Saad H.
Khammash and Sons Company
EXTINGUISHER
TRAINING
Pushparajan
SAFETY OFFICER
Saad H. Khammash and Sons Company
D
Objectives
• Understand the combustion process and
different fire classes.
• Understand fire extinguisher types,
operating procedures, capabilities, and
limitations.
• Understand basic firefighting concepts:
– R.A.C.E.
– P.A.S.S.
The Combustion Process
FUEL
TEMPERATURE
THE FIRE
TETRAHEDRON
Fire Classes
A Trash Wood Paper C Electrical Equipment
• wood
• cloth • energized
• paper electrical
• rubber equipment
• many plastics
• gasoline COMBUSTIBLE • magnesium
B Liquids Grease
• oil • sodium
• grease • potassium
• tar • titanium
•
•
oil-based
paint
lacquer
D •
•
zirconium
other
flammable
• flammable METALS metals
gases
Fire Classes (cont.)
CLASS K FIRES
K Cooking Media
• Recently recognized by NFPA 10.
• Fires involving combustible
vegetable or animal non-
saturated cooking fats in
commercial cooking equipment.
Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
PRESSURE GAUGE
DISCHARGE LEVER (not found on CO2
extinguishers)
DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN CARRYING
AND SEAL HANDLE
DISCHARGE HOSE
DATA PLATE
DISCHARGE NOZZLE BODY
DISCHARGE ORIFICE
Fire Extinguisher Ratings
NUMERAL FIRE CLASS RANGE
A Trash Wood Paper
DIRECT INDEX OF THE SIZE 1-A thru 40-A
FIRE THE QUANTITY OF AGENT
CAN HANDLE
B Liquids Grease
INDICATION OF THE SQUARE FOOT
AREA OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID THE
1-B thru 640-B
EXTINGUISHER WILL HANDLE
C Electrical Equipment
NO NUMERAL IS USED BECAUSE
THERE ARE NO DEGREES OF
SAFETY WHERE ELECTRICITY IS N/A
CONCERNED
COMBUSTIBLE
NOT APPLICABLE BECAUSE OF
THE SPECIALIZED NATURE OF
THE BURNING MATERIAL D N/A
METALS
K Cooking Media
DIRECT INDEX OF THE SIZE
FIRE THE QUANTITY OF AGENT 1-A:C:K or 2-A:C:K
CAN HANDLE
Fire Extinguisher Applications
FIRE CLASS EFFECTIVE EXTINGUISHER TYPES
A Trash Wood Paper
PRESSURIZED WATER, MULTIPURPOSE DRY
CHEMICAL, LARGER SIZE HALON, WET CHEMICAL
B Liquids Grease
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE,
HALON
C Electrical Equipment
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE,
HALON, WET CHEMICAL
COMBUSTIBLE
COMBUSTIBLE METAL
D
METALS
K Cooking Media
WET CHEMICAL
Fire Extinguisher Types
PRESSURIZED WATER
• Class “A” fires only.
A Trash Wood Paper
•
A Trash Wood Paper
2.5 gal. water at 150-175 psi (up to 1
minute discharge time).
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
capacity check.
• 30-40 ft. maximum effective range.
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
• Can be started and stopped as
necessary.
• Extinguishes by cooling burning
material below the ignition point.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
• Class “B” or “C” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper
• 2.5-100 lb. of CO2 gas at 150-
200 psi (8-30 seconds
discharge time).
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease • Has NO pressure gauge--
capacity verified by weight.
• 3-8 ft. maximum effective
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
range.
• Extinguishes by smothering
burning materials.
• Effectiveness decreases as
temperature of burning
material increases.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL
• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper
• 2.5-20 lb. dry chemical (ammonium
phosphate) pressurized to 50-200
B Liquids Grease
psi by nitrogen gas (8-25 seconds
B Liquids Grease
discharge time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
capacity check.
• 5-20 ft. maximum effective range.
• Extinguishes by smothering burning
materials.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
HALON
• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires (smaller
sizes ineffective against Class “A”).
• 9-17 lb. Halon 1211 (pressurized
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper liquid) released as vapor (8-18
seconds discharge time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease
capacity check.
• 9-16 ft. maximum effective range.
• Works best in confined area--ideal
for electronics fire due to lack of
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
residue.
• Extinguishes by smothering burning
materials.
• Fumes toxic if inhaled.
• Halon is ozone depleting chemical--
production halted in Jan ‘94.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
COMBUSTIBLE METAL
• Class “D” combustible metal
fires only.
• 30 lb. pressurized dry powder
optimized for specific
combustible metal (also
available in bulk containers for
hand scooping onto fire to
extinguish).
• 6-8 ft. maximum effective range.
• To activate, must first open
COMBUSTIBLE nitrogen cylinder on back to
pressurize body.
D • Extinguishes by smothering
METALS
burning materials.
Fire Extinguisher Types
WET CHEMICAL
A Trash Wood Paper
• Class “A”, “C”, and “K” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper
• 1.5 gal. of stored pressure
PRX wet chemical
C Electrical Equipment
extinguishing agent (40 sec.
discharge time).
C Electrical Equipment
• 10-12 ft. maximum effective
range.
K Cooking Media
• On Class “K” fires, don’t use
until after fixed extinguishing
system has activated.
• Extinguishes by cooling and
forming foam blanket to
prevent re ignition.
Fire Extinguisher Summary
EXTINGUISHER TYPE WORKS BY EFFECTIVE AGAINST
PRESSURIZED COOLING
WATER
CARBON SMOTHERING
DIOXIDE
MULTIPURPOSE
DRY CHEMICAL SMOTHERING
HALON SMOTHERING
COMBUSTIBLE
SMOTHERING D
METAL
COOLING/
WET CHEMICAL
SMOTHERING
Fire Emergency Response
R Rescue
A Alarm
C Contain
E Extinguish
Firefighting Decision Criteria
• Know department emergency procedures and
evacuation routes.
• Know locations of extinguishers in your area
and how to use them.
• Always sound the alarm regardless of fire size.
• Avoid smoky conditions.
• Ensure area is evacuated.
• Don’t attempt to fight unless:
– Alarm is sounded.
– Fire is small and contained.
– You have safe egress route (can be reached
without exposure to fire).
– Available extinguishers are rated for size and type
of fire.
• If in doubt, evacuate!
Fighting the Fire
P Pull the pin
Aim low at the
A base of flames
Squeeze the
S handle
S Sweep side to side
Summary
• Combustion process (Fire Tetrahedron).
• Class A, B, C, D, K fires.
• Types of portable fire extinguishers:
– Operating procedures.
– Capabilities and limitations.
• Basic firefighting concepts:
R.A.C.E.
– P.A.S.S.
Inappropriate use of extinguishers
• The fire is large and has grown
beyond its original confined space
• Your escape path is threatened
• You are not sure if you have the
correct type of fire extinguisher
Personal hazards
• Smoke and noxious fumes
• Smoke and fumes cause
unconsciousness
• Death may result
PASS method of fighting fires
Hold the extinguisher upright
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the handle
• Sweep the base of the fire
• Do not aim high at the flames
Prevention methods
• Keep work areas clean and clutter-
free
• Know how to handle and store
chemicals
• Know what you are expected to do in
an emergency
Prevention methods
• Know about the chemicals you work
with
• Become familiar with emergency
action plan for fires
