Fire Extinguisher Use

Fire Extinguisher Use

Course Outline – Fire Extinguisher Use • Why Take Fire Extinguisher Use Training? • Planning for a Fire Emergency • Stages of Fire • The Fire Triangle • Classes of Fire • Types of Extinguishers • Using a Fire Extinguisher • Six Rules for Dealing with Fire • Inspection & Maintenance • Evacuation • Risk Assessment • Summary

Why Take Fire Extinguisher Use Training? • Understanding the importance of fire extinguisher use: • Workplace fires and explosions kill hundreds and injure thousands of workers each year. • One way to limit the amount of damage from fires is to make portable fire extinguisher use a part of your fire prevention program. • When used properly, fire extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out small fires before they can do damage.

Planning for a Fire Emergency Fire is the most common type of emergency an organization must plan for: • Training:The staff must be well trained and understand the use and limitations of portable fire extinguishers and the hazards associated with fighting fires.

Planning for a Fire Emergency • Fire is the most common type of emergency an organization must plan for (continued): • Evacuation: The organization needs an evacuation plan and evacuation charts posted throughout the facility. Evacuation drills must be conducted regularly. • Emergency Action and Fire Prevention Plans: These plans should be in place and be current. They include emergency response requirements, incident command structure, training requirements etc. • Equipment: This course will discuss portable fire extinguishers, which are a required component of a fire prevention program.

Stages of Fire • Incipient • Free burn • Smolder Fires will go through three distinct stages without interruption: Prior to attempting to put out any fire, you must know what stage the fire is in.

Stages of Fire • Stage 1 - Incipient phase: • The fire begins. • The fire will be small and could spread slowly. • There will be minimal smoke in the area. This is the only phase in which a fire extinguisher is an acceptable tool for fire suppression.

Stages of Fire • Stage 2 - Free burn phase: • The flames and smoke grow and expand rapidly. • Fire engulfs the area and smoke may fill the room rapidly. • The heat is too intense to approach the fire. Fires in this stage are no longer acceptable to fight with an extinguisher and all personnel must evacuate.

Stages of Fire • Stage 3 - Smoldering phase: • The oxygen and or fuel supply has been depleted. • This occurs at the end of the fire and all personnel should have already evacuated. • No personnel shall be permitted to re-enter the area during this time. Only professional fire fighters have the training and equipment to put out a smoldering fire.

Stages of Fire • Please name: • Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 Only professional fire fighters have the training and equipment to put out a smoldering fire.

The Fire Triangle A fire triangle requires three things: Oxygen: Is required as a catalyst and can be supplied by the surrounding air or, in some cases, by the fuel itself. Fuel: For a fire to burn there must be a burnable material present. Heat: For a fire to start there must be a source of heat or ignition. A fire requires all three parts of the fire triangle.

The Fire Triangle Fire extinguishers can break down the fire triangle: • The extinguishing agent blankets the fuel so the ignition (flame) cannot reach the fuel. • Caution: When using an extinguisher, always aim for the base of the fire to coat the fuel, not at the flames. • The extinguishing agent displaces oxygen that the fire needs to burn. • Caution: After using an extinguisher there may not be enough oxygen to breathe in the area.

The Fire Triangle Name the Three Requirements for a Fire

Classes of Fire Fires are classified by the type of fuels, i.e., material, they burn: • Class A Fire • Class B Fire • Class C Fire • Class D Fire • Class K Fire

Classes of Fire Class A: This class of fire burns: • Wood • Paper • Plastic • Rags

Classes of Fire Class B: This class of fire burns flammable liquids such as: • Gasoline • Oil • Grease • Paint

Classes of Fire Class C: This class of fire includes electrical fires, such as: • Office equipment • Motors • Switchgears • Heaters

Classes of Fire Class D: This class of fire involves burning metal, such as: • Potassium • Phosphorus • Sodium • Aluminum • Magnesium

Classes of Fire • Class K: • This class of fire involves combustible cooking fluids, such as: • Vegetable oils used in deep fryers.

Types of Extinguishers Two functions of the portable fire extinguisher: • Used to control or extinguish small fires. • Used to protect evacuation routes from fire that may be directly or indirectly blocked with smoke or burning materials.

Types of Extinguishers Fire extinguisher classifications: • They are classified according to the kinds of fires they are designed to extinguish. • Fire extinguisher class ratings: • Class A extinguisher • Class B extinguisher • Class C extinguisher • Class D extinguisher • Class ABC extinguisher • Class K extinguisher Class ABC are the most common and commercially available fire extinguishers.

Types of Extinguishers Class A Extinguishers Class A extinguishers are used for these materials: • Wood • Paper • Plastic • Rags

Types of Extinguishers Class B Extinguishers Class B extinguishers are used for flammables like: • Gasoline • Oil • Grease • Paint

Types of Extinguishers Class C extinguishers are for electrical fires: Electrical fires can start from different types of equipment, such as: • Office machines • Motors • Switchgears • Heaters

Types of Extinguishers • Class D extinguishers are used on burning metals: • Class D fires involve burning metals, such as: • Potassium • Phosphorus • Sodium • Aluminum • Magnesium

Types of Extinguishers • Class K extinguishers are used on combustible cooking fluids: • Vegetable oils used in deep fryers are a common ignition source. • The extinguishing agents in Class K extinguishers can be electrically conductive, so they should only be used after the appliance’s power has been turned off.

Types of Extinguishers Class A Extinguishers What type of Fire Extinguisher is the most common?

Using a Fire Extinguisher Extinguishing a fire with a fire extinguisher requires: • Immediate access to the extinguisher. • Knowing the types of fires and proper kinds of extinguishers to use. • Knowing how to operate extinguishers. • Knowing how to apply the extinguishing agent to the fire effectively.

Using a Fire Extinguisher Use the PASS system to fight a fire: • Pull • Aim • Squeeze • Sweep

Using a Fire Extinguisher Pull: • Pull the pin. • Removing the safety pin allows the activation handle to be squeezed.

Using a Fire Extinguisher Aim: • Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire where the fuel is. • Do not aim directly at the flames because the extinguishing agent will fly right through and will not extinguish the fire.

Using a Fire Extinguisher Squeeze: • Squeeze the two handles together. • Squeezing the top handle down to the bottom handle releases the pressurized extinguishing agent from the extinguisher.

Using a Fire Extinguisher Sweep: • Sweep from side to side. • Cover the fuel with the extinguishing agent until the fire is completely out.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 1 - Do not fight a fire if you don't know what the fuel is: • If you don't know what is burning, then you don't know what type of extinguisher to use. • Even if you have a Class ABC extinguisher, there may be something in the fire that could explode or produce highly toxic smoke.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 2 – Do not fight a fire if the fire has spread beyond the spot where it started: • The appropriate time to use a portable fire extinguisher is in the beginning stages of a fire. • If the fire is already spreading, evacuate the building. • If time allows, close doors and windows as you leave.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 3 – Do not fight a fire if you don’t have the appropriate or adequate equipment and training: • If you don't have the correct type of extinguisher or if your extinguisher is obviously too small, do not fight the fire.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 4 – Do not fight a fire if you might inhale toxic smoke: • If the fire is producing a large amount of smoke that you could inhale if you remained in the room, do not fight the fire. • Gases from some materials can be fatal even in very small amounts. • Toxic smoke can produce an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Most fire fatalities are due to smoke inhalation and not burns.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 5 – Do not fight a fire if your instincts tell you not to: • If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any reason, evacuate the building and let trained firefighters do their job.

Six Rules for Fighting Fires Rule 6 – Always position yourself with an exit or means of escape behind you: • Whenever you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire, keep a clear exit at your back. • In case the extinguisher malfunctions or something else unexpected happens, you need to be able to get out quickly; you do not want to become trapped. Remember, always keep a clear exit behind you.

Inspection and Maintenance Inspect by a qualified person monthly to ensure: • Locking pin is securely in place. • Pressure gauge indicates that the extinguisher is full. • Legible operating instructions are on the extinguisher. • No physical damage is present, e.g., corrosion, cracking, leakage, or cracked nozzle. All fire extinguishers must also receive an annual maintenance check.

Evacuation • Evacuate or remain and fire-fight? • Is there a public fire department nearby? • Are the exit routes accessible or are they vulnerable to the fire? • What, if any, fire safety equipment exists in the workplace? • Does the building have a sprinkler system? • How quickly could a fire get out of control, e.g., if flammables are used or stored on the site?

Evacuation Evacuation planning: • Things to consider in the context of a potential fire: • The facility layout and exit locations. • How would employees evacuate? • The amount of combustible and/or flammable materials present. Consider the impacts, based on where a fire could start, e.g., a warehouse vs. an office.

Evacuation • Evacuation option #1 - Total evacuation: • Immediate and total evacuation is required of all staff from the workplace when the alarm sounds. • Establish an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan and train staff accordingly. • No one is authorized to use available fire extinguishers. • Fire extinguishers are not present.

Evacuation • Evacuation option #2 – Designated staff are authorized to use fire extinguishers: • When designated staff are authorized to use fire extinguishers to fight fires, all other staff must evacuate the workplace immediately when an alarm sounds. • Establish an emergency action plan and train staff accordingly. • Meet all fire extinguisher requirements and annually train designated staff to use fire extinguishers. • Fire extinguishers in the workplace must be inspected and maintained.

Evacuation • Evacuation option #3 – All staff are authorized to use fire extinguishers: • If any staff, or visitors will be evacuating, establish an emergency action plan and train staff accordingly. • Meet all fire extinguisher requirements and annually train all staff to use fire extinguishers. • Fire extinguishers in the workplace must be inspected monthly and maintained annually on the required preventive maintenance schedules.

Evacuation Evacuation option #4 - Extinguishers are provided but are not intended for staff use: • Establish an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan. • Train designated staff accordingly. • If fire extinguishers are present in the workplace, they must be inspected and maintained.

Risk Assessment • First things first: • Pull the fire alarm. • Assist anyone in danger. • Be certain that you will not endanger yourself or others if you attempt to extinguish a fire. • Call 911. Fires can spread and intensify in an instant!

Risk Assessment Prior to fighting fire with an extinguisher you must assess: • Fire size • Controllability • Atmosphere in the vicinity of the fire • Evacuation pathway

Risk Assessment Keep these critical points in mind to limit the risk: • A fire can increase in size and intensity in seconds and possibly create a hazardous atmosphere or block the evacuation route of the firefighter. • Portable fire extinguishers contain a limited amount of extinguishing agent and can be discharged in a matter of seconds. • Individuals should only attempt to extinguish very small and controllable fires. Attempting to extinguish even a small fire carries some risk.

Risk Assessment Question 1 – Is the fire too big?

Fire Extinguisher Use