7 Cap

NFPA1081 Standard Knowledge Objectives
Inc ipie nt Indust ria l Fire B riga de M e mbe r After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to:
5.2 Manual Fi re Suppressi on. Thi s duty shall i nvol ve tasks rel ated to the manual State the pri mary purposes of fi re exti ngui shers.
control of fi res and property conservati on acti viti es by the i nci pi ent i ndustri al fi re Defi ne Cl ass A fires.
bri gade member. Defi ne Cl ass B fires.
Define Cl ass C fi res.
5.2.1 * Exti ngui sh i nci pi ent fi res, gi ven an i nci pi ent fi re and a sel ecti on of portabl e
Defi ne Cl ass D fi res.
fire exti ngui shers, so that the correct exti ngui sher i s chosen, the fi re i s compl etel y Defi ne Cl ass K fires.
extingui shed, proper extingui sher-handli ng techni ques are foll owed, and the area of Expl ai n the cl assifi cation and rati ng system for fi re exti ngui shers.
ori gin and fi re cause evi dence are preserved. Descri be the types of agents used i n fi re exti ngui shers.
(A) Requi si te Knowl edge. The cl assi fi cations of fi re; ri sks associ ated with each Descri be the types of operati ng systems i n fi re exti ngui shers.
cl ass of fire; and the types, rati ng systems, operating methods, and li mi tati ons of Descri be the basi c steps of fi re exti ngui sher operati on.
portabl e fi re exti ngui shers. Expl ai n the basi c steps of i nspecti ng, mai ntai ni ng, rechargi ng,
(B) Requi si te Skill s. The abili ty to sel ect, carry, and operate portabl e fi re exti n and hydrostati c testi ng of fi re exti ngui shers.
gui shers, usi ng the appropri ate exti ngui sher based on the si ze and type of fi re.
A dv a nc ed Ext e rior Indust ria l Fire B riga de Me mbe r 6.3 .6* Extingui sh an
Skills Objectives
exteri or fi re using speci al exti ngui shi ng agents other than foam operati ng as a After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to perform the foll owi ng skill s:
member of a team, gi ven an assi gnment, a handli ne, personal protecti ve • Transport the exti ngui sher to the l ocation of the fi re.
equi pment, and an exti ngui shi ng agent suppl y, so that fi re i s exti ngui shed, • Select and operate a portabl e fire exti ngui sher safel y to effecti vel y
re-i gniti on i s prevented, and team protecti on i s mai ntai ned. exti ngui sh an i nci pi ent fi re.
• Attack a Cl ass A fi re wi th a stored -pressure water-type fi re exti ngui sher,
(A) Requi si te Knowl edge. Methods by whi ch speci al agents, such as dry chemi • Attack a Cl ass A fi re wi th a multi purpose dry chemi cal fi re exti ngui sher.
cal , dry powder, and carbon di oxi de, prevent or control a hazard; pri nci pl es by
• Attack a Cl ass B fl ammabl e li qui d fi re wi th a dry chemi cal fi re
whi ch speci al agents are generated; the characteri sti cs, uses, and li mi tati ons of
exti ngui sher.
firefighti ng speci al agents; the advantages and di sadvantages of usi ng speci al
• Attack a Cl ass B fl ammabl e li qui d fi re wi th a stored-pressure foam
agents; special agents a ppli cation techni ques; hazards associ ated with speci al
fire exti ngui sher.
agents usage; and methods to reduce or avoid hazards.
• Use a wet chemi cal fi re extingui sher.
(B) Requi si te Skill s. The abili ty to operate a speci al agent suppl y for use, master • Use a hal ogenated agent -type exti ngui sher.
vari ous speci al agents appli cati on techniques, and approach and ret reat from • Use dry powder fi re extingui shi ng agents.
hazardous areas as part of a coordi nated team.
Inte rior St ruc tural Indust ria l Fire B riga de M e mbe r

NFPA 1081 contai ns no Interi or Structural Industrial job performance requi re ments for
thi s chapter.
Additional NFPA Standards

NFPA 10 Standard for Portabl e Fire Exti ngui shers
NFPA 11 Standard for Low-, Medi um-, and Hi gh-Expansi on Foam Sy stems
NFPA 600 Standard on Industri al Fi re Bri gades
You are responding to a report of a vehicle fire in the plant parking lot. The fire is in the engine
compartment of a light truck. The brigade leader directs you to don your self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA), get the dry chemical extinguisher, and back up the other brigade members who
are pulling a 1 3A-inch hose line to fight the fire. As you follow orders, you wonder:
1. Are there any advantages to using a portab le fire extinguisher to initially attack a car fire?
2. Does it have to b e a dry chemical extinguisher, or would another type of extinguisher work
just a s well?
3. Are there instances when a dry chemical extinguisher should not b e used?
Introduction to a fire that involves expensive electronic equip ment is both

dangerous and costly. Using the co rrect fire ext inguisher
Portable fire ext inguishers are required in many types of could control the fire without causing additional damage to
occupancies, as well as in co mmercial vehicles, boats, air - the equip ment.
craft , and various other locations. Fire p revention effo rts
encourage citizens to keep fire ext inguishers in their homes,
particularly in their kitchens. Fire ext inguishers are used
successfully to put out hundreds of fires every day, preventing
millions of dollars in property damage as well as saving lives.
Most fire ext inguishers are easy to operate and can be used
effect ively by an ind ividu al with only basic t rain ing.
Fire ext inguishers range in size fro m models that can be
operated with one hand to large, wheeled models that contain
several hundred pounds of ext inguishing agent (a material
used to stop the combustion process) (► Figure 7 -1 ).
Ext inguishing agents include water, water with different addi-
tives, dry chemicals, dry powders, and gaseous agents. Each
agent is suitable for specific types of fires.
Fire extinguishers are designed for different purposes and
involve different operational methods. As a brigade member,
you must know wh ich is the most appropriate kind of ext in -
guisher to use for different types of fires, wh ich kinds must
not be used for certain fires, and how to use any fire ext in -
guisher you may encounter, especially those used by your
( Figure 7 -1) Portable fire extinguishers can be
brigade and carried on your apparatus. The select ion of the
large or small. A. A wheeled extinguisher. B. A
proper fire ext inguisher builds on the informat ion presented
one-hand fire extinguisher.
in Chapter 5, Fire Behavior.
Fire brigade members use fire extingu ishers to control
small fires that do not requ ire the use of a hose line. A
portable backpack-type fire ext inguisher can be used to con-
trol and overhaul a wild land fire located beyond the reach of
hoses. Special types of fire extinguishers are appropriate for
situations where the applicat ion o f water would be danger-
ous, ineffective, or undesirable. For examp le, apply ing water
P orta ble Fire Exti nguis hers 171
This chapter also covers the operation and maintenance

of the most co mmon types of portab le fire ext ingu ishers.
Brigade Member Safety Tips
These principles will enab le you to use fire ext inguishers Do not place y ours elf in a dangerous situation by trying to fight a
correctly and effectively to reduce the risk of personal injury large fire wit h a sm all fire extinguis her. You can't fight a fire or
and property damage. protect yourself with an empty extinguisher.
Purposes of Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire ext inguishers have two primary uses: to extin -
guish incip ient fires (those that have not spread beyond the
area o f origin ), and to control fires where t radit ional methods
of fire suppression are not reco mmended .
Proper technique in using a portable fire extinguisher is important for
Fire ext inguishers are p laced in many locat ions so that both saf ety and effectiveness. Practice using a port able fire
they will be available for immed iate use on small, extinguisher under the caref ul supervision of a trained instructor.
incipient-stage fires, such as a fire in a wastebasket. A t rained
individual with a suitab le fire ext inguisher could easily
control this type of fire ( Figure 7-2 ). As the flames spread
beyond the wastebas ket to other contents o f the roo m, the
fire beco mes increasingly d ifficult to control with on ly a
portable fire extinguisher. Incipient Fir es
Fire ext inguishers are also used to control fires where tra- Most fire brigade vehicles carry at least one fire extinguisher;
dit ional ext ingu ishing methods are not reco mmended. For many vehicles carry t wo or more extinguishers of different
example, using water on fires that involve energized electrical types. Brigade members often use these portable extinguishers
equip ment increases the risk of elect rocution to brigade to control incipient-stage fires quickly At times, a brigade
members. Applying water to a fire in a co mputer or elect rical member may even use an extinguisher from the premises to
control roo m could cause extensive damage to the elec trical control an incipient fire.
equip ment. In these cases, it wou ld be better to use a fire One advantage of fire extinguishers is their portability. It
ext inguisher with the app ropriate ext ingu ishing agent. may take less time to control a fire with a portable ext in -
Special ext inguishing agents are also required for fires that guisher than it would to advance and charge a hose line. Fire
involve flammab le liquids, cooking oils, and co mbustible brigade veh icles that are not equ ipped with wat er or fire
metals. The appropriate type of fire extinguisher should be hoses usually carry at least one mult ipu rpose fire ext in -
availab le in areas containing these hazards. guisher. If you arrive at an incipient-stage fire in one of these
vehicles, you might be able to control the flames with the
portable ext inguisher.
The primary disadvantage of fire ext inguishers is that they
are "one-shot" devices. Once the contents of a fire ext in-
guisher have been discharged, the extinguisher is no longer
effective in fighting fires until it is recharged. If the extin-
guisher does not control the fire, some other device or method
will have to be employed. This is a serious limitation when
compared to a fire hose with a continuous water supply.
Special Extinguishing Age nts

So me types of fires require special ext inguishing agents. As a
brigade member, you must know which fires requ ire special
ext inguishing agents, what type o f ext inguisher should be
used, and how to operate the different types of
special-purpose ext ingu ishers.
Special ext inguishing agents are used for kitchen fires
that involve co mbust ible coo king oils and fats, fo r co m-
bustible metal fires, and for fires in elect ronic equip ment.
Us ing water o r an unsu itab le fire -ext ingu ishing chemical
(Figure 7-2) A trained individual with a suitable fire extinguis her can
to fight th ese typ es o f fires can cause more d amage than
easily control an incipient fire. the fire.
172 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I GA D E : P R I N C I PL E S AND PR A C T I C
( Figure 7-4) Most ordinary com bustible materials are included in the
definition of Class A fires.
(Figure 7-3) Portable extinguishers cont aining specific extinguishing agents
are sometimes helpful in overhauling a fire.
Befo re select ing a fire ext inguisher, ask yourself, "What
class of fire am I fighting?" Remember, there are five classes
of fire and each will affect the choice o f ext ingu ishing
Portable ext inguishers are so met imes used in co mbina - equip ment.
tion with other techniques. Fo r examp le, with a pressurized
gas fire, water may be used to cool hot surfaces and prevent Class A Fires
re-ignition, while a d ry chemical agent is used to ext inguish Class A fires inv o lve o rd in ary co mb ust ib les su ch as
the flames. Certain types of portable extinguishers can be wo o d , p ap er, clot h , ru bb er, rub b ish , and s o me p last ics (
helpful in overhauling a fire ( Figure 7-3 ). The ext inguishing Figure 7 -4). Natural vegetation, such as grass and trees, is
agents contained in these devices break down the surface also Class A material. Water is the most common ly used
tension of the water, so the water can penetrate the materials extinguishing agent for Class A fires, although several other
and reach deep-seated fires. agents can be used effectively.
Class B Fires
Classes of Fires Class B fires invo lve flammab le or co mbustib le liqu ids,
It is essential to match the approp riate type o f ext inguisher such as gasoline, o il, grease, tar, lacquer, o il-based paints,
to the type of fire. Fires and fire ext inguishers are g rouped and some plastics (Figure 7-5). Fires involving flammable
into classes according to their characteristics. So me ext in - gases, such as propane or natural gas, are also categorized as
guishing agents work mo re efficiently than others on certain Class B fires. Several different types of extinguishing agents
types of fires. In so me cases, select ing the proper ext in- are approved for Class B fires.
guishing agent will mean the difference between extinguish - Examp les of Class B fires inclu de a fire in a pot o f
ing a fire and being unab le to contro l it . mo lten roo fing tar, a fire involv ing splashed fuel, and bu rn-
More importantly , in so me cases it is dangerous to apply ing natu ral gas that is escap ing fro m a gas meter struck by a
the wrong ext inguish ing agent to a fire. Using a water vehicle.
ext ingu isher on an elect rical fire can cause an electrical
shock as well as a short circu it in the equip ment. A water Class C Fires
ext inguisher should never be used to fight a grease fire. Class C fires invo lve energ ized elect rical eq u ip ment ,
Bu rning grease is generally hotter than 212°F (100°C), so wh ich includes any dev ice that uses, p roduces, or delivers
the water converts to steam, which expands very rap idly. If electrical energy (Figure 7-6 ). A Class C fire could involve
the water penetrates the surface of the grease, the steam is building wiring and outlets, fuse bo xes, circu it b reakers,
produced with in the grease. As the steam exp ands, the hot trans- formers, generators, or electric motors. Power tools,
grease erupts like a vo lcano and splatters over everyth ing light ing fixtu res , househo ld app liances, and elect ron ic
and everyone nearby , resu lting in burns or in ju ries to people devices such as televisions, radios, and co mputers could be
and spreading the fire. involved in Class C fires. The equip ment must be plugged in
Popta ble Fire Exti nguis hers 173
( Figure 7-7-5) Class B fires involve flamm able liquids and gases.
( Figure 7-7) Combustible metals in Class D fires require special extin guishing
agents.
exp losively, if they co me in contact with burning metals.

Vio lent react ions also can occu r wh en wat er strikes burn ing
co mbustible metals.
Class D fires are most often encountered in industrial
occupancies, such as machine shops and repair shops, as well
(Figure 7-6) Class C fires inv olve energized electric al equipm ent or as in fires involving aircraft and automobiles. Magnesium and
appliances. titanium, both combustible metals, are used to produce auto-
motive and aircraft parts because they combine high strength
or connected to an electrical source, but not necessarily with light weight. Sparks fro m cutting, welding, or grinding
operating. operations could ignite a Class D fire, or the metal items could
Electricity does not burn, but electrical energy can gen - become involved in a fire that originated elsewhere.
erate tremendous heat that could ignite nearby Class A or B Because o f the chemical react ions that cou ld occur dur ing
materials. As long as the equipment is energized, it must be a Class D fire, it is important to select the proper extin -
treated as a Class C fire. Agents that will not conduct elec- guishing agent and app licat ion techn ique. Choosing the
tricity, such as d ry chemicals or carbon d io xide, must be correct fire ext inguisher for a Class D fire requires expert
used on Class C fires. knowledge and experience.
Clas s D Fires Class K Fires

Cl ass D fires invo lve co mbustib le metals such as magne - Cl ass K fires invo lve co mbust ib le coo kin g o ils and fats (
siu m, t itan iu m, zircon iu m, sod iu m, lith iu m, and potas - Figure 7-8). This is a relatively new classification; cooking oil
siu m. Sp ecial techn iq ues and ext ingu ish ing ag ents are fires were previously classified as Class B combustible liquid
required to fight combustible metals fires ( Figure 7-7 ). fires. The use of high-efficiency modern cooking equipment
No rmal e xt in gu ish ing ag ents can react v io len t ly , ev en and the t rend to ward us ing vegetab le o ils instead o f
174 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E
Brigade Member Tips

The safest and surest way to extinguish a Class C fire is to turn off the
pow er and treat it like a Class A or B fire. If you are unable to turn off
the pow er, you should be prepared for re-ignition. The electric ity could
re-ignite t he fire aft er it is ext inguis hed.
effective for more than one class will be rated with mult iple
letters. For example, an extinguisher that is safe and effective
for Class A fires will be rated with an "A;" one that is safe and
effect ive for Class B fires will be rated with a "B;" and one
that is safe and effective fo r both Class A and Class B fires
will be rated with both an "A" and a "B."
Class A and Class B fire ext inguishers also include a num-
ber, ind icating the relative effectiveness of the fire ext in -
guisher in the hands of a nonexpert user.
On Class A ext inguishers, the nu mber is related to an
amount of water. An ext inguisher that is rated 1-A contains
the equivalent of 1.25 gallons of water. A typical Class A
ext inguisher contains 2.5 gallons of water and has a 2 -A
rating. The h igher the number, the greater the ext inguishing
capability of the ext inguisher. An ext inguisher that is rated
( Figure 7-8) C lass K fires inv olve cooking oils and fats. 4-A should be ab le to ext inguish appro ximately twice as
much fire as one that is rated 2-A.
The effect iveness of Class B extingu ishers is based on
the appro ximate area (measured in square feet ) o f burn ing
animal fats to fry foods required the develop ment o f a new fuel they are capable of ext inguishing. A 10-B rating ind i-
class of extinguishing agents. Many restaurants are still using cates that a nonexpert user shou ld be ab le to ext ingu ish a
ext ingu ishing agents that were app roved fo r Class B fires. fire in a pan o f flammab le liquid that is 10 square feet in
surface area. An ext inguisher rated 40-B should be ab le to
Classification of Fire Extinguishers contro l a flammab le liqu id p an fire with a surface area of
40 square feet.
Portable fire ext inguishers are classified and rated based on Nu mbers are used to rate an ext inguisher's effectiveness
their characterist ics and capab ilities. Th is info rmat ion is only for Class A and Class B fires. If the fire ext inguisher
important for selecting the proper ext inguisher to fight a par- can also be used fo r Class C fires, it contains an agent
ticular fire ( Table 7-1). It is also used to determine what type proven to b e nonconduct ive to elect ricity and safe for use
or types of fire extinguishers should be placed in a given on energ ized electrical equ ip ment . For instance, a fire
location so that incip ient fires can be qu ickly controlled. ext ingu isher that carries a 2-A:10-B:C rat ing can be used
In the United States, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. on Class A, Class B, and Class C fires. It has the ext in-
(UL) is the organizat ion that developed the standards, clas - guishing capabilities of a 2-A ext inguisher when app lied to
sificat ion, and rating system for portable fire ext inguishers.
This system rates fire ext inguishers for both safety and effec-
tiveness. Each fire ext inguisher has a specific rat ing that Table 7-1 Types of Fifes
identifies the class or classes of fires for which it is both safe
and effective. Class A Ordinary c ombustibles Class B
The classification system for fire ext inguishers uses letters Flamm able or combustible liquids Class C
and numbers. The letters indicate the class or classes of fire Energized electrical equipm ent Class D
for which the ext inguisher can be used, and the nu mbers Combustible met als Class K Combustible
indicate its effect iveness. Fire ext inguishers that are safe and
cook ing m edia
Por ta ble Fi r e Exti nguishers
175
Brigade Member Tips

Brigade members must understand both the U nderwriters
Laboratories classific ation and rating system and the labeling
system for fire extinguishers.
Class A fires, the cap ab ilit ies of a 10-B ext ingu isher fo r
Class B fires, and can be used safely on energized electrical
equip ment.
Standard test fires are used to rate the effectiveness of fire ( Figure 7-9 ) Traditional letter labels on fire extinguishers often inc orpo-
ext inguishers. The testing may invo lve d ifferent agents, rated a shape as well as a letter.
amounts, applicat ion rates, and applicat ion methods. Fire
extinguishers are rated for their ab ility to control a specific
type of fire as well as for the extinguishing agent's ability to
prevent rekindling. So me agents can successfully suppress a
fire but are unable to prevent the material fro m re -ignit ing. A
rating is given only if the extinguisher completely extin -
guishes the standard test fire and prevents rekindling .
Labeling of Fire Extinguishers

Fire ext inguishers that have been tested and approved by an
independent labo ratory are labeled to clearly designate the
class or classes of fire the unit is capable of ext inguishing
safely . The tradit ional lettering system has been used for
many years and is still found on many fire ext inguishers.
Recent ly , ho wever, a universal p ictograph system, wh ich (Figure 7 -10) T he ic ons f or Classes A, B, C, and K fires.
does not require the user to be familiar with the alphabetic
codes for the d ifferent classes of fires, has been developed.
are all square icons that are designed to represent each class
Traditional Lettering System (Figure7-9) of fire (Figure 7-10). The icon for Class A fires is a burning
The t rad it ional lettering system uses th e fo llo wing labels : trash can beside a wood fire. The Class B fire ext in guisher
• Extinguishers suitable for use on Class A fires are icon is a flame and a gasoline can; the Class C icon is a flame
identified by the letter A on a solid green triangle. and an electrical p lug and socket. There is no pictograph for
• Ext inguishers suitable for use on Class B fires are identi Class D extinguishers. Ext inguishers rated for fighting Class
fied by the letter B on a solid red square. K fires are labeled with an icon showing a fire in the frying
• Extinguishers suitable for use on Class C fires are pan.
identified by the letter C on a solid b lue circle. Under this pictograph labeling system, the presence of an
• Ext inguishers suitable for use on Class D fires are iden icon ind icates that the extingu isher has been rated for that
tified by the letter D on a solid yellow five-pointed star. class of fire. A missing icon indicates that the extingu isher
• Extinguishers suitable for use on Class K (co mbustible has not been rated for that class of fire. A red slash across an
cooking oil) fires are identified by a pictograph show icon indicates that the extinguisher must not be used on that
ing a fire in a fry ing pan. Because the Class K designa type of fire, because do ing so wou ld creat e add it ional ris k.
tion is new, there is no trad itional-system alphabet An ext inguisher rated for Class A fires only would show
graphic fo r it. all three icons, but the icons for Class B and Class C would
have a red diagonal line through them. Th is three-icon array
Pictograph Labeling System signifies that the extinguisher uses a water-based extinguish-
The pictograph system, such as described for Class K fire ing agent, making it unsafe to use on flammable liquid or
extinguishers, uses symbols rather than letters on the labels. electrical fires.
This system also clearly indicates if an extinguisher is inap - Certain ext ingu ishers labeled fo r Class B and Class C
propriate for use on a particular class of fire. The pictographs fires do not include the Class A icon but may be used to put
17 6 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A ND P R A C T I C E
out s mall Class A fires. The fact that they have not been Accord ing to NFPA 10, the reco mmended mount ing
rated for Class A fires indicates that they are less effective in heights for the placement of fire ext inguishers are:
ext inguishing a co mmon co mbustib le fire than a co mpara - • Fire ext inguishers weigh ing up to 40 lbs (18.14 kg )
ble Class A ext inguisher wou ld be. should be mounted so that the top o f the
ext ingu isher is not mo re than 5' (1.53 m) above the
Fire Extinguisher Placement floor.
• Fire ext inguishers weigh ing mo re than 40 lbs (18.14
Fire codes and regulat ions require the installation of fire kg ) should be mounted so that the top of the ext in
ext inguishers in many areas so that they will be available to guisher is not more than 3' (1.07 m) above the floo r.
fight incipient fires. NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire • The bottom of an extingu isher should be at least 4"
Extinguishers lists the requirements for placing and mounting (10.2 cm) above the floor.
portable fire ext inguishers as well as the appropriate mounting
heights. Classifying Area Hazards
The regulations for each type of occupancy specify the Areas are divided into three risk classifications —light, ord i-
maximu m floor area that can be protected by each ext in - nary, and extra hazard —accord ing to the amount and type of
guisher, the maximu m travel d istance from the closest extin- combustibles that are present, including building materials,
guisher to a potential fire, and the types of fire ext inguishers contents, decorat ions, and furn itu re. The quantity of
that should be provided. Two key factors must be considered combustible materials present is called a bu ild ings fire load
when determin ing wh ich type o f ext ingu isher shou ld be and is measured as the average weight of combustible materials
placed in each area: the class of fire that is likely to occur and per square foot or per square meter o f floor area. The larger
the potential magn itude of an incip ient fire. the fire load, the larger the potential fire.
Extinguishers should be mounted so they are readily vis - Occupancy use category does not necessarily determine
ible and easily accessed ( Figure 7-11 ). Heavy extinguishers the approp riate hazard classificat ion. The reco mmended
should not be mounted high on a wall. If the ext inguisher is hazard classificat ions for different types of occupancies are
mounted too h igh, a s maller person might be unab le to lift it guidelines based on typical situations. The hazard classifica-
off its hook o r could be in jured in the attempt . tion for each area should be based on the actual amount and
type of co mbustibles that are p resent.
Li g ht or Low Hazard
Light (or low) hazard locations are areas where the majority
of materials are noncombustible or arranged so that a fire is
not likely to spread. Light hazard environments usually con-
tain limited amounts of Class A combustibles, such as wood,
paper products, cloth, and similar materials. A light hazard
environment might also contain some Class B combustibles
(flammable liquids and gases), such as copy machine chemi-
cals o r modest q uant it ies o f paints and so lv ents, but all
Class B materials must be kept in closed containers and stored
safely Examp les of co mmon light hazard environments are
most offices and meeting rooms. (Figure 7-12).
Ordi nary or Mo derate Hazard

The ordi nary (o r moderate) hazard l ocati ons cont ain
more Class A and Class B materials than light hazard loca-
tions. Examp les of ord inary hazard locations include light
manufacturing, light vehicle repair shops, research labs, and
electronic plants (Figure 7-13).
Ord inary hazard areas also include warehouses that con -
tain Class I and Class II commodities. Class I commod ities
include noncombustible p roducts stored on wooden pallets
o r in co rrug at ed carto ns t hat are sh rin k -wrapp ed o r
wrapped in paper. Class II co mmod ities include noncom-
flgure 7-11 ) Ext inguis hers should be m ounted in locat ions with unob - bustible products stored in wooden crates or mu lt ilayered
structed access and visibility. corrugated cartons.
( Figure 7-12) Light hazard areas include offices, conferenc e rooms, and ( Figure 7-14T) M obile equipment repair f acilities, plastics proc essing
training rooms. areas, and combustible fluid use areas are classif ied as extra hazard locations.
Deter mining the Appropriate Class of

Fire Extinguish er
Several facto rs must be considered when determin ing the
number and types of fire ext inguishers that should be placed
in each area o f an o ccup an cy . A mong t hese fact o rs are
the types o f fuels found in th e area and the qu ant it ies o f
those materials.
So me areas may need ext ingu ish ers wit h mo re th an
one rat ing o r mo re than one type o f fire ext ingu isher.
Environ ments that include Class A co mbustibles require an
extinguisher rated for Class A fires; those with Class B
combustibles require an ext inguisher rated for Class B fires;
and areas that have both Class A and Class B co mbustibles
require either an extinguisher that is rated for both types of
fires or a separate extinguisher for each class of fire.
Most build ings requ ire ext ingu ishers that are su itab le
( Figure 7-13) Light manufacturing, mobile equipment repair shops, and for fight ing Class A fires because ord inary co mbustib le
electronic plants are classif ied as ordinary hazard areas. materials, such as furniture, partit ions, interio r finish mate -
rials, paper, and packag ing products, are so co mmon . Even
wh ere oth er classes o f p roducts are used o r sto red , th ere is
still a need to defend the facility fro m a fire involving
Extra or High Hazard common co mbustib les.
Extra (or high) hazard locations contain more Class A com- A sing le mu lt ipu rpose ext ingu isher is generally less
bustibles and/or Class B flammables than ordinary hazard expensive than two indiv idual fire ext inguishers and elimi -
locations. Examples of extra hazard areas include woodwork- nates the problem of select ing the proper ext inguisher for a
ing shops, mobile equipment repair facilities, plastics process - particular fire. However, it is sometimes more appropriate to
ing areas, and combustible fluid use areas (Figure 7-14). In install Class A extinguishers in general use areas and to place
addition, areas used for manufacturing processes such as ext inguishers that are especially effective in fighting Class B
painting, dipping, or coating, and facilit ies used for storing or or Class C fires near those hazards.
handling flammable liquids are classified as extra hazard envi- Some facilit ies present a variety of conditions. In these
ronments. Warehouses containing products that do not meet occupancies, each area must be indiv idually evaluated so
the definitions of Class I and Class II commodities are also that ext inguisher installation is tailored to the part icu lar
considered extra hazard locations. circu mstances.
Methods of Fire Extinguishment blanket of foam to the surface of a burning liquid is another
example. Surrounding the fuel with a layer of carbon dioxide
Understanding the nature of fire is key to understanding how
can also cut off the supply of oxygen necessary to sustain the
extinguishing agents work and how they differ from each other.
burning process.
All fires require four elements: fuel, sufficient heat, oxygen, and
a chemical chain reaction. Scientifically, burning is called rapid Interrupting the Chemical Chain
oxi dation. It is a chemical process that occurs when a fuel is
Some extinguishing agents work by interrupting the reaction
combined with o xygen, resulting in the formation of ash or
required to sustain combustion. In some cases, a very small
other waste products and the release of energy as heat and light.
quantity of the agent can acco mp lish the object ive.
The combustion process begins when the fuel is heated to
its ignition point—the temperature at which it begins to burn.
The energy that initiates the process can come from many dif- Types of Extinguishing Agents
ferent sources, including a spark or flame, friction, electrical
An ext ingu ishing agent is the substance contain ed in a
energy, or a chemical reaction. Once a substance begins to portable fire extinguisher that puts out a fire. The best extin-
burn, it will generally continue burning as long as there are
guishing agent for a particular hazard depends on several
adequate supplies of oxygen and fuel to sustain the chemical
factors, including the types of materials involved and the
chain reaction, unless something interrupts the process. anticipated size o f the fire. Portable fire ext inguishers use
Most ext inguishers stop the burning by cooling the fuel
seven basic types of extinguishing agents:
below its ignition point or kindling temperature, by cutting off
• Water
the supply of oxygen, or by combin ing these two techniques. • Dry chemicals
Some ext inguishing agents interrupt the complex system of
• Carbon dio xide
mo lecular chain reactions that occur between the heated fuel
• Foam
and the oxygen. Modern portable fire extinguishers contain • Wet chemicals
agents that use one or more of these methods.
• Halogenated agents
Cooling the Fuel • Dry powder
If the temperature of the fuel falls below its kindling tem- Water
perature, the co mbustion p rocess will stop. Water ext in -
Water is an efficient, p lentifu l, and inexpensive ext inguishing
guishes a fire using this method.
agent. When water is applied to a fire, it quickly converts from
Cutting Off the Supply of Oxygen liquid into steam, absorbing great quantities of heat in the
process. As the heat is removed fro m the co mbustion process,
Creating a barrier that interrupts the flow of oxygen to the flames
the fuel cools below its ignition temperature and the fire stops
will also extinguish a fire. Putting a lid on a pan of burning food
burning.
is an examp le of this technique ( Figure 7-15 ). Applying a
Water is an excellent extinguishing agent for Class A fires.
Many Class A fuels will absorb water, which fu rther lo wers
the temperature of the fuel. Th is also pre -vents rekind ling.
Water is a much less effective ext ingu ishing agent fo r
other fire classes. Apply ing water to hot coo king o il can
cause splattering, wh ich can spread the fire and possibly
endanger the ext inguisher operator. Because water conducts
electricity, it is dangerous to apply a stream of water to any
fire that involves energized electrical equip ment. If water is
applied to a burn ing co mbustib le metal, a v iolent react ion
can occur. Because of these limitat ions, plain water is only
used in Class A fire ext inguishers.
One disadvantage of water is that it freezes at 32°F (0°C).
In areas that are subject to freezing, l oaded-stream exti n-
guishers can be used. These extinguishers combine an alkali
metal salt with water. The salt lowers the freezing point of
water, so the extinguisher can be used in much colder areas.
Wetting agents can also be added to the water in a fire
extinguisher. These agents reduce the surface tension of the
( Figure 7-15) Cov ering a pan of burning food wit h a lid will extinguis h a
water, allowing it to penetrate mo re effect ively into many
fire by cutting off the supply of oxygen.
fuels, such as baled cotton or fibrous materials.
P orta ble Fire E xti nguis her s 179
Mult ipurpose dry chemical ext ingu ishing agents are in

Dry Che mical the form of fine part icles and are treated with other chemicals
Dry chemical fire extinguishers deliver a stream of very fine to help maintain an even flo w when the ext inguisher is being
particles onto a fire. Different chemical co mpounds are used used. Additional additives prevent them fro m absorbing
to produce extinguishers of varying capabilities and character- mo isture, wh ich cou ld cause caking and interfere with the
istics. The dry chemicals interrupt the chemical chain reaction discharge.
that occurs within the co mbustion process. One disadvantage of dry chemical extinguishers is that the
Dry chemical extinguishing agents offer several advan - chemicals, part icularly the mu ltipurpose dry chemicals, are
tages over water ext inguishers: corrosive and can damage electronic equipment, such as com-
• They are effective on Class B (flammable liquids and puters, telephones, and copy machines. The fine particles are
gases) fires. carried by the air and settle like a fine dust inside the equip -
• They can be used on Class C (energized electrical equip ment. Over time, the residue can corrode metal parts, causing
ment) fires, because the chemicals are nonconductive. considerable damage. If electronic equip ment is exposed to
• They are not subject to freezing. mu ltipurpose dry chemical ext inguishing agents, it should be
The first dry chemical ext ingu ishers were introduced cleaned professionally within 48 hours after exposure.
during the 1950s and were rated only for Class B and C fires. The five p rimary co mpounds used as d ry chemicals
The industry term for these B:C-rated units is "ordinary dry extinguishing agents are:
chemical" ext inguishers. 1. Sodium b icarbonate (rated for Class B and C fires only)
During the 1960s mul ti purpose dry chemical exti n- 2. Potassium bicarbonate (rated for Class B and C fires
guishers were introduced. These extinguishers are rated for only)
Class A, B, and C fires. The chemicals in these extinguishers 3. Urea-based potassium bicarbonate (rated for Class B
form a crust over Class A co mbustible fuels to p revent and C fires only)
rekindling (Figure 1-16). 4. Potassium chlo ride (rated for Class B and C fires only)
5. Ammonium phosphate (rated for Class A, B, and C fires)
Sod iu m b icarbo nate is o ft en used in s mall househo ld
ext inguishers. Potassiu m b icarbonate, potassium chlo ride,
and urea-based potassium b icarbonate all have g reater
fire-ext inguishing capabilities (per unit volume) for Class B
fires than sodiu m b icarbonate. Potassium ch loride is mo re
corrosive than the other dry chemical ext inguishing agents.
Ammoni um phosphate is the only d ry chemical ext in-
guishing agent rated as suitable for use on Class A fires.
Which dry chemical extinguisher to use depends on the
compatibility of different agents with each other and with
products they might contact. Some dry chemical extinguishing
agents can be used in combination with some types of foam.
Carbon Dio xide

Carbon dio xide (CO2 ) is a gas that is 1.5 times heavier than
air. When carbon dio xide is discharged on a fire, it forms a
dense cloud that d isplaces the air surrounding the fuel. Th is
interrupts the co mbustion process by reducing the amount
of o xygen that can reach the fuel.
In portable carbon di oxi de fire extinguis hers, carbon
dioxide is stored under pressure as a liquid. It is colorless and
odorless. It is discharged through a hose and expelled on the
fire through a horn. When it is released, the carbon dioxide is
very cold and forms a visible cloud of "dry ice" because mois-
ture in the air will freeze when it comes into contact with the
carbon dioxide.
Carbon dio xide is rated for Class B and C fires only . It
does not conduct electricity and has two significant advan -
( Figure 7-16) Multipurpos e dry chem ical extinguis hers can be used for tages over dry chemical agents: it is not corrosive and it does
Class A, B, and C fires. not leave any residue.
180 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E
( Figure 7-17) Carbon dioxide extinguishers are heavy due to the weight of ( Figure 7-18) An AFFF extinguisher produces an effective foam for use on
the container and the quantit y of agent needed. They also have a large Class B fires.
discharge nozzle, making them easily identif iable.
Carbon d io xide also h as several limitat ions and d isad - into the discharge stream, thus producing a foam blan ket.
vantages. These include: Foam extinguishing agents are formu lated fo r use on either
• Weight: Carbon dio xide ext inguishers are heavier than Class A or Class B fires.
similarly rated ext inguishers that use other ext inguish Class A foam extinguishers for ordinary combustible fires
ing agents ( Figure 7-17). ext ingu ish fires in the same way that water ext ingu ishes
• Range: Carbon dio xid e ext inguishers have a short fires. The foam concent rate reduces the surface tension o f
discharge range, wh ich requ ires the operato r to be the water, allowing for better penetrat ion into the burning
close to the fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. materials.
• Weather: Carbon dioxide does not perform well at tem Class B foam ext inguishers discharge a foam solution that
peratures below 0°F (-18°C) or in windy or drafty con floats across the surface of a burning liquid and prevents the
ditions, because it dissipates before it reaches the fire. fuel fro m vapo rizing. The foam b lan ket fo rms a barrier
• Confined spaces: When used in confined areas, carbon between the fuel and the o xygen, extingu ishing the flames
dio xide d ilutes the oxygen in the air. If enough oxygen and preventing re-ignition. These agents are not suitable for
is displaced, people in the space can begin to suffocate. Class B fires that involve pressurized fuels or coo king oils.
• Suitability: Carbon dio xide ext inguishers are not suit The most common Class B additives are aqueous
able for use on fires involv ing pressurized fuel o r on film-forming foam (AFFF) and fil m-forming
cooking grease fires. fluoroprotein (FFFP) foam (Figure 7-18). Both concentrates
produce very effective foams. Which should be used depends
Foam on the product's compat ibility with a particu lar flammab le
Foam fire ext inguishers d ischarge a water -based solut ion liquid and other extinguishing agents that could be used on the
with a measured amount o f foam concentrate added. The same fire.
nozzles on foam extingu ishers are designed to int roduce air Some Class B foam extinguishing agents are approved for
use on polar sol vents, wh ich are water-solub le flammab le
liquids such as alcohols, acetone, esters, and ketones. On ly layer. Halons have been replaced by a new family o f ext in -
extinguishers that are specifically labeled for use with polar guishing agents, halocarbons.
solvents should be used if these products are p resent. The halogenated agents are stored as liquids and are d is -
Although they are not specifically intended for Class A charged under relatively high pressure. They release a mist of
fires, most Class B foams can also be used on ordinary com- vapor and liquid drop lets that interrupt the chemical chain
bustibles. The reverse is not true, however; Class A foams are reaction of the co mbustion process to ext inguish the fire.
not effective on Class B fires. Foam extinguishers are not suit- These agents dissipate rap id ly in windy condit ions, as
able for use on Class C fires and cannot be stored or used at does carbon dioxide, so their effectiveness is limited in out-
freezing temperatures. door locations.
Hal on 1211 (b ro moch lo rodifluoro methane) should be
Wet C he mical used judiciously and only in situations where its clean prop -
Wet chemical exti nguishers are the on ly type o f ext in - erties are essential. Small Halon 1211 ext inguishers are rated
guisher to qualify under the new Class K rating requirements. for Class B and C fires, but are unsuited for use on fires
They use wet chemical extinguishing agents , which are involving pressurized fuels or cooking grease. Larger halon
chemicals applied as water solutions. Before Class K extin- extinguishers are also rated fo r Class A fires.
guishing agents were developed, most fire extinguishing sys - Currently, four types of halocarbon agents are used in
tems for kitchens used dry chemicals. portable ext ingu ishers: hyd rochlo rofluo rocarbon (HCFC),
All new fixed ext inguishing systems in restaurants and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC), and
commercial kitchens now use wet chemical ext inguishing fluo-ro iodocarbon (FIC).
agents. These agents are specifically formu lated for use in
commercial kitchens and food-product manufacturing facil- Dry Powder
ities, especially where food is coo ked in a deep fryer. The Dry powder extinguishing agents are chemical com-
fixed systems discharge the agent direct ly over the cooking pounds used to ext inguish fires involv ing combustible metals
surfaces. There is no numeric rating of their efficiency in (Class D fires). These agents are stored in fine granular or
portable fire ext inguishers. powdered fo rm and are app lied to s mother th e fire. They
The Class K wet chemical agents include aqueous solutions form a solid crust over the burning metal to exclude o xygen
of potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, and potassium and absorb heat.
citrate, either singly or in various combinations. The wet agents The most co mmo n ly used d ry po wd er ext ingu ish ing
convert the fatty acids in cooking oils or fats to a soap or foam, a agent is formu lated fro m finely g round sod iu m chlo ride
process known as saponification. (table salt) p lus additives to help it flo w freely. A thermo -
When wet chemical agents are applied to burning veg - plastic material mixed with the agent binds the sodium chlo -
etable oils, they create a thick blanket of foam that quickly ride part icles into a solid mass when they come into contact
smothers the fire and prevents it fro m re -ignit ing wh ile the with a burn ing metal.
oil cools. The agents are d ischarged as a fine spray, which Another dry powder agent is produced from a mixture of
reduces the risk o f splattering. finely granulated graph ite po wder and co mpounds contain -
ing phosphorus. This agent cannot be expelled fro m fire
Halogenated Agents ext inguishers; it is produced in bu lk form and app lied by
Hal ogenated exti nguishi ng agents are produced fro m a hand, us ing a scoop o r a shovel. When app lied to a metal
family of liquified gases, known as halogens, that includes fire, the phosphorus co mpounds release gases that b lan ket
fluorine, b ro mine, iod ine, and ch lorine. Hundreds o f dif - the fire and cut off its supp ly o f o xygen . The g raph ite
ferent fo rmu lat ions can be produced fro m these elements absorbs heat from the fire, allowing the metal to cool below
with many different p roperties and potential uses. Although its ign ition po int. Other specialized dry po wder ext inguish-
several of these formu lations are very effect ive for ext in- ing agents are available fo r fighting specific types of metal
guishing fires, only a few of them are co mmon ly used as fires. For details, see NFPAs Fire Protection Handbook.
extinguishing agents. Class D agents must be applied very carefully so that the
Halogenated extinguishing agents are called clean agents mo lten metal does not splatter. No water should co me in
because they leave no residue and are ideally suited for areas contact with the burn ing metal. Even a t race quantity of
that contain co mputers o r sensit ive elect ron ic equ ip ment. mo isture can cause a v iolent react ion.
Per pound, they are approximately twice as effective at extin-
guishing fires as carbon dio xide.
There are t wo categories of halogenated e xt inguishing
Fire Extinguisher Design
agents : halons and h alo carbons . A 1987 intern at ion al All portable fire ext inguishers use pressure to expel their con-
agreement, kno wn as the Montreal Protoco l, limits halon tents. Many portable fire ext inguishers rely on p ressurized
product ion because these agents damage the earths o zon e gas to expel the ext inguish ing agent. The gas can be stored
with the extinguishing agent in the body of the ext inguisher, • A locking mechan is m (ring p in) to prevent accidental
or externally, in a separate cartridge. The extinguishing agent discharge
is put under pressure only as it is used. • A pressure ind icator
So me ext inguishing agents, such as carbon dioxide, are A cart ridg e -o perated hand -h elp po rt ab le fire
called sel f-expelli ng agents. These ag ents are no rmally ext in guisher has nine parts (Figure 7-20 ):
gases, which are stored as liquids under pressure. When the • A cylinder o r shell that ho lds the ext ingu ishing agent
pressure is released, the agent rapidly expands, causing it to • A fill cap
self-discharge. • A gas cartridge containing either CO2 or nitrogen
• A cartridge guard
Portable Fire Extinguisher Components • A carry handle
There are two basic styles of hand-held portable fire extin- • A nozzle and discharge valve assemb ly
guishers: stored-pressure and cartridge-operated. As the name • A discharge hose
implies, the stored-pressure extinguisher shell holds both the • A hose retainer to prevent accidental d ischarge
extinguishing agent and a pressurized gas to expel the agent. In a • A gas tube to distribute the p ressure into the ext in
cartridge-operated extinguisher, the extinguishing agent is guisher shell
stored at atmospheric pressure. This kind of extinguisher does
not become pressurized until the gas cartridge is punctured, Cylinder or Shell
which releases the charging gas into the extinguisher shell. The body of the extinguisher, known as the cylinder or shell,
Stored-pressure hand-held portable fire ext inguishers have holds the extinguishing agent. Nit rogen, co mpressed air, or
seven basic parts (▼Figure 7-19): carbon dio xide are used to pressurize the cylinder to expel
• A cylinder o r shell that ho lds the ext ingu ishing agent the agent. Stored-pressure exti nguishers store both the
• A carry ing handle extinguishing agent, in wet o r d ry form, and the gas under
• A nozzle or horn pressure in the cylinder. Cartri dge-operated extinguishers
• A discharge hose rely on an external cartridge of pressurized gas, wh ich is
• A trigger and discharge valve assemb ly released only when the ext inguisher is charged.
(Figure 7-19) The stored-pressure portable fir e extinguis her. ( Figure 7-20) The cartridge-operated portable fire extinguisher.
Por ta ble Fi r e E xti nguis hers 183
Han dl e properly . Over time, the pressure in an ext inguisher may

The handle is used to carry a portable fire ext inguisher and, dissipate. Checking the gauge first will tell you whether the
in many cases, to hold it during use. The actual design of the ext inguisher is ready for use.
handle varies fro m mod el to model, but all ext ingu ishers Pressure ind icators vary in design . Most ext inguishers
that weigh more than 3 lbs have handles. In many cases, the use a needle gauge. Pressure may be shown in pounds per
handle is located just belo w the trigger mechan ism. square inch (psi) or on a three -part scale (too low, proper
range, too high). Pressure gauges are usually color -coded; a
Nozzl e or Horn green area ind icat es the p rop er p ressure zon e. Carbon
The extinguishing agent is expelled through a nozzle or horn. dio xide ext inguishers do not have p ressure ind icato rs or
In some ext inguishers, the nozzle is attached direct ly to the gauges, but are weighed to determine the remain ing agent.
valve assembly at the top of the extinguisher. In other models,
the nozzle is at the end of a short hose. Wheel ed Fi re Exti ng ui s hers
Foam ext ingu ishers have a special aspirat ing no zzle that Wheeled fire exting uishers are large un its mounted on
int roduces air into the ext ingu ish ing agent , creat ing the wheeled carriages. Wheeled extinguishers typically contain
foam. Carb on d io xid e ext ing u ishers h ave a tubu lar or bet ween 150 and 350 lbs o f ext ingu ish ing agent . Th e
conical ho rn, wh ich is o ften mounted at the end o f a short wheeled design lets one person transport the extinguisher to
hose. the fire. If a wheeled extinguisher is intended for indoor use,
Pump tank exting uishers , which are nonpressurized, doorways and aisles must be wide enough to allow passage to
manually operated water extinguishers, usually have a nozzle every area where it could be needed.
at the end of a short hose. The manually operated pump may Wheeled fire ext ingu ishers usually have long delivery
b e mo u n ted d irect ly on t he cy lin der o r it may b e p art of hos es, so th e u n it can st ay in on e spo t as th e op erato r
the nozzle assembly. moves around to attack the fire. A separate cy linder con -
taining nit rogen o r so me other co mp ressed gas provides the
Trigger pressure necessary to operate the extinguisher.
The trigger is the mechanis m that is squeezed or depressed to
discharge the ext inguishing agent. In so me models, the
trigger is a button positioned just above the handle. Most of
Fire Extinguisher Characteristics
the time, the trigger is a lever located above the handle. The Portable fire ext inguishers vary accord ing to their ext in -
operator lifts the ext inguisher by the handle and simu ltane- guishing agent, capacity, effective range, and the time it takes
ously squeezes down on the d ischarge lever. to completely discharge their agent. They also have different
Cart ridge-operated ext inguisher models usually have a mechanical designs. This section describes the basic charac-
two -step operat ing sequence. First, a h and le o r lever is teristics of several types of extinguishers, organized by type
pushed to pressurize the stored agent, then a trigger-type of ext inguishing agent.
mechanis m incorporated in the hose/nozzle assembly is used The seven types of ext inguishers described include:
to control the discharge. • Water ext inguishers
• Dry chemical ext inguishers
Lock i ng Mechani s m • Carbon dio xide extingu ishers
The locki ng mechanism is a simp le qu ick-release dev ice • Class B foam extinguishers
that p rev ents accidental d ischarge o f th e ext ingu ish ing • Wet chemical ext inguishers
agent. The simplest form of locking mechanis m is a stiff pin, • Halogenated-agent ext inguishers
which is inserted through a hole in the t rigger to p revent it • Dry powder extingu ishing agents
fro m being depressed. The pin usually has a ring at the end
so that it can be removed quickly. Water Extinguish ers
A special p last ic t ie, called a tamper seal, is used to Water extinguishers are used to cool the burning fuel below
secure the pin . The tamper seal is designed to b reak easily its ignit ion temperature. Water ext inguishers are intended for
when the pin is pulled. Removing the pin and tamper seal is use primarily on Class A fires. Class B foam extinguishers are
best accomplished with a t wisting motion. The tamper seal intended for flammable liqu ids fires. Water extinguishers
makes it easy to see whether the extinguisher has been used include stored-pressure, loaded-stream, and wetting -agent
and not recharged. The seal also discourages people fro m models.
playing o r t in kering with the ext inguisher.
S tored-Pressure Water -Type Exti ng uishers
Pressure Indi cator The most co mmon stored-pressure water -type exti n-
The pressure i ndi cator o r gaug e shows that a g ui s her is t h e 2 .5 g a l lo n s mo d e l wit h a 2 -A rat in g (
stored-p ressu re ext in gu ish er h as su fficien t p ressu re to Figure 7-21 ). Th is ext inguisher expels water in a solid
o perate
18 4 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E
Loa ded-S tream Water -Type Exti ng uishers

Loaded-stream water-type extinguishers discharge a solution
of water containing an alkali metal salt that prevents freezing
at temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C). The most common
model is the 2.5 gallon unit, which is identical to a typical
stored-pressure water extingu isher. Hand-held models are
availab le with capacit ies of 1 to 2.5 gallons of water.
Wetti ng -Agent and Cl ass A Foam

Water -Type Exti ng uis hers
Wetting-agent water-type extinguishers expel water that
contains a solution to reduce its surface tension (the physical
property that causes water to bead or form a puddle on a flat
surface). Reducing the surface tension allows water to spread
over the fire and penetrate more efficiently into Class A fuels.
Class A foam ext inguishers contain a solut ion of water
and Class A foam concentrate. This agent has foaming prop -
erties as well as the ab ility to reduce surface tension.
Both wetting-agent and Class A foam ext inguishers are
available in the same configurations as water ext inguishers,
including hand -held stored-p ressure models and wheeled
units. These ext inguishers should not be exposed to tem-
peratures below 40°F (4°C).
Pump Tank Water -Type Exti ng uis hers

Pump tank water-type extinguishers come in sizes ranging
(Figure 7-21") Stored-pressure water-type extinguis her. fro m 1-A rated, 1.5 gallon units to 4-A rated, 5 gallon units.
The water in these units is not stored under pressure. The
p ressu re to exp el t h e water is p ro v id ed b y a
h an d -operated, double-acting, vertical p iston pump, wh ich
stream with a range of 35' to 40' th rough a no zzle at th e
moves water out through a short hose on both the up and the
end o f a short hose. Th e d ischarge t ime is appro xi mat ely
down strokes. This type of ext inguisher sits upright on the
55 seconds if the ext inguisher is used continuously. A full
ground during use. A small bracket at the bottom allo ws the
extinguisher weighs about 30 lbs.
operator to steady the extinguisher with one foot wh ile
Because the contents of these extinguishers can freeze,
pumping. Pump tank extinguishers can be used with
they should not be installed in areas where the temperature
antifreeze. The manufacturer should be consulted for details
is expected to drop below 32°F (0°C). Antifreeze models of
because some antifreezes (such as common salt) can corrode the
stored-p ressure water-type ext ingu ishers, called
extinguisher or damage the pump. Ext inguishers with steel
load ed-stream ext inguishers, are available.
shells corrode more easily than those with copper or
The reco mmended p rocedu re for operat ing a
nonmetallic shells.
stored-pressure water ext inguisher is to set it on the g round,
grasp the hand le with on e han d, and pu ll out the rin g p in Dry Chemical Extinguishers
or release the locking latch with the other hand. Now the
Dry chemical extinguishers contain a variety of chemical
extin guisher can be lifted and used to extinguish the fire. Use
ext ingu ish ing agents in g ranu lar fo rm. Hand -held d ry
one hand to aim the stream at the fire, and squeeze the
chemical extinguishers are available with capacit ies ranging
trigger with the other h and. The stream o f wat er can be
made into a spray by putting a thu mb at the end of the
nozzle; th is techn ique is often used after the flames have
been ext in guished to thoroughly soak the fuel.
Stored-pressure water-type extinguishers can be recharged
Fire M arks
Stored-pressure water extinguis hers have replac ed soda-acid
at any location that provides water and a source o f co m- extinguishers, whic h had to be inverted (turned upside dow n) to trigger
pressed air. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure their discharge. The soda-acid models are no longer manufactured and
proper and safe recharging. should have been replaced in all installations.
fro m 1 to 30 lbs of agent. Wheeled fire ext inguishers are

available with capacities up to 350 lbs of agent. Ord inary dry
Brigade Member Tips
chemical models can be used to ext inguish Class B and C A dry chemical extinguisher will oft en continue to los e pressure after a
fires. Multipurpose dry chemical models are rated for use on partial discharge. Pressure loss can occur ev en when only a very small
Class A, B, and C fires. amount of agent has been discharged and the pressure gauge still
All dry chemical extinguishing agents can be used on Class indic ates that the extinguisher is properly charged. This occurs
C fires that involve energized electrical equip ment; however, becaus e the agent can leave residue in the valv e assem bly and allow
the stored pressure to leak out slowly.
the residue left by the dry chemical can be very damaging to
computers, electronic devices, and electrical equip ment.
Stored-pressure units expel the dry chemical agent in the
same manner as a stored -pressure water ext inguisher. The
dry chemical agent in a cartridge -operated ext ingu isher is
not sto red und er p ressu re. Th ese ext ingu ish ers have a Multipurpose Dry Chemical Extinguishers
sealed, pressurized cartridge connected to the storage cylin - Ammoniu m phosphate is co mmonly called a mu ltipu rpose
der. They are activated by pushing down on a lever that dry chemical agent because it can be used on Class A, B, and C
punctures the cartridge and pressurizes the cy linder. fires. When it is used on Class A fires, the chemical coats the
Most small, hand-held dry chemical ext inguishers are surface of the fuel to prevent continuing co mbustion.
designed to discharge completely in 8 to 20 seconds. Larger Multipurpose dry chemical ext inguishers are available in
units may discharge for as long as 60 seconds. All hand-held hand-held models with ratings ranging from 1-A to 20-A and
dry che mical extinguishers are designed to be carried and from 10-B:C to 120-B:C. Larger, wheeled models have ratings
operated simultaneously. ranging from 20-A to 40-A and fro m 60-B:C to 320-B:C.
Depending on the extinguishers size, the range of the dis - Mult ipu rpose dry ch emical ext ingu ishers should never
charge stream can be fro m 5' to 30'. So me models have special be used on cooking oil (Class K) fires. The ammoniu m
nozzles that allow for a longer range. The long-range nozzles phosphate-based extingu ishing agent is acid ic and will not
are useful when the fire involves burning gas or a flammable react with coo king o ils to produce the s mothering foam
liquid under pressure or working in a strong wind. needed to ext inguish the fire. The acid will counteract the
The trigger allows the extinguisher to be discharged inter- foam-forming properties of any alkaline ext inguishing agent
mittently, starting and stopping the agent flow. Releasing the that is app lied to the same fire.
trigger stops the flow of agent; however, this does not mean
that the ext inguisher can be put aside and used again later. Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
These ext inguishers do not retain their internal pressure for Carbon dioxide ext inguishers are rated to fight Class B and C
extended periods. fires. Carbon dioxide extinguishes a fire by enveloping the fuel
Anytime a d ry chemical ext inguisher has been activated in a cloud of inert gas, which reduces the oxygen content of
or partially used, the ext inguisher must be serviced and the su rround ing at mosphere and s mothers the flames.
recharged to rep len ish the ext inguishing agent and restore Because the carbon dioxide discharge is very cold, it also helps
the un it's p ressure. Disposab le models are not refillab le. to cool the burning materials and surrounding areas.
Lo w temperature rated, dry chemical fire ext ingu ishers can Carbon dioxide gas is 1.5 times heavier than air, colorless,
b e st o red and used in areas with te mp erat u res belo w odorless, non-conductive, and inert. It is also noncorrosive
freezing. and does not leave any residue. These factors are important
where costly electronic co mponents or computer equip ment
Ordinary Dry Chemical Extinguishers must be protected. Carbon dio xide is also used around food
Ord inary dry chemical ext inguishers are availab le in hand - preparation areas and in laboratories.
held models with rat ings up to 160-B:C. Larger, wheeled Carbon dio xide is both an expelling agent and an ext in -
units carry rat ings up to 640-B:C. guishing agent. The agent is stored under a pressure of 823
psi, wh ich keeps the carbon d io xid e in liqu id fo rm. When
Brigade Member Safely Tips the pressure is released, the liquid carbon dio xide rapid ly
converts to a gas. The expanding gas forces the agent out of
the container.
Discharging a dry chemic al fire ext inguis her in a confined space can
create a cloud of very fine dust that can impair vision and cause The carbon d io xide is discharged through a siphon tube
difficulty breathing. SC BA should be us ed to prot ect brigade m embers that reach es t o the botto m o f th e cy lind er. It is fo rced
from bot h toxic gas es from the fire and the dry chem ical dust through a hose to a ho rn o r cone -shaped app licator that is
discharged from the fire extinguisher. used to direct the flow of the agent. When d ischarged, the
agent is very cold and contains a mixture of carbon dio xide
gas and solid carbon dioxide, which quickly converts to gas.
18G I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E
Co mpared to other types of ext inguishers, carbon dio x ide

ext ingu ishers have relat ively short d ischarge ranges of 3' to
8'. Th is presents a safety issue because the operator must be Do not aim carbon dioxide extinguis her discharge at any one or allow it
close to the fire. Depending on size, carbon dio xide to com e in c ontact w ith ex pos ed sk in. Frostbit e could result. Carbon
ext inguishers can discharge co mp letely in 8 to 30 seconds. dioxide discharged into a confined space will reduc e the oxygen lev el in
Carbon dio xide fire ext inguishers are not reco mmended for that spac e. Self-c ont ained breathing apparatus must be used by
outdoor use with strong air cu rrents. The carbon dio xide will anyone ent ering the confined area.
be rapidly dissipated and will not be effect ive in s moth ering
the flames.
Carbon d io xide ext inguishers have a trigger mechan ism
that can be operated intermittent ly to preserve the remain ing
agent. The pressurized carbon dio xide will remain in the Halogenated-Agent Extinguishers
ext inguisher, but the ext ingu isher must be recharged after Halogenated-agent extinguishers include both halon agents
use. The extinguisher is weighed to determine the amount of and halocarbon agents. Because halon agents can destroy the
agent left in the cylinder. earths protective ozone layer, their use is strictly controlled.
The smaller carbon dio xide ext inguishers contain fro m 2 to 5 The halocarbons are not subject to the same environmental
lbs of agent. These units are designed to be operated with one restrictions. Both types of agents are available in hand-held
hand. The horn is attached directly to the discharge valve on the extinguishers rated for Class B and C fires. Larger capacity
top o f th e ext ingu isher by a h inged metal tub e. In larger models are also rated for use on Class A fires.
models, the horn is attached at the end of a short hose. The horns The agent is discharged as a streaming liquid, wh ich can be
of so me older carbon dio xide fire ext ingu ishers were directed at the base of a fire. The discharges from these
constructed o f met al, wh ich conducts elect ricity. These ext ingu ishers have a horizontal stream range of 9' to 15'.
ext inguishers do not carry a Class C rat ing and must not be The halogenated agents are nonconductive and leave no
used around fires involving energized electrical equip ment. residue. These agents are relatively expensive but they perform
Metal horns are no longer made for carbon dio xide fire better than carbon dioxide models in most applications, partic-
extinguishers, but some of these units may still be in service. ularly in windy conditions.
Halon 1211 (bro mochlo rod ifluo ro methane) is availab le
Class B Foam Extinguishers in hand-held stored-p ressure ext inguishers with capacit ies
Class B foam ext inguishers are very similar in appearance and that range fro m 1 lb , rated 1-B:C, to 22 lbs, rated
operation to water extinguishers. They discharge a solution of 4-A:80-B:C. Wheeled Halon 1211 models are available with
water and either AFFF or FFFP foam concentrate. The agent is capacities up t o 150 lbs with a rat ing o f 30-A :160-B:C. The
discharged through an aspirating nozzle, which mixes air into wheeled fire extinguishers use a nitrogen charge from an
the stream. They create a foam blanket that will float over the au xiliary cy linder to expel the agent.
surface of a flammable liquid.
Class B foam agents are also very effect ive in fighting Dry Powder Extinguishing Agents
Class A fires. They are not suitable for Class C fires or fires Dry powder extinguishing agents are intended for fighting
involv ing flammab le liquids or gases under pressure. They Class D fires involving combustible metals. The extinguishing
are not int ended fo r use on co o king o il fires, and on ly agents and the techniques required to extinguish Class D fires
alcohol resistant foam extinguishers can be used on fires vary greatly, and depend on the specific fuel, the quantity
involving po lar solvents. Detailed in format ion on the use of involved, and the physical form of the fuel, such as grindings,
AFFF and FFFP is available in NFPA 11 Standard for Low-, shavings, or solid objects. The agent and the app lication
Medium -, and High-Expansion Foam. method must be suited to the part icu lar situation.
Foam extinguishing agents are not effective at freezing tem-
peratures. Consult the extinguisher manufacturer for informa-
tion on using foam agents effectively at low temperatures.
Wet Chemical Extinguishers Brigade Member Tips

W et chemical ext in gu ish ers are used to p rotect Class K Dry chemical agents and dry powder agents have very different
installat ions, wh ich include coo king o ils, d eep fry ers , and g rills . meanings in relation to fire extinguishers. Dry pow der fire extin-
guis hers are designed for use in s uppressing Class D fires. Dry
Many co mmercial coo king installat ions use fixed , au to mat ic
chemical fire extinguishers are rated for Class 6 and C fires or for
fire ext ingu ish ing systems as th eir first line o f defense. Class A, 8, and C fires. These two terms must not be confused.
Po rtab le Class K wet ch emical ext ingu ishers are cu rrent ly
available in t wo sizes, 1.5 gallons and 2.5 gallons. There are no
numerical ratings fo r these ext inguishers.
Table 7-2 Fire her Types

Extinguis Ho riz o ntal A p pr oxi mate Pr otectio n
Ext i n g ui s hi n g M et h o d o t Ra n g e Ti me R e q ui re d U L or U L C
A ge nt Op erat io n Ca pa city of St rea m of D isc ha r ge be l o w 40 °F (4 ° C) Clas sifi cati o ns'
W at er 6L 30 t o 40 ft 40 s ec Yes 1-A
StStored-pres
ored-press ure
s ure 2 % gal 30 t o 40 f t 1 m in Yes 2-A
or pum p
Pum p 4 gal 30 t o 40 f t 2 m in Yes 3-A
Pum p 5 gal 30 t o 40 ft 2 t o 3 m in Yes 4-A
W at er (w ett ing 17 2 gal 20 ft 30 s ec Yes 2-A
agent ) St ored-pres s ure 25 gal 35 ft 1V 2 m in Yes 10-A
(w45heeled)
gal 35 f t 2 m in Yes 30-A
60 gal
(w heeled) 35 ft 2 V 2 m in Yes 40-A
Loaded st ream (w2heeled)
V 2 gal 30 t o 40 ft 1 m in No 2 t o 3-A: 1-B
St ored-pres s ure 33 gal 50 ft 3 m in No
AF FF , F FF P Stored-press ure (w2heeled)V 2 gal 20 t o 25 f t 50 s ec Yes 3-A: 20 t o 40-B
St ored-pres s ure 6L 20 t o 25 ft 50 s ec Yes 2A: 10B
N it rogen c y linder 33 gal 30 ft 1 m in Yes 20-A: 160-B
1
C arbon diox ide" Self -ex pelling 2 /2 to 5 !b 3 to 8 ft 8 t o 30 s ec No 1 to 5-B:C
Self -ex pelling 10 t o 151b 3 to 8 ft 8 t o 30 s ec No 2 t o 10-B: C
Self -ex pelling 20 I b 3 to 8 ft 10 t o 30 s ec No 10-B: C
Self -ex pelling 50 t o 1001b 3 t o 10 f t 10 to 30 s ec No 10 t o 20-B:C
(wheeled)
R egular dry 1 to 2 V 2 lb 5 to 8 ft 8 t o 12 s ec No 2 t o 10-B: C
3
c hem ic al St ored-pres
C art ridges or
ure 2 / 4 to 5 I b 5 t o 20 f t 8 t o 25 s ec No 5 to 20-B:C
(s odium stored-pres sure
bic arbonat e) C art ridge or 6 t o 30 I b 5 t o 20 f t 10 to 25 s ec No 10 t o 160 -B: C
stored-pressure
St ored-press ure 50 I b 20 ft 35 s ec No 160-B:C
N it rogen 75 t o 350 I b
(w heeled) 15 t o 45 ft 20 t o 105 s ec No 40 t o 320 -B: C
cylinder or (w heeled)
stored-pressure
Purple K dry C art ridge or 2 to 5 Ib 5 t o 12 ft 8 t o 10 s ec No 5t o30-B: C
chem ic al stored-pres sure
(pot ass ium C art ridge or 5 V 2 t o 10 I b 5 t o 20 ft 8 t o 20 s ec No 10t o80-B:C
bic arbonat e) stored-pres sure
C art ridge or 16 t o 30 I b 10 t o 20 ft 8 t o 25 s ec No 40 t o 120 -B: C
stored-pressure
C art ridge or 48 t o 50 I b 20 ft 30 t o 35 s ec No 120 t o 160 -B: C
stored-press ure (wheeled)
N it rogen 125 t o 3151 b 15 t o 45 f t 30 to 80 s ec No 80 t o 640 -B: C
cylinder or (w heeled)
stored-pressure
Super K dry C art ridge or 2 to 5 Ib 5 to 8 ft 8 t o 10 s ec No 5 t o 10-B: C
chem ic al stored-pres sure
(pot ass ium C art ridge or 5 to 9 Ib 8 t o 12 ft 10 t o 15 s ec No 20 t o 40-B: C
chloride) stored-pres sure
Cart ridge or 9 V 2 t o 20 I b 10 t o 15 ft 15 t o 20 s ec No 40 t o 60-B:C
stored-pressure
Cart ridge or 19 V 2 t o 30 I b 5 t o 20 ft 10 t o 25 s ec No 60 t o 80-B:C
stored-pressure
C artridge or 125 t o 200 I b 15 t o 45 f t 30 to 40 s ec No 160-B:C
stored-press ure (wheeled)
Table 7-2—continued
4
Horizontal Appr oxi mate Protection

Extinguishing Meth od of Range Ti me Required ULorULC
Agent Operation Capacity of Stream of Discharge belo w 40 °F (4° C) Classifications"
Multipurpose/ABC Stored-pressure 1 to 51b 5 to 12 ft 8 to 10 sec No 1 to 3-Ac and 2
dry chemical to10-B:C
(ammonium Stored-pressure 2 7 2 to 9 1 b 5 to 12 ft 8 to 15 sec No 1 to 4-Aand 10
phosphate) or cartridge to 40-B:C
Stored-pressure 9 to 171b 5 to 20 ft 10 to 25 sec No 2t o2 0- Aa nd 10
or cartridge to 80-B:C
Stored-pressure 17 to 301b 5 to 20 ft 10 to 25 sec No 3 to 20-A and 30
or cartridge to 120-B:C
Stored-pressure 45 to 50 Ib 20 ft 25 to 35 sec No 20 to 30-A and
or cartridge (wheeled) 80 to 160-B:C
Nitrogen 110 to 315 Ib 15 to 45 ft 30 to 60 sec No 20 to 40-A and
cylinder or (wheeled) 60 to 320-B:C
stored-pressure
Dry chemical Cartridge or 4 74 to 9 Ib 5 to 20 ft 8 to 10 sec No 10 to 20-B:C
(foam stored-pressure
compatible) Cartridge or 9 to 27 Ib 5 to 20 ft 10 to 25 sec No 20 to 30-B:C
stored-pressure
Cartridge or 18 to 30 Ib 5 to 20 ft 10 to 25 sec No 40 to 60-B:C
stored-pressure
Nitrogen 150 to 350 Ib 15 to 45 ft 20 to 150 sec No 80 to 240-B:C
cylinder or (wheeled)
stored-pressure
Dry chemical Stored-pressure 5 to 11 Ib 11 to 22 ft 18 sec No 40 to 80-B:C
(potassium Stored-pressure 9 to 23 Ib 15 to 30 ft 17 to 33 sec No 60to160-B:C
bicarbonate 1751b 70 ft 62 sec No 480-B:C
urea based) (wheeled)
3L 8 to 12 ft 30 sec No K
Wet chemical Stored-pressure 6L(2V 2gal) 8 to 12 ft 35 to 45 sec No 2A:1-B:C:K
8 to 12 ft 75 to 85 sec No 2-A:1-B:C:K
Halon 1211 Stored-pressure 0.9 to 2 Ib 6 to 10 ft 8 to 10 sec No 1 to 2-B:C
(bromochlorodi- 2 to 31b 6 to 10 ft 8 to 10 sec No 5-B:C
fluoromethane) 5 V2 to 9 Ib 9 to 15 ft 8 to 15 sec No 1-A:10-B:C
13 to 22 1b 14 to 16 ft 10 to 18 sec No 2 to 4-A and 20
to 80-B:C
501b 35 ft 30 sec No 10-A:120-B:C
1501b 20 to 35 ft 30 to 44 sec No 30-A: 160 to
(wheeled) 240-B:C
Halon 1211/1301 Stored-pressure 0.9 to 5 1b 3 to 12 ft 8 to 10 sec No 1 to 10-B:C
(bromochlorodi- or
fluoromethane self-expelling
bromotrif luoro-
methane) mix tures Stored-pressure 9 to 20 Ib 10 to 18 ft 10 to 22 sec No 1-A:10-B:C to
4-A:80-B:C
Halocarbon type Stored-pressure 1.4 to 1501b 6 to 35 ft 9 to 23 sec No 1B:Ct o10A: 80-B: C
Note: Halon should be used only where its unique properties are deemed necessary.
a
UL and ULC ratings checked as of July 24,1987. Readers concerned with subsequent ratings should review the pertinent lists and supplements issued by these
laboratories: Underwriters' Laboratories Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062, or Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada, 7 Crouse Road, Scarborough,
Ontario, Canada M1R3A9.
:
Carbon dioxide extinguishers with metal horns do not carry a Cclassification.
:
Some small extinguishers containing ammoniumphosphate-based dry chemical do not carry an A classification.
Source: National Fire Protection Association. Fire Protection Handbook W. 2,19th ed. Quincy, MA, 2003, pp 11-121-11-122.
190 I N DUS T R I AL F I RE B R I GADE : P R I NC IPLE S AND P R AC T I C E
the trigger and direct the agent easily. Ext inguishers that have a Fo llow the steps in (Skill Drill 7 -2 ) to operate a carbon
hose between the trigger and the no zzle should be carried in dio xid e ext ingu isher:
the weaker o r less-favored hand so that the favored hand can 1. Size up the fire to determine what is burning, if there
grip and aim the no zzle. is energized electrical equip ment involved or nearby,
Heavier ext inguishers may have to be carried as close as and if there are any other hazards p resent. Select the
possible to the fire and placed upright on the ground. The proper ext inguisher.
operator can depress the trigger with one hand, wh ile hold - 2. Be sure the rating of the ext inguisher matches the size
ing th e no zzle and d irect ing the agent with the other hand . of the fire. If the fire is too large for a portable fire
Follow the steps in ( Skill Drill 7-1) to transport a fire ext inguisher, back away unt il other suppression
extinguisher: methods are availab le. If possible, close off the area
1. Locate the ext inguisher and remove it fro m the where the fire is located to limit the spread of s moke
mounting bracket. (Step 1) and fire.
2. When lift ing an ext inguisher fro m a low bracket o r off 3. Pull the p in on the handle. (Step 1)
the floor, always lift with your legs and not your back. 4. Remove the horn o r no zzle fro m the secured position
(Step 2) on the ext inguisher and aim in the d irection of your
3. If the ext ingu isher is very heavy, use both hands to approach. (Step 2)
carry it. Grasp the handle with your strong hand and 5. Give the trigger a quick squeeze to ensure that the
support the bottom of the ext ingu isher in your weak extinguisher is operational and the agent discharges
hand. (Step 3) properly. (Step 3)
4. Walk b riskly to ward thefire. Never run when carry ing 6. Approach the fire up wind with an exit to your back.
a fire ext inguisher. Never let the fire get between you and the exit .
5. If the extinguisher has a fixed nozzle, hold the extin Always have a safe exit path in case you have to evac
guisher at arm's length in your favored or stronger uate. (Step 4)
hand. 7. Aim the no zzle of the fire ext inguisher at the base of
6. If the ext inguisher has a hose with a no zzle, carry the fire and squeeze the trigger. (Step 5 )
the ext ingu isher in your less -favored hand and 8. Sweep the extinguishing agent fro m side to side, con
grip the nozzle with your other hand. (S tep 4) tinuing to aim at the base o f the flames. Continue to
use the ext ingu isher unt il the fire is out or the ext in
Basic Steps of Fire Extinguisher Operation guisher is empty. (Step 6)
Activat ing a fire ext ingu isher to apply the ext ingu ishing 9. If the ext ingu isher empt ies befo re the fire is
agent is a s ing le operat ion in fou r steps. The P-A -S-S comp letely suppressed, back away to a safe location
acrony m is a helpfu l way to remember these steps: and wait for assistance.
• Pull the safety pin. 10. Back away fro m the fire. Never turn your back on the
• Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames. fire. Be prepared in case it re-ignites.
• Squeeze the trigger to d ischarge the agent. 11. Overhaul the fire to ensure that it is comp letely ext in
• Sweep the no zzle across the base of the flames. guished. Have addit ional fire ext inguishers or a hose
Pract ice d ischarg ing d ifferent types o f ext ingu ishers in line availab le in case the fire flares up again. (Step 7 )
train ing situations to build confidence in your ability to use
them properly and effectively. Follow the steps of (Skill Drill 7-3) to attack a Class A fire
with a stored-pressure water-type fire ext inguisher.
Ensure Your Personal Safety 1. Begin to attack the fire upwind fro m a safe d istance to
When using a fire ext ingu isher, always app roach the fire take advantage of the reach of the stream. (Step 1)
with an exit behind you. If the fire suddenly expands or the 2. Aim the stream direct ly at the base of the flames.
ext ingu isher fails to contro l it, you must have a p lanned 3. Sweep the no zzle back and forth, moving closer as the
escape route. Never let the fire get between you and a safe fire goes out. (Step 2)
exit . After suppressing a fire, do not turn your back on it. 4. After the flames are out, position your finger in front of
Always watch and be p repared fo r a rekind le unt il the fire the nozzle to create a spray and soak the fuel. (Step 3)
has been fully overhau led. 5. If the fire is deep-seated (burning belo w the surface,
If you must enter an enclosed area where an extinguisher as in a t ightly packed t rash barrel or a b rush pile),
has been discharged, wear full PPE and use SCBA. The atmos- break the fuel apart with a long-handled tool. App ly
phere within the enclosed area will probably contain a mixture the extinguishing agent to any smolde ring, smo king,
of combustion products and extinguishing agents. The or glowing surfaces. (Step 4)
o xy gen content with in th e space may b e dan gerous ly 6. Apply additional water spray to prevent the fire fro m
depleted. re-igniting. (Step 5)
Por table F i r e Extinguis hers
191
Brigade Member Safely Tips 1. Begin fighting the fire upwind and uphill fro m a safe
distance, as specified on the extinguisher's label.
Always test a fire extinguisher bef ore using it. Activate the trigger long (Step1)
enough to ensure that the agent disc harges properly. 2. Aim the d ischarge stream high over the top of the fire.
Aiming d irect ly into the liquid cou ld cause the burn
ing fuel to splash and spread the fire. (Step 2 )
3. Discharge the stream in an arc over the top of the fire,
so that the foam d rops gently onto the surface o f the
Fo llow the steps of ( Skill Drill T^ to attack a Class A burning liqu id. Lob the foam to creat e a b lan ket that
fire with a mu lt ipurpose dry chemical fire ext inguisher. floats on the surface. (Step 3)
1. Begin to attack the fire upwind fro m a safe d istance, 4. Slo wly sweep the stream back and fo rth above the
taking advantage of the reach o f the d ry chemical flammab le liquid to widen the foam b lanket. Use the
discharge stream. stream to carefu lly push the foam blan ket to ward the
2. Aim the stream direct ly at the base of the flames. back o f the liquid surface.
3. Sweep the no zzle back and forth, moving closer as the 5. If the fire is a spill on the ground, aim the stream at
fire is extinguished. the ground in front of the fire and let the foam
4. After the flames are out, apply addit ional agent in bounce onto the front part o f the fire. Let the foam
short bursts to ensure that all hot surfaces are coated blanket flo w across the surface of the burn ing liquid .
with dry chemical. 6. After the flames are ext inguished, continue to apply
5. If the fire is deep-seated (burning belo w the surface, agent until the surface of the flammable liquid is fully
as in a t ightly packed t rash barrel or a b rush pile), covered by a foam blan ket. Look for hot ob jects that
break the fuel apart with a long-handled tool. App ly could re -ignite the liqu id and app ly the agent d irectly
additional ext inguishing agent to any s mo ldering, on them. (Step 4)
smoking, or glo wing surfaces. 7. Apply addit ional agent as needed to maintain the
6. Watch for ind ications of re-ignit ion and apply addi foam blanket and control any re-ignit ion. (Step 5)
tional agent in short bursts as required. If necessary,
use a fine water spray to soak the fuel. Fo llo w the steps in (Skill Drill 7-7 ) to app ly a wet
(Class K) ext inguishing agent on a fire in a deep fryer.
Follow the steps in (Skill Drill 7-5 ) to attack a Class B 1. Begin to apply the agent fro m a safe distance.
flammable liquid spill or pool fire with a dry chemical extin- (Step 1)
guisher. 2. Do not d irect the agent stream direct ly into the burn
1. Check the pressure gauge to ensure that the ing liquid. Avoid splashing the bu rning liqu id.
ext inguisher is properly charged (Step 1) and pull the 3. Lob the extinguishing agent, expelled as a fine spray,
pin on the handle. (Step 2) lightly onto the burn ing surface. It will form a th ick
2. Begin fighting the fire upwind and uphill fro m a safe foam blanket to s mother the fire. (Step 2)
distance, as specified on the ext inguisher's label. 4. Continue d ischarg ing the ext ingu isher until the foam
(Step 3) blan ket has ext inguished all flames and secu red the
3. Do not aim the init ial discharge d irectly into the liq entire surface of the oil. (Step 3)
uid fro m close range. The h igh-velocity stream o f 5. Do not d isturb the foam b lan ket after the flames die
ext inguishing agent could splash and spread the burn down. The surrounding metal and other materials
ing fuel. (Step 4) may still be hot enough to re-ignite the o il if the foam
4. Discharge the stream at the base of the flame, starting blanket is broken .
at the near edge of the fire and wo rking to ward the 6. Be p repared fo r a possible flare-up until the coo king
back. (Step 5) oil and the surrounding area have adequately cooled.
5. Sweep the no zzle back and forth across the surface of If re-ignition occurs, repeat these steps. (Step 4)
the flammable liquid. (Step 6)
6. After the flames are ext inguished, watch for ind ica Follow the steps in (Skill Drill 7-8) to apply a halogenated
tions of re -ignit ion and be p repared to apply add i ext inguishing agent to a fire in an electrical equipment roo m.
tional agent. Loo k for hot objects that could provide a 1. If possible, tu rn off or d isconnect the electrical po wer
source of re-ignition. (Step 7) fro m a remote location before attacking the fire.
2. Stand back at least 8' (2.4 m) when you begin to
Follow the steps in (►Skill Drill 7-6 ) to attack a Class B discharge the agent.
flammable liquid spill o r pool fire with a stored-pressure fire 3. Direct the strea m at the base of the flames, sweep ing
extinguisher contain ing AFFF or FFFP extinguishing agent. the agent slowly fro m side to side.
V OICES OF EXPERIENCE
"Many of the employees didn't know how to use an
extinguisher or which one to use."
O
n a brisk fall day in my previous employer's facility,
the plant shift supervisor was informed by radio of a
fire in a warehouse on the north end of the facility.
The plant fire alarms had not been pulled, and the building
did not have
an automatic system. The warehouse was an older building made of lightweight
metal bowstring construction with corrugated metal siding. It was used as a
carpentry shop and for lumber storage.
The supervisor called the dispatcher and had fire rescue activated. Upon my arrival
on scene, he notified me that smoke was showing and that several employees were
operating fire extinguishers inside and outside the building, including into open
windows. I assumed command and immediately sounded a general alarm, as fire was
issuing out of several windows and some whirlybird vents. Once all employees were
accounted for, the fire crew began our attack.
We laid several LD hose lines and began an aggressive attack with 2.5-inch hoses and
master streams to do a quick knockdown. Because the roof had self-ventilated, we
stayed in a defensive posture for quite some time. Once the major body of fire was
knocked down, we began an interior attack and secondary search. Only when the loss
was stopped and we determined the fire was out did we begin surveying the scene.
We soon discovered that the entire back shop—which occupied half of the
building—was a total loss, including a forklift that had been inside the facility. But
what amazed me the most was that at least 15 used fire extinguishers were piled up
by the front door.
When I spoke with the foreman, he told me that workers in the shop had tried to fight
the fire with ABC extinguishers for at least 10 minutes before they called for help. The
water extinguishers were still in their brackets on a post. Each person thought the
others had called for help. Many of the employees didn't know how to use an extin -
guisher or which one to use.
This experience provides some valuable lessons:
1. Call for help early, and any time you use an extinguisher. If the fire is out,
fire
fighters can always go home after checking for extension.
2. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight: If one extinguisher isn't effective, and two don't
solve the problem, then the third extinguisher probably won't help either.
3. What the employees do in the first five minutes of a fire determines what fire
fighters will be doing for the next five hours. Your brigade will benefit if you
implement a thorough fire extinguisher training program for all employees. You
never know—they may be able to use the training at home as well.
Ronal d K. Sommers
Chevron Phillips Chemical Co mpany
Pasadena Plastics Complex Fire and Rescue
Pasadena, Texas
Portab le F in e Extingu ishers 193
4. Continue to apply the ext inguishing agent for a short fo r immed iate use. Fire ext ingu ishers on fire apparatus
time after the flames have gone out. Th is allo ws the should be inspected as part of the regu lar equip ment check
fuel to cool, p reventing re-ign ition. as mandated by your standard operating procedures (SOPs).
5. Watch the fire area for re -ign ition. Repeat the agent Monthly inspections reinforce a brigade members familiarity
application, if necessary. with the equ ip ment and its location. The brigade member
charged with inspecting the ext inguishers should:
Follow the steps in ( Skill Drill 7-9 ) to apply a dry powder • Ensure that tamper seals are intact.
extinguishing agent to an incipient-stage fire involv ing • Examine all parts for signs of physical damage,
combustible metal filings or shavings (Class D fire). corrosion, or leakage.
1. If the fire is very hot, beg in to d ischarge the agent • Check the p ressure gauge to be sure it is in the
with the no zzle fully opened at the maximu m range operable range.
of 6' to 7' (1.7 to 2.4 m) away fro m the fire. Direct • Ensure that the ext inguisher is p roperly identified
the agent so that it falls onto the top of the burn ing by type and rating .
material. (Step 1) • Check the no zzle for damage or obstruction by
2. As the fire co mes under control, close the nozzle valve foreign objects.
to produce a soft, heavy flow. Move in closer and If an inspection reveals any prob lems, the ext inguisher
cover the fire area comp letely. (Step 2) should be removed fro m serv ice until the requ ired mainte-
3. If you are using a scoop or a shovel instead of an nance procedures are performed. Spare ext inguishers should
extinguisher, apply a th ick, even coat of ext inguishing be used until the prob lem is co rrect ed.
agent over the entire fire to s mother it . The pressure gauge on a stored-pressure ext ingu isher
4. If the burn ing metal is on a co mbustible surface, first ind icates wh ether the p ressure is su fficient to expel the
cover the fire with the dry powder ext ingu ishing entire agent . So me stored-p ressure ext inguishers use co m-
agent. Then spread a 1" to 2" (2.5 to 5.0 cm) layer of pressed air wh ile o thers use co mpressed n it rogen. Th e
dry powder extingu ishing agent nearby. Carefu lly weight of the ext ingu isher and the presence o f an intact
shovel the burn ing metal onto this layer o f po wder tamper seal should indicate that it is full of ext inguishing
and top with mo re ext ingu ishing agent as needed. agent.
5. If hot spots develop, apply mo re ext inguishing agent Cart ridge-typ e ext ingu ishers contain a p redetermined
to cover them. quantity of a p ressurizing gas that expels the agent. The gas
6. Allo w the remains of the fire to cool undisturbed. is released only when the cartridge is punctured. A properly
7. Do not d isturb the b lanket o f ext inguish ing agent charged extinguisher will be full of ext inguishing agent and
until the fire has cooled comp letely. (Step 3) will have a cart ridge that has not been punctured .
NOTE: Do not use water or any other agent to coo l Self-expelling agents, such as carbon d io xide and so me
the fuel or the area around it ! Co mbustib le metals halogenated agents, do not require a separate gas cart ridge.
react v iolent ly with water and many other agents. The only way to determine if a carbon dio xide ext inguisher
is properly charged is to weigh it . The proper we ight should
The Care of Fire Extinguishers: be ind icated on the ext ingu isher label.
Inspection, Maintenance, Recharging, Maintenance

and Hydrostatic Testing The maintenan ce requ irements and intervals fo r various
types of fire extinguishers are outlined in NFPA 10. Main -
Fire ext inguishers must be regularly inspected and properly tenance includes an internal inspection as well as any repairs
maintained so they are availab le for use in an emergency. that may be required. Maintenance procedures must be per-
Records must be kept to ensure that the required inspections formed periodically, depending on the type of ext inguisher.
and maintenance have been performed on schedule. The An inspection may also reveal the need to perform mainte-
indiv iduals assigned to perform these functions must be nance procedures.
properly trained and must always fo llow the manufacturers Main tenance pro cedu res must always be p erfo rmed by
reco mmendations for inspecting, maintain ing, recharg ing, a qu alified person . So me p rocedu res can b e perfo rmed
and testing the equ ip ment. only at a properly licensed facility. The specific qualifica-
tions and t rain ing requ irements are det ermin ed by the
Inspection manufacturer and the jurisd ict ional authority . Untrained
According to NFPA 10, an inspection is a monthly "quick personnel should never be allo wed to perfo rm fire ext in -
check" to verify that a fire ext inguisher is available and ready guisher maintenance.
Transporting a Fire Extinguisher
Locate the extinguisher and remov e it from its mounting bracket. When lifting an extinguis her, always lift with your legs and not your
back.
Grasp the handle with the strong hand and support the bottom of If the extinguisher has a fixed nozzle, hold the extinguis her at arm's
the extinguisher in the weak hand. length in your stronger hand. If the extinguis her has a hos e with a
nozzle, carry the extinguisher in your weak hand and use the other
hand to grip the nozzle.
P orta ble Fire E xti nguis her s
195
Operating a Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher
Pull the pin on the handle. Rem ove t he horn or nozzle from the secured posit ion on the extin -
guis her and aim in the direction of your approach.
Give the trigger a quick squeeze to ensure that the extinguisher is Approach the fire upwind with an ex it to your back. Never let the fire
operational and the agent disc harges properly. get between you and the exit.
Aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the Sweep the extinguis hing agent from side to Back away from the fire. Overhaul the fire to
base of the fire and squeez e the trigger. side, c ontinuing to aim at the base of the ens ure that it is c omplet ely extinguis hed.
flames. Continue to us e the extinguisher until
the fire is out or t he extinguisher is empty.
Attacking a Class A Fire with a Stored-Pressure

Water-Type Fire Extinguisher
Begin to attack the fire upwind from a safe distanc e. Aim the stream directly at the base of the flames. Sweep the nozzle
back and fort h, moving clos er as the fire goes out.
After the flames are out, position your finger in front of the nozzle t o Break apart the fuel with a tool and apply the extinguishing agent to
create a spray and soak the fuel. any sm oldering, smok ing, or glowing surfac es.
Apply additional water spray to prevent the fire from re -igniting.

Por ta ble Fi r e Exti nguishers
197
Attacking a Class B Flammable Liquid Fire with a Dry

Chemical Fire Extinguisher
Check the pressure gauge to ens ure that the extinguisher is Pull the pin on the handle.
properly charged.
iting the fire upwind and uphill from a safe distance. Do not aim the initial discharge into the liquid at close range.
Discharge the stream at the base of the Sweep the nozzle back and forth across the Look for hot or smoldering objects that
flame, starting at the near edge of the fire surface of the flamm able liquid. could re-ignite the liquid.
and w orking tow ard the back.
Attacking a Class B Flammable Liquid Fire with a

Stored-Pressure Foam Fire Extinguisher (AFFF or FFFP)
Begin fighting the f ire upwind and uphill from a safe distance. Do not discharge stream directly int o the liquid.
Lob the foam in an arc over the fire to create a blanket that floats on the Slowly sweep the stream back and forth above the flam ing surface
surface. to widen the foam blank et. Let the foam blank et flow across the
surfac e of the burning liquid. After the flames are extinguished,
continue to apply agent until the liquid s urfac e is fully cov ered by
the foam blanket.
Apply additional agent as needed to maintain the foam blanket and

cont rol any re-ignition.
Por ta ble Fi r e Extinguis hers 199
Use of Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
gin to apply the agent from a safe distance. Do not direct the agent stream directly int o the burning liquid. Lob
the extinguis hing agent, ex pelled as a fine spray, light ly ont o the
burning surface to creat e a foam blanket.
Continue to discharge the extinguisher until the foam blanket has Do not disturb the foam blanket even after all flames hav e died
extinguished all flames. dow n. If re-ignition occurs, repeat these steps.
'Courtesy of Ansul Incorporated training materials.

Use of Dry Powder Fire Extinguishing Agents
Open the nozzle completely and direct the agent so that it falls onto Close the nozzle valve to produce a soft, heavy flow and move closer to
the top of the burning m aterial. cover the fire area com plet ely.
Do not disturb the blanket of extinguishing agent until the fire has cooled
completely.
P orta ble Fire E xti nguis hers 201
Co mmon indications that an ext inguisher needs mainte- Table 7-3 Hyd
nance include: Requirements
• The pressure gauge reading is outside the normal range.
Carbon diox ide extinguishers 7 3 serv ic e pres sure
• The inspection tag is out-of-date.
• The tamper seal is bro ken, especially in ext inguishers Carbon dioxide and nitrogen cy linders stamped on cylinder
with no pressure gauge. (used with wheeled extinguis hers)
• There is any indicat ion that the ext inguisher is not fu ll Carbon diox ide extinguishers wit h 3000 ps i (20 685 kPa)
of extinguishing agent. cylinder specification ICC3
• The hose and/or nozzle assembly is obstructed. All stored -pressure and bromo - Factory t est pressure not
• There are signs of physical damage, corrosion, o r rust. chlorodifluorom et hane (1211) to exceed 3 t im es the
• Signs of leakage around the discharge valve or nozzle service pressure
assembly can be seen. Carbon diox ide hose ass em blies 1,250 psi (8619 kPa)
Dry chem ical and dry powder hos e 300 ps i (2068 kPa) or at
Recharging
as s em blies s erv ic e
A fire extinguisher must be recharged after each use, even if it pres s ure, whichever is higher
was not comp letely d ischarged. The only exceptions are
non-rechargeab le extingu ishers, wh ich should be replaced Note: The factory test pressure i s the pressure at whi ch the shell was tested at ti me
after any use. All perfo rmance standards assume that an of manufacture. Thi s pressure i s shown on the namepl ate.
extinguisher will be fu lly charged when it is ready for use. The servi ce pressure i s the normal operati ng pressure as indi cated on the guage and
Immed iately after use, an ext ingu isher should be t aken out namepl ate.
of service until it has been properly recharged. Th is also
applies to any extinguisher that leaks or has a pressure gauge
read ing above or belo w the p roper ope rat ing rang e.
Ext inguishers must be recharged by qualified or licensed Table 7-4 Hydrostatic test Interval for
personnel. Extinguishers
When an ext ingu isher is recharged , th e ext ingu ish ing Extin g uis he r Ty pe Test I nterv al
agent is refilled and the system that is provided to expel the (Years)
agent is fully charged. Both the quantity of the agent and the St ored-press ure w at er-loaded st ream
pressurizat ion must be verified. A tamper seal is installed 5 and/or antifreez e
after recharging. The tamper seal provides assurance that the W et t ing agent
ext inguisher has not been charged. 5AF FF (aqueous f ilm-forming f oam) 5
Typical 2.5 gallon stored-p ressure water ext inguishers
FFF P (film -f orming f luoroprot ein f oam) 5
can be recharged by brigade members using water and a
source of compressed air. Before the ext inguisher is refilled, Dry chemical w it h st ainless -st eel s hells 5
all remain ing stored pressure must be discharged so that the C arbon diox id e
valve assembly can be safely removed. Water is added up to 5 et c hem ic al
W
the water-level indicator and the valve assembly is replaced. 5Dry chemic al, stored -press ure, wit h mild steel shells,
Co mpressed air is then introduced to raise the p ressure to braz ed brass shells, or alum inum s hells
the level ind icated on the gauge. 12
Hydrostatic Testing Dry chem ical, cart ridge- or cy linder-operat ed, w it h m ild
st eel s hells 12
Fire ext inguishers are pressure vessels, designed to hold a
H alogenat ed agent s 12
steady internal pressure. The ability of an ext inguisher to
withstand this internal pressure is assured by periodic hydro- Dry pow der, stored -pressure, cartridge-or
static testing. The hydrostatic testing requirements for fire cylinder-operat ed, w ith mild steel s hells 12
ext inguishers are established by the U.S. Depart ment of
Transportation and can be found in NFPA 10 (Table 7-3). The
test is conducted in a special test facility and involves filling
the ext inguisher with water and apply ing a specified pressure.
Each extingu isher has an assigned maximu m interval the outside of the ext inguisher. An ext inguisher may not be
between hydrostatic tests, usually 5 or 12 years, depending refilled if the date of the most recent hydrostatic test is not
on the construction material and type (Table 7 -4 ). The date within the prescribed limit . Any ext inguisher that is out of
of the most recent hydrostatic test must be indicated on date should be removed fro m service and sent to the appro-
priate maintenance facility for hydrostatic testing.
• Portable f ire extinguishers are effective for fighting fires A m mo n i u m p h os p h at e An ex t in guis hing ag ent us ed
only if t he ext inguis her is s uit able f or t he class of f ire. in dry c hemic al fire extinguis hers that c an be us ed on Class
• There are five c las ses of fire: A, B, and C fires.
Aque ous film-forming foam (AFFF) A
- Class A: ordinary c om bustibles s uch as w ood, paper, wate r- based extinguis hing agent us ed on Class B fires that
and clot h. forms a f oam lay er ov er t he liquid and st ops the product ion of
- Class B: f lam m able or c om bustible liquids. flam mable vapors.
- Class C: energiz ed elect ric al equipm ent. C a rb o n d i o x i d e ( C O2) f ire e x t in g u is h e r A f i r e
- Class D: c om bustible m et als s uc h as m agnesium. extinguis her t hat us es c arbon dioxide gas as t he extinguishing
agent.
- Class K: com bustible c ooking oils and f ats.
Cartridge-operated extinguisher A fire extinguisher
• Extinguishers are rated by independent testing laboratories that has the ex pellant gas in a cartridge s eparate from the extin-
according to the class or class es of fire the units can guis hing agent storage s hell. T he st orage s hell is press uriz ed by
extinguis h. a mec hanic al action that releas es the expellant gas.
• Port able fire extinguishers that are rat ed f or us e on Class A Class A fires F ires inv olv ing ordinary c om bus tible m at e -
and Class B fires are als o rated num eric ally acc ording to rials s uc h as w ood, cloth, paper, rubber, and m any plastic s.
the siz e of the fire t hey c an ext inguish. Class B fires F ires inv olv ing flam m able and c om bustible
• The environment w here a fire is lik ely t o tak e place is an liquids, oils, greas es, t ars, oil -bas ed paint s, lac quers, and
flam mable gas es.
im port ant f act or in c hoosing the proper extinguis her.
Class C fires F ires t hat inv olv e energiz ed elect ric al
• Environm ents are c las sified in t hree m ajor haz ard groups:
equipm ent w here the electric al c onduct ivity of the extinguis h ing
light, ordinary, and extra. media is of im port anc e.
• The basic st eps of fire extinguisher operation are: locat e, Class D fires F ires inv olv ing c om bus tible m et als s uc h as
select, trans port, activat e, and apply. m agnes ium, t itanium, z irconium, s odium, and pot as sium.
• The c om m on types of fire extinguis hers are: w ater, dry Class K fir es F ires inv olving c om bust ible c ook ing m edia
chemic al, c arbon dioxide, foam, halogenat ed agents, dry suc h as v eget able oils, animal oils, and f ats.
powder, and wet c hemic al. Clean agent Gas eous f ire ext inguis hing agent t hat does
• Selecting t he best fire extinguis her depends on t he ty pe of not leav e a residue w hen it evaporates. Also k nown as halo -
m aterial burning, the siz e of t he fire, t he loc at ion of t he genat ed agents.
fire, the effect iv eness of t he ext inguis her, t he am bient Cyli nde r T he body of t he fire extinguis her w here t he
tem perat ure, and wind condit ions. extinguis hing agent is st ored.
• Extinguis hers diff er in how their extinguis hing agent s are Dry chemical fire extinguisher An e xtinguisher that
stored and ex pelled. us es a mixt ure of f inely div ided solid part icles t o ext inguis h
fires. T he agent is us ually s odium bic arbonat e-, pot ass ium
• Fire extinguis hers m ust be regularly ins pect ed, m aint ained, bicarbonat e -, or amm onium phos phat e-bas ed, w ith additiv es to
rec harged, and hydrostatic ally test ed. provide res ist anc e to pac king and m oist ure absorption and t o
promot e prop er flow characteristics.
Dr y powder extinguis hing a ge nt Extinguishing
agent us ed in putting out C lass D f ires. T he c om m on dry
pow der extinguis hing agents include s odium c hloride and
graphite-bas ed pow ders.
Dr y powder fire extinguisher A fi re e xtinguisher L o ck i n g me c h a ni s m A dev ic e t hat loc k s an
that us es an ext inguis hing agent in pow der or granular f orm, extinguis her's trigger to prev ent accident al disc harge.
designed to extinguis h C lass D c ombust ible met al fires by Multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers
crusting, s m othering, or heat-transf erring m eans. Extinguis hers rat ed to fight C lass A, B, and C fires.
Exti n gu is hi n g a ge nt M at erial us ed t o st op t he c om bus - No zzle T he disc harge orific e of a port able f ire extinguis her.
tion proc ess; extinguishing agents m ay include liquids, gas es,
Ordinary hazard locations Occupancies that contain
dry c hem ic al c om pounds, and dry pow der c om pounds.
m ore Class A and C lass B m aterials than are f ound in light
Ext ra h a za r d l ocat i o ns Oc c u pa nc ies w here t he t ot al haz ard locations.
am ounts of Class A c om bustibles and Class B flam mables are
greater than ex pected in occ upanc ies class ed as ordinary P-A-S-S Ac rony m us ed f or operat ing a port able fire extin -
(moderat e) hazard. guis her: Pull pin, Aim nozz le, Squeez e trigger, Sw eep t he
nozzle ac ross burning fuel.
Film-forming fluor opr ote in (FFFP) A wate r-based
Pola r s olve nt A w at er-s oluble f lam m able liquid s uc h as
extinguishing agent us ed on Clas s B f ires t hat f orms a f oam
alc ohol, ac etone, ester, and ket one.
lay er ov er t he liquid and st ops t he production of f lam m able
vapors. Press u re i n dicat or A gauge on a pres s uriz ed port able f ire
extinguisher t hat indic at es t he internal pres sure of the
Fire l oad T he am ount of c om bus tibles in a fire area or on a
expellant.
floor in buildings and st ructures, including eit her c ont ents or
building part s, or bot h. P u mp t a nk ext i n g u is he r s N on pres s uriz ed, m a nu ally
operated wat er extinguis hers, us ually hav e a nozzle at the end
Halogenated-agent extinguisher An e xtinguisher
of a s hort hos e.
that us es halogenat ed extinguis hing agents.
Pum p ta nk water-type extinguis her A nonpres-
Halogenate d extinguishing a gent A liquefied gas
extinguishing agent t hat puts out fires by int errupt ing t he surized portable w ater fire extinguis her. Disc harge press ure is
chemic al c hain reaction. provided by a hand-operat ed double -acting pist on pum p.
Ra pi d o xi dati o n C hem ic al proc ess t hat oc c urs w hen a
Halo n 1211 Brom oc hlorodifluorom et hane (C BrCIF 2 ), a
fuel is c om bined w it h oxy gen, res ulting in t he form ation of as h
lalogenated agent that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires.
or other wast e products and the release of energy as heat and
Han dle T he grip us ed f or holding and c arrying a port able light.
fire extinguis her.
Sap o nificati on T he proc es s of c onv erting t he f atty acids
Hor n T he tapered dis c harge noz zle of a c arbon dioxide-t y pe in c ooking oils or f ats t o s oap or f oam.
fire extinguis her.
Self-ex pell in g A fire ext inguis her in w hic h t he agents hav e
Hy dr ostatic testi ng Periodic t est ing of an ex tinguis her t o sufficient v apor pres sure at norm al operating tem pera tures to
verify it has sufficient strength t o wit hstand internal press ures. ex pel thems elv es.
Ig niti o n po i nt T he m inim um t em perat ure at w hic h a Stored-pressure extinguisher Afire extinguisher in
s bs st anc e w ill burn. which both t he extinguishing agent and the ex pellant gas are
Inci p ient T he initial st age of a fire. kept in a single container; generally equipped with a press ure
Li g ht ha za rd l ocat io n s Oc c upa nc ies w here t he t ot al indic at or or gauge.
amou nt of com bustible m aterials is less than ex pected in an Store d-press ure water -type ex tinguis her A fi re
ordinary haz ard loc ation. extinguisher in w hic h w at er or a w at er -bas ed extinguis hing
Loaded-stream extinguisher A water-based fire agent is st ored under press ure.
extinguis her t hat uses an alkali m et al salt as a freezing point Ta mper seal A ret aining dev ic e t hat breaks w hen t he locking
deprepress ant. m ec hanism is releas ed.
Lob A m et hod of disc harging extinguis hing agent in an arc t o Trig ger T he butt on or lev er us ed t o disc harge t he agent f rom a
av oid s plas hing or s preading t he burning f uel. port able fire extinguisher.
Underwr ite rs La bora tor ies Inc . (UL) The U.S. Wetting-a gent water-type extinguis her An e xtin-
organiz ation that tests and c ert ifies that fire extinguis hers guis her that ex pels w ater com bined wit h a c hem ical or chem i-
(among m any ot her products ) m eet est ablis hed st andards. cals to reduc e its s urf ac e t ension.
Wet chemical extinguisher A fire extinguisher for Wheeled fire extinguisher A portable fire e xtin-
us e on Class K fires that c ont ains w et chem ic al ext inguis hing guis her equipped wit h a c arriage and w heels intended t o be
agents. trans port ed to t he fire by one pers on.
Wet chemical extinguis hing age nt An e xtinguish-
ing agent for C lass K fires; c omm only us es s olutions of w at er
and potassium acet at e, pot assium c arbonat e, pot ass ium
citrate, or any c ombination t hereof.
Yo ur bri ga de i s di sp atche d t o res p o nd t o a r ep ort of a s mall fir e lo cated o n a s caffol d
in a c o nstru ctio n ar ea of th e facility. Up o n y o ur ar rival, t he fire bri ga de lea der i nf or ms
yo u that t he wo o de n scaffol di n g decki n g b oa rd s h ave bee n i g nite d by s pa rks fr o m a
wel di n g j o b i n th e ar ea. T he bri g ad e lea de r sa ys th at it a p pear s as if t her e is a ve ry
s mal l fire co ntai ne d t o t he s caffol d a rea b ut s o me active pi pi n g syste ms ar e als o
locate d i n the area. He re q uests that y o u a n d y o ur pa rtn er o btai n a n exti n g uis he r
fro m t he first- d ue p u mpi n g ap pa rat us a n d exti n g uis h t he fir e. Th e pu mp i n g
ap par atus car ries a 2. 5 -gal lo n wate r exti n g uis her , a 30 - p o u nd A B C dry ch e mical
extin g uis her, a 20 -p o u nd car b on di oxi de exti n g uis her, a n d a 30 - p ou n d cla ss D
extin gui sh er.
1. Bas ed on t he initial inf orm ation prov ided by t he fire 4. W hic h of the follow ing is an incorrect st at em ent regarding
brigade leader, w hat w ould your first choice of fire ext in the general us e of ext inguis hers?
guis her from the p um ping apparat us be? A. Alw ays ensure that t he ext inguis her is operat ing c or
A. The 30-pound class D extinguis her. rect ly prior to att acking t he f ire.
B. The 20-pound c arbon dioxide ext inguis her. B. Aim the stream at the bas e of t he fire.
C. The 2.5-gallon w ater extinguis her. C. Att ack t he f ire from uphill and upwind w henever
D. The 30-pound ABC dry chemic al ext inguis her. possible.
D. If the extinguis her empt ies prior t o f ull ext inguis hm ent
2. The fire brigade leader reminds y ou t o us e the P-A-S-S of the fire, turn and im m ediately run from the area.
met hod to plac e t he ext inguisher into operation. W hat
does P-A-S-S stand f or? 5. What are the requirem ents for recharging the extinguis her
A. Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeez e the trigger, and after y ou are finis hed us ing it ?
Sweep the nozzle. A. The extinguis her must be rec harged only if it is com
B. Pull the pin, Activat e the agent, Sw eep the nozz le, and pletely em pty.
Suff ocat e the fire. B. The extinguis her m ust be recharged after every us e,
C. Press the button, Aim the nozzle, Sw eep t he nozz le, ev en if it w as not c om plet ely disc harged.
and Suffoc ate t he fire. C. The extinguis her c an be recharged by fire brigade
D. Press the plunger, Aerat e the agent, Squeeze t he trig mem bers only aft er it is v erif ied t o be empt y by the fire
ger, and Sw eep the nozzle. brigade leader.
D. Extinguishers cannot be recharged; they m ust be
3. What is t he prim ary adv ant age of us ing a stored-pres sure replac ed w ith new ext inguis hers.
wat er ext inguis her rather than a ABC dry c hem ic al extin
guis her f or a ty pic al class A fire?
A. The wat er extinguisher low ers t he t em perat ure and
thus prev ent s rekindling.
B. The wat er extinguisher has a longer eff ective range
(35 t o 40 f eet ) t han t he dry c hem ic al ext inguis her
(5 t o 30 feet).
C. Bot h A and B.
D. There is no real advant age t o us ing a w ater extin
guis her ov er an ABC dry chemic al ext inguis her.

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NFPA1081 Standard Knowledge Objectives

Inte rior St ruc tural Indust ria l Fire B riga de M e mbe r

Additional NFPA Standards

Introduction to a fire that involves expensive electronic equip ment is both

This chapter also covers the operation and maintenance

Purposes of Fire Extinguishers

Special Extinguishing Age nts

exp losively, if they co me in contact with burning metals.

Clas s D Fires Class K Fires

Brigade Member Tips

Brigade Member Tips

Labeling of Fire Extinguishers

Ordi nary or Mo derate Hazard

Deter mining the Appropriate Class of

Mult ipurpose dry chemical ext ingu ishing agents are in

Carbon Dio xide

Han dl e properly . Over time, the pressure in an ext inguisher may

Loa ded-S tream Water -Type Exti ng uishers

Wetti ng -Agent and Cl ass A Foam

Pump Tank Water -Type Exti ng uis hers

fro m 1 to 30 lbs of agent. Wheeled fire ext inguishers are

Co mpared to other types of ext inguishers, carbon dio x ide

Wet Chemical Extinguishers Brigade Member Tips

Table 7-2 Fire her Types

Horizontal Appr oxi mate Protection

Inspection, Maintenance, Recharging, Maintenance

Transporting a Fire Extinguisher

Operating a Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher

Attacking a Class A Fire with a Stored-Pressure

Apply additional water spray to prevent the fire from re -igniting.

Attacking a Class B Flammable Liquid Fire with a Dry

Attacking a Class B Flammable Liquid Fire with a

Apply additional agent as needed to maintain the foam blanket and

Use of Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers

'Courtesy of Ansul Incorporated training materials.

Use of Dry Powder Fire Extinguishing Agents

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