Fire Extinguisher & Type of Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers
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Fire extinguishers are made to put out only small, confined fires. Anything larger or that has spread from its original location must be handled by the fire department.
Just as there is a right tool for every job, there is a right extinguisher for every fire. The class of an extinguisher, identified on its nameplate, corresponds to the class or classes of fire the extinguisher controls.
Types of Fire Extinguisher
1. Class A – Fires involving solid materials like wood, paper, cloth, and plastics.
2. Class B – Fires caused by flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, and paints.
3. Class C – Fires involving gases like propane, butane, and methane.
4. Class D – Fires caused by combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, and sodium.
5. Class E – Electrical fires involving energized electrical equipment.
6. Class F – Fires involving cooking oils and fats, commonly found in kitchens.
On most construction jobs, we are concerned with Class A, B and C fires.
Common classes of fire extinguishers are:
- Class ABC (all fires except flammable metals)
- Class BC (flammable liquids and electrical fires)
- Class AB (combustibles and flammable liquids—do not use on electrical fires)
Hazards to watch for:
- The fire is too large to handle with one fire extinguisher.
- Your exiting route is blocked.
- You do not have the right type of extinguisher for the fire type.
SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Use the fire extinguisher whose class corresponds to the class of the fire.
- Never use a Class A extinguisher, which contains water or foam, on a liquid or electrical fire.
- Know where extinguishers are located and how to use them. Follow the directions printed on the label.
- Keep the area around the fire extinguisher clear for easy access.
- Don't hide the extinguisher by hanging coats, rope, or other materials on it.
- Take care of the extinguishers just as you do your tools.
- Never remove tags from extinguishers. They indicate the last time the extinguisher was serviced and inspected.
- Report defective or suspect extinguishers to your Supervisor, so that they can be replaced or repaired.
- When inspecting extinguishers, look for cracked hoses ,plugged nozzles, and corrosion. Also, look for damage that may have been done by equipment running into the extinguishers.
- Don't use extinguishers for purposes other than fighting fires.
Safe procedures:
Here’s what you do.Before using an extinguisher, make sure:
- You are properly trained in the use of the extinguisher.
- You are confident you can put the fire out with one3. Your escape path is not threatened.
- The extinguisher matches the fire type.
- Alarm has been sounded (either you have done this or you’ve told another person).
- Smoke and noxious fumes are not accumulating.
- Fire is small and confined.
- Building is being evacuated.
How to use a fire extinguisher (PASS) method:-
- P–Pull the pin that keeps the handle from being pressed (an initial twist will easily break the plastic retainer)
- A–Aim at the base of the fire (where the fuel and the fire meet)
- S–Squeeze the handle
- S–Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire
One of the quickest ways to lose a job is allow a fire to start. Sometimes fires do start and it then becomes a matter of putting the fire out as soon as possible. The best way is to use a fire extinguisher.
Care and Use
- Be sure the fire extinguishers are charged, strategically located and ready for use.
- Everyone has a responsibility to check to see that fire extinguishers and fire hoses (as well as other dispensing components) are not blocked.
Common Types of Extinguishers
- Class A Fires: Rubbish, paper, scrap, scrap lumber. Use soda acid and pressurized extinguishers or water through use of a hose or pump type water can.
- Class B Fires: Flammable liquids, oil, grease. Use carbon dioxide, dry chemical or foam extinguishers. Do not use water on these types of fires.
- Class C Fires: Electrical in nature. Use carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguisher. Do not use foam or water composition extinguishers.
The following describes the classes of fire and the kind of extinguisher that can be used on each.
CLASS A FIRE
Wood, paper, trash, and other materials that have glowing embers when they burn. Extinguisher to Use: For Class A fires, use a Class A or Class ABC extinguisher. Always remember that a Class A extinguisher contains water and should be used only on a Class A fire. Used on gasoline, it can spread the fire; used on electrical fires, it can cause you to be electrocuted.
CLASS B FIRE
These are fires involving flammable liquids and gases, such things as gasoline, solvents, paint thinners, grease, LPG, and acetylene. Extinguisher to Use: Use Class B or Class ABC extinguishers.
CLASS C FIRE
These are fires in energized electrical equipment. Extinguisher to Use: Use a Class BC or Class ABC extinguisher.
Water Mist Fire Extinguishers
The Water Mist fire extinguisher substitute for Halon 1211,
Environmentally Clean Agent - Halon Alternative - Fire Extinguisher
Water is non-toxic, has no ozone depletion potential, does not contribute to global warming and there is no concern about its atmospheric life. Its extinguishing properties are universally understood by novice and professional fire fighters alike. The replacement agent will always be available and is one of the least expensive fire fighting agents.
The water mist fire extinguisher is clean and safe. It does not create a risk to the occupants or damage the surrounding equipment. Water mist is electrically non-conductive, and is very well suited to stop fires in their very early stages of development. The unique misting nozzle not only provides safety from electrical shock but also greatly enhances the cooling and soaking characteristics of the agent.
Some of the better potential applications for water mist fire extinguishers include:
• Hospitals• Health Care Facilities• MRI Facilities• Telecommunications Facilities• Clean Rooms• Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
CO2 FLOODING SYSTEM
Features
- CO2 is a dry, clean, non-conductive inert gas, and is used commercially for carbonating drinks and fast freezing food.
- Enables systems to be installed in accordance with BS5306 Part 4.
- CO2 is used for the protection of a variety of risks to include flammable liquid fuels, electrical equipment, paper, wood and textiles.
- Suitable for land or marine use.
Carbon Dioxide extinguishes fire by reducing the oxygen content in the surrounding atmosphere to a level where combustion cannot be supported. Total flood container assemblies comprise a seamless chrome molybdenum steel container complete with a discharge valve, fixed siphon tube and charged with 45kg of CO2. The system is designed to provide fire suppression by maintaining low oxygen levels, and generally discharge in one minute. The container is designed and manufactured to the requirements of BS 5396 and BS 5045 Part 1. The system permits Carbon Dioxide total flood to be installed to BS 5306 Part 4. A number of containers may be manifold together within a battery frame, freestanding or wall mounted, single or double banked.
The valve has a safety pressure burst disc and an actuation port onto which may be fitted either a manual/electric, manual/pneumatic or a pneumatic actuator.
A rigid siphon tube is fitted for standard upright working. The serial number, gross weight, tare weight and date of manufacture are stamped on the container which is normally finished in red paint to BS 381 C, reference 537, equivalent to 04 E53 of BS 4800.
The basic requirements for a sound and effective CO2 fire suppression system are fast and reliable fire detection interfaced with a fast discharging CO2 system, which also secures a satisfactory holding time to prevent re-ignition of the fire.
FM 200 FLOODING SYSTEM
FM200's qualities makes it ideal for IT applications such as Server Rooms, telecommunications, clean rooms and many other commercial and industrial fire protection applications. Compared with many other extinguishing agents FM200 uses less weight of agent and takes up less storage space. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's SNAP Report states: "HFC227ea (FM200) is the most effective of the proposed HFC substitutes."
Description
The FM-200 fire extinguisher is stored in welded mild steel FM-200 cylindrical containers which are designed, manufactured and tested to BS5045 Part 2 for FM-200 use, and pressurized with dry Nitrogen to 25 bar 20°C.
The extinguisher storage containers are capable of configuration into modular or central storage installations. Every container is fitted with a valve to enable the contents to be discharged through system pipework and nozzles within 10 seconds.
A discharge pressure switch can be fitted to the distribution pipework via a pilot loop. The pressure switch has a manual reset facility and is wall mounted. Normally the system is switched to automatic mode. However, subject to local regulations, it may be necessary for the system to be switched to manual mode when the area is occupied. A pre-discharge alarm is to be sounded on system operation to alert anyone still in the area. All FM-200 flow calculations are supported by a computer program and print-out.
FM200 Benefits
- Non-corrosive
- No Clean-up required
- No risk to humans
- Fast Acting
- Electrically non-conductive
- Zero ozone depleting potential.
- Safe for occupied areas.
- Requires minimal container storage space.
- Simple Installation
FM200 Applications
- Telecommunications
- Switch Gear Rooms
- Automotive Battery Rooms
- Data Processing Computer Rooms
- Medical High Density/High Value Areas
- Military Delicate Electrical Equipment
- Petroleum Industrial Control Rooms
- Transportation Flammable Liquid Storage
CLEAN AGENT WATER-LESS FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Certain hazards within office, industrial, commercial and institutional facilities require special attention. These hazards include computer rooms, clean rooms, telephone switches, art and historical applications and any facility where water damage from sprinklers must be avoided at all costs. A variety of approaches and chemicals are available to provide a custom solution to your special hazard.
1. Typical Applications of Clean Agents
2. FM-200 (HFC-227) Fire Suppression Systems
3. Integrin Fire Suppression Systems
4. FE-13 Fire Suppression Systems
5. Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems
6. FACTS ABOUT HALON 1301
"Afff" Fire Extinguisher (Best for Your Office)
The foam types of are ideal for suppressing A & B class fires when they first start because they cover the fire with the foam and keep out the oxygen without which the fire cannot continue. The afff fire extinguisher is particularly suited to class B fires, caused by the combustion of materials that liquefy such as petrol, oils, fats, paints, tar etc. This firefighting equipment has passed the 35kv electrical conductivity test, and is therefore safe to for use on electrical fires too.
The afff (aqueous film forming foam) fire extinguisher is necessary for any office environment. The dual A and B rating capability of this equipment allows it to be used against both solid burning (class A) and liquid burning (class B) fires.
These attributes, coupled with the fact that it has a conductivity rating of 35kV, means that although not designed for use on electrical fires รข€“ this extinguisher resists electricity and safe to use to put out fires arising from faulty electrical wirings or malfunctioning electrical appliances.
The afff (aqueous film forming foam) , like any other of the many types of fire extinguishers, needs regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that it will function as expected when there is a use for it in putting out an incipient fire. A well-maintained fire extinguisher is the main tool that one can use to prevent a fire that has just started from developing later into a big one that can no longer be effectively controlled and cause so much damage in property and even lives of people in some instances.
The makers of the themselves have the necessary technical people who do the regular inspection of your units of the equipment and maintain them in top shape and functioning condition for you, for a minimal fee. They provide this service as part of their promotion of their product. They are aware that it is only proper maintenance of an equipment such as the afff fire extinguisher, which can ensure it is in working order when there is an emergency like an accidental fire in your office. It is a tool that can save lives of people and of course, the many pieces of office equipment and other properties in the building.
Besides, the law is very specific in saying that all employers who are responsible for a particular work place must have their fire fighting equipment serviced in line with the standards and regulations. It is not just a question of buying the fire extinguisher and that is the end of the building owners responsibility. He must see to it that the off (aqueous film forming foam) fire extinguishers that he bought are in good working condition all the time.
You can also incur fines, and have worse problems if even your insurance policy could be at risk of being invalid, if a fire were to occur and your afff fire extinguisher is not working at the time of need.
Hydro Spray Fire Extinguishers
Water fire extinguishers with additives make them more efficient tools to use against Class A fires. These kinds of fires are those that burn organic materials like wood, paper, cloth and other similar materials. Water fire extinguishers normally are used for putting them out. But the hydro spray fire extinguishers out-perform the ordinary water fire extinguishers, thus making their individual units lighter in weight, but more effective in the task of fighting class "A" fires. These new light hydro spray fire extinguishers come only from Chubb Fire, and no other company has yet ventured into making them.
The traditional water-based are also useful against class A fires, but the hydro spray fire extinguishers from Chubb have necessary additives, so that its 6-liter version weighs a third less than conventional water-based fire extinguishers. But, in spite of its lighter weight, it has a 150% of the fire-fighting ability, earning them a 21A fire rating. Their secret lies in the additives in them, which make the sprayed water more effective and keep the weight down of the extinguisher as a result. The 3-liter hydro spray fire extinguisher only weighs about five kilos, and yet has an impressive 13A rating in terms of performance.
The other 'secret' in the is the new and innovative nozzle, which ensures wide and accurate delivery of the extinguishing fluid efficiently and accurately at the target flames. The jet spray of the ordinary water fire extinguisher has limited area coverage compared to the wide area of the new nozzle in the hydro spray fire extinguishers. In addition, if you accidentally spray an electrical item with this particular type of extinguisher, you will still be safe from any electric shock, as the nozzle has passed the 35KV conductivity test.
The hydro spray fire extinguishers is a sturdy workhorse that can tackle office fires, which do not involve electrical equipment. The coated steel levers are resistant to normal wear and tear, while the polyester coating prevents the unit itself from suffering any damage from extremes of temperature, light or in dusty or dirty workplaces. The hydro spray fire extinguisher is of high-grade steel material that can provide you the firefighting capability that you need in case of accidental fires happening in your office.
The hydro spray fire like any other fire extinguisher come with standard wall brackets and even with glass cabinets, depending on your specifications. These cabinets though would be for situations where there are children who would attempt to play with the hydro spray fire extinguisher. The need for cabinets is more if the units of the extinguisher are for use in the homes.
Just be sure the people in your office know where to locate the key to the if they need to open them; in extreme emergencies, the glass covers can just be easily broken in a hurry. Of course, some mandatory advance training that you have to give them will make your personnel familiar with the use of the hydro spray fire extinguisher.
Nobody wants afire. But if one starts, know what extinguishers to use and how to use them.
Our exposure is generally to Class _____ fires. We have Class _____ fire extinguishers available.
Remember: The quickest way to put out a fire may not always be the best way.
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