• Steps to operate wheeled type

of Extinguisher
Inspection and Maintenance of
Extinguisher
Steps to operate wheeled type of extinguisher:

1. Open the compressed gas cylinder to pressureize the agent:

2. Free the hose from its reel and move toward the fire;
3. Point the nozzle toward the base of the fire;
4. Squeeze the nozzle to discharge the agent.
To stop discharging, release the nozzle action.
Inspection and Maintenance of Extinguishers;

 Fire extinguisher maintenance is a specialized activity and should be

performed by competent person. Fire extinguishers are provided to
protect life and property and there should be no doubt as to their
reliability in time of emergency.
 Common types of extinguishers that may come in contact with are the
following;
1. Water
2. Carbon Dioxide
3. Dry chemical
4. Dry powder
Procedures for Inspecting Various Types of
Extinguishers;
1. Check accessibility and proper location;
2. Check for tag for date of last inspection or recharge;
3. Check nozzle for obstruction and operations;
4. Examine for corrosion (leaks at seams) or mechanical damage;
5. Check lock pin and seal;
6. Determine if full (water level, pressure gauge, weight )
7. Examine condition of hose coupling;
8. Check horns for cracks, dirt, or grease accumulations;
9. Date of inspection and initials of inspection.

o Most of these extinguishers are 2 ½ gallons in capacity

Carbon dioxide CO2

 No semi-annual inspection is required for these type of

extinguishers except for the CO2 cartridge operated type. With
this type, weigh the cartridge every 6months to check for any
leakage, the annual inspection agent must discharge, clean the
extinguisher completely and recharge it with proper agents.
 Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher is an inert gas that extinguishes fires
by smothering rather than by cooling. The heat absorbing capaciry
of CO2 is very limited, being only 10% that of water.
 Carbon Dioxide is a colorless gas with a density about 60% higher
than that of dirty air.
Dry Chemical Extinguisher

 Various compounds of dry chemical agents are used. Some of the

more common ones are soduim bicarbonate, potassium
bicarbonate and an ammonium phosphate which is a multi purpose
agent.
 This also helps prevent packing of the chemical while stored
inside the extinguisher. These dry chemical extinguishers may be
found in different sizes which range from 2 1/2 to 30pounds. The
30 pounds size is the most common sized used
Dry powder extinguisher

 These type of extinguisher is designed for use on class D fires.

Their sizes may vary from the small 1lb., To the 350-pound
wheeled typer extinguishers.

Damaged Extinguishers

 Leaked, corroded or otherwise damaged extinguisher shells or cylinders

should be discarded or return to the manufacturer for repair.
CAUTION: NEVER TRY TO REPAOR THE SHELL OR CYLINDER SUBJECTED TO
PRESSURE.
Testing Extinguishers:

 State when, how and by whom extinguishers are service tested

and hydrostatically tested:

1. Service Test- this test is normally conducted at least once a year

during the scheduled maintenance cycle. A service test of an
extinguisher is an operational test of the extinguisher if it i
operating properly.
2. Hydrostatic Test - is an internal pressure check of an
extinguisher cylinder or to detect possible failure under
pressure.
The following are extinguishers
recommended for testing every 5years:

1. Cartridge operated water extinguishers;

2. Stored pressure water extinguishers;
3. Dry chemical with soldered brass or stainles steel shells;
4. Carbon dioxide-NOTE: CO2 extinguisher with a cylinder made to
DOT specification should be tested accordingly to DOT
requirements.
Types of extinguisher to be tested every
12years:
1. Halon 1211 (a liquid streaming agent)
2. Halon 1301 ( a gaseous flooding agent)
3. Cartridge operated dry powder
4. Stored pressure dry chemical with aluminum, brazed brass or mold steel
shells.
5. Cartridge-operated dry chemical with mild steel shells.
• Conditions which allow the destruction of an extinguisher
1. When the extinguisher has been burnt in fire
2. Pitting exists due to corrosions.
Basic Steps for repair and replacement of
parts on extinguisher;

• In most cases, repair of extinguisher will be limited to the

replacement of parts or subassemblies. Before starting any work
on an extinguisher,be sure you have the TO (technical order) for
the type and moder, or try to locate the manufacturer's literature
for that extinguisher.
History of Fire Extinguishers.

The first version of the modern portable fire extinguisher was

invented by Captain George William Man by in 1819, consisting of a
copper vessel of 3 gallons (13.6 litres) of pearl ash (potassium
carbonate) solution under compressed air pressure.Oct 1, 2017
Care and Maintenance of fire Extinguishers:
• Ispect fire extinguishers at least once a month (more often in severe environments).
Fire extinguisher maintenance is important for everyone’s safety.
• You must ensure that:
• The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with
access in an emergency.
• The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge (such as
that shown on the right), the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too
low.
• The nozzle or other parts are not hindered in any way.
• The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact.
• There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits and/or other signs of abuse/wear. Wipe off
any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk etc. that may have deposited on the extinguisher.
• Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers
once a month to prevent the powder from settling/packing.
• Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested (a process called hydrostatic
testing) after a number of years to ensure that the cylinder is safe to
use. Consult your owner's manual, extinguisher label or the
manufacturer to see when yours may need such testing.
• If the extinguisher is damaged or needs recharging, replace it
immediately!
• IMPORTANT: Recharge all extinguishers immediately after use
regardless of how much they were used.
• NSPECTION
An inspection is a “quick check” to give reasonable assurance that a fire extinguisher is
available, fully charged and operable. The value of an inspection lies in the frequency,
regularity, and thoroughness with which it is conducted. The frequency will vary from hourly
to monthly, based on the needs of the situation. Inspections should always be conducted when
extinguishers are initially placed in service and thereafter at approximately 30-day intervals.
• MAINTENANCE
Fire extinguishers should be maintained at regular intervals (at least once a year), or when
specifically indicated by an inspection. Maintenance is a “thorough check” of the extinguisher.
It is intended to give maximum assurance that an extinguisher will operate effectively and
safely. It includes a thorough examination and any necessary repair, recharging or
replacement. It will normally reveal the need for hydrostatic testing of an extinguisher.
• Read more about the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance and what can occur in the
case of non-maintenance. Also learn why, when, and how to recharge fire extinguishers.
•
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
FLAMMABLE MATERIALS

Flammable materials
are combustible materials that can
be easily ignited at ambient
temperatures whereas those that
are harder to ignite are just
considered combustible.
 These states or groups are known as:

1.Liquids
are fluid that do not generete more than 40
psia (pound per square inch absolute) when heated to
100 degrees F.

Examples:
1.Gasoline
2.Kerosene
3.Alcohol
4.Varnish
5.paint
Types of Liquids:
• A. Flammable Liquids- these are liquids with a
flashpoint below 100 degrees F and a vapor
pressure not over 40 psia at 100 F.
They called Class I liquid,wich are subdivided
into the following classes:
1.Class IA
2.Class IB
3.Class IC

• B. combustible Liquid- liquids that have a

flashpoint at or above 100 F.
They are subdivided into the following
categories:
1.Class II
2.Class IIIA
3.Class IIIB
Gases
are classified by their chemical,physical properties and usage

• A. Chemical Properties
- A gases are of prime interest to
firefighter, as they reflect the The Chemical
ability of the gas to react within properties of gases may
it or with other materials. be broken down as.
1.Flammable gases
2.Non Flammable gases
3.Reactive gases
4.Toxic gases
• B. Physical properties
- Is the physical behavior of
gas both outside and inside
its container and when
accidentally released, these
are of prime interest to
firefighters.
The Physical Classification
are:
1.Compressed gases
2.Liquefied gases
3.Cryogenic gases
• C. Usage
-The classification of gases is made by their
usages. However, there will be much
overlapping in these usages.

1.Fuel gases
2.Industrial gases
3.Midical gases
Solids
Combustible solids are those which ignite burn and changes
chemically when subjected to heat or fire. Examples woods, paper,
and, cloth.
• Combustible Metal
most of the combustible metals are chemically elements which are part
of earths composition. very few in any are found n the natural state, as
gold. The pure metal s extracted from mineral are deposits by chemical
possesses
• Some of the combustible metals are; Titanium

Magnesium

Uranium
Sodium
• Most of he fire hazard associated with combustible metals are found n the
manufactured processes. The hazard you might face are normally in the
finish product located on the aircraft, missiles, storage or n the
transportation. Solids, and non-combustible and combustible are used n the
contraction materials.

Phosphorous
• Combustible Solids Wood

carbon
Sulfur

Ammonium
nitrate
Metal
Cellulose Nitrate
Effect of fire on the various materials;
1. Wood – burns with an open flame and t chars depending upon ts type,
condition, thickness.

2. Steel- in its usual forms is non-combustible however, steel wall and

fillings can be ignite under certain conditions. N a burning buildings,
structural steel may be heat rapidly, lose its strength, deform.
1. Masonry- in general, bricks stone and concrete are considered fire
resistant. Under condition of prolong exposure to heat.

2. Miscellaneous construction Materials- in addition to the three most

common building materials, there are numbers of other materials that are
used in all type of buildings;
Plastic sheeting- a translucent, corrugated, plastic impregnated fiberglass used
for natural illumination of structures.

Glass- while glass s non-combustible, its normal brittleness s increase by sudden

cooling. this is cause to crack.
Asphalt- asbestos sidings, roofing's and shingles all these are combustibles to a
degree, depending on the relative amounts of asphalts and insert materials
compound n there makeup.

Clay tile- this are use for floor covering, partitions, flues, etc; tile can be
generally classed with masonry as non- combustible.
Fiber boars- fiberboard of vegetable or animal materials are generally combustibles,
while those of mineral origin are not.
Fire retardant treatment:

2 general types of fire retardant:

Surface coating- is usually in combination with a paints, decompose at the point
of contact of a flame or other heat source to form a blister felled with an inflate
numbers of tiny bubbles.
Impregnation- it is usually done at the processing plants or factory by forcing
solutions of fire retardants chemical under pressure , into the pores of the
materials to protected.

Both treatments vary on its effectiveness, depending on the materials to be

treated, the chemicals used, and the efficiency of he coatings or impregnation.