EXTINGUISHER

Fire Safety &

Fire Extinguisher Use

Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher Use

Objectives
Understand the combustion process and
different fire classes
Understand fire extinguisher types, operating
procedures
Understand basic firefighting concepts:

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

Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher Use

The Combustion Process
Three components
Need all three
components to start a
fire
Fire extinguishers
remove one or more of
the components.

Fire Classes
A Trash Wood Paper

Liquids Grease

wood
paper
cloth
etc.

Electrical Equipment

COMBUSTIBLE

computers
fax machine
other energized
electrical equip.

METALS

gasoline
oil
grease
other solvents
magnesium
sodium
potassium
titanium
other
flammable
metals

Fire Classes (cont.)

CLASS K FIRES
Recently recognized by NFPA 10
Fires involving combustible oils,
lards and fats in commercial
cooking.

K Cooking Media

Fire Extinguisher Anatomy

DISCHARGE LEVER

DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN

AND SEAL

PRESSURE GAUGE

(not found on CO2

extinguishers)
CARRYING
HANDLE

DISCHARGE HOSE

DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE

DISCHARGE ORIFICE

BODY

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:
1. Water (APW)
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
3. Dry Chemical (ABC, BC, DC)

Fire Extinguisher Types

A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

PRESSURIZED WATER
Class A fires only
2.5 gal. water

(up to 1 minute discharge time)

B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease

Has pressure gauge to allow visual

capacity check
30-40 ft. maximum effective range

C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

Can be started and stopped as

necessary
Extinguishes by cooling burning
material below the ignition point.

Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

Class B or C fires
2.5-100 lb. of CO2

(8-30 seconds discharge time)

B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease

Has NO pressure gauge--capacity

verified by weight
3-8 ft. maximum effective range
Extinguishes by smothering burning
materials

C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

Effectiveness decreases as
temperature of burning material
increases.

Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

MULTIPURPOSE (ABC) DRY CHEMICAL
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

Class A, B, or C fires
2.5-20 lb. dry chemical
B

Liquids Grease
Liquids Grease

(ammonium phosphate)
8-25 seconds discharge time)

Has pressure gauge to allow

visual capacity check
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

5-20 ft. maximum effective

range
Extinguishes by smothering
burning materials.

Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

BC Type Fire Extinguishers
- Type
urea-based potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate,
potassium bicarbonate or potassium chloride based powder
- One of the most effective dry chemicals against Class B
fires.
- Potassium Bicarbonate(Purple-K) based material containing
additive
- Purple-K is at least 4 to 5 times more effective in extinguisher
applied than carbon dioxide and more than twice as effective
as sodium bicarbonate based extinguisher.

Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)

METAL FIRES
Used on fires involving metals such as
magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium,
and potassium.
Often specific for the type of metal in
question.
Have no rating nor given a multi-purpose
rating for use on other types of fires.

Fire Extinguisher Summary

EXTINGUISHER TYPE

WORKS BY

PRESSURIZED
WATER

COOLING

CARBON
DIOXIDE

SMOTHERING

MULTIPURPOSE
DRY CHEMICAL

SMOTHERING

EFFECTIVE AGAINST

Fire Emergency Response

Rescue

Alarm

Contain

Extinguish

Fighting the Fire

Pull the pin

Aim low at
the base of flames

Squeeze the handle

Sweep side to side