Fire is a rapid chemical reaction of oxidant with fuel. For more information on fire extinguishers, visit our fire extinguisher chart. Fire class is a term used to denote the type of fire, in relation to the combustion materials, that has or could be ignited. A one kilogram dry chemical fire extinguisher will last approximately 10 to 12 seconds. The fire must be discovered in its incipient stage for the extinguisher to be effective. Fire extinguisher guide fire extinguishers are there only to fight small fires. Class b fires do not include fires involving cooking oils and grease. The co2 extinguisher does exactly that extinguishes co2. Back away from the fire area to safety once the fire is out. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish. Extinguishing agents used on all other classes of fires have no success when.
If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire. Type of extinguishers and the classes of fire for which they can. A total of 57 fire extinguishers in the labs, classrooms, and hallways of 19 buildings were checked. The extinguisher must be easily accessible and in good working order. The greatest portion of this power is composed if mono.
Safe use of fire extinguishers fire extinguisher safety dos and donts do. Recommendations for colour coding to indicate the extinguishing media contained in portable fire extinguishers provides recommendations. To get an overview of what state fire codes are based on and if states have made enhancements to fire codes visit the interactive fire safety map. Sound the fire alarm and call the fire department, if appropriate. As you evacuate close the doors of the roomsdo not lock as this will slow down the spread of smoke and. This separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air. Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material. Class kfires involving vegetable or animal cooking oils or fats.
Below is an overview of each type of fire extinguisher including its rating and suitable uses. Clean agent or halogenated fire extinguishers clean agent fire extinguishers are for class c and class b fires only. By doing so, it removes oxygen from the fire, effectively suffocating it of oxygen. Employers that select this option are relieved from compliance with the fire extinguisher rule unless a specific osha standard in 29 cfr part 1910 requires that portable fire extinguishers be provided. Understanding fire extinguisher ratings angies list. The greatest portion of this powder is composed of monoammonium phosphate. Dry chemicalabc fire extinguishers abc fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. Fire extinguisher safety for schools if fire extinguishers are available for employee use, it is the employers responsibility to educate employees on the principles and practices of using a fire extinguisher and the hazards associated with fighting small or developing fires. Most fire extinguishers will have a label which will tell you which types of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight. A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Fire extinguisher ratings class a extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper. Arated fire extinguishers put out fires fueled by wood, paper or cloth. Grantee materials by topic occupational safety and. Use the right type of extinguisher for fighting the fire.
What are the 5 different classes of fire and what type of. This affects the type of suppression or extinguishing materials that can be used. Dry chemical abc fire extinguishers abc fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. Portable fire extinguisher fire equipment manufacturers association. Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view 4. Fire safety lecture16 nov 2015 fire safety fire is a form of a chemical reaction that involves the rapid oxidation of combustible fuel material with the subsquent liberation of heat and light. Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which classifications offire the extinguisher is designed to fight. The most commonly found extinguishers are class abc extinguishers which use a dry chemical extinguishing agent. The fire must be discovered in its incipient stage for the. Do not allow the fire, heat, or smoke to come between you and your evacuation path. Fire extinguishers can be one of the first lines of defensive when faced with an occupational fire and can help save lives in. Fire protection and fire fighting systems on board 5 history throughout history mariners have gone to sea in all types of watercraft, and, more often than not, with very limited protection against the threat of shipboard fires.
For example, a simple water extinguisher might have a label like the one below, indicating that it should only be used on class a fires. Types of fire extinguishers different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire. Also, on a class a fire it creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen. Free downloads and resources fire extinguishers save.
Class d extinguishing equipment is marked with a yellow. Potassium, sodium, aluminum, and magnesium burn at extremely high temperatures. Class b extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, etc. Does your building require fire extinguishers throughout. The successful use of a fire extinguisher depends on the following conditions. Fire extinguisher locations fire extinguishers are located throughout the workplace and readily accessible in the event of a fire. Types of extinguishers cont dry chemical dry chemical is the most widely used type of fire extinguisher and is also recognized as a multipurpose abc fire extinguisher. Osha online museum about antique fire extinguishers and their history. Dc short for dry chem abc indicating that they are designed to extinguish class a,b,and c fires, or bc indicating that they are designed to extinguish class b and c fires.
Class d fires are fires in combustible metals such as potassium, sodium. This results in a chemical chain reaction which starts a fire. Classes of fire extinguishers and their use youtube. Online fire extinguisher training university of south.
Feb 18, 2014 this classification of fire extinguishers works by removing heat and separating the heat and oxygen elements. On hearing the alarm evacuate the building and assemble at the designated assembly point. Fire extinguisher training yale emergency management. Fire detection and alarm systems fire detection and alarm systems athens, georgia, 2014. Fire extinguishers of class a are used to stifle fires. Classes of fires and extinguishers not all fires are the same.
A fire class is based on what material is fueling the fire and not all fire extinguisher types are suitable for all fires. The two most common types of extinguishers in laboratories are pressurized dry chemical type bc or abc, left and carbon dioxide co 2, right extinguishers. Class b fires are fires in flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oilbased paints, solvents, alcohols. Crated fire extinguishers put out electrical fires that could start in an electrical outlet or electric stove, chase says. Water, carbon dioxide and dry chemical will extinguish this type of fire. Fire extinguisher training edgerton fire protection district. Class bfires involving flammable gases or liquids, such as propane, oil and gasoline class cfires involving energized electrical components.
Types and maintenance of fire extinguishers fireline. Fire extinguisher classes fires are identified using a classification system. Each class identifies the type of fuel involved and allows appropriate fire extinguisher media to be identified. Three components need all three components to start a fire fire extinguishers remove one or more of the. Class b extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline and oil. Vaporising liquid red with yellow band or label suitable for class a and class e fires. Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust. Has limited effectiveness on class a, class b and class f fires.
Each type of fire extinguisher is suitable for different types of burning media and will have a fire rating based on the volume of fire that they are capable of extinguishing. Class c fire extinguishers are suitable for the fire in live electrical equipment. All you ever wanted to know about fire extinguishers. The proper type of extinguisher for each class of fire will give the best control of the situation and avoid compounding the problem. Know what to do if you find a fire be able to correctly and safely select and use a fire. If the person who notices the fire feels that it cannot be tackled by extinguishers, he can directly inform the fire station without delay. A class c fire extin guisher is marked with a blue circle containing the letter c. When it comes to fire safety within the workplace, one of the most essential steps to take is to keep maintained fire extinguishers on the property at all times. Fires are classified by the types of materials that are burning. You may have other clean agent extinguishers besides co 2 see next section, particularly if your workplace has sensitive electronic. Class d fire extinguishers are not used on any other class of fire. Class afires involving ordinary combustibles, such as paper, trash, some plastics, wood and cloth.
Although abc and bc dry chemical extinguishers can control a fire involving electronic equipment, the national fire code nfpa 751999 edition, section 632, specifically advises against drychemical extinguishers for fires involving computers or other delicate electronic equipment due to the potential damage from residues. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire. Fire extinguisher guide total fire safety fire safety. You can usually find them in hallways, laundry rooms, meeting rooms, kitchens, mechanicalelectrical rooms, and near exit doors. They work by attacking the chemical reaction element of a fire. Class a fires are fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics. A video by fire and safety centre showcasing the different types of fire extinguisher and their uses. That is ordinary combustibles like you, paper, wood,plastic, cardboard, clothing, linen and many other materials. Fire extinguisher safety training this training program was established to create a broader awareness for the safety of the university of northern iowa students, faculty and staff and their environment. Per nfpa 10, burning may be classified into one or more of the following fire classes and your fire protection specialist will select the right fire extinguisher size and agent for the hazard.
These extinguishers are very effective at putting out fire. It is not intended for use on an outofcontrol fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user i. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher co2 is one of the cleanest types of extinguishers to use as it leaves no residue and requires no cleanup. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire, you can, in fact, make matters worse. Fire extinguishers shall only be used for their intended purpose. Every state has a state fire code with a section on fire extinguisher requirements. Remove the power and the class c fire becomes one of the other classes of fire. Stay low when youre in a fire situation to avoid breathing smoke and vapors. The class, quantity, and placement of fire extinguishers is determined by the potential size and type of fire that can occur in locations, such as office space, storage space, research etc.
Different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire. Extinguishers are labeled to correspond to the classes of fires they are designed to fight. Before attempting to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher it is important to check that it is fully charged fig. Selection of fire extinguishers there are a number of types of portable fire. The extinguisher must be the right type for the fire. The class, quantity, and placement of fire extinguishers.
Fire basics fire extinguisher overview types of fire extinguishers following the. The classification of fire depends mainly upon the fuel involved. Jan 30, 2018 the fire risk from the different classes of fire in your business premises will determine which fire extinguisher types you need. There are four classes of fire extinguishers a, b, c and d and each class can put out a different type of fire. Class letters are often assigned to the different types of fire, but these differ between territories. Brated extinguishers fight fires fueled by liquids including oil or gasoline, usually found in kitchens and garages.
Fire safety in hotels and boarding houses the guide also provides advice on fire precautions which, even if not required by law, it would be prudent for the management to take in order to reduce the risk of fire and to ensure that both staff and guests are protected if a fire occurs. Fire extinguishers shall be located along normal paths of travel, including exits from areas 4. Identify a safe evacuation path before approaching the fire. The agent works by interrupting the chemical chain reaction. Abc fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. At west chester university, there are a variety of fire extinguishers located throughout the campus. Class a fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cardboard, and most plastics. Class b fires also include flammable gases such as propane and butane. The class c fire extinguishers are designated as class e fire extinguishers by the australian system. Also the type of fires it is appropriate and safe to use on. Basic fire extinguisher training course the information contained in this manual was obtained from the international fire service training association ifsta and the national fire protection association nfpa, and is used strictly for training purposes by the department of public safetys bureau of fire prevention. Option 1there are no portable fire extinguishers, and all employees are evacuated after an alarm is sounded. Range of fire extinguishers the colour of the extinguisher is an indicator of its contents.
Positioning fire extinguishers in the home should be stored so they are easy to get to but are away from areas likely to catch fire. The research methods for accomplishing the first of these three project goals involved searches of archived news stories and fire reports. Criteria for fighting the fire fire is smalland contained you have safe egress exit route can be reached without exposure to fire available extinguishers are rated for size and type of fire when fighting the fire remember to keep an exit to your back when the fire extinguisher is empty get out. The material in a class d extinguisher is a foam product that puts out the fire by replacing the oxygen near it. Fire safety, at its most basic, is based upon the principle of keeping fuel sources and.
The grantees hereby authorize employers and workplace safety and health professionals to use this material, distributed by or through osha, in their workplaces or practices in accordance with the guidance contained in the material. Co2 and halon extinguishers are designed for class b and c flammable liquids and electrical. Class a extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper. Abc extinguishers are red, they range in size from 5 to 20 lbs. For example, locate the fire extinguisher at the entrance to the. Fire extinguishers are categorized by the types of fires they can extinguish and the size of the fire they are capable of extinguishing. Types of fires many fires are small at origin and may be extinguished by the use of portable fire extinguishers.
The latter standard mainly covers the smaller size of fire extinguisher, while bs en 3 covers fire extinguishers from 1kg to 12kg and 2litres to 9litres capacity. Fire extinguisher ratings numeral fire class range direct index of the size fire the quantity of agent can handle 1a thru 40a a trash wood paper indication of the square foot area of flammable liquid the extinguisher will handle 1b thru 640b b liquids grease c electrical equipment no numeral is used because there are no degrees of. An investigation by the student newspaper at the university of georgia revealed numerous expired fire extinguishers on campus. This powerpoint presentation will give you some knowledge about the fire triangle, the different classification of fires, the different types of fire extinguishers, and give you instruction on how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Each type is easily identifiable by their names, colours. Water and foam based extinguishers should not be used on fires involving an electrical. Mono ammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate are the commonly used extinguishing agents to combat this type of fire because of their nonconductive properties. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Class c extinguishers may be used to extinguish class a, class b, and class c fires.
Fire extinguishers have a coloured band to denote their. A large part of safety is being prepared for accidents and emergencies such as a fire. Know the location of all telephones,emergency exits and fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers basic information can be used to put out incipient and localized fires classes a, b, and c are most common and refer to corresponding fire classes classes d and k are for specialized fires and must be used accordingly never use a fire extinguisher on quickly spreading fire remember the acronyms r. A rule of thumb is if it leaves an ash behind, it is a class a fire. The fire department should only be called for large fires. The successful use of any type of fire equipment fire extinguishers, fire. The fire risk from the different classes of fire in your business premises will determine which fire extinguisher types you need. The three mostly commonly used extinguishers on the boston college campus are. Class d extinguishers are recommended on burning metal. The five classes of fires and the fire extinguishers that stop them when you run a business, you are responsible for the safety of your employees and guests. It is extremely important to identify which types of dry chemical extinguishers are located in your area. Fire extinguisher training is required on an annual basis.
Employees should take the time to learn the locations of the fire extinguishers in their workplace. Types of fire as far as safety is concerned, there are two types of fire. These extinguishers are used in electrical rooms and in training. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that a nonexpert person can expect to extinguish. Fire extinguishers fire extinguishers when used properly. Water fire extinguishers water fire extinguishers are only for class a fires that involve combustible materials like wood and paper. In the event of a fire, only trained individuals may attempt to use fire extinguishers. The classification of fires given here is based on the type of material being consumed.
747 1571 1570 1286 717 855 577 1040 973 935 1091 460 395 252 242 345 1312 1208 1515 519 160 941 87 246 1237 177 401 749 112 50 219 1061 576 173 914 13 451