Hi,

We're having a bit of trouble with a new fire officer here, and could do
with some help!

Basically I was wondering if there's any recommendation anywhere about the
need to have a fire extinguisher in a room or theatre when there's a Class 4
laser in use. The only bits of advice I can find in writing on this are from
a 2003 document by the National Care Standards Commission (as was) saying
that "there should be an appropriate fire extinguisher in the near vicinity
of a laser" plus of course the 1995 MDA Guidance document which says that
"there should be easy access to an appropriate fire extinguisher".

For many years we've insisted that there be a CO2 extinguisher mounted
inside a laser room or theatre, and in our rules we say that laser users
should know where the extinguisher is and how to use it in the event of any
incident.

This new fire officer is saying that he doesn't see the need to have an
extinguisher in the room, since there is one nearby (actually down the
corridor and round the corner - I have visions of people rushing frantically
in all directions trying to find the wretched thing!). He would, however,
concede the use of a fire blanket within the room or theatre.

Does anyone know of any concrete advice or recommendation that we could
throw at him on this one, or indeed any consensus view among LPAs (if such a
thing is possible!) on this topic? Or should we just go along with what he's
saying?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!


Al.

-- 

Dr Al Crawford
Medical Physics Department
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham NG7 2UH
UK

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