What is a Firefighting Point: Equipment, Legislation, and Essential Standards

Fire prevention and firefighting are fundamental aspects of safety management in the workplace and public spaces. A PSI post (Fire Prevention and Extinguishing) plays an important role in ensuring that a fire can be quickly controlled before it spreads and causes significant damage. In this article, we will detail what a PSI post is, the minimum equipment it must have according to the legislation, where it should be placed, and how it can be efficiently managed to protect lives and property.

What is a PSI post?

A PSI post is a fixed or mobile station, properly equipped with materials and equipment for fire extinguishing. It can be placed in various types of buildings or enclosures, from industrial units to public spaces and even residential blocks. Its main role is to ensure a rapid intervention in case of fire until firefighters or other specialized teams arrive. In an industrial environment, a PSI post is often the first element used to extinguish or limit fires.

What should a PSI post contain?

The contents of a PSI post vary depending on the type of building and specific risks. However, there are a number of mandatory equipment items that must be included in any PSI post to be effective. The basic equipment is established by legislation and must comply with national and international fire protection standards.

Essential equipment for a fully equipped PSI post:

1. Portable extinguishers: These are basic elements of a PSI post. The extinguishers must be of the appropriate type for the class of fires (A, B, C, D, F). For example, a foam extinguisher is effective for extinguishing fires caused by flammable liquids (class B), while a powder extinguisher can be used for extinguishing electrical or gas fires (class C).

2. Fire hoses: These should be placed in such a way that they allow for the rapid and efficient distribution of water over the area exposed to fire. The hoses are often connected to pressurized water sources and must be easily accessible.

3. Buckets of sand and shovels: These are used in cases of small fires, especially for extinguishing fires caused by solid materials such as wood, paper, or textiles (class A fires). Sand can quickly suppress the fire by eliminating oxygen from the fire source.

4. Intervention tools: These include axes, sledgehammers, pliers, and other tools that can be used to break doors or create access paths in fire-isolated areas.

5. Signal lamp: This is necessary to clearly mark the intervention point and guide rescue teams in low-visibility conditions.

6. First aid kit: The PSI post must be equipped with a complete first aid kit, including bandages, disinfecting solutions, gauze, and other materials needed to provide first aid to injured or fire-affected individuals.

7. Fire blanket: A fire blanket can be used to cover small fire outbreaks, suppressing them by eliminating access to oxygen.

8. Mobile PSI posts: If required by the site, mobile posts equipped with all the above equipment can be used, which are easy to transport to areas with a high fire risk or difficult access.

PSI Post - Legislation

Romanian legislation regulates the requirements regarding the placement and equipment of PSI posts, to protect both personnel within a premises and potential visitors. According to Law 307 of July 12, 2006, on fire protection, the obligation to equip spaces with PSI posts falls on the owners or administrators of the buildings.

Specifically, Section 6 - "Obligations of the administrator, institution head, user, and employee", Article 19 of Law 307/2006, stipulates the obligations regarding fire protection measures and equipment that must be respected by owners or administrators of buildings and other types of arrangements.

Article 19 - Obligations of owners and administrators:

"The administrator or institution head, as applicable, has the following main obligations:

1. a) to establish, through written provisions, the responsibilities and fire defense organization in the unit, to update them whenever there are changes, and to inform employees, users, and any interested persons;
2. l) to ensure the use, verification, maintenance, and repair of fire defense equipment with certified personnel, according to the designer's instructions;
3. q) to use only fire defense technical means certified according to the law in the unit;"

Also, the regulations are supplemented by normative acts such as Norm P118/99, which regulates fire safety in buildings:

1. "4.3.11. Outdoor setups must be equipped with first intervention means, ensuring an exterior fire post every 1000 sqm and a portable extinguisher of at least 6 kg for every 250 sqm."
2. "4.3.26. Campsites must be equipped with first intervention means, ensuring at least one exterior fire post for each camping platform."
3. "4.3.38. Mountain buildings must be equipped with first intervention means (portable, transportable extinguishers and fire posts), appropriate to the specific conditions."

According to the legislation, the PSI post must meet the following requirements:

• Strategic placement: The PSI post must be located in visible and accessible places, at reasonable distances from high-risk fire areas.
• Clear signage: The posts must be visibly marked and accessible for quick interventions.
• Regular maintenance: The equipment in the PSI post must be periodically checked to ensure proper functioning. This includes checking extinguishers, fire hoses, and the condition of intervention tools.
• Trained personnel: In addition to proper equipment, it is essential that designated personnel be trained in the correct use of this equipment.

Fully equipped PSI post: the necessity of proper equipment

A fully equipped PSI post is essential for protecting people and property in case of a fire. For the intervention to be effective, it is necessary not only that the equipment is present but also that it is in good working condition. Defective equipment or lack of training can lead to critical delays in intervention.

Also, a fully equipped PSI post is not limited to the classic equipment. Depending on the activity conducted within the premises, for special cases with a high fire risk, additional equipment, such as fireproof suits or smoke protection masks, may be required.

Minimum equipment for PSI post

The requirements for the minimum equipment of a PSI post depend on the type of building and the specific risks identified. We consider that the minimum equipment may include:

• One PSI bucket;
• One PSI shovel;
• One pickaxe;
• One PSI hook;
• One PSI spade.

PSI post equipment norm

According to Norm P118/99, the equipment of a PSI post must be done according to the identified risks and the size of the premises. This norm regulates the type and quantity of equipment needed to effectively cover an area or space with fire risk. For example, in an industrial hall, the PSI post must be equipped with specialized equipment, such as powder extinguishers for electrical risks or CO₂ extinguishers for sensitive installations.

Conclusion

A fully equipped PSI post is a fundamental element of any fire protection system. Depending on national legislation and the specific standards of each sector, the equipment of a PSI post varies, but the goal remains the same: quick intervention to limit damage and protect lives. Compliance with equipment and placement standards is essential for overall safety, and ensuring a proper PSI post can make a difference in an emergency situation.