Fire Fighting Skills

Fire Extinguisher

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Contents

Objectives Fire Triangle Classification of Fuels Fire Extinguisher Anatomy Fire Extinguisher Applications

Fire Extinguisher Types

Effectiveness of Different Types of Extinguishers Realization of Discharge Times and Range PASS Technique (Pull,Aim,Squeeze,Sweep) Questions and Answers
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Understand the combustion process and

different fire classes.
Understand the combustion process and different fire classes. Understand fire extinguisher types, operating procedures, capabilities, and limitations.

Objectives

Understand basic fire fighting concepts:

R.A.C.E. P.A.S.S.

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The Fire Triangle

In order to understand how fire extinguishers work, you first need to know a little bit about fire. Four things must be present at the same time in order to produce fire: Enough oxygen to sustain combustion, Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature,

Some sort of fuel or combustible material, and

The chemical, exothermic reaction that is fire.
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The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.
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Tips
Essentially, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away one or more elements of the fire triangle/tetrahedron.

Fire safety, at its most basic, is based upon the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate.
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Not all fires are the same, and they are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you can, in fact, make matters worse. It is therefore very important to understand the four different fire classifications.
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Fire Classes
A Trash Wood Paper C Electrical Equipment

wood cloth paper rubber many plastics gasoline oil grease tar oil-based paint lacquer flammable gases
COMBUSTIBLE

energized electrical equipment

Liquids Grease

D
METALS

magnesium sodium potassium titanium zirconium other flammable metals

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Fire Classes (cont.)

CLASS K FIRES
K Cooking Media

Recently recognized by NFPA 10. Fires involving combustible vegetable or animal non-saturated cooking fats in commercial cooking equipment.

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Fire Extinguisher Anatomy

DISCHARGE LEVER PRESSURE GAUGE (not found on CO2 extinguishers) CARRYING HANDLE DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN AND SEAL

DISCHARGE HOSE

DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE

BODY

DISCHARGE ORIFICE

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Fire Extinguisher Applications

FIRE CLASS
A Trash Wood Paper

EFFECTIVE EXTINGUISHER TYPES

PRESSURIZED WATER, MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, LARGER SIZE HALON, WET CHEMICAL

Liquids

Grease

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON

Electrical Equipment

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON, WET CHEMICAL

COMBUSTIBLE

METALS

COMBUSTIBLE METAL

K Cooking Media

WET CHEMICAL

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Fire Extinguisher Types

PRESSURIZED WATER
A Trash W ood Paper A Trash W ood Paper

B Liquids Grease B Liquids Grease

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

Class A fires only. 2.5 gal.(9.5 liters) water at 150-175 psi (up to 1 minute discharge time). Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check. 30-40 ft. (9-12 m) maximum effective range. Can be started and stopped as necessary. Extinguishes by cooling burning material below the ignition point.

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Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
A Trash W ood Paper A Trash W ood Paper

B Liquids Grease B Liquids Grease

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

Class B or C fires. 2.5-100 lb. (1-45 Kg) of CO2 gas at 150200 psi (8-30 seconds discharge time). Has NO pressure gauge--capacity verified by weight. 3-8 ft. (1-2.5 m) maximum effective range. Extinguishes by smothering (suffocate) burning materials. Effectiveness decreases as temperature of burning material increases.

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Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL
A Trash W ood Paper A Trash W ood Paper

B Liquids Grease B Liquids Grease

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

Class A, B, or C fires. 2.5-20 lb. (1-9 Kg) dry chemical (ammonium phosphate) pressurized to 50-200 psi by nitrogen gas (8-25 seconds discharge time). Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check. 5-20 ft. (1.5-6 m) maximum effective range. Extinguishes by smothering (suffocate) burning materials.

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Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

HALON
A T rash Wood Paper A T rash Wood Paper

B Liquids Grease B Liquids Grease

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

Class A, B, or C fires (smaller sizes ineffective against Class A). 9-17 lb. (4-8 Kg) Halon 1211 (pressurized liquid) released as vapor (8-18 seconds discharge time). Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check. 9-16 ft. (2.7-5 m) maximum effective range. Works best in confined area--ideal for electronics fire due to lack of residue. Extinguishes by smothering (suffocate) burning materials. Fumes toxic if inhaled. Halon is ozone depleting chemical-production halted in Jan 94. Halon extinguishers will become illegal after December 2003

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Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

COMBUSTIBLE METAL

COMBUSTIBLE

D
METALS

Class D combustible metal fires only. 30 lb. (14 Kg) pressurized dry powder optimized for specific combustible metal (also available in bulk containers for hand scooping onto fire to extinguish). 6-8 ft. maximum effective range. To activate, must first open nitrogen cylinder on back to pressurize body. Extinguishes by smothering (suffocate) burning materials.

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Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

WET CHEMICAL
A Trash Wood Paper A Trash Wood Paper

C Electrical Equipment C Electrical Equipment

K Cooking Media

Class A, C, and K fires. 1.5 gal. of stored pressure PRX wet chemical extinguishing agent (40 sec. discharge time). 10-12 ft. (3-3.7 m) maximum effective range. On Class K fires, dont use until after fixed extinguishing system has activated. Extinguishes by cooling and forming foam blanket to prevent reignition.

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The primary fire protection value of wheeled fire extinguishers is in their ability to: Contain greater extinguishing agent capacities Deliver higher agent flow rates Provide additional fire fighting ranges Extend discharge times.

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Fire Extinguisher Summary

EXTINGUISHER TYPE PRESSURIZED WATER WORKS BY COOLING SMOTHERING SMOTHERING SMOTHERING SMOTHERING COOLING/ SMOTHERING
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EFFECTIVE AGAINST

CARBON DIOXIDE
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL HALON COMBUSTIBLE METAL WET CHEMICAL

Fire Emergency Response

R
A C E

Rescue Alarm

Contain Extinguish
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Firefighting Decision Criteria

Know department emergency procedures and evacuation routes. Know locations of extinguishers in your area and how to use them. Always sound the alarm regardless of fire size. Avoid smoky conditions. Ensure area is evacuated. Dont attempt to fight unless: Alarm is sounded. Fire is small and contained. You have safe egress route (can be reached without exposure to fire). Available extinguishers are rated for size and type of fire. If in doubt, evacuate!
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Firefighting Decision Criteria

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PAS S

It's easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you can remember the acronym PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.

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PULL

Pull the pin. This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.

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AIM

Aim at the base of the fire. If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the temptation), the extinguishing agent will fly right through and do no good. You want to hit the fuel.

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SQUEEZE Squeeze the top handle or lever. This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent in the extinguisher.

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SWEEP Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away, then move forward. Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-ignites.

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Fighting the Fire

P A S S

Pull the pin

Aim low at the base of flames Squeeze the handle Sweep side to side
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Summary
Combustion process (Fire Tetrahedron).
Class A, B, C, D, K fires. Types of portable fire extinguishers:
Operating procedures. Capabilities and limitations.

Basic firefighting concepts:

R.A.C.E. P.A.S.S.
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End Of Presentation

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