Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
A ZZZ Building Maintenance Mechanic is servicing and conducting Annual Checks on all station Fire Extinguishing Bottles in a Hangar Shop. The Shop so assigned to this task is much smaller than the previous work space. There have been complaints that the threat of an accidental bottle discharge is great enough to mandate a less restrictive and congested work environment so personnel can escape from the release of Purple-K Fire Retardant. The current Shop was formally a Warranty Office and has poor ventilation and is not of adequate size. Building Maintenance and Line Maintenance Management have been seeking a suitable location to move this operation but have had multiple roadblocks finding available space. Environmental Facilities.
Reporter stated his Air Carrier has recently added ventilation equipment and re-designed the Hangar Shop floor space to allow for quicker egress if an emergency should occur. The fire bottles involved are the 400 LB type bottles with wheels; that use Purple-K retardant and are stationed at various locations in their Hangars and at the Terminal gates.
A Line Safety Mechanic reports about a congested and restrictive work environment in their Fire Bottle Shop. He raises concerns about adequate egress to escape from the release of Purple-K Fire Retardant during Servicing and Annual Checks of their 400 LB Fire Bottles.