Extinguishing agent units (LE for short) play a crucial role in fire protection. But what exactly are extinguishing agent units and why are they so important?
In this blog article, we will explain the term extinguishing agent units, explain their significance for fire extinguishers in accordance with the technical rules for workplaces ASR A2.2 and provide practical examples.
Definition of extinguishing agent units
Extinguishing agent units (LE) are a measure used to assess the performance of fire extinguishers.
They make it possible to compare the effectiveness and extinguishing capacity of different fire extinguishers. An extinguishing agent unit corresponds to the extinguishing capacity of the fire extinguisher in accordance with the rating of DIN EN 3-7:2007:10.
The unit of measurement makes it easier to choose the right number and type of fire extinguishers for a particular working environment.
Relevance of the extinguishing agent units in accordance with ASR A2.2
The technical regulations for workplaces, in particular ASR A2.2 - Measures against fires - ensure that workplaces are equipped with suitable fire extinguishing equipment. The number of extinguishing agent units required plays a central role here. ASR A2.2 specifies how many extinguishing agent units must be available in a certain area to ensure effective extinguishing in the event of a fire.
ASR A2.2 stipulates that the number of extinguishing agent units depends on the
- Fire hazard of the workplace
- Floor area of the workplace
- Fire class (A, B, C, D or F)
Good to know: It is also specified that at least 6 extinguishing agent units (LE) must be provided on each floor. In addition, the distance to the nearest fire extinguisher must not exceed 20 meters.
Examples for calculating the extinguishing agent units
We will look at two examples based on the tables in ASR A2.2 to illustrate the use of extinguishing agent units.
- For an office area with an area of 500 m² and a normal fire risk, 21 extinguishing agent units are required.
- At least 48 extinguishing agent units are required for a storage area of a freight forwarding company with an area of 600 m² and an increased fire risk.
An alternative calculation is possible depending on the risk assessment or fire protection concept.
Good to know: If there are workplaces of different employers in a building, the fire extinguishers available there can be shared. However, every employer must ensure that their employees have access to the required fire extinguishers at all times.
Extinguishing agent units are an indispensable tool in fire protection for assessing the performance of fire extinguishers and determining the correct number of extinguishers for different fire risks.
The technical rules for workplaces (ASR A2.2) provide clear guidelines to ensure that workplaces are adequately protected. In addition, the fire protection concept and any other guidelines for the building must be observed. At the same time, possible consequential damage caused by extinguishing agents should also be taken into account when selecting fire extinguishers.
Do you need support in determining the extinguishing agent units or equipping your workplace with fire extinguishers?
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