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Environmental Health and Safety UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Fire Extinguisher Training OSHA Standard 1910.157 Occupational Safety & Health Administration: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers NFPA Standard 10 National Fire Protection Association: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers All extinguishers three elements Fire elements IfThe anythree element of theof of the fire triangle function by removing The fire triangle are: fire triangle is removed Oxygen can come Heat can also elevate the must be present Heat isthe usually the ignition one of the elements of or a The air air contains Oxygen, Heat, and Fuel fire will go out from the temperature of the fuel forfire fire to21% occur source which ignites the Oxygen the triangle chemical oxidizer until it spontaneously flammable vapors To understand how fire Fire combusts extinguishers work, it is Triangle important to look at the chemistry fire Fuel is thatofmaterial which is heated to the point it is producing vapor. It is the vapor which burns. Chemistry of Fire Fuel What is Fire? Fire Tetrahedron Fuel A more accurate depiction of the behavior of fire is The fire tetrahedron. The fourth side of the Fire Includes all of the Tetrahedron is an characteristics of the uninhibited chemical fire triangle chain reaction Chemical Chain Reaction How Fire Extinguishers Work • Water removes heat • CO2 removes oxygen • Dry Chemical interrupts chain reaction ThisChemical is an ammonia based Dry yellow powder used in Extinguishing Agents ABC all purpose firebased This is a potassium • extinguishers purple powder used in This is a bicarbonate of soda Flammable liquid fire based white powder used in extinguishing grease fire extinguishers Mono-Ammonium Phosphate and automatic systems • Purple K • Bicarbonate of Soda Fire Extinguisher Classification Class “A” Fires Wood Paper Clothing Ordinary Combustibles Class “B” Fires Flammable Liquids Grease Fires Class “C” Fires Energized Electrical Equipment Class “D” Fires Combustible Metals D Using Fire Extinguishers • Pull Building Fire Alarm • Call University Police 711 • Know How To Use • Use Buddy System Never Put Yourself or Others in Danger! Do Not Use Fire Extinguisher If: • The fire has spread beyond the point of origin • The fire is larger than a waste basket • The extinguisher doesn’t seem to have any effect on the fire Fighting the Fire • Keep back to exit • Check gage • Check nozzle • Make sure extinguisher is right for type of fire • Keep low to avoid smoke Check The Gage • Should be in the Green • Any other position Should be recharged Check The Nozzle Fire extinguishers contain a gas to expel the agent. If the nozzle is blocked the hose can rupture causing Make sure injury. nothing is blocking the nozzle • Pull the pin P A S S • Aim at the base of the fire • Squeeze the trigger • Sweep at the base of the fire, back and forth Aim at base of fire 10 ft If Your Cloths Catch Fire! Stop – Immediately where you are. Drop – To the ground. Roll – Over and over. Types Of Portable Fire Extinguishers At The University Pressurized Water Water conducts electricity and spraying a stream •of Limited Use water into a fire involving energized equipment can cause serious shock • Subject to freezing Water does not work well with flammable liquid or energized electrical • Electrical Shock equipment fires Hazard Water extinguishers can not be located in areas that are not heated Air pressure forces water out through hose when handle is squeezed Carbon Dioxide CO2 This extinguisher has no pressure gage. The agent nozzle for isCheck a gas. the The onlyisway to Carbon Dioxide a•gas Flammable liquids obstructions. When the know enough agentoxygen is whichif can displace sensitive electrical agent is discharged, the inside is to discharge briefly in a confined area and hose nozzle may equipment causeand asphyxiation become very cold & • No gage While dioxide This iscarbon a gas and doesdoes’ not • liquid Check extinguish flammable leave any residue which fires, if damage surfacessensitive are hot, a might flash back equipment fire can occur electrical hose & nozzle Point horn or nozzle at base of fire and discharge. Be careful not to touch “frosted” areas of hose and nozzle. Halon & Halon Replacements • Displaces Oxygen • No Residue to Damage Equipment • Twice as Effective as Carbon Dioxide Dry Chemical Chemical is not toxic, but could cause problems forcommon • Most people with respiratory problems • Has pressure gage Works well on Class A, B, and C fires. Does leave a • Chemical corrosive residue that can Check before using damagegage equipment and make sure hose is in good shape and nozzle is not obstructed is non-toxic Uses nitrogen gas to expel the dry chemical. Do not breath powder if it can be helped Monthly Inspection Record • Every extinguisher DATE By DATE By should have a tag 12-14-00 EHS-CC • Extinguishers should be checked monthly • Record date of inspection • Initial in space Fire Extinguisher Cabinets Cabinets should not be locked or obstructed The four elements of the fire tetrahedron include which of the following: A) sodium, oxygen, fuel, electricity B) oxygen, fuel, chemical chain reaction, fire C) oxygen, fuel, chemical chain reaction, heat D) fuel, chemical chain reaction, heat, water Water fire extinguishers function by removing which of the following from the fire tetrahedron? A) Electricity B) Fuel C) Oxygen D) Heat Dry Chemical fire extinguishers function by removing which of the following from the fire tetrahedron? A) Chemical chain reaction B) Fuel C) Oxygen D) Heat Ordinary combustible materials such as paper, cloth, and wood are classified as which of the following type of fire? A) Class D B) Class B C) Class C D) Class A Energized electrical equipment is classified as which of the following type of fire? A) Class C B) Class A C) Class D D) Class B Flammable liquids are classified as which of the following type of fire? A) Class A B) Class C C) Class B D) Class D Which of the following should be done before using a portable fire extinguisher? A) Check the gage B) Make sure it’s the proper type C) Keep your back to the exit D) All of the above Fire extinguishers should be checked at which of the following intervals? A) Semi-annually B) Monthly C) Every two years D) They do not require checking Fire Triangle The fire triangle has been used for many years to describe the process that occurs with fire. Three elements are required for fire to take place, oxygen, heat, and fuel. Without any one of these elements you cannot have fire. Fire extinguishers are designed to remove one or more of the elements, which results in the fire being extinguished. Oxygen and heat are the easiest to remove. Fuel is much more difficult. Therefore, fire extinguishers do not remove the fuel, they remove oxygen or cool the fuel to the point the fire can no longer burn. Fire Tetrahedron In order for fire to occur the fire triangle theory presented three things that must be present, Oxygen, Fuel, and Heat. New research indicates that the fire triangle does not tell the whole story. In addition to the oxygen, heat, and fuel that must be present, a Chemical Chain Reaction also takes place. These four elements are represented by the Fire Tetrahedron. When any of the four items are removed, the fire will go out. Fire extinguishers function by removing one of the four components of the Fire Tetrahedron. How Fire Extinguishers Work Water extinguishes fire by cooling the fuel to below its ignition temperature. Water has a great ability to absorb heat. Carbon dioxide gas acts by displacing the oxygen in the air that the fire needs to burn, and the fire goes out. Without oxygen in the air for fire, there is also no oxygen to support life. Care needs to be exercised when using carbon dioxide extinguishers in confined areas. Dry chemical fire extinguishers work by interrupting the chemical chain reaction and the fire goes out. Types of Dry Chemical A, B, C all purpose dry chemical fire extinguishers use mono-ammonium phosphate as an extinguishing agent. It is non-toxic but can cause problems for people with respiratory problems. It leaves a corrosive residue that can damage sensitive electrical equipment. Purple is a very effective, expensive extinguishing agent that is primarily used in aircraft and flammable liquid firefighting. Soda bi-carbonate is used for cooking fires. It has a characteristic which allows it to coat the surface of the cooking oil and keep the fuel from reaching oxygen to burn. Classification of Fires Fires are broken down into four types for the purpose of classifying fire extinguishers. Class A involves ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, plastics, and cloth. Class B is flammable liquids including gasoline, diesel fuel, grease, and others. Class C involves energized electrical equipment. Class D is combustible metals, like potassium, sodium, magnesium, and others. It is important that the right type of extinguisher is chosen when a fire occurs to insure the fire can be quickly extinguished. The classification is clearly marked on the fire extinguisher label. Using Fire Extinguishers Safely Nothing inside of a building is more important than someone’s life. Fire extinguishers should only be used by persons who have been trained. They should only be used on small fires still in the area of origin. If the fire has moved beyond the area of origin, everyone should evacuate the building and allow the sprinkler system or fire department extinguish the fire. Make sure when using a fire extinguisher your exit or way out is behind you. If that is not possible, evacuate, do not attempt to extinguish the fire. Make sure the fire extinguisher is the proper type for the class of fire. Check the gage and hose for proper operation. Pull The Pin The pin in the fire extinguisher handle prevents the squeezing of the handle and accidental discharge of agent. Pull the pin and discard before using the fire extinguisher. The pin is usually held in place with a plastic rope and can be easily pulled out breaking the rope. If you have difficulty pulling the pin, it may help to place the extinguisher on the ground and place your foot on the cylinder for leverage while pulling the pin. Aim at the Base of the Fire For the fire to go out when using a fire extinguisher, you must get to the source of the fire. Take the nozzle in your hand and point the nozzle at the location the fire appears to be originating. This should be effective in quickly extinguishing the fire. Sweep the Nozzle Back and Forth Sweeping the nozzle back and forth while discharging agent will allow the agent to cover a larger area of fire. There will also be less tendency to spread the fire around. OSHA Requirements The United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulates all types of work place safety including fire. Section 29 CFR 1910.157 covers the requirements for the placement, use, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishers in the work place, when provided by employer for the use of employees. Anyone required to use fire extinguishers should be trained in their use. NFPA Standard 10 The National Fire Protection Association publishes standards, which are adopted by local jurisdictions on many issues of fire safety. NFPA 10 provides guidance concerning the selection, placement, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishers. The State of Maryland has adopted NFPA 101 the Life-Safety Code, which incorporates NFPA 10 by reference. Incorrect! Correct!