Enclosure fires

Figure 110. The fi xed
lance version of the
cutting fi re extinguisher.
142
There are two types of cutting extinguisher available. The
fi rst type which has been produced is fi xed to the outside of
the hydraulic platform cage. With this version, a pressure of
200 bar is applied with a fl ow of about 40–50 litre/min. The
second version is a hand-held lance and operates at a pressure
of 300 bar and fl ow of around 30 litre/min.
In some cases a rapid internal operation may need to be
carried out from inside, e.g. in a life-saving situation. Sometimes
you need to open a room. In these scenarios there are
two alternative approaches:
1. Open the door quickly. Cool down. Close the door
quickly. Repeat this procedure until the temperature and
pressure in the room have dropped. You should note that
if the door is opened just for a couple of seconds this is
enough for too much air to get in, which could cause a
backdraught.
2. The BA fi refi ghters crawl in and close the door behind
themselves as quickly as possible and cool down the
smoke gases. This method can entail major risks for the
fi refi ghters. It is important not to get caught in the open
doorway. Apart from the risks being greater, it also helps
to generate more turbulence.