1. Portable Fire Extinguishers
Chapter 8
Portable Fire Extinguishers

2. Introduction Portable fire extinguishers designed to fight:
Small fires
Unusual fires
Fires that cannot be reached quickly with hoselines
Fire extinguishers are valuable tools.
Four basic PASS steps
Fire extinguishers come in a variety of types and sizes.

3. Fire Classification and Risk
Type of material burning defines class of fire.
Classes of fire used to identify type of extinguishers and agents
Pre-incident plan for fuel types and locations

4. Class A Involves ordinary combustibles Can be extinguished with:
Water
Water-based agents
Foam
Multipurpose dry chemicals
Water usually the agent used

5. Class B Flammable and combustible liquids, gases, and greases
Special hazards
Common extinguishing agents:
Carbon dioxide
Regular and multipurpose dry chemical
Foam

6. Class C Involves energized electrical equipment
Water-based agents cannot be used.
Turn off electrical power.
Categorized with another class of extinguisher: BC or ABC
Agents include:
Carbon dioxide
Regular and multipurpose dry chemicals

7. Class D Combustible metals and alloys Erratic behaviour
Water and other agents can react violently
No universal Class D extinguisher for all metals
Class D agents called dry powders 
Not to be confused with dry chemicals

8. Class K New classification as of 1998
Fires in combustible cooking fuels
Agents usually wet chemicals
Agents used in fixed systems

9. Class K equipment.

10. Types of Fire Extinguishers
Factors for selecting an extinguisher:
Type and amount of fuel
Person using extinguisher
Type of building construction and occupancy
Type of equipment protected
Main objective extinguishing the fire

11. Various types of fire extinguishers.

12. Types of Extinguishing Agents
Water is the basic agent for Class A materials.
Loaded stream extinguisher
Water-based foam extinguishers
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)
Film-forming fluoroprotein foam (FFFP)
Better penetration for Class A materials
Reduces surface tension of the water
Carbon dioxide
Inert gas stored under pressure as a liquid capable of being self-expelled
Dry chemical agents
Particles propelled by gaseous medium

13. Kinds of Extinguishers
Many types:
Small and handheld
Large and require a wheeled cart
Pump-type extinguishers
Stored pressure extinguishers
Cartridge-operated extinguishers

14. (A)
(B)
(C)
(A) Older versions of fire extinguishers are labeled with colored geometrical shapes with letter designations. (B) Newer fire extinguishers are labeled with a picture label system. (C) Many fire extinguishers can be used to fight more than one type of fire.

15. Inner workings of a stored pressure water extinguisher.

16. Inner workings of a stored pressure dry chemical extinguisher.

17. Inner workings of a carbon dioxide extinguisher with a fixed nozzle.

18. Rating Systems for Portable Extinguishers
Each class of fuel subjected to a separate type of extinguisher test for its class
Conducted by independent testing agency
Appropriate ratings and symbols
Class A
Class B
Class C

19. Class C test for electrical conductivity of agent.

20. Limitations of Portable Extinguishers
Exceeding capabilities
Designed for specific purposes
First-aid method for fire extinguishment
Pick the larger size
Wrong class extinguisher may not do the job.

21. Portable Extinguisher Operation
PASS outlines four simple steps for extinguisher use
P: Pull the pin
A: Aim the nozzle
S: Squeeze the handle
S: Sweep the base of the fire

22. Care and Maintenance of Portable Extinguishers
Simple inspections and careful storage prevent most problems
Move unit from its bracket.
Do hand test weight.
Do visual check.
Recharging water extinguisher a simple process performed by any firefighter

23. Re-servicing an Extinguisher
(B)
(A) Unscrew and remove the top. (B) Add the manufacturer’s recommendation of water. (C) Add foam, if required.
8.23

24. Re-servicing an Extinguisher
(D)
(E)
(D) Replace the top. (E) Charge the extinguisher with the manufacturer’s recommendation of air.
8.24

25. Inspection Requirements
Many fire extinguishers are obsolete.
Inspection is usually a visual inspection.
If something does not look right, it should be removed and replaced.
Extinguishers returned to service should be examined prior to their placement on apparatus.

26. Lessons Learned Fire extinguishers can be used as:
Initial response tools
To fight fires in special situations
Firefighters classify fires by their fuels.
Four-step process for using an extinguisher: PASS