Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters

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Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire
Chiefs and Firefighters
Founded 1964
Incorporated 1979
Serving Our Province for the Betterment of Fire
protection
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NLAFCFF. Basic Firefighting Course

• Portable Extinguishers
• Lesson Six

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OverviewIn this lesson, you will look at

• Types of portable fire extinguishers.
• The extinguisher rating system.
• How to select portable fire extinguishers.
• How to use portable fire extinguishers.
• How to inspect portable fire extinguishers.

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ObjectivesBy end of this lesson, you should be
able to

• 6.1 Identify types of portable fire
  extinguishers.
• 6.2 Identify the classes of portable fire
  extinguishers and their characteristics.
• 6.3 Select the correct portable fire extinguisher
  for a given situation.
• 6.4 Correctly use portable fire extinguishers
• 6.5 Correctly inspect portable fire extinguishers.

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Types Of Portable Extinguishers

• Pump-tank water extinguishers
• Stored-pressure water extinguishers
• Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) extinguishers
• Halon extinguishers
• Dry chemical extinguishers
• Dry powder (Agents for metal fires)
• Carbon dioxide

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Pump-tank Water Extinguisher

• Pump-tank water extinguishers are intended for
  use on small class A fires only
• They are equipped with a double-acting pump

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Stored Pressure Water Extinguisher

• Also called air-pressured water (APW)
• Used for all types of small class A fires
• Water is stored in the tank along with compressed
  air or nitrogen

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Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Extinguishers

• AFFF extinguishers are suitable for class A and
  class B fires
• The AFFF extinguisher tank contains a specified
  amount of AFFF concentrate mixed with water
• It has an air aspirating nozzle that aerates the
  foam solution
• The water/AFFF solution is expelled by compressed
  air or nitrogen stored in the tank with the
  solution

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Halon Extinguishers

• Halon is a generic term for halogenated
  hydrocarbons
• Halogenated vapor is nonconductive and is
  effective in extinguishing surface fires

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Dry - Chemical Extinguishers

• Dry chemical agents are for use on class A-B-C
  fires and/or class B-C fires
• Dry powder agents are for class D fires only
• Dry chemical are among the most common
  extinguishers

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Dry Powder ExtinguisherAgents for metal fires

• Class D fires only
• Dont disturb the powder when applied

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Carbon Dioxide

• Class B C fires
• Dont catch hold of the cone

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Portable fire extinguishers are classified
  according to their intended use on the four
  classes of fire. The Rating System specifies
  which classes of fire extinguishers can be use
  on, and their performance capability.
• Classification is according to intended use in
  accordance with tests conducted by ULC.
• Class A rating (ordinary combustible)
• A-1 rating requires 1 ¼ gallons (5L) of water, a
  2-A requires twice as much water.

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Class B rating (flammable liquids)
• Rating based on approximate square foot area of a
  flammable liquid fire that a non-expert operator
  can extinguish. A non-expert could extinguish 1
  sq. ft (.09m2) for each numerical rating. An
  expert can extinguish 60 more than the rating of
  the extinguisher.

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Class C rating (electrical equipment)
• No numerical rating. Essentially Class A and B
  fires involving energized electrical equipment.

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Class D rating (combustible metals)
• No numerical rating

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Multiple markings.
• The extinguisher can be used in more than one
  class of fires

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Extinguisher Rating System

• Two methods of labeling portable extinguishers
• Coloured geometric shapes with a class letter
  shown within the shape.
• Picture symbols

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Selecting Portable Extinguishers

• Extinguishers should effectively extinguish the
  fire with a minimum risk to life and property.

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Selecting Portable Extinguishers

• Type of fire ( A,B,C,D)
• Extinguishers rating
• Hazards to be protected
• Fires severity
• Atmosphere
• Personnel
• Extinguisher handling
• Life hazards or operational concerns

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Extinguisher Procedure

• Although the generality of PASS can be used,
  firefighters should be familiar with the detailed
  instruction for using any extinguisher. These
  instructions are found on the extinguishers label

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Extinguisher Procedure

• Checks to be made before using a fire
  extinguisher.
• Appears in good condition with adequate
  pressure/weight.
• Fire fighter can operate extinguisher from
  windward side.
• Fire fighter can operate from an effective
  distance
• Fire extinguisher is in the upright position.

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Extinguisher Procedure

• General operating instructions follows the
  letters P-A-S-S
• P- pull the pin
• A- aim the nozzle
• S- squeeze the lever
• S- sweep back and forth

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Inspecting Portable Extinguishers

• Regular inspections will ensure extinguishers are
  accessible and operable at a critical moment
• Check to see extinguisher is in proper location
  and that it is accessible.
• Inspect the discharge nozzle/ horn for
  obstructions.

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Inspecting Portable Extinguishers

• Check to see if the operating instructions on the
  extinguisher nameplate are legible
• Lock pins and seals in place
• Full of extinguishing agent and fully pressurized

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Inspecting Portable Extinguishers

• Up to date inspection tag
• Shell, hose, and fitting in good condition

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Damaged or obsolete Portable Extinguishers

• Damaged cylinders should be discarded or returned
  to manufacture.
• Obsolete extinguishers (inverting types) should
  be removed from service.

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Damaged Portable Extinguishers

• If the extinguisher shows only slight damage or
  corrosion. It should be hydrostatically tested by
  the manufacturer or qualified testing agency
• Leaking hoses, gaskets,nozzles, and loose labels
  can be replaced by firefighters

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Test

• 1. AFFF extinguishers are suitable for
  fires.
• A. Class B
• B. Class C
• C. Class D
• D. Water-soluble flammable liquid
• 2. Dry power extinguishers are suitable for
  fires.
• A. Class A-B-C
• B. Class B-C
• C. Class A-B-C-D
• D. Class D

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• 3. This type of extinguisher prevents reflash by
  coating the hot surface.
• A. Halon 1211
• B. Halon 1301
• C. Carbon Dioxide
• D. Dry powder
• 4. A extinguisher has limited reach and is
  used on Class B and Class C fires.
• A. Halon
• B. Dry Power
• C. Dry Chemical
• D. AFFF

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• 5. A red square with a letter designation in the
  centre would indicate an extinguisher is rated
  for use on fires.
• A. Class A
• B. Class B
• C. Class C
• D. Class D
• 6. An extinguisher that can be used on
  combustible metals would have a symbol of a
  on it.
• A. Yellow star
• B. Blue circle
• C. Red square
• D. Green triangle

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• 7. AFFF extinguishers are generally rated for
  fires
• A. Class A only
• B. Class A and B
• C. Class B only
• D. Class A, B,C
• 8. How much water would a Class A fire
  extinguisher require in order to be rated 2-A
  
• A. 1 gallon (4L)
• B. 1 ¼ gallons (5L)
• C. 2 gallons (8L)
• D. 2 ½ gallons (10L)

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• 9. With a 6A20BC rated fire extinguisher, a
  non-expert operator would be expected to
  extinguish a flammable liquid fire.
• A. 6 ft2
• B. 10 ft2
• C. 20 ft2
• D. 40 ft2
• 10. The addition of Class A foam to a water
  extinguisher
• A. Increases it effectiveness on deep seated
  fires
• B. Allows it to be used on Class C fires
• C. Increases its effectiveness on polar solvent
  fires
• D. Allows it to be used on Class D fires

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• 11. When pressuring a wheeled dry chemical
  extinguisher it is necessary to
• A. Remove the hose after extinguisher has been
  charged
• B. Open the nozzle before the tank is pressurized
• C. Invert the tank to create pressure
• D. Stretch out the hose before charging
• 12. is an example of a Class B fire
• A. Plastic
• B. Paint
• C. Sodium
• D. Aluminum

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Answers

• 1. AFFF extinguishers are suitable for
  fires.
• A. Class B
• 2. Dry power extinguishers are suitable for
  fires.
• D. Class D

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• 3. This type of extinguisher prevents reflash by
  coating the hot surface.
• D. Dry Powder
• 4. A extinguisher has limited reach and is
  used on Class B and Class C fires.
• A. Halon

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• 5. A red square with a letter designation in the
  centre would indicate an extinguisher is rated
  for use on fires.
• B. Class B
• 6. An extinguisher that can be used on
  combustible metals would have a symbol of a
  on it.
• A. Yellow star

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• 7. AFFF extinguishers are generally rated for
  fires
• B. Class A and B
• 8. How much water would a Class A fire
  extinguisher require in order to be rated 2-A
  
• D. 2 ½ gallons (10L)

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• 9. With a 6A20BC rated fire extinguisher, a
  non-expert operator would be expected to
  extinguish a flammable liquid fire.
• C. 20 ft
• 10. The addition of Class A foam to a water
  extinguisher
• A. Increases it effectiveness on deep seated
  fires

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• 11. When pressuring a wheeled dry chemical
  extinguisher it is necessary to
• D. Stretch out the hose before charging
• 12. is an example of a Class B fire
• B. Paint