Fire Extinguisher Training
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
The
Fire Triangle
Fire Safety, at
its most basic, is based upon the
principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
The
Fire Triangle
Together, they
produce the CHEMICAL REACTION that is fire
Three things must be present
at the same time to
produce fire:
Take away any
of these things and
the fire will be
extinguished
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Fuel
Classifications
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Fuel
Classifications
Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics00olids that are not metals.
Class B: Flammable liquids00asoline, oil, grease, acetone. Includes flammable gases.
Class C: Electrical00nergized electrical equipment. As long as it00 00lugged in.00/font>
Class D: Metals00otassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium. Requires Metal-X, foam, and other special extinguishing agents.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Fuel
Classifications
Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which types of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight.
For example, a simple water extinguisher
might have a label like this00/font>
00/font>which means it should only be used on Class A fires.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
Different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire.
The 3 most common types of fire
extinguishers are:
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers
Large silver fire extinguishers
that stand about 2 feet tall and weigh about 25 pounds when full.
APW stands for 00ir-Pressurized
Water.00/font>
Filled with ordinary tap water and pressurized air, they are essentially large squirt guns.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers
APW00
extinguish fire by taking away the 00eat00element of the Fire Triangle.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers
APW00 are designed for Class A fires only:
Wood, paper, cloth.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers
APWs will be found in older buildings,
particularly in public hallways, as well as in Residence Halls.
They will also be found in computer laboratories. It is important to remember, however, that computer equipment must be disconnected from its electrical source before using a water extinguisher on it.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
2. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers
CO2 cylinders are red.
They range in size from 5 lbs to 100 lbs or larger. On larger
sizes, the horn will be at the end of a long, flexible hose.
The pressure in a CO2 extinguisher is so great, bits of dry ice may shoot out of the horn!
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
2. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers
CO2s will frequently be found
in laboratories, mechanical rooms, kitchens, and flammable liquid storage
areas.
CO200/font>s are designed for Class B and C
(Flammable Liquids
and Electrical Sources)
fires only!
In accordance with NFPA regulations (and manufacturers00recommendations), all CO2 extinguishers at OSU undergo hydrostatic testing and recharge every 5 years.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
2. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers
CO2 is very cold as
it comes out of the extinguisher, so it cools the fuel as well.
Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable gas that takes away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. Without oxygen, there is no fire.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
2. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers
Class A materials may also smolder
and re-ignite.
A CO2 may be ineffective in extinguishing a Class A fire because it may not be able to displace enough oxygen to successfully put the fire out.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers
The powder also works to interrupt
the chemical reaction of fire. These extinguishers are very effective
at putting out fire.
Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust. This separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers
At OSU, 00BC00
fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. The greatest
portion of this powder is composed of monoammonium phosphate.
The extinguishers are pressurized with nitrogen.
ABC extinguishers are red. On campus, they range in size from 5 to 20 lbs.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers
You may see them labeled:
DC (for 00ry Chemical00 ABC (can be used on Class A, B, or C fires) BC (designed for use on Class B and C fires)Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types00/font>
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers
An 00BC00
extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating it may be used
on Class A, B and C fires.
It is extremely important to identify
which types of dry chemical extinguishers are located in your area!
You don00 want to mistakenly use a 00C00extinguisher on a Class A fire thinking that it was an 00BC00 extinguisher.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Types
of Fire Extinguishers
3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers
Dry chemical extinguishers with
powder designed for Class B and C fires (00C00
extinguishers) may be located in places such as commercial kitchens
and areas with flammable liquids.
On campus, you will find ABC00 in public hallways of new buildings, in laboratories, break rooms, offices, chemical storage areas, mechanical rooms, University vehicles, etc.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
How
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
It00
easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you remember the
acronym PASS:
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
How
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Pull the pin00/b>
This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
How
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Aim at the base of the fire00/b>
Hit the fuel.
If you aim at the flames...
00/b> the extinguishing agent will fly right through and do no good.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
How
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Squeeze the top handle00/b>
This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
How
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Sweep from side to side00/b>
.. until the fire is completely out.
Start using the extinguisher from
a safe distance away, then slowly move forward.
Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-ignites.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Rules
for Fighting Fires
Fires can be very dangerous and you should always be certain that you will not endanger yourself or others when attempting to put out a fire.
For this reason,
when a fire is discovered00/b>
If the fire is small (and Only after having done these 2 things), you may attempt to use an extinguisher to put it out. However . . . .
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Rules
for Fighting Fires
. . . before
deciding to fight the fire, keep these things in mind:
Chances are you will know what00 burning, or at least have a pretty good idea, but if you don00, let the fire department handle it.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Rules
for Fighting Fires
. . . before
deciding to fight the fire, keep these things in mind:
As you evacuate a building, close doors and windows behind you as you leave. This will help to slow the spread of smoke and fire.
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Rules
for Fighting Fires
Do not fight
the fire if:
Oklahoma
State University Environmental Health & Safety Dept.
Rules
for Fighting Fires
The final rule is to always
position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before
you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire.
In case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected happens, you need to be able to get out quickly. You don00 want to become trapped.
