Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – "When two gasoline pools catch fire simultaneously, a qualified fire extinguisher can easily extinguish the flames, while a substandard fire extinguisher will be ineffective even after it runs out of power." On March 15th, the Jinzhong City Fire and Rescue Brigade in Shanxi Province held a "Smoke and Fire Test" online live-streaming event in Shouyang County, teaching viewers how to identify counterfeit fire extinguishers through realistic scenario recreations, on-site demonstrations, and comparisons of superior and inferior products.
Fire extinguishers are among the most common fire-fighting equipment in daily life and are considered "fire-extinguishing magic weapons" for initial fires. However, many people are still unaware of the GB4351-2023 "Handheld Fire Extinguisher" technical standard, which officially came into effect on January 1, 2025.
"The color of the (fire extinguisher) bottle is no longer differentiated by red, green, or yellow; it is now uniformly bright red. Recycled materials are prohibited for plastic parts, and the conditions for scrapping have been tightened..." Zhang Yandong, an officer from the Jinzhong City Fire and Rescue Brigade, explained the appearance, pressure, and other characteristics of superior and inferior fire extinguishers on-site. A comparison of fire extinguisher fillings teaches viewers how to quickly judge product quality.
After explaining the technical standards for fire extinguishers, two oil pools containing a mixture of water and gasoline were ignited. Standing 4 meters away, one could feel the intense heat. Two firefighters used one qualified fire extinguisher and the other an unqualified one to extinguish one oil pool.
The first firefighter to attempt to extinguish the fire used an unqualified extinguisher. Even after the extinguisher was completely depleted, the fire showed no signs of abating. In contrast, the other firefighter, carrying a qualified extinguisher, quickly extinguished the flames, demonstrating a clear difference in effectiveness.
At the live broadcast, the Shouyang County Fire and Rescue Brigade used an empty building to simulate a fire scenario. After activating the smoke generator, the building quickly filled with thick smoke, instantly obstructing visibility and realistically recreating the dangerous environment of a fire.
"As you can see from the video surveillance footage, visibility in the corridors is extremely low. At this time, evacuation signs are the 'guiding lights' for escape." "Zhang Yandong explained to netizens.
Two sets of evacuation signs in the corridor presented a stark contrast. Qualified products maintained stable brightness and were clearly visible in the thick smoke; substandard products were dimly lit and unable to emit light properly.
Zhang Yandong, referring to the GB17945-2024 technical standard "Fire Emergency Lighting and Evacuation Guidance System," explained the four key upgrade points for evacuation signs, including the mandatory use of LED light sources, the requirement for lithium or nickel-metal hydride batteries, and the need for centralized control models to have intelligent inspection functions.
Escape masks, protective suits..." Fire doors, building exterior wall insulation materials, and other products were also tested that day.
During the escape mask testing session, firefighters disassembled superior and inferior products on-site, comparing the differences in filter canisters and headgear materials. They explained four methods for identifying counterfeits: "Check certification, check appearance, scan QR code, and test hands-on." They also demonstrated the four-word usage mantra "open, pull, slip, and apply" to help viewers quickly master the correct wearing technique.
"A qualified escape mask has a silver aluminum foil heat insulation layer in the headgear that does not melt when heated, while inferior products use ordinary plastic film, which easily adheres to the skin." "Firefighters conducted a live test using a lighter to heat the surfaces, visually demonstrating the quality difference between the two.
Regarding fire doors, a crucial fire safety feature, firefighters cut open a fire door on-site to showcase the inorganic non-combustible filling materials such as perlite wool inside a qualified product, contrasting it with the hidden dangers of substandard products using honeycomb cardboard and foam plastics.
The fire resistance of building exterior wall insulation materials directly affects the safety of the entire building. Various common insulation materials were displayed during the live broadcast, and firefighters explained their combustion ratings, characteristics, and fire risks one by one. Through a simple method of 'looking at the cross-section and burning it,' they taught viewers to distinguish between Class A non-combustible, Class B1 flame-retardant, Class B2 combustible, and the strictly prohibited Class B3 flammable materials.
Rock wool boards and glass wool boards are Class A non-combustible materials, suitable for high-rise buildings; currently, Class B1 flame-retardant materials are commonly used in ordinary buildings, characterized by their slow spread after ignition and immediate cessation of combustion once the fire source is removed." "Zhang Yandong reminded everyone.
During the live broadcast, the fire department repeatedly emphasized the dangers of substandard fire protection products, using typical fire case studies. They reminded viewers that 'substandard products may seem cheap, but they are actually deadly hazards.' Whether for homes, shops, or businesses, when purchasing fire protection products, it is essential to look for 3C certification and fire protection product identification marks, and to reject counterfeit and substandard products.
'Fire safety is paramount; every qualified fire protection product is a 'protective shield' for life and property,' said a relevant负责人 from the Jinzhong City Fire and Rescue Brigade. They added that they will continue to use real smoke and fire tests to transform professional fire safety knowledge into practical skills that are easy for the public to understand and use, enabling more people to improve their self-protection capabilities.' (End)"
