FIRE EXTINGUISHER ORIENTATION

COORDINATORS

• William Bohmer---BAE Reston Front Desk Officer and involved in the fire service since 1990.

• Name of person and brief info• Name of person and brief info• Name of person and brief info

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

-COMPONENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE AND THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON-CLASSES OF FIRE-PASS METHOD-FIGHT OR FLIGHT ANALYSIS-DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF -TRAINED VERSUS UNTRAINED-PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERSa. General informationb. Common features and discuss specific typesc. Discuss their use on each class of fire-OK IT’S OUT---NOW WHAT?-Discuss the location of fire extinguishers with the facility-Handouts/Discussion/Questions

COMPONENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE

CLASSES OF FIRE

THE PASS METHOD

IMPORTANT PASS METHOD CONSIDERATIONS

• Keep your back to an unobstructed exit, stand at least 6 to 8 feet from the fire, then:

-Pull the pin-Aim low at the base of the fire-Squeeze the lever-Sweep from side to side

WHEN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS USED PROPERLY

FIGHT OR FLIGHT ANALYSIS

Use a fire extinguisher ONLY if:a. Fire Department is being called (dial 911)b. Building is being evacuated (fire alarm has been pulled)c. The fire is small and contained (not spreading)d. EXIT IS CLEAR, and there is no imminent perilQ: Can you fight the fire with your back to an exit (be aware)e. You can stay low and avoid smokef. The proper extinguisher is at hand, and…-Make sure you read instructions and can use the extinguisher-Use the buddy system: have someone back you up!-Get assistance BEFORE trying to fight a fire!

DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF:

A. You don’t know what is burning-Wrong extinguisher can make things worse-Risk of toxic fumes or explosion hazards-FEMA IS-5 course “Citizen orientation to HAZMATa. Highly recommended-Note NFPA LabelsB. You don’t have adequate equipment and/or a backup buddyC. Fire has started to spread-Close windows and doors to slow its spread and LEAVE!!

DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF (CONTINUED)

D. Your instincts tell you not to fight the fire-Trust your intuition, it may save your life-Never pass a fire to get to a fire extinguisher

E. FINAL RULE-Always have an escape route at your back!-LEAVE IMMEDIATELY if anything unexpected happens

UNTRAINED PEOPLE CAN’T USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER SAFELY, BECAUSE THEY ARE:

A. UNABLE to evaluate a fire-Fight or Flight AnalysisB. UNAWARE of DANGER due to:a. Limitations of fire extinguishers( capacity, range and duration)b. Risk of re-ignition of fire to be extinguished-Use of the wrong extinguisher can intensify a fire!C. INEXPERIENCED USER due to:c. Unfamiliar with the proper use of the fire extinguisherd. How to use-----PASS METHODe. Difficulty in removing the extinguisher from the wallf. Weight of the fire extinguisher

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Stored Pressure Type-nitrogen typically used-takes longer to get recharged after use

Cartridge Type-unlike stored pressure, these use CO2-the expellant gas contained in a separate cartridge which when punctured exposes the propellant to the extinguishing agent-found in industrial areas where higher than average use occurs-advantage of simple and prompt recharge

GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER INFORMATIONA. Can be carried to a fire---5 to 30 poundsB. Limited in capacity, range, and duration- 1.5 to 25 pounds of extinguishing agent- Typical range is from 3 to 15 feet- Discharges their contents in only 5 to 30 secondsC. Typesa. Water j. Water Mistb. ABC Dry Chemical k. Foamc. Dry Powder l. Wet Chemical Class K kitchend. Carbon Dioxidee. Halonf. Halotron I g. Purple K stored pressure dry chemical h. Regular dry chemical stored pressure sodium bicarbonate i. CleanGuard FE-36

Fire Extinguisher Common FeaturesA. Carrying handle/operating leverB. Locking pinC. Pressure GaugeD. Discharge nozzle or hornE. Labela. Type (water, CO2, Dry Chemical)b. Instructionsc. Classification data (A, B, C)d. Special applications: (Class D-flammable metals), (purple-K oil, gas and

electric utility industries).

INSIDE AN EXTINGUISHER

• REFER TO HANDOUT AND USE AN EXTINGUISHER TO VISUALLY SHOW DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

CLASS A FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

How water extinguishers work

A. Main components are water and compressed gas(usually CO2)

B. Works by cooling the fire which reduces the temperature C. ONLY for Class A Fires(wood and paper)D. NEVER for Class B, C or D Fires-Intensifies fire if used on burning liquids or reactive metals-Risk of electric shock if used on energized electrical equipment

ABC DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers-Mainly composed of the following:a. Ammonium Phosphate

-NOT COMPATIBLE b. Strong alkalisc. Strong oxidizersd. Calcium Hypochlorite AKA Pool Chlorinee. Isocyanuric Acids

-ABC Dry Chemical recommended for general useExamples: Home, Recreational Marine, Automotive, Office, Shop and Commercial Vehicles

DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

-contains pressurized gas such as nitrogen-contains a powder such as:a. Sodium bicarbonate AKA baking sodab. Potassium Bicarbonate c. Some other fire retardant powder

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:a. Clean gaseous agentb. Short range of typically 3 to 8 feetc. Discharges quickly (5 to 10 seconds)d. Disperses quicklye. CO2 not intended on CLASS A Fires due to re-ignitionf. CO2 units get dangerously cold—hold properlyg. Dangerously reactive on Class D (Flammable Metal Fires)

HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Halon Fire Extinguishers

• Gaseous agent that inhibits the chemical reaction• Banned from new production, except for military use, as of

Jan 1, 1994• Its properties contribute to ozone depletion and long

atmospheric lifetime• Although new production is banned—REUSE IS PERMITTED• Halon 1311 and 1201 being replaced by:a. Halotronb. FE-36 CleanGuardc. FM 200These options have significantly reduced ozone depletion potential

Halotron Fire Extinguishers

HALOTRON I FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

-Like CO2 it’s also a “clean agent”-Leaves no residue after discharge-Discharges as a liquid-Non-Conducting-Extinguishes A and B fires by cooling and smothering

IDEAL FOR:a. Computer roomsb. Clean roomsc. Telecommunications equipmentd. Electronics

WILL BE PHASED OUT IN 2015

CleanGuard FE-36 Fire Extinguishers

CleanGuard FE-36 Fire Extinguishers

Hydrofluorocarbon-236fa OR HFC-236faa. another clean agent replacement for Halon 1211—does not leave a residueb. available commercially in Cleanguard extinguishersc. less toxic than Halon 1211 and Halotron Id. environmentally preferred alternative to Halon with zero ozone depletion potential

Suitable to protect high-value assets such as computer rooms, telecommunications facilities, process control rooms, museums, archives, marine, hospitals, banks, laboratories and airplanes.

NOT SCHEDULED FOR PHASE OUT

Purple K Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

Purple K Stored Pressure Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

-contains a specially fluidized and siliconized potassium bicarbonate dry chemical-particularly effective on Class B flammable liquids and pressurized gases-electronically non-conductive-has been the choice of oil, gas, chemical and utilities industries as the preferred firefighting agent

Uses: garages, service bays, boats, vehicles, fuel storage and transfer areas

Water Mist Fire Extinguishers

WATER MIST FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

A. Ideal for Class A fires where a potential Class C hazard existsB. The misting nozzle provides safety from electric shock and reduces scattering of burning materialsC. Best choice in the following areas:a. Hospital environmentsb. Books and Documentsc. Clean room facilitiesD. In Non-Magnetic Versionsd. MRI e. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometersE. Contains deionized water

FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Foam Fire Extinguishers-Many different types of foama. AFFF(aqueous film forming foam)b. AR-AFFF(alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foams)c. FFFP(film forming fluoroprotein)d. CAFS(compressed air foam system)-More expensive than water-Class A and B fires only-Not recommended for electrical fires but are safer than water if inadvertently sprayed onto live electrical equipment

Wet Chemical Class K Kitchen Fire Extinguishers

Wet Chemical Class K Kitchen Fire Extinguishers

-best restaurant kitchen appliance hand portable fire extinguisher you can purchase-tested and approved for the new class K listing by UL specifically for restaurant kitchen hazards-contains a special potassium acetate based, low PH agent-The recent trend to more efficient cooking appliances and use of unsaturated cooking oils dictates the use of a hand portable fire extinguisher with greater firefighting capacity and cooling effect to combat these very hot and difficult fires

Class D Fire Extinguishers

SPECIALIZED UNITS-CLASS D FIRES

-Class D units have no numerical rating-ARE NOT multi-purpose rated-Used ONLY for combustible metal fires involving:a. Magnesiumb. Lithiumc. Sodiumd. Uranium-Are not recommended for home use

METAL/SAND FIRE EXTINGUISHERSCLASS D FIRES—FLAMMABLE METALS

A. Sodium Chloride -Works well on magnesium, sodium, potassium, sodium-potassium alloys, uranium and powdered aluminum

B. Powdered Copper Metal-Works well on lithium and lithium alloys -It is the only known lithium fire fighting agent

C. Graphite-Based Powders-Works well on lithium fires -Effective on fires involving high melting metals such as zirconium and titanium

METAL/SAND FIRE EXTINGUISHERSCLASS D FIRES—FLAMMABLE METALS Page 2

D. Specially designed sodium bicarbonate based dry agents- Can suppress fires with most metal alkyls and pyrophoric

liquidsE. Sodium Carbonate based dry powders- Works well on sodium, potassium and sodium/potassium

alloys

THE FIRE IS OUT—NOW WHAT?

A. Watch the fire area-If the fire re-ignites repeat the process-If you cannot control or confine the fire---LEAVE!!!B. Ensure the fire department inspects the siteC. RECHARGE or REPLACE any fire extinguisher which has been used

Discuss location of fire extinguishers within the building

a. Where are they located?b. What type of extinguishers are used in the facility?

DISCUSSION

HANDOUTS

• Please pick up handouts that provides a lot of good information

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

Let us take a few minutes and discuss anything that needs some additional time.

If you’re seeing this you’ve completed this informational seminar on fire extinguishers