1. Fire Extinguisher Training
Welcome to the Fire Extinguisher safety-training program. This presentation emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, and control – not regulatory standards. No attempt has been made to treat the topic exhaustively. Companies using this training program should augment the information based on their specific organizational needs and circumstance. This training presentation is not a substitute for any of the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or for any standards issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.
RiskAnalytics, LLC, the developers of this training program, has not made and does not make any warranty of any kind, express or implied, with respect to this training program; and all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are hereby disclaimed by RiskAnalytics, LLC. RiskAnalytics, LLC will not be liable to anyone with regard to any damages, loss or claim whatsoever, no matter how occasioned, in connection with the preparation of, access to, or use of this training program.
Fire Extinguisher Training
Page 1
 2006 RiskAnalytics, LLC

2. Objectives Understand the combustion process
Describe the different fire classes
Understand fire extinguisher use by fire class type, capabilities, and limitations
Describe the basic fire extinguisher operating procedures – P.A.S.S.
Understand basic firefighting concepts – R.A.C.E.
Page 2

3. Introduction
Fires and explosions kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year
There is a long and tragic history of workplace fires in this country caused by problems with fire exits and extinguishing systems
OSHA requires that where portable fire extinguishers have been provided for use in the workplace, employees must be provided with an educational program on the:
General principles of fire extinguisher use
Hazards of incipient (beginning) stage fire fighting
Page 3

4. Basic Fire Physics The Fire Triangle
Three things must be present at the same time to produce fire: fuel, heat and an oxidation agent which is usually oxygen
The Fire Triangle
Page 4

5. The Combustion Process
The Fire Tetrahedron adds a 4th component – the chemical chain reaction which is the feedback of heat to the fuel to produce the gaseous fuel used in the flame
The Fire Tetrahedron
Page 5

6. Fire Classes A B C K A B C D K D Fire Class Geometric Symbol Pictogram
Fire Type A
Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics B
Flammable liquids, gases, greases C
Energized electrical equipment such as computers and office equipment D
Combustible metals such as sodium, magnesium and potassium K
Combustible cooking oils and fats in commercial cooking equipment A B C D K
Page 6

7. Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
DISCHARGE
HOSE
NOZZLE
CYLINDER
DATA PLATE
CARRYING
HANDLE
PRESSURE
GAUGE
LEVER
DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN
AND SEAL
Page 7

8. Extinguisher Classification
Fire Class
Geometric
Symbol
Pictogram
Effective Extinguisher Type A
Pressurized Water, Multi-purpose Dry Chemical, Halon, Wet Chemical B
Multi-purpose Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide, Halon C
Multi-purpose Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide, Halon, Wet Chemical D
Combustible Metal K
Wet Chemical A B C D K
Page 8

9. Extinguisher Rating A B C K A B C D K D Fire Class Geometric Symbol
Pictogram
Extinguisher Rating A
1 to 40 for Class A fires B
1 to 640 for Class B C
No Numerical Rating D
Rated only for the type of metal that is burning K A B C D K
Page 9

10. Extinguisher Data Label
Page 10

11. Suitable for Class A and B Fires but NOT Class C Fires
Multi-Class Ratings
Suitable for Class A and B Fires but NOT Class C Fires
Page 11

12. Fire Extinguisher Types - Pressurized Water
Class “A” fires only
Extinguishes by cooling burning material below the ignition point.
Up to 1 minute discharge time
Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check
30-40 feet maximum effective range
Can be started and stopped as necessary
Page 12

13. Fire Extinguisher Types - Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Class “B” or “C” fires
Extinguishes by smothering burning materials
Effectiveness decreases as temperature of burning material increases
8-30 seconds discharge time.
Has NO pressure gauge - capacity verified by weight
3-8 foot maximum effective range
Page 13

14. Fire Extinguisher Types – Dry Chemical
Filled with either foam or powder
Depending on the agent, effective on Class B and C fires or Class A, B, and C fires
Extinguishes by stopping the chain reaction
8-25 seconds discharge time
5-20 ft. maximum effective range
Extinguishing material is quite corrosive
Page 14

15. Fire Extinguisher Types - HALON
Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires
Uses Halon 1211 pressurized liquid released as vapor
Extinguishes by stopping the chain reaction
8-18 seconds discharge time
9-16 feet maximum effective range
Ideal for electronics fire due to lack of residue
Fumes toxic if inhaled
Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check
Page 15

16. Fire Extinguisher Types - Combustible Metal
Class “D” fires only
Two primary Extinguishing Agents
Sodium Chloride.
Copper based dry powder
Extinguishes by smothering burning materials
6-8 feet maximum effective range
Page 16

17. Fire Extinguisher Types - Wet Chemical
Uses potassium acetate as the extinguishing agent
Extinguishes by cooling and forming foam blanket to prevent re-ignition
40 seconds discharge time
10-12 feet maximum effective range
On Class “K” fires, don’t use until after fixed extinguishing system has activated
Page 17

18. Portable Fire Extinguisher Placement
Extinguishers must mounted, located and identified such that workers can access them without being subject to injury
Regulations require placement as follows:
If Class A hazards present must have a 2A extinguisher within 75 feet
If Class B hazards present must have 5B to 80B extinguisher within feet depending on flammable material present
If Class C hazards present extinguisher size and spacing is based on its Class A or B hazard
If Class D hazards present at least once every two weeks must have extinguishers not more then 75 feet from the hazard
If Class K hazards present must install extinguishers at a maximum distance of 30 feet
Blocked Extinguisher
Page 18

19. Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
Inspect all extinguisher at least every 30 days
Fully charged in the “green zone” in and operable condition
Accessible and stored in designated location
Shake Dry Chemical extinguishers to prevent powder from settling
Must conduct an annual maintenance check
Must record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less
Page 19

20. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
It’s easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you remember the acronym P.A.S.S. P
Pull the pin
Aim at the base of the flames A S
Squeeze the handle S
Sweep side to side
Page 20

21. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Pull the pin…
This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher
Page 21

22. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Aim at the base of the fire…
Hit the fuel… If you aim at the flames the extinguishing agent will fly right through and do no good
Page 22

23. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Squeeze the handle to depress the discharge lever…
This depresses the actuating rod that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent
Page 23

24. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out
Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away, then slowly move forward.
Page 24

25. Firefighting Decision Criteria
Fires are very dangerous and often unpredictable
Never attempt to fight a fire unless:
The alarm is sounded.
You know what is burning
The fire is small, in its beginning stages and is not spreading rapidly
You will not inhale toxic smoke
You have safe egress route that can be reached without exposure to fire
The available extinguishers are rated for size and type of fire
If in doubt, evacuate!
Remember R.A.C.E.
Page 25

26. Fire Emergency Response
Rescue A
Alarm C
Contain E
Evacuate
Page 26

27. Summary
The Fire Triangle illustrates the rule that in order to ignite and burn, a fire requires three elements: heat, fuel, and oxygen
The Fire Tetrahedron adds a fourth component to the fire triangle – the uninhibited chain reaction
Fire extinguishment is based upon removing or hindering any one of these four elements
Five classes
Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper or cloth
Class B fires involve flammable or combustible fuels
Class C fires are electrical fires
Class D fires are metal fires
Class K fires involve cooking oils and grease
Portable fire extinguishers are classified to indicate their ability to handle specific classes and sizes of fires.
Inspect and maintain extinguisher on a regular basis
Remember P.A.S.S. and R.A.C.E.
Page 27