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The Fire Triangle
Classifications of Fuels
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Rules for Fighting Fires
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
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The Fire Triangle
In order to understand how fire extinguishers work,
you first need to know a little bit about fire.
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Four things must be present at the same
time in order to produce fire:
• Enough oxygen to sustain combustion,
• Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature,
• Some sort of fuel or combustible material, and
• The chemical, exothermic reaction that is fire.
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Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the
"fire triangle." Add in the fourth element, the chemical
reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron."
The important thing to remember is:take any of these
four things away, and you will not have a fire
or the fire will be extinguished.
Essentially, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking
away one or more elements of the fire triangle/tetrahedron.
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Not all fires are the same, and they are classified
according to the type of fuel that is burning.
If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on
the wrong class of fire, you can, in fact, make matters
worse.
It is therefore very important to understand the four
different fire classifications.
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Class A - Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics
Solid combustible materials that are not metals.
Class B - Flammable liquids: gasoline, oil, grease
Any non-metal in a liquid state, on fire.
This classification also includes flammable gases.
Class C - Electrical: energized electrical equipment
As long as it's "plugged in," it would be considered a
class C fire.
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Class D - Metals: potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium
Unless you work in a laboratory or in an industry that uses
These materials, it is unlikely you'll have to deal with a
Class D fire.
It takes special extinguishing agents (Metal-X, foam)
to fight such a fire.
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Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you
which classifications of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight.
For example, a simple water extinguisher might have a label like
the one below, indicating that it should only be used
on Class A fires.
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Different types of fire extinguishers are designed
to fight different classes of fire.
The three most common types of fire extinguishers are:
Water (APW)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Dry Chemical (ABC,BC,DC)
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Air – Pressurized Water Extinguisher
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APW stands for "air-pressurized water."
APWs are large, silver extinguishers that are filled about
two-thirds of the way with ordinary tap water, then
pressurized with normal air. In essence, an APW is just a
giant squirt gun.
APWs stand about 2 feet tall and weigh approximately
25 pounds when full.
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Water (APW) Extinguishers APWs are designed for
Class A (wood, paper, cloth) fires only.
Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fires.
Water is extremely ineffective at extinguishing this type
of fire, and you may, in fact, spread the fire if you try to
use water on it.
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Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire.
Water is a good conductor, and there is some concern
for electrocution if you were to use water to extinguish
an electrical fire.
Electrical equipment must be unplugged and/or
de-energized before using a water extinguisher on it.
APWs extinguish fire by taking away the "heat" element
of the fire triangle.
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APWs will be found in older buildings, particularly
in public hallways, as well as in Residence Halls.
They will also be found in computer laboratories.
It is important to remember, however, that computer
equipment must be disconnected from its electrical
source before using a water extinguisher on it.
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Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are filled with non-flammable
carbon dioxide gas under extreme pressure.
You can recognize a CO2 extinguisher by its hard horn and
black of pressure gauge.
The pressure in the cylinder is so great that when you use
one of these extinguishers, bits of dry ice may shoot out the horn.
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CO2 cylinders are red and range in size from 5 lbs to 100 lbs
or larger. In the larger sizes, the hard horn will be located on
the end of a long, flexible hose.
CO2s are designed for Class B and C
(flammable liquid and electrical) fires only.
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Carbon Dioxide is a non-flammable gas that extinguishes
fire by displacing oxygen, or taking away the oxygen element
of the fire triangle. The carbon dioxide is also very cold as it
comes out of the extinguisher, so it cools the fuel as well.
CO2s may be ineffective at extinguishing Class A fires
because they may not be able to displace enough oxygen to
successfully put the fire out. Class A materials may also
smolder and re-ignite.
CO2s will frequently be found in laboratories, mechanical rooms,
kitchens, and flammable liquid storage areas.
All CO2 extinguishers at OSU undergo hydrostatic testing
and recharge every five years.
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Dry Chemical Extinguishers come in a variety of types.
You may see them labeled:
• "DC" short for "dry chem"
• "ABC" indicating that they are designed to extinguish
class A,B,and C fires, or
• "BC" indicating that they are designed to extinguish
class B and C fires.
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It is extremely important to identify
which types of dry chemical extinguishers are
located in your area.
Read the labels and know their locations!
You don't want to mistakenly use a "BC" extinguisher
on a Class A fire, thinking that it was an "ABC" extinguisher.
An "ABC" extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating
that it may be used on class A,B, and C fires.
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Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the
fuel with a thin layer of dust, separating the fuel from
the oxygen in the air. The powder also works to interrupt
the chemical reaction of fire, so these extinguishers are
extremely effective at putting out fire.
These extinguishers will be found in a variety of locations.
New buildings will have them located in public hallways.
They may also be found in laboratories, mechanical rooms,
break rooms, chemical storage areas, offices, university vehicles,
etc. Dry chemical extinguishers with powder designed for
Class B and C fires may be located in places such as
commercial kitchens or areas with flammable liquids.
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Fires can be very dangerous and you should always be
certain that you will not endanger yourself or others when
attempting to put out a fire. For this reason, when a fire is
discovered:
• Assist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be
accomplished without risk to yourself.
• Activate the building fire alarm system or notify the fire
department by dialing 01 (or designating someone else to
notify them for you). When you activate the building fire
alarm system, it will automatically notify the fire department
and get help on the way.
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• It will also sound the building alarms to notify other
occupants, and it will shut down the air handling units
to prevent the spread of smoke throughout the building.
• Only after having done these two things, if the fire is small,
you may attempt to use an extinguisher to put it out.
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NEVER FIGHT A FIRE IF:
You don't know what is burning.
If you don't know what is burning, you don't know what type
of extinguisher to use. Even if you have an ABC extinguisher,
there may be something in the fire which is going to explode
or produce highly toxic smoke.
Chances are, you will know what's burning, or at least have a
pretty good idea, but if you don't, let the fire department
handle it.
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The fire is spreading rapidly beyond the spot
where it started.
The time to use an extinguisher is in the incipient,
or beginning, stages of a fire. If the fire is already
spreading quickly, it is best to simple evacuate the
building, closing doors and windows behind you as
you leave.
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Do Not Fight the Fire If:
You don't have adequate or appropriate equipment.
If you don't have the correct type or large enough
extinguisher, it is best not to try to fight the fire.
You might inhale toxic smoke.
If the fire is producing large amounts of smoke that you
would have to breathe in order to fight it, it is best not to try.
Any sort of combustion will produce some amount of carbon
monoxide, but when synthetic materials such as the nylon in
carpeting or foam padding in a sofa burn, they can produce
highly toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and
ammonia in addition to carbon monoxide.
These gases can be fatal in very small amounts.
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Your instincts tell you not to.
If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any
reason, just let the fire department do their job.
The final rule is to always position yourself with an exit
or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use
an extinguisher to put out a fire.
In case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected
happens, you need to be able to get out quickly, and you don't
want to become trapped. Just remember,
always keep an exit at your back.
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Pull the pin.
This will allow you to discharge
the extinguisher.
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Aim at the base of the fire.
If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the
temptation), the extinguishing agent will fly right
through and do no good. You want to hit the fuel.
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Squeeze the top handle or lever.
This depresses a button that releases the pressurized
extinguishing agent in the extinguisher.
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Sweep from side to side
until the fire is completely out.
Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away,
then move forward. Once the fire is out, keep an eye
on the area in case it re-ignites.
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