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Fire Safe 2

Fire safety is important even in facilities that follow prevention basics, as unexpected fires can still occur. If a fire breaks out, sound the alarm and evacuate if it is too large, or fight a small fire using the proper extinguisher. Fires are classified based on the burning material, and using the wrong extinguisher could make the situation worse. The document then describes the characteristics and appropriate extinguishers for Class A, B, C, and D fires. Extinguishers are labeled based on the class of fire they can be used on, and some can be used on multiple classes.

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Lokmane Yellou
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49 views1 page

Fire Safe 2

Fire safety is important even in facilities that follow prevention basics, as unexpected fires can still occur. If a fire breaks out, sound the alarm and evacuate if it is too large, or fight a small fire using the proper extinguisher. Fires are classified based on the burning material, and using the wrong extinguisher could make the situation worse. The document then describes the characteristics and appropriate extinguishers for Class A, B, C, and D fires. Extinguishers are labeled based on the class of fire they can be used on, and some can be used on multiple classes.

Uploaded by

Lokmane Yellou
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fire Safety

Even in a facility where the basics of fire prevention are understood and followed, an unexpected fire may
nevertheless occur. When that happens, people may panic because they don’t know the proper firefighting
procedures and equipment.
Your first response, of course, must be to set off the alarm. The second is to leave the area if the fire is too
big to handle. To deal with a small fire, you must know what class it belongs to, based on the kind of
material that is burning. Using the wrong type of extinguisher, or using one improperly, could result in
additional property damage and injury. We have already taken the first step toward avoiding such mistakes
by placing the proper types of extinguisher in each area of the office according to the materials used or
stored there.

Class A Fires
Fires of this type consist of ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, or cloth—and can be put out with
water. Get as close to the fire as possible without endangering yourself, and aim the nozzle toward the base
of the flames. Continue spraying until all smoldering material is wetted down. Deep-seated fires, such as in
baled materials, must be thoroughly soaked and may have to be pulled apart to reach smoldering matter
inside.
A multipurpose dry-chemical extinguisher can also be used on class A fires. Attack at the edge of the fire,
directing the nozzle in a sweeping motion. The powdered chemical becomes sticky when heated, allowing it
to form a film that clings to the heated material and smothers the fire.

Class B Fires
Fires that burn flammable liquids, such as oil, gasoline, solvents, and paints as their primary fuel are Class B.
Dry-chemical extinguishers are the type usually used—starting about 10 feet away from the fire and slowly
moving closer, applying the substance from side to side near the fire’s base. Carbon dioxide extinguishers
are also effective on flammable-liquid fires. You must use this type near the edge of the fire at close range in
an enclosed area where no wind or draft exists. Fires can spread with the presence of oxygen, but carbon
dioxide decreases the amount of oxygen surrounding the fire until the air can no longer support the
combustion.

Class C Fires
These are fires in energized electrical equipment. Water can’t be used, because it conducts electricity and
can deliver a shock to the firefighter. If the equipment can be de-energized, extinguishers for Class A or B
fires may be safely used. Otherwise, carbon dioxide and dry-chemical extinguishers are best. Carbon
dioxide is non-conductive and non-corrosive and leaves no sticky film, making cleanup easy.

Class D Fires
Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and
potassium. Special dry-compound powders, such as powdered graphite and sodium chloride, powdered
talc, soda ash, and limestone, are made to extinguish these fires. In case of emergency, dry sand can be
used.

Extinguisher Types and Labels


Different types of extinguishers are labeled according to the class of fire they are to be used on: type A on
Class A fires, and so on. Some type A and B extinguishers add a number to indicate the size of fire they can
handle, with "1" representing the smallest. Types C and D do not have numbers. Some "Combination
Class" extinguishers (ABC, BC) can be used on more than one class of fire as indicated on the label.

Safety Moment

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