ABC s
Three elements of fire Heat Oxygen Fuel Remove one of the three and the fire is extinguished.
Fires are classified based on type of fuel. Extinguishers are also classified on the type of fire they fight.
Multiple class extinguishers o Most portable extinguishers are multi-taskers. o BC rated extinguishers will put out both flammable liquid fires and electrical equipment fires. o What does an ABC fire extinguisher look like? o ABC fire extinguishers are red in color and range in size from five pounds to twenty pounds. o What are the components of an ABC fire extinguisher? o ABC fire extinguishers use dry chemical fire retardant powder made up of monoammonium phosphate. It is a yellow powder that will leave a sticky residue once the fire has been extinguished. o How is the fire extinguished with an ABC fire extinguisher? o An ABC fire extinguisher is a dry chemical extinguisher that puts out fires by coating the fuel with a thin layer of a fire retardant powder. It will separate the fuel from the oxygen. The powder will also interrupt the chemical reaction of the fire.
Class A Ordinary Combustibles: o What are ordinary combustibles? o Ordinary combustibles are paper, cloth, wood, rubber, and plastics. o How can these fires be avoided? o Keep storage and working areas free of trash. o Place oily rags in covered metal containers. o What is in this kind of extinguisher? o The Air Pressurized Water (APW) Fire Extinguisher is labeled a Class A fire extinguisher. Water is one of the most commonly used extinguishing agents for fires involving ordinary combustibles. o How is an APW fire extinguisher identified? o The APW fire extinguisher can be recognized by its large silver container. The fire extinguisher stands about three feet in height and weighs about 25 lbs. when full. Two thirds of the container is filled with water and the remainder is pressurized air. o How is a fire extinguished with an APW fire extinguisher? o Fire is extinguished by cooling the surface of the fuel to remove the HEAT element of the fire.
Class B Flammable Liquids or Gases: o What type of materials would be burning for a fire to be classified as a Class B fire? o Flammable liquids are oils, gasoline, some paints, grease, lacquers, and solvents. o What type of fire extinguisher is labeled for Class B fires? o CO 2 and dry chemical fire extinguishers are both labeled for Class B fires. o What does a CO 2 fire extinguisher look like? o This type of fire extinguisher has a hard horn and NO pressure gauge. They are red and range in size from five to one hundred pounds or larger.
Class B Flammable Liquids or Gases: o What are the components of a CO 2 fire extinguisher? o The fire extinguisher is filled with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a non flammable gas under extreme pressure. o How is the fire extinguished with a CO 2 fire extinguisher? o A CO 2 fire extinguisher puts out fires by displacing oxygen. It takes away the oxygen from the fire. It has such high pressure that pieces of dry ice will shoot from the horn which has a cooling effect on the fire.
Class B Flammable Liquids or Gases: o How can Class B fires be avoided? o Don t refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space, especially in the presence of an open flame such as a furnace or water heater. o Don t refuel gasoline-powered equipment if the equipment is hot. o Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly closed, selfclosing, spill-proof containers. Pour from storage drums only what you will need. o Store flammable liquids away from spark-producing sources. o Use flammable liquids only in well-ventilated areas. Flammable liquids are volatile so they usually have strong odors.
Class C Electrical Equipment o What type of materials would be burning for a fire to be classified as a Class C fire? o Any electrified material such as wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical equipment, computers and other electrical sources. o For fires involving electrical equipment, Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) fire extinguishers and Dry Chemical fire extinguishers are used. CO 2 fire extinguishers and dry chemical fire extinguishers are both used for electrical equipment fires. o Would there be any reason to use a CO 2 fire extinguisher over a dry chemical extinguisher for an electrical fire? o BC and ABC fire extinguishers both leave a residue after the fire has been put out. If the fire has started on delicate electrical equipment such as a computer or TV, it might be wise to consider a CO 2 fire extinguisher because it does not leave a residue. A dry chemical fire extinguisher will leave a residue that can damage the equipment.
Class C Electrical Equipment: o How can Class B fires be avoided? o Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report any hazardous condition to your supervisor. o Prevent motors from overheating by keeping them clean and in good working order. o Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over them. Heat from an uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles. o Don t misuse fuses. Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit. o Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strangely. Unusual odors can be the first sign of fire. o Don t overload wall outlets. Two outlets should have no more than two plugs.
Class D Flammable metals: o What type of materials would be burning for a fire to be classified as a Class D fire? o Powders, flakes or shavings of combustible METALS (such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium). o What are the components of a Class D fire extinguisher? o Fire extinguishers labeled for a type D fire can contain a sodium chloride based dry powder extinguishing agent, but most of the fire extinguishers labeled Class D have components that are geared to a specific metal. o Why isn t there a picture on the side of this type of extinguisher? o There is no picture for class D fire extinguishers.
Class D Flammable metals: Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium generally take a very hot heat source to ignite: however, once ignited are difficult to extinguish as the burning reaction produces sufficient oxygen to support combustion, even underwater. In some cases, covering the burning metal with sand can help contain the heat and sparks from the reaction but not always. Class D extinguishing agents are available (generally as a dry powder in a bucket or box) which can be quite effective.
Class D Flammable metals: Most people s homes do not contain flammable metals they are generally only found in industrial or laboratory settings. However, if your home contains a large amount of flammable metals you should consider purchasing a five or ten pound container of Class-D extinguishing agent as a precaution. Pure metals such as potassium and sodium react violently (even explosively) with water and some other chemicals, and must be handled with care. Generally these metals are stored in sealed containers in a non-reactive liquid to prevent decay (surface oxidation) from contact with moisture in the air. White phosphorus is air reactive and will burn/explode on contact with room air. It must be kept in a sealed container with a non-reactive solution to prevent contact with air.
Class K Combustible Cooking Fluids: o What type of materials would be burning for a fire to be classified as a Class K fire? o Combustible cooking fluids are oils and fats. o When would you need to use a fire extinguisher labeled for a Class K fire? o This type of fire extinguisher is now required to be installed in all applicable restaurant kitchens because of the higher heating rates of vegetable oils used in commercial cooking. If a fire starts in a deep fryer, it is not always possible to extinguish it with a Class B fire extinguisher or traditional range hood installed in the kitchen.
Class K Combustible Cooking Fluids: o How would you know when to use this special type of fire extinguisher? o These fire extinguishers are only to be used AFTER the activation of a built-in hood suppression system. If there is no built in hood suppression system, then there is no requirement to use a Class K fire extinguisher. o What are the components in a Class K fire extinguisher? o There are different agents that are used in fire extinguishers labeled Class K. Some of these agents are dry and some are wet. Potassium bicarbonate is used in some dry chemical fire extinguishers and some wet fire extinguishers spray a fine chemical mist. o Are there any special precautions that need to be taken with this type of fire extinguisher? o The extinguishing agents in a fire extinguisher labeled for type K fires are sometimes electrically conductive and should only be used AFTER the power has been turned off in the electrical appliance.
Class K Oil and Grease Fires: o How can Class K fires be avoided? o Never turn on a pan of grease and leave it unattended. The grease may heat up and splatter out of the pan or catch on fire. o Turning off the source of heat and covering the pan will help. o Water extinguishers do not help with this type of fire as the water only serves to spread the fire.
PULL AIM SQUEEZE SWEEP
In Case of Fire ESCUE Remove everyone in immediate danger. LARM Report fire and location. ONTAIN Close all doors and windows to isolate fire. XTINGUISH Put the fire out quickly if possible. Otherwise leave the area.