Fire Extinguisher TrainingPlease Sign In!

Welcome and thank you!

• Time

• Breaks

• Questions

Purpose

• To learn about Fire Extinguishers, their uses and

types.

• To learn about Fire, what fire is made up of and

how extinguishment works.

The Fire Triangle

The Fire Triangle

• Can be any combustible material, solid, liquid or gas. All fuels must be in the form of gases in order to ignite.

• Solids: Go through PYROLYSIS where the solid is heated to the point that it releases fuel gases.

• Liquids: Go through VAPORIZATION where the liquid turns to gases through heating

• Gases: Are already gaseous and are thus more dangerous as they are already in a condition needed for ignition.

Fuel

The Fire Triangle

Flammable Materials Combustible Materials

Materials with a flash point of any temperature below 37.8 degrees Celsius. Can easily be ignited at normal working temperatures.

Materials with a flash point higher than 37.8 degrees Celsius. Does not catch fire as easily, but will still burn if ignited.

Some flammable materials:GasolineEthanolAcetone

Some combustible materials:Diesel fuelPaperWood

Fuel

The Fire Triangle

• Under normal circumstances air contains about 21% oxygen.

• Combustion can be supported as low as 14%

• Oxygen alone is not combustible, when fuel burns it reacts with oxygen from surrounding air releasing heat and generating combustion products.

Oxygen

The Fire Triangle

• Provides energy for the fire, causes pyrolysis and vaporization of solid and liquid fuels.

• Causes: Ignition, continuous production of fuel gases, combustion, rapid spread of fire

• Types of heat: chemical, nuclear, mechanical, electrical

Heat

Fire Tetrahedron

Self Sustaining Chemical Reaction

• The fourth component of the fire tetrahedron

• The elements of the fire triangle will combine to form a chemical reaction

• As long as all three components of the triangle are available the fire will spread and sustain itself

• Fire can be extinguished by removing one of the three components

Fire Development

• Incipient Stage: Ignition, fire is small and generally confined to the initial ignition material.

• Growth Stage: Smoke and fire begin to rise. Deadly fire gases begin to fill the room, thermal layering occurs. Even at this stage temperatures can be extremely high.

Stages

Fire Development

• Flashover Stage: Point at which the fire goes from growth to fully developed. All combustibles in an area simultaneously ignite. Temperatures can reach upwards of 500 to 600 degrees Celsius.

• Bedroom Fire

Stages

Fire Development

• Fully Developed Stage: All contents of the area are involved in the fire. Maximum heat is being released. Ventilation will affect the fire by pushing gases into adjacent spaces. These gases will ignite as they travel into other spaces.

• Decay Stage: The heat release rate begins to decline as the fire consumes the fuel. High temperatures will continue due to embers. Backdrafts are very possible at this time.

Stages

Classes of Fire and Extinguishers

• Classes: A, B, C, D, K

• Each class is represented by different colours and symbols

• Each type of fire will have specific type of extinguisher that is more effective than others

• Selecting the wrong extinguisher for the fire could result in spreading the fire or bodily harm

• No single fire extinguisher works on all 5 types

Class A Fires and Extinguishers

• These fire include fuels such as: wood, paper, plastic, rubber and cloth.

• Extinguisher symbol: Green Triangle with an A in the middle.

Ordinary Combustibles

Class B Fires and Extinguishers

• Fires with fuels such as: hydrocarbon and alcohol based liquids and gases that will support combustion.

• Extinguisher symbol: Red Square with a B in the middle.

Flammable Liquids

Class C Fires and Extinguishers

• Any fire involving energized equipment.

• Extinguisher symbol: Blue Circle with a C in the middle.

Electrical Equipment

Class D Fires and Extinguishers

• Fires including fuels such as: magnesium, potassium, titanium and zirconium.

• Extinguisher symbol: Yellow star with a D in the middle.

Combustible Metals

Class K Fires and Extinguishers

• Fires involving unsaturated cooking oils in deep fryers.

• Extinguisher symbol: Purple Hexagon with a K in the middle.

Kitchen Fires

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Class A • A Class A fire extinguisher

contains only pressurized water.

• Usually in a silver canister.

• There used to be Class A extinguishers found on campus but they have been replaced.

• Has a number rating. Each number is 1.25 gallons of water. A 4A extinguisher contains 5 gallons of water.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Class BC• BC fire extinguishers contain carbon

dioxide displace oxygen, smothering the fire as well as removing heat with a very cold discharge.

• Can usually be found in areas with sensitive equipment or electronics

• Recognizable horn shaped hose.

• The B rating indicates the approximate number of square feet it can extinguish.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Halon• Less common type, none found on

campus.

• Halon falls under Federal Ozone depleting Substances Regulations.

• Works by displacing oxygen and inhibiting the chemical reaction.

• Still in use in some military and aviation industries as it is very effective at low concentrations.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Fire Extinguisher Types

• ABC• The most common fire extinguisher.

• Works on most fires that would be possible on campus.

• Contains a fine pale yellow powder that works by smothering the fuel and coating with dry chemical.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Class D• These are designed for specific

combustible metals.

• Each extinguisher is specific to one combustible metal.

• There are not currently any class D extinguishers on campus.

• Works by smothering the fuel and absorbing heat to cool below ignition temperature.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Class K• Designed for

industrial/commercial kitchen settings.

• Material is designed to create a foam that will penetrate into cooking oil and deep fryers to cool and smother the fire and prevent re-ignition.

• Some kitchens have hard piped K extinguisher systems.

What kinds of extinguishers are out there?

Extinguishing Fires

• Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, plastic, rubber cloth)

• Use:• Class A Extinguisher (Pressurized water)

• Class ABC Extinguisher (Multipupose dry chemical)

• Do not use:• Class BC Extinguisher (Carbon Dioxide)

Class A

Extinguishing Fires

• Flammable liquids (gas, solvent, grease, alcohol)

• Use:• Class ABC (Multipurpose dry chemical)

• Class BC (Carbon Dioxide)

• Do not use:• Class A (Pressurized water)

• Any water at all

Class B

Extinguishing Fires

• Electrical fires (anything connected to a power source)

• First, if it is safe to do so, disconnect from power.

• Use:• Class ABC (Multipurpose dry chemical)

• Class BC (Carbon dioxide)

• Do not use: • Class A (Pressurized water)

• Any water at all

• Anything that conducts electricity

Class C

Extinguishing Fires

• Combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, potassium, sodium)

• Use:• Class D (Combustible metal specific)

• Do not use:• Any other extinguisher not designed for use with

combustible metals

Class D

Extinguishing Fires

• Large kitchen fires (deep fryers)

• Use:• Class K Extinguisher (Hard piped system, or portable K

extinguisher)

• Do not use:• Any extinguisher not designed for large kitchen

applications, particularly water based extinguishers

Class K

Extinguishing Grease Fires

• What to do

• What not to do

How to use a Portable Fire Extinguisher

• Always pull the fire alarm or ask someone else to do so prior to using a fire extinguisher to put out a fire

• “P”ull the pin.

• “A”im the nozzle at the base of the fire.

• “S”queeze the trigger while holding the extinguisher upright.

• “S”weep the extinguisher from side to side covering the whole base of the fire. This is done not too fast and not too slow.

• Always use the entire contents of the extinguisher when putting out a fire.

When not to fight a fire!

• If the fire has gone beyond the incipient stage. i.e. it has spread to other fuels.

• If you can’t fight the fire with your back to an exit.

• If the fire can block your only escape.

• If you don’t have the right size or type of equipment needed to put out the fire.

When to stop fighting a fire!

• If your path of escape becomes threatened.

• If the extinguisher runs out.

• If the extinguisher is ineffective

• If the extinguisher malfunctions

• If you feel the situation has become unsafe

• If any of these occur leave the area immediately closing the door behind you.

Where to find extinguishers on campus

• In the corridors of academic and office buildings and inside some large classrooms.

• Inside or in the hallway just outside all labs and rooms where chemicals are stored.

• Inside or in the hallway just outside mechanical spaces where motorized or other equipment is present.

• In campus storage buildings and mounted inside certain university vehicles.

Questions

• Remember this is only half of the training. You must still attend the hands on session in order to complete the training.

• Thank you for attending!