire extinguisher by law.
The answer is No, Not Yet, at the moment. Maybe later the government may like to consider some minimum requirements for homes, in terms of active fire protection.
Most people wants to know whether private homes and private vehicles needs fire extinguisher by law.
The answer is No, Not Yet, at the moment. Maybe later the government may like to consider some minimum requirements for homes, in terms of active fire protection.
27 October 2009
Changing Fire Extinguisher Colour From Blue To Red
I started working for a fire extinguisher manufacturer since i graduated from local U, back in 1993.
Then, fire extinguishers were mainly blue in colour, of course some are black, some are red and some are pale cream in colour. In was very interesting though, with all the different colours. However, some will say that it is confusing, and just can't figure out which one is for what.
Then came the new regulations to unify everything to red colour, some call it fire red, some call it signal red, but the industry standard is RAL3000 red, according to the RAL colour chart.
RAL is a collection of 40 colors invented by the German Reichsausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung" (State Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance) for reference.
To learn more about RAL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAL_(color_space_system)
I was told by some industrial seniors that all extinguishers were red, before they were changed to blue (and other colours, of course). So, we had RED, then BLUE, then RED again now.
Then, fire extinguishers were mainly blue in colour, of course some are black, some are red and some are pale cream in colour. In was very interesting though, with all the different colours. However, some will say that it is confusing, and just can't figure out which one is for what.
Then came the new regulations to unify everything to red colour, some call it fire red, some call it signal red, but the industry standard is RAL3000 red, according to the RAL colour chart.
RAL is a collection of 40 colors invented by the German Reichsausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung" (State Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance) for reference.
To learn more about RAL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAL_(color_space_system)
I was told by some industrial seniors that all extinguishers were red, before they were changed to blue (and other colours, of course). So, we had RED, then BLUE, then RED again now.
26 October 2009
Who needs fire extinguisher and why?
History has shown that fire, although keeps life going (at least for cooking), it can also destroy, when out of control. Almost anything burns, some into charcoal, some into dust, some even leaves nothing behind.
Historically, anything that helps to put a fire under control can be called a fire extinguisher, a pail of water, a branch of leaves, a bare stick, even a blow of air from someone's mouth. However, in modern terms, a fire extinguisher means more than that, it has to meet many-many expectations and challenges, light enough to carry, controls a large fire, can withstand tortorous conditions, cheap and good, easy to use, etc-etc.
If you have nothing around you that burns, or if it does, but does not matters you, then maybe you don't need one. But if that is not the case, then probably you need one. Well, you can also make your own fire extinguisher cheap and good. Keep a pail of water handy in the kitchen or your garden is a basic thing to do. Make sure free from mosquito baby! Keep a thick blanket near your bed, maybe can be used to cover and suffocate a bed-side flame.
Historically, anything that helps to put a fire under control can be called a fire extinguisher, a pail of water, a branch of leaves, a bare stick, even a blow of air from someone's mouth. However, in modern terms, a fire extinguisher means more than that, it has to meet many-many expectations and challenges, light enough to carry, controls a large fire, can withstand tortorous conditions, cheap and good, easy to use, etc-etc.
If you have nothing around you that burns, or if it does, but does not matters you, then maybe you don't need one. But if that is not the case, then probably you need one. Well, you can also make your own fire extinguisher cheap and good. Keep a pail of water handy in the kitchen or your garden is a basic thing to do. Make sure free from mosquito baby! Keep a thick blanket near your bed, maybe can be used to cover and suffocate a bed-side flame.
24 October 2009
why i blog this?
Hi everybody. This is my first posting.
Hope my future postings can bring some benefit to the public in terms of fire prevention and fire safety awareness and knowledge. I was and am still in the fire safety industry. I learned a lot in the past from the industry gurus, and i'd like to put them for discussion. I observed the fire safety awareness of general Malaysians are progressing but slowly, there are plenty of room for expansion.
Hope my future postings can bring some benefit to the public in terms of fire prevention and fire safety awareness and knowledge. I was and am still in the fire safety industry. I learned a lot in the past from the industry gurus, and i'd like to put them for discussion. I observed the fire safety awareness of general Malaysians are progressing but slowly, there are plenty of room for expansion.
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