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Chapter 8

Chapter 8 . Portable Fire Extinguishers. Introduction. Portable fire extinguishers designed to fight: Small fires Unusual fires Fires that cannot be reached quickly with hoselines Fire extinguishers are valuable tools. Four basic PASS steps

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Chapter 8

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  1. Chapter 8 Portable Fire Extinguishers

  2. Introduction • Portable fire extinguishers designed to fight: • Small fires • Unusual fires • Fires that cannot be reached quickly with hoselines • Fire extinguishers are valuable tools. • Four basic PASS steps • Fire extinguishers come in a variety of types and sizes.

  3. Fire Classification and Risk • Type of material burning defines class of fire. • Classes of fire used to identify type of extinguishers and agents • Pre-incident plan for fuel types and locations

  4. Class A • Involves ordinary combustibles • Can be extinguished with: • Water • Water-based agents • Foam • Multipurpose dry chemicals • Water usually the agent used

  5. Class B • Flammable and combustible liquids, gases, and greases • Special hazards • Common extinguishing agents: • Carbon dioxide • Regular and multipurpose dry chemical • Foam

  6. Class C • Involves energized electrical equipment • Water-based agents cannot be used. • Turn off electrical power. • Categorized with another class of extinguisher: BC or ABC • Agents include: • Carbon dioxide • Regular and multipurpose dry chemicals

  7. Class D • Combustible metals and alloys • Erratic behaviour • Water and other agents can react violently • No universal Class D extinguisher for all metals • Class D agents called dry powders • Not to be confused with dry chemicals

  8. Class K • New classification as of 1998 • Fires in combustible cooking fuels • Agents usually wet chemicals • Agents used in fixed systems

  9. Class K equipment.

  10. Types of Fire Extinguishers • Factors for selecting an extinguisher: • Type and amount of fuel • Person using extinguisher • Type of building construction and occupancy • Type of equipment protected • Main objective extinguishing the fire

  11. Various types of fire extinguishers.

  12. Types of Extinguishing Agents • Water is the basic agent for Class A materials. • Loaded stream extinguisher • Water-based foam extinguishers • Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) • Film-forming fluoroprotein foam (FFFP) • Better penetration for Class A materials • Reduces surface tension of the water • Carbon dioxide • Inert gas stored under pressure as a liquid capable of being self-expelled • Dry chemical agents • Particles propelled by gaseous medium

  13. Kinds of Extinguishers • Many types: • Small and handheld • Large and require a wheeled cart • Pump-type extinguishers • Stored pressure extinguishers • Cartridge-operated extinguishers

  14. (A) (B) (C) (A) Older versions of fire extinguishers are labeled with colored geometrical shapes with letter designations. (B) Newer fire extinguishers are labeled with a picture label system. (C) Many fire extinguishers can be used to fight more than one type of fire.

  15. Inner workings of a stored pressure water extinguisher.

  16. Inner workings of a stored pressure dry chemical extinguisher.

  17. Inner workings of a carbon dioxide extinguisher with a fixed nozzle.

  18. Rating Systems forPortable Extinguishers • Each class of fuel subjected to a separate type of extinguisher test for its class • Conducted by independent testing agency • Appropriate ratings and symbols • Class A • Class B • Class C

  19. Class C test for electrical conductivity of agent.

  20. Limitations of PortableExtinguishers • Exceeding capabilities • Designed for specific purposes • First-aid method for fire extinguishment • Pick the larger size • Wrong class extinguisher may not do the job.

  21. Portable ExtinguisherOperation • PASS outlines four simple steps for extinguisher use • P: Pull the pin • A: Aim the nozzle • S: Squeeze the handle • S: Sweep the base of the fire

  22. Care and Maintenance ofPortable Extinguishers • Simple inspections and careful storage prevent most problems • Move unit from its bracket. • Do hand test weight. • Do visual check. • Recharging water extinguisher a simple process performed by any firefighter

  23. Re-servicing an Extinguisher (A) (C) (B) (A) Unscrew and remove the top. (B) Add the manufacturer’s recommendation of water. (C) Add foam, if required. 8.23

  24. Re-servicing an Extinguisher (D) (E) (D) Replace the top. (E) Charge the extinguisher with the manufacturer’s recommendation of air. 8.24

  25. Inspection Requirements • Many fire extinguishers are obsolete. • Inspection is usually a visual inspection. • If something does not look right, it should be removed and replaced. • Extinguishers returned to service should be examined prior to their placement on apparatus.

  26. Lessons Learned • Fire extinguishers can be used as: • Initial response tools • To fight fires in special situations • Firefighters classify fires by their fuels. • Four-step process for using an extinguisher: PASS

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