Translated by Alexandra Igna (2019)
This fire-fighting equipment has been tested by people with vast experience in the field, resulting in numerous fires extinguished in the initial stage, saving lots of lives, preserving properties and keeping buildings and various structures unscathed. The fire sheet is one of the oldest means of fighting fire. “Koshma” or “fire cloth” is a name that, out of habit or tradition is still used by both users and manufacturers in order to indicate its purpose or intended use.
This tool has been used for almost for as long as sand has been used for fighting fire. Its main uses are to extinguish an excessively flared bonfire, a too powerful fire in a hearth or burning grass. Initially, the fire fighting cloth was made of very dense or felted sheepskin fabric - a cloak, a rug, a warm jacket, other items made of similar fabrics. For centuries, these cloths were used as improvised solutions that could quickly put out a sudden home fire or put out a person's clothes when caught on fire. It would suffice to throw a fire cloth at a person who has flared up and thus prevent the air from further dispersing and reaching the person's body and clothes. It's a cheap and easy solution that has been in use long before the birth of the simplest air-foam fire extinguishers, internal PCs in buildings, fire hydrants or fire alarms and automatic stationary fire extinguishing systems.
Applications
Today, you can only see the “classic” fireproof mantle made of coarse sheep wool, soaked in clay “milk” for enhanced fire resistance inside a museum of fire protection museum. However, many manufacturers that specialize in primary fire fighting products continue to call the cloth a nightmare. However, an asbestos fireproof sheet is much easier and more convenient to use compared to a heavy koshma. Also, the technical characteristics of modern-day fire fighting cloths are much better than those of its predecessor. Today, fire cloths are used in the following scenarios:
- To extinguish burning clothing in public during a fire. It is important to gently wrap the body of the victim using the cloth, but not the head. The covering must be done slowly and without putting any pressure on the body, to avoid further burns.
- As an additional primary fire extinguishing tool in a car/truck. In practice, the fire fighting canvas is often tome much more effective than a fire extinguisher, which may not work for various reasons or when used by improperly trained persons.
- For the protection of combustible building structures, equipment, interior decorations, furniture pieces during fire, gas and electric welding items such as canopies, screens or curtains.
- As a primary fire extinguishing agent during the elimination of small areas of ignition (fire) belonging to classes A, B, E, i.e. solid, liquid materials, electrical installations with a voltage that does not go over 1000 V.
The range of applications for the fire cloth is very extensive and is not solely limited by the manufacturing conditions, as it is oftentimes found:
- in residential buildings, apartments, in summer cottages, garages, workshops, bathhouses (saunas). As paradoxical as it may seem, the burning of clothes, especially clothes made of synthetic fabrics on a person results in serious burns when caused by gas stoves in the kitchen or while on vacation, caused by an ignited barbecue stove. The injuries and risks are no less often than when they occur inside enterprises and organizations. When extinguishing such local fires in a domestic environment, the size of the fire sheet makes it convenient for effective use. Also, it is not necessary to rebuy the cloth, which is the case for a powder fire extinguisher.
- in separate garage boxes, parking lots - both underground / above-ground structures, and in the open air.
- in the workshops of industrial enterprises; production, training laboratories, car repair shops and garages belonging to transportation enterprises, on the grounds of gas stations. Wherever combustible solid and liquid substances and materials are stored, processed and wherever low-voltage electrical equipment is available.
The huge advantages for the acquisition (use) of a fire sheet consist of the following:
- It is always ready to use. It is enough to remove the folded canvas from the cover, hung in a convenient place, from where it literally slips out due to its structure and physical properties; open / unfold and throw on the fire, which is facilitated by the handles sewn on it, available on most models of products from leading Russian manufacturers of fire-fighting equipment.
- It Does not require repair, recharging, maintenance/re-examination during operation/application, i.e. additional time, resources and funds. It does not shrink, does not deform under the influence of a high flame temperature, it is resistant to aggressive environments, does not conduct electric current, it is easily cleaned/erased and is very durable.
- Non-toxic, does not contain any carcinogens. This applies to asbestos canvases also, which, despite the similar name, have nothing to do with sheet, cord asbestos, previously produced in the Soviet Union, now banned by WHO.
Attention! The fire sheet in the cover should not be stored/located in places where it can get into contact with fuels, lubricants and other flammable liquids. Otherwise, when used, it could cause a series of extremely unexpected and dangerous effects.
Characteristics
New technologies have changed not only the name but also the manufacturing fabrics. Today, fire cloths are made from basalt, asbestos, silica or fiberglass. On a fireproof cloth - GOST is absent. Manufacturers work on their own specifications, put them into practice and receive PB certificates for their finished products. Without these specifications, the cloth is a simple rectangular piece of dense fabric that can be used to insulate beds or gates in the garage. The fire standard requirements for bedspreads used to isolate a fire source are specified in paragraph 485 of the "Fire Regulations in the Russian Federation":
- Must have a minimum size of 1 x 1 m.
- For rooms where LVH / GF are stored/applied, no less than 2 x 1,5 m.
In addition, in accordance with the same official document, since 2014, they are included in the composition of the fire shield configuration.
Examples Of Products
Fireproof cloth PP 300. Dimensions - 1.5 x 2 m. Maximum temperature - up to 600 ℃ for 5 s. Laying weight (with cover) - not more than 1.15 kg. Deployment time is estimated at 5 s.
Fireproof cloth PP 600. The dimensions and parameters of this cloth are identical to the previous product. Differences: the temperature in the fire source is slightly higher - up to 650 ℃, weight with a cover-up to 1.45 kg.
Fireproof cloth PP 1000 with the same dimensions, slightly larger mass - up to 2.25 kg. Differences in much greater fire resistance: up to 1000 ℃ for 300 s, up to 1200 ℃ - up to 5 s.
Such differences are associated both with the different thickness levels of the fabric that is used for manufacturing the PP, and its resistance to fire. The least resistant fibreglass, more - asbestos and silica. Technical characteristics of PP from Russian manufacturers vary because they are made according to custom specifications. The selection algorithm is simple - you need to know the conditions in which a fire may occur in the protected room, and on the basis of this, select the appropriate software, in accordance with the data specified in the safety certificate and product passport. For a summer residence or a car, the 300/600 software is suitable; for industrial premises - software 1000/1200 can be used.
In any case, the acquisition of such a convenient and inexpensive means of fighting fire, for which neither water supply nor recharging is needed, will not be superfluous. PP can stay on a hook in the hallway, garage box or at the workplace for many years and come in handy at the right time, saving your property and, possibly, life.
Source:
* fireman.club