Small, fully contained fires are usually safe to fight with a portable fire extinguisher. Large, uncontained fires are not safe to fight. Any fire involving highly flammable or hazardous materials isn’t safe to fight.
What type of fire extinguisher do you need?
The most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires. This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the fuel element on Class A fires. Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B and C fires only.
What type of fire extinguisher is used on Class B fires?
Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be used on Class B and C fires. They are usually ineffective on Class A fires. Dry chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.
Is it safe to use a portable fire extinguisher?
Small, fully contained fires are usually safe to fight with a portable fire extinguisher. Large, uncontained fires are not safe to fight. Any fire involving highly flammable or hazardous materials isn’t safe to fight.
What are the different types of fire extinguishing media?
The common extinguishing media is water or dry chemical. Class B Flammable liquids, grease or gases are covered under this category. Common extinguishing media are foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical. Class C Live electrical fires are class C fires.
Which type of fires should you fight with a portable fire extinguisher quizlet?
~Wet chemical systems and portable fire extinguishers are used to to control and extinguish Class K fires.
Which type of fires should you fight with a portable fire extinguisher OSHA?
In addition, portable fire extinguishers contain a limited amount of extinguishing agent and can be discharged in a matter of seconds. Therefore, individuals should attempt to fight only very small or incipient stage fires.
What is a portable fire extinguisher used for?
Portable fire extinguishers function by releasing an extinguishing agent intended to cool the fuel, remove or displace the oxygen, or stop the chemical reaction. Fire extinguishers can put out or control a fire until help arrives.
What type of fire should you use a fire extinguisher?
Types of fire extinguishers Water extinguishers are used on Class A fires involving solid combustibles. They are not suitable for fires fuelled by flammable liquids or where electricity is involved. Foam is a versatile fire extinguisher which can be used for Class A and B fires.
What are Class B and C fires?
What types of fires can be extinguished with carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers? Class B fires which involve flammable liquids and gases, solvents, oils, greases (excluding cooking oils/greases in depth) tars, oil-based paints and lacquers. Class C fires which involve energized electrical equipment.
What are the 4 types of fire extinguishers?
There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical.
What are the general rules for portable fire extinguisher?
The maintenance requirements depend on the type of portable fire extinguisher: Stored pressure or dry chemical type extinguishers do not require an internal examination. Water or steam type fire extinguishers should be discharged, disassembled and inspected annually (NFPA 10, 4-4.1. 1)
What are the 5 types of portable fire extinguisher?
When it comes to the types of fire extinguishers, there are five main types including wet chemical, CO2, dry powder, foam and water. In order to meet the current regulations, it is important for you to have the exact type of fire extinguisher that is needed for your premises.
What causes Class D fires?
Class D. Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, and sodium. Extinguishers with a D rating are designed to extinguish fires involving combustible metals. Note: Common extinguishing agents may react with a combustible metal fire causing the severity of the fire to increase.
What are the 5 types of fire extinguishers and their uses?
Which fire extinguisher types to useClass A fire extinguisher – water, water mist, foam, dry powder, wet chemical.Class B fire extinguisher – water mist, foam, dry powder, CO2, some wet chemical.Class C fire extinguisher – water mist, dry powder.Class D fire extinguisher – specialist dry powder.More items...•
What are the 3 types of fire extinguishers?
According to OSHA, air pressurized water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and dry chemical are the three most common types of fire extinguishers, with wet chemical extinguishers also used often.
What does OSHA say about fire extinguishers?
The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury. Only approved portable fire extinguishers shall be used to meet the requirements of this section.
Which of these is an OSHA rule for fire extinguisher placement?
To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with the carrying handle placed 3-1/2 to 5 feet above the floor. Larger fire extinguishers need to be mounted at lower heights with the carrying handle about 3 feet from the floor.
Which type of portable fire extinguisher is not designed for use on flammable liquid fires?
Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid or electrical fires. CO2 extinguishers are filled with CO2, a non-flammable gas under pressure. These extinguishers put out fires by displacing the oxygen, and, because of the high pressure, they also have a cooling effect on fires.
Which of the following portable fire extinguishers can be used on a small paper fire?
Fire extinguishers with a Class A rating are effective against fires involving paper, wood, textiles, and plastics. The primary chemical used to fight these fires is monoammonium phosphate, because of its ability to smother fires in these types of materials.
What is the most widely used type of fire extinguisher?
The most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires. This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the fuel element on Class A fires. Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B and C fires only.
How to get fire extinguisher out of a fire?
Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire from the recommended safe distance. Squeeze the operating lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent. Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out starting at the recommended distance. YouTube. Fire Equipment Manufacturers' Association.
What is a halogenated fire extinguisher?
They extinguish the fire by interrupting the chemical reaction and/or removing heat from the fire triangle.
How do cartridge operated fire extinguishers work?
Cartridge operated dry chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.
How do dry chemical fire extinguishers work?
Dry chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.
How do water mist extinguishers work?
Water mist extinguishers put out fires by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle. They are an alternative to the clean agent extinguishers where contamination is a concern. Water mist extinguishers are primarily for Class A fires, although they are safe for use on Class C fires as well.
What is a class C fire?
Class C Fires. Fires involving energized electrical equipment, such as computers, servers, motors, transformers and appliances. Remove the power and a Class C fire becomes one of the other classes of fire.
What are the different types of fire extinguishers?
Each has its own characteristics, capabilities, and limitations. Three main types of portable fire extinguishers include: Water extinguishers: Water extinguishers are filled about two-thirds with water and then pressurized with air.
How will portable fire extinguishers be marked?
Portable fire extinguisher may use the following markings to indicate which class of fire they are designed to fight. These symbols are recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the USA. The symbols may be shown using colours.
What is the fire tetrahedron?
To understand how to prevent fires, it is important to know how a fire can occur. Four elements must be present at the same time for a fire to take place:
When you should remove extinguishers from service?
Extinguishers with the following conditions are should be removed from service:
What is class A fire?
Class A - Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber, or plastics.
How long does a dry chemical extinguisher last?
The powder also works to break the chemical reaction. Be accurate when using as they have a short to moderate spray range and last only 10 to 25 seconds. Be cautious of the residue after using dry chemical extinguishers. The residue can damage motors, computers and other electrical equipment.
How to sweep a fire area?
Sweep t he fire area with the extinguisher's spray until the fire is completely out.
Why is a portable fire extinguisher important?
The first and most important purpose of a portable fire extinguisher is to help people escape. Portable fire extinguishers can clear fire away from your escape route or help keep an exit open for others. You should know where extinguishers are located and how to operate them. This helps ensure safe evacuations.
What is the purpose of a portable fire extinguisher?
Fight the Fire. The second purpose of a portable fire extinguisher is to fully extinguish fires. This requires training. Portable fire extinguishers cannot extinguish large fires. Many employers do not want their employees fighting fires no matter the size.
How to operate a fire extinguisher?
First, the wrong kind of extinguisher can make the fire worse. Identify the right type of fire extinguisher based on its fire class. Second, all portable fire extinguishers are operated the same way. There are four easy steps, called the P-A-S-S, or “Pass” technique:
How long does it take for a fire extinguisher to discharge?
Second, the discharge distance may not be adequate to keep you safe and the fire at bay. For example: A 10 lb. extinguisher has 17-21 seconds of discharge time. A 35 lb. extinguisher has less than 1 minute of discharge time. Small extinguishers only reach a distance of about 5 feet.
How many fires are there in the US every year?
The National Fire Protection Association reports more than 1.3 million fires in the US every year. These fires cause more than 3,000 deaths, 15,000 injuries, and $14 billion in property damage annually. If you encounter a fire, a portable fire extinguisher can help protect you and possibly stop the fire in its tracks.
Why is my fire extinguisher not working?
If the needle is not in the green area, if there isn’t an inspection tag, or if there is visible damage such as a cracked hose or missing lock pin, the extinguisher may not work properly. It may still be better than nothing, but consider it unreliable.
How far can a small fire extinguisher reach?
Small extinguishers only reach a distance of about 5 feet
What type of fires are powder extinguishers used for?
Specialist powder extinguishers are designed to tackle type D fires involving combustible metals such as lithium, magnesium, or aluminium.
How to use a jet fire extinguisher?
Use involves pointing the jet at the base of the flames and moving it constantly and steadily across the fire until extinguished.
What color is a fire extinguisher?
In the UK, portable fire extinguishers must conform to BS EN3 Standard, which specifies that their body is coloured red. A small coloured band indicates the type of fire extinguisher – red for water, white and red for water mist, cream for foam, blue for dry powder, yellow for wet chemical, green for clean agent and black for CO2 extinguishers.
How much does a water extinguisher cost?
They are the simplest, most common, and least expensive type of extinguisher, costing from around £25 for 3- or 6-litre, to £35 for 9-litre ordinary models, and £50 for freeze-protected extinguishers. Some have an additive to make the water more effective and reduce the required size and weight of the extinguisher – these are a little more expensive.
What are the different types of fires?
The first step is to look at what materials are present in the area to be protected from fire. These can be divided into six categories of fire involving different substances: 1 Class A, combustible carbon-based solids eg paper, wood or textiles 2 Class B, flammable liquids eg paraffin, petrol, diesel or oil (but not cooking oil) 3 Class C, flammable gases, eg butane, propane or methane 4 Class D, burning metals, eg aluminium, lithium or magnesium 5 Fires caused by electrical equipment (indicated by an electric spark symbol and not the letter E) 6 Class F, fats and cooking oils.
How do fire extinguishers work?
They cool the fire by soaking it and the materials with water. This extinguishes the flames, absorbing heat from burning objects. They are often found in shops, offices, retail premises, schools, hotels, warehouses and domestic premises.
What are the disadvantages of using a fire powder?
Disadvantages are that the powder does not soak into materials and does not have an effective cooling effect on the fire , which can result in the fire reigniting. The powder is hazardous if inhaled, so they should be used in well-ventilated areas and are not suitable for offices and domestic premises. The powder damages soft furnishings, machinery, etc, and needs a lot of cleaning up after use. They cannot be used on chip pan fires (Class F).
What is portable fire extinguisher?
In the hands of a trained person, portable fire extinguishers are great tools to protect people and property from fire during early stages. When using an extinguisher or selecting an extinguisher to install, it’s important to know the characteristics of different fire extinguishers. This blog will address the different types of fire extinguishers by breaking them down by their extinguishing agent, which is the material inside the extinguisher that gets applied to the fire.
What is a water mist extinguisher?
Water mist extinguishers are a type of water fire extinguisher that uses distilled water and discharges it as a fine spray instead of a solid stream. Water mist extinguishers are used where contaminants in unregulated water sources can cause excessive damage to personnel or equipment. Typical applications include operating rooms, museums, and book collections.
Do you need to know the rating of a fire extinguisher?
While there are many different types of fire extinguishers used for different applications it is also important to know the rating of each extinguisher which will let you know the types of fires it is meant to be applied to. For more information on portable fire extinguishers take a look at the following blogs, as well as our portable fire extinguisher fact sheet.
Can you use water in a fire extinguisher?
Water is the primary liquid used in these extinguishers, although sometimes other additives are also included. A drawback for pure water fire extinguishers is that it is not suitable for use in freezing conditions since the water inside will freeze and render the extinguisher unusable. Certain types of water fire extinguishers contain antifreeze which will allow the extinguisher to be used in freezing conditions. Water type fire extinguishers can also sometimes contain wetting agents which are designed to help increase its effectiveness against fire. These extinguishers are intended primarily for use on Class A fires.
What does it mean to use a portable fire extinguisher?
In the event of a fire, the correct use of a portable fire extinguisher could mean the difference between suffering a minor loss or a major one. Portable fire extinguishers, if used properly, can make that difference. But there are several things to consider in using fire extinguishers.
What is class A fire extinguisher?
Class A Involves ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber or plastics. The common extinguishing media is water or dry chemical.
How to discharge a fire extinguisher?
Squeeze the lever of the fire extinguisher to operate and discharge. S – Sweep. Sweep the fire extinguisher back and forth at the base of the fire to extinguish. (Most extinguishers will only allow about 10-seconds of extinguishing media.)
How to fight a fire in a company?
Sound the fire alarm and call the local fire department immediately if a fire breaks out, Follow your company’s procedures on responding to fires. But attempt to fight the fire only if, (1) you know the type of combustible material burning, (2) you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher correctly, and (3) if the fire is still in the incipient (beginning) stage. If the fire gets too large or out of control, evacuate immediately.
What is the key to firefighting?
Prevention is the key when it comes to firefighting. Good housekeeping, proper storage procedures and safe work practices will go a long way toward reducing the likelihood that a fire will destroy valuable property or injure either you or a fellow employee.
What is a class D burning material?
However, the actual burning product may be class A items. Class D Burning materials include combustible metals such as magnesium and sodium. Special extinguishing agents, approved by recognized testing laboratories, are needed when working with these metals.
What is a multipurpose fire extinguisher?
Multipurpose Extinguishers. Most portable extinguishers are rated for use with more than one classification of fire. For example, an extinguisher with a BC rating is suitable for use with fires involving flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment.
What is the best way to extinguish a combustible metal fire?
The most common method for extinguishing a combustible metal fire is to cover the burning material with a dry powder, such as sand, which will not react with the material. If you store or use combustible metals, contact ...
What are the ABCs of fire extinguishers?
ABCs of Fire Extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers are classified by the type of fires they are designed to extinguish. There are five basic classifications of fuel and extinguishers, and extinguishers are labeled with either letter-shaped or pictorial symbols that indicate what types of fires they are intended for.
What happens if you burn gas without shutting off?
Extinguishing a flammable gas fire, without shutting off the fuel, will allow unburned gas to escape into the atmosphere , which may permit a dangerous accumulation of gas to develop, and an explosion may occur if the gas is exposed to an ignition source.
Can you extinguish a fire with flammable gas?
Note: Do not attempt to extinguish a fire involving flammable gas unless there is reasonable assurance the source of fuel can be promptly shut off. In fact, if the only fuel burning is the leaking gas, the best method for extinguishing the fire is to shut off the fuel supply.
