Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
• Use fireproof materials wherever possible. Although they may be more costly, they can
often result in lower insurance rates. Install roofs with Class C fire resistance or better.
Firewalls or sliding fireproof doors between sections of the barn will minimize the spread
of fire. They can be located between storage and stable areas and can be used to divide the
barn itself into smaller sections. Consider using concrete or block walls or fire-retardant
wood, paints, sealers, and coatings.
Choose an appropriate extinguisher
The National Fire Protection Association classifies fires three ways. Class A fires in-
volve ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many
plastics. Class B fires are fires of flammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil-based
paints, lacquers, and flammable gases. Class C fires involve energized electrical
equipment where the electrical nonconductivity of the extinguishing media is of im-
portance. All three types of fires can occur in barns. Choose a fire extinguisher that
is rated ABC, such as a 3A:40B:C, which weighs from 8 to 10 pounds and is light
enough for most people to handle easily. A unit of that size will project a stream of
chemical about 15 feet for 8 to 15 seconds. You should have a fire extinguisher of this
size or larger for every 3000 square feet of barn space.
 
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