- Adverse Operating Environment
An adverse operating environment, also known as an aggressive environment is an environment or location where an item of equipment or fire extinguisher may be exposed to conditions that warrant more rigorous supplementary inspections or a greater frequency of routine service.
Examples of Adverse (Aggressive) Environments
Australian Standard AS 1851:2012 sets out in the form of a note (CL1.13) that provides examples of adverse (aggressive) operating environments such as;
- areas exposed to the weather or ocean spray;
- corrosive environments;
- humid, dusty or airborne rich contaminants in the environment;
- areas where the item of equipment may be exposed to an increase in physical damage;
- areas where there is a continuous or intense vibrations.
The Standard also provides examples of items of equipment or measures where such environments may exist. In addition there are other locations where these conditions exist;
- portable fire extinguishers stored outside, exposed to the environment;
- fire, smoke or exit doors where a high degree of traffic or use is expected;
- smoke detectors in the path of a return-air flow.