Portable Fire

Extinguishers
Fire Fighter I Objectives

• State the primary purposes of fire

extinguishers.
• Define Class A fires.
• Define Class B fires.
• Define Class C fires.
• Define Class D fires.
• Define Class K fires.
Fire Fighter I Objectives

• Explain the classification and rating system for

fire extinguishers.
• Describe the types of agents used in fire
extinguishers.
• Describe the types of operating systems in fire
extinguishers.
Fire Fighter I Objectives

• Describe the basic steps of fire extinguisher

operation.
• Explain the basic steps of inspecting,
maintaining, recharging, and hydrostatic testing
of fire extinguishers.
• Select the proper class of fire extinguisher.
Introduction

• Portable fire extinguishers are required in a

variety of occupancies.
• Vary in size and type of agent used
• Designed for different purposes
Introduction

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Purposes of Fire Extinguishers

• Extinguish incipient
fires
• Control fires where
traditional methods
are not
recommended
• Provide discharge
patterns for specific
fuels
Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Most fire departments carry at least one; many

carry two or more.
• Advantage: portability
• Disadvantage: “one-shot” devices
Special Extinguishing Agents

• As a fire fighter, you

must know:
– Which fires require
special agents
– What type should be
used
– How to operate the
different types
Classes of Fires

• Essential to match extinguisher and fire

– Some agents are more efficient on certain fires.
– Some agents will not control certain fires.
– Some agents are dangerous when applied to certain
fires.
Class A Fires

• Involve ordinary
combustibles and
natural vegetation
• Water is the most
common
extinguishing agent.
Class B Fires

• Involve flammable or
combustible liquids
and flammable gases
• Several different
types of
extinguishing agents
are approved.
Class C Fires

• Involve energized
electrical equipment
– Can generate
tremendous heat that
ignites nearby Class
A or B materials
• Agents that will not
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conduct electricity
must be used.
Class D Fires

• Involve combustible
metals
• Special techniques
and agents are
required.
– Normal agents can
react violently.

© Andrew Lambert Photography/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Class K Fires

• Involve combustible
cooking oils and fats
• Some restaurants
still use Class B
extinguishers.
© Scott Leman/ShutterStock, Inc.
Classification of
Fire Extinguishers

• Based on characteristics and capabilities

• Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., develops
standards for ratings and classification.
• Rated for safety and effectiveness
Classification of
Fire Extinguishers

• System uses letters and numbers.

– Letters indicate the class of fire for which the
extinguisher can be used.
– Numbers indicate its effectiveness.
Classification of
Fire Extinguishers

• Standard test fires are used to rate the

effectiveness of fire extinguishers
– May involve different agents, amounts, application
rates, and application amounts
Labeling of Fire Extinguishers

• Traditional lettering
system has been
used for many years.
Labeling of Fire Extinguishers

• Pictograph system
has recently been
developed.
Fire Extinguisher Placement

• NFPA Standard 10 lists recommendations for

placing and mounting portable fire
extinguishers.
• Occupancy regulations specify area protected,
travel distance, and types of extinguishers
provided.
Fire Extinguisher Placement

• Two factors to consider to determine the type

of extinguisher:
– Class of fire likely to occur
– Potential magnitude of an incipient fire
Fire Extinguisher Placement

• Extinguishers should
be mounted so they
are readily visible
and easily accessed.
Classifying Area Hazards

• Areas are divided into risk classifications

according to the amount and type of
combustibles that are present.
• The recommended classifications are
guidelines based on typical situations.
Light or Low Hazard

• Areas where most

materials are
noncombustible or
arranged so a fire is
not likely to spread
• Contain limited
amounts of Class A
and Class B
combustibles
Ordinary or Moderate Hazard

• Contain more Class

A and Class B
materials than light
hazard locations
• Include warehouses
that contain Class I
and Class II
commodities
Extra or High Hazard

• Contain more Class

A and Class B
materials
• Include areas used
for manufacturing or
handling flammable
liquids; warehouses
containing products
that are not Class I or
Class II commodities
Determining the Appropriate
Placement of Fire Extinguisher

• Consider the types and quantities of fuels

found in the area.
• Some areas may need extinguishers with more
than one rating or more than one type of fire
extinguisher.
Methods of Fire Extinguishment

• Fires require fuel, heat, and oxygen.

• Rapid oxidation
– Occurs when a fuel is combined with oxygen
• Combustion
– Occurs when fuel is heated to its kindling
temperature
Methods of Fire Extinguishment

• Extinguishers stop
burning by:
– Cooling the fuel
– Cutting off the supply
of oxygen
– Interrupting the chain
of reactions
Types of Extinguishing Agents

• Substance contained in portable fire

extinguisher that puts out a fire
• Various chemicals are used.
• Best agent depends on several factors.
– Types of materials involved
– Anticipated size of the fire
Types of Extinguishing Agents

• Water
• Dry chemicals
• Carbon dioxide
• Foam
• Wet chemicals
• Halogenated agents
• Dry powder
Water

• Efficient, plentiful, and inexpensive

• Effective on Class A fires
• Less effective on other classes
• Disadvantage: Freezes at 32ºF (0ºC)
– Load-stream extinguishers, wetting agents, or water
mist can be used.
Dry Chemical

• Stream of finely ground particles

• Different types of compounds are used.
• Extinguish in two ways:
– Interrupts chemical chain reaction
– Absorbs large quantities of heat
Dry Chemical

• Several advantages
over water
extinguishers
• Ordinary: Suitable for
Class B and C fires
• Multipurpose: Rated
for Class A, B, and C
fires
Dry Chemical

• Additives prevent packing and caking.

• Disadvantage: Chemicals are corrosive.
• Primary compounds:
– Sodium bicarbonate
– Potassium bicarbonate
– Urea-based potassium carbonate
– Potassium chloride
– Ammonium phosphate
Carbon Dioxide

• Forms a dense cloud displacing air surrounding

the fuel
• Interrupts combustion by:
– Reducing the oxygen
– Disrupting liquid fuel’s ability to vaporize
Carbon Dioxide

• Stored under
pressure as a liquid
• Rated for Class B
and C fires only
• Does not conduct
electricity; is not
corrosive; does not
leave any residue
Carbon Dioxide

• Limitations include:
– Weight
– Range
– Weather
– Confined spaces
– Suitability
Foam

• Water-based foam concentrate solution

• Use on Class A or B fires.
• Additives depend on compatibility with fuels.
Foam

© craftvision/iStockphoto.com
• Some foams are
approved for polar
solvents.
• Not suitable for Class
C fires
• Cannot be stored or
used at freezing
temperatures
Wet Chemical

• Only agent to meet Class K fire rating

• Saponification: Converts fatty acids in cooking
oils or fats to soap or foam
• Creates thick blanket to smother the fire
• Very effective and easy to clean up
Halogenated Agents

• Produced from family of liquefied gases

• “Clean agents”
• Twice as effective as carbon dioxide
• Two categories
– Halons: Use limited by Montreal Protocol
– Halocarbons: Replaced halons
Halogenated Agents

• Stored as liquids and discharged under high

pressure
– Vapor mist disrupts chain reaction.
– Dissipate in windy conditions
– Displace oxygen in confined spaces
• Halon 1211 should rarely be used.
Dry Powder

• Used on combustible metal fires (Class D)

• Stored in granular or powdered form
• Forms solid crust over burning metal
• Commonly used agents are sodium chloride or
graphite powder
• Avoid splatter and water
Fire Extinguisher Design

• Use pressure to expel contents.

• Many extinguishers require pressurized gas to
expel the agent.
• Some agents are self-expelling.
• Hand-operated pumps expel water or water
with additives.
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Most hand-held
extinguishers have
six basic parts:
– Cylinder or container
– Carrying handle
– Nozzle or horn
– Trigger
– Locking mechanism
– Pressure indicator
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Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Cylinder or container
– Body of the extinguisher
– Holds the extinguishing agent
– Nitrogen, compressed air, or carbon dioxide used to
pressurize the cylinder
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Handle
– Used to carry an extinguisher and to hold it during
use
– Extinguishers weighing more than 3 lb (1.35 kg)
must have handles.
– Usually located below the trigger mechanism
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Nozzle or horn
– Expels agent
– Attached directly to valve assembly or at the end of
a short hose
– Foam extinguishers have a special aspirating
nozzle.
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Trigger
– Mechanism that is squeezed or depressed to
discharge extinguishing agent
– Usually a lever located above the handle
– Cartridge/cylinder models usually have a two-step
operating sequence.
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Locking mechanism
– Prevents unintentional discharge
– Simplest form is a stiff pin
• Tamper seal secures the pin
• Discourages people from tinkering with extinguisher
Portable Fire Extinguisher
Components

• Pressure indicator
– Shows whether a stored-pressure extinguisher has
sufficient pressure to operate
– Most extinguishers use a needle gauge.
– Extinguishers pressurized by a cartridge lack a
pressure gauge.
Wheeled Fire Extinguishers

• Large units mounted on wheeled carriages

• Typically contain 150 to 350 lb (67.5-157.5 kg)
of agent
• Long delivery hoses allow operators to attack
fire from multiple sides.
• Installed in special hazard areas
Fire Extinguisher Characteristics

• Portable extinguishers vary according to:

– Extinguishing agent
– Capacity
– Effective range
– Time it takes to completely discharge agent
• Extinguishers also have different mechanical
designs.
Water Extinguishers

• Used to cool burning fuel below its ignition

temperature
• Intended primarily for Class A fires
Water Extinguishers

• Stored-pressure
water type
– Used for incipient
Class A fires
– Contents can freeze
– Can be recharged at
any location that
provides water and
compressed air
Water Extinguishers

• Loaded-stream water type

– Discharge solution of water containing an alkali
metal salt
– Usable to −40ºF(−40ºC)
– Most common model is 2.5-gallon (9.5-L) unit.
Water Extinguishers

• Wetting agent, Class A foam water-type

– Solution reduces surface tension.
– Allows water to penetrate Class A
– Do not expose to temperatures below 40ºF (−40ºC).
Water Extinguishers

• Pump-tank water-type
– Range from 1-A rated, 1.5-gallon (5.7-L) units, to 4-
A rated, 5-gallon (19-L) units
– Nonpressurized storage
– Expelled via hand-operated piston pump
– Sits upright on the ground
– Can be used with antifreeze solution
Water Extinguishers

• Backpack water-type
– Used primarily for
brush and grass fires
– Wide mouth opening
with filter allows easy
refill.
– Filter keeps
contaminates from
entering the tank
Dry Chemical Extinguishers

• Contain variety of agents in granular form

– Ordinary models extinguish Class A and B fires.
– Multipurpose models extinguish Class A, B, and C
fires.
• All can be used on Class C fires, but residue
damages electronics.
Dry Chemical Extinguishers

• Range of discharge is from 5' to 30‘ (1.5-9.0

m), depending on size.
• Trigger allows intermittent discharge.
• Extinguishers do not retain internal pressure for
extended periods.
Dry Chemical Extinguishers

• Ordinary
– Hand-held models or wheeled units
• Multipurpose
– Aluminum phosphate agent
– Hand-held models or large wheeled units
– Should never be used for Class K fires
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers

• Rated for Class B and C fires

• Envelopes fuel in a cloud of inert gas
– Also cools the burning material
• Colorless, odorless, nonconductive, and inert
gas
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers

• An expelling and extinguishing agent

• Have relatively short discharge ranges
• Not recommended outdoors or near strong air
currents
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers

• Trigger mechanism allows intermittent

operation.
• Extinguisher will have to be recharged after
use.
• Extinguisher is weighed to determine how
much agent is left in the storage cylinder.
Class B Foam Extinguishers

• Aspirating nozzle discharges solution of water

and aqueous film-forming foam and film-
forming fluoroprotein agent.
• Foam blanket floats over surface of liquid.
• Effective for Class A and B fires but not suitable
for Class C or K fires
• Not effective at freezing temperatures
Wet Chemical Extinguishers

• Used to protect Class K installations

• Commercial facilities use fixed, automatic
systems.
– Portable extinguishers available.
• No numerical ratings
Halogenated-Agent Extinguishers

• Include both halon and halocarbon agents

• Available in hand-held models rated for Class B
and C fires
• Agent discharged as a streaming liquid
• Nonconductive and leave no residue
Dry Powder Extinguishing Agents

• For Class D fires involving combustible metals

• Agents and techniques vary.
• Each agent listed for use on specific
combustible metal fires
Dry Powder Extinguishing Agents

• Dry powder fire extinguishers

– Adjustable nozzles allow operator to vary the flow of
agent
• Bulk dry powder agents
– Applied manually using a shovel or scoop
Use of Fire Extinguishers

• Six basic steps for extinguishing fires:

– Locate the fire.
– Select the proper extinguisher.
– Transport the extinguisher to the fire.
– Activate the extinguisher to release the agent.
– Apply the extinguishing agent.
– Ensure personal safety.
Locating a Fire Extinguisher

• Know the types and locations of extinguisher

on apparatus.
• Know where extinguishers are located in and
around the fire station.
• Have at least one extinguisher in your home
and another in your personal vehicle.
Selecting the Proper Extinguisher

• Requires an understanding of the classification

and rating system
• Fire fighters must quickly determine whether a
fire can be controlled by an extinguisher.
• Fire fighters should also determine the
appropriate type of extinguisher to place in a
given area.
Transporting a Fire Extinguisher

• Best method depends on size, weight, and

design of extinguisher.
• Carry fixed nozzle units in stronger hand.
• Use weaker hand for units with a hose between
trigger and nozzle.
Basic Steps of
Fire Extinguisher Operation

• PASS acronym:
– Pull the safety pin.
– Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames.
– Squeeze the trigger to discharge agent.
– Sweep the nozzle across the base of the flames.
Ensure Your Personal Safety

• Approach fire with an exit behind you.

• Have a planned escape route.
• Never let fire get between you and exit.
• Never turn your back on the fire.
• Watch fire for rekindle.
• Wear appropriate PPE and SCBA.
Care of Fire Extinguishers

• Extinguishers must be regularly inspected and

properly maintained.
• Records keep inspections and maintenance on
schedule.
• Proper training required.
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
Inspection

• Check extinguishers on apparatus once per

month.
• Check tamper seals.
• Weigh or “heft” to determine fullness.
• Examine for obvious physical damage,
corrosion, or leaks.
Inspection

• Check pressure gauge.

• Confirm proper identification.
• Check hose and nozzle for damage or
obstructions.
• Check the hydrostatic test date.
Maintenance

• Includes internal inspections and repairs

• Must be performed periodically
• Only qualified personnel can perform
maintenance.
Common Indicators
of Need for Maintenance

• Pressure gauge reads outside normal range

• Inspection tag is out-of-date
• Broken tamper seal
• Any indication that unit is not full
• Obstructed hose or nozzle assembly
• Physical damage, corrosion, or rust
• Leakage around the discharge valve or nozzle
assembly
Recharging

• Required after every use

• Replace only when properly recharged.
– Extinguishing agent refilled
– Expulsion agent recharged
• Tamper seal installed after recharging
Hydrostatic Testing

• Measures extinguisher’s ability to withstand

internal pressure
• Special test facility required
• Above-normal pressure is applied to water-
filled cylinder
Hydrostatic Testing

• Must indicate most recent test on the outside of

the extinguisher
• All out-of-date extinguishers must be tested at
an appropriate facility.
Summary

• Fire extinguishers put out hundreds of fires

every day.
• Fire fighters use fire extinguishers to control
small fires.
• Portable fire extinguishers are used to:
– Extinguish incipient-stage fires
– Control fires where traditional methods are not
recommended
Summary

• Fire extinguishers are one time use only.

• The five classes of fires are: Class A, B, C, D,
and K.
• Portable fire extinguishers are classified and
rated based on their characteristics and
capabilities.
• Fire extinguisher classification uses both letters
and numbers.
Summary

• Traditional lettering system for fire

extinguishers are Class A, Class B, Class C,
Class D, and Class K.
• The pictograph system uses symbols for
classifying fire extinguishers.
• NFPA 10 lists requirements for placing and
mounting portable fire extinguishers.
• There are three risk classifications.
Summary

• Extinguishers stop fire by cooling fuel, cutting

off supply, or a combination.
• Portable fire extinguishers use seven basic
types of extinguishing agents.
• Portable fire extinguishers vary according to
their agent, capacity, range, and the time it
takes to discharge.
Summary

• There are six basic steps in extinguishing a fire

with a portable fire extinguisher.
• There are four steps to activating a fire
extinguisher.
• Use a fire extinguisher with an exit and the
wind at your back.
• Inspect and maintain fire extinguishers.
Summary

• Fire fighters inspecting extinguishers should

follow specific guidelines.
• There are common indications that an
extinguisher needs maintenance.
• A fire extinguisher must be recharged after
every use.
• Most fire extinguishers are pressurized vessels.