Firefighter II

Firefighter II

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2

General Information

Every agent extinguishes fire with at least one of the following methods:

 Smothering – oxygen exclusion

 Cooling – reducing the fuel to below its ignition temperature

 Chain Breaking – interrupting the chemical chain reaction

 Saponification – forming oxygenexcluding soapy foam



3

General Information (continued)

NFPA 1901, the Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, requires that pumping apparatus

 Have two approved, portable fire extinguishers with mounting brackets





Must be suitable for use on Class B and Class C fires

A dry chemical extinguisher’s minimum size is a rating of 80 B:C



 A carbon Dioxide (CO

2

) extinguisher has a required rating of 10 B:C

Carry at least one 2½ gallon or larger water extinguisher for use on Class A fires.

 Be protected from freezing if exposed to temperatures lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit (water type extinguishers)



4

Expelling of Agents

 All portable extinguishers expel their agent in one of the following ways:

 Manual pump (water can)

 Stored pressure

 Pressure cartridge



5

Fire Classifications

 Classified according to the material that is burning

 Some extinguishing agents are most effective on specific fuel types

 The agent dictates which type of portable extinguisher is most effective on that class fire

 The five Classifications are A, B, C, D, and K



6


(continued)

 Class A

 Ordinary combustibles, extinguished by water or waterbased agents, such as foam or multipurpose dry chemicals

 Water is the most common agent used by the fire service

 Class B

 Flammable and combustible liquids and gases

 Agents used are carbon dioxide (CO

2

), dry chemical, and class B foam



7


(continued)



Class C

 Fires created by electrical energy

 Water-based agents are not effective or safe to use until the electricity has been eliminated.

 Disconnect the electrical source and use the appropriate extinguisher.



8


(continued)

 Class D

 Combustible metals

 These fires are often identified by the bright white emissions from the burning process

 Dry powder extinguishers are the most effective

 Class K

 Combustible cooking oils

 Wet chemical extinguishers and extinguishing systems are the most effective



9

Extinguisher Types



Pump-Type Water

Extinguishers

 Intended for use on small

Class A fires

 Equipped with a singleor double-action pump



10

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers

 Also called air pressurized water

(APW) extinguishers, or pressurized water extinguishers

 Intended for use on all types of small Class A fires

 They are often used for hot spots during overhaul.

 Water is stored with compressed air or nitrogen



11

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers

(continued)

 Class A foam concentrate is

 Sometimes added to water extinguishers to increase their effectiveness

 Also used as a wetting agent to help reach

 Deep seated fires in upholstered furniture





Baled fuels

Wildland fires with dense matted vegetation



12

Water-Mist Stored Pressure Extinguishers

 Intended for use on Class A and C fires

 Use deionized water as an agent

 The deionized water is non-conductive

 The extinguisher uses a fine spray that increases the cooling and soaking characteristics of water



13

Wet Chemical Stored-Pressure Extinguishers

(Class K)

 Similar in appearance to conventional storedpressure units

 Designed to control and extinguish fires in deep fryers found in kitchens

 Contain a special potassium-based, low pH agent that is designed to cool and extinguish fires in unsaturated cooking oils



14

Aqueous Film Forming Foam

(AFFF) Extinguishers

 Also known as “light water”

 Intended for use on Class A and Class B fires

 Effective in suppressing vapors from small liquid fuel spills

 A highly effective extinguishing and blanketing agent on hydrocarbon fuels

 Ineffective on polar solvents

 AFFF is corrosive and can remove finishes from tools and apparatus



15

Clean Agent Extinguishers

 Designed to replace Halon 1211

 Discharge a rapidly evaporating liquid that leaves no residue

 Agents include:

 Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCCF)

 Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)

 Perfluorocarbon (PFC)

 Fluoroidiocarbon (FIC)



16

Clean Agent Extinguishers

(continued)

 Effectively cool and smother fires in Class A and B fuels, and, because the agents are non-conductive, they may be used on Class C fires

 They are pressurized with Argon gas

 Approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA)



17

Typical Class K

Extinguisher

Foam Aspirating

Nozzle

Clean Agent

Extinguisher



18

Carbon Dioxide (CO

2

) Extinguishers

 Effective on Class B and Class C fires

 Come as handheld and wheeled units

 Wheeled units are usually found in airports and industry.

 Wheeled unit hoses (usually less than 15 feet long) must be unwound before use.

 Limited reach because they are discharged as a gas



19

Carbon Dioxide (CO

2

(continued)

) Extinguishers

 Do not require freeze protection

 Stored under their own pressure

 The CO

2 gas displaces available oxygen and smothers the fire.

 It has little cooling effect, despite the fact that it is discharged at subzero temperatures

 Does not produce a vapor-suppressing film, so reignition is always possible



20

Dry Chemical Extinguishers

 For use on Class A:B:C fires and/or

Class B-C fires

 The most common portable extinguishers in use today

 Come as handheld units or wheeled units

 Cartridge-type and stored-pressure design

 Two basic types:





Regular B:C-rated

Multipurpose A:B:C-rated


B:C rated extinguisher


21


(continued)

 Commonly used dry chemicals:

 Sodium bicarbonate

 Potassium bicarbonate

 Potassium chloride

 Monoammonium phosphate

 Urea-potassium

 During manufacturing, chemicals are mixed with an additive to make them moisture resistant. This prevents them from caking inside the extinguisher.



22


(continued)















Monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate agents are not compatible with foam. They will cause a foam blanket to break down.

Dry chemical agents are considered non-toxic.

Upon discharge, chemical clouds can reduce visibility and create respiratory problems as airborne particulates.

Discharge should be directed at whatever is burning, to cover it with the chemical.

When the flames are knocked down, the agent should be applied intermittently on any hot spots.

Many of the agents are corrosive.

On wheeled units, the hose must be extended before use.



23

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires















No single agent can control fires in all combustible metals.

Some powered agents can be applied by extinguishers, while others need to be applied by a shovel or scoop.

Portable extinguishers for Class D fires can be handheld or wheeled units.

Agents must be applied in sufficient depth to completely cover the area that is burning; the agent creates a smothering blanket.

The agents may form a crust over the metal, and if the crust breaks, the fire may reignite.

Avoid scattering the burned metal.

After the metal is extinguished, the material should be left undisturbed until it is cooled completely; then it may be disposed of.



24

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires

(continued)

Class D agent may be applied with a shovel.



25

Firefighter II



Fire Extinguisher Rating System

 Extinguishers are classified according to their intended use.

 Icons, such as the ones on this label, indicate that this is intended for Class A fires but prohibited for use on Class B and

C fires.



27

Class A Ratings

 Rated from 1-A through 40-A

 Ratings are based on the amount of extinguishing agent, and the duration and range of the discharge used in extinguishing test fires

 For a 1-A rating, 1¼ gallons of water is required

 For a 2-A rating, 2½ gallons, or twice the capacity, is required

 Ratings are based on test fires in various sizes of fuel test cribs



Controlled Fire In a

Wooden Crib

28

Class B Ratings



Classified with numerical ratings from 1-B through 640-B



Ratings are based on the approximate square foot area of flammable liquid fire that a non-expert operator can extinguish



Non-expert operators are expected to extinguish 1 square foot for each numerical rating



29

Class C Ratings









There are no number ratings

Class A and Class B fires involving energized electrical equipment

Extinguishing agents for Class C extinguishers are tested to make sure they are non-conductive

The rating is assigned to extinguishers in addition to their

Class A or Class B rating, or both



30







Class D Ratings

No numerical rating is given

Test fires for establishing Class D ratings vary with the combustible metal being tested

The following factors are considered:











Reaction between the metal and the agent

Toxicity of the agent

Toxicity of the fumes produced and the products of combustion.

The time needed to allow the metal to burn out without fire suppression efforts, versus the time needed to extinguish the fire

Application instructions for specific agents are on the faceplate



31







Class K Ratings

Recognized by Underwriters Laboratories

(UL) since 1996

Class K Extinguishers







Must be capable of saponifying vegetable, peanut, canola, and other oils with little or no fatty acids

Saponify – reduce fatty acids or fats into a soap or foam

Work by suppressing vapors and smothering the fire

Class K agents must be able to extinguish a fire in a deep fryer with a surface area of 2.25 square feet.



32











Multiple Markings

Extinguishers may be capable of extinguishing more than one class of fire

The three most common extinguisher combinations are







Class A:B:C

Class A:B

Class B:C

Extinguishers should be properly marked, or not used.

The ratings of each class of fire that an extinguisher can extinguish are independent of each other.

Example: a 4-A 20-B C extinguisher can extinguish a Class A fire 4 times greater than a 1-A extinguisher can, and a Class B fire 20 times greater than a 1-B:C can



33

Multiple Markings

 Portable extinguishers are identified two ways:

 Geometric shapes of specific colors with the class letter in the shape

 Pictographs to make the selection of the most appropriate extinguisher easier.





An additional pictograph shows the type(s) of fire the extinguisher will not extinguish.

This method is recommended by the National Fire

Protection Agency (NFPA).



34

Proper Extinguisher Selection

 Classification of the burning fuel.

 Rating of the extinguisher.

 Hazards to be protected.

 Size and intensity of the fire.

 Atmospheric conditions.

 Life hazards or operational concerns.

 Ease of handling.

 Availability of trained personnel.



35

Using Portable Extinguishers

 Become familiar with the instructions found on the different types of extinguishers.

 Make sure that extinguishers are accessible from fire service vehicles, and fully operational.

 Check it before using it.

 After choosing the proper extinguisher (size and type), approach the fire from the windward side (wind at your back).



36

Using Portable Extinguishers

(continued)













All modern extinguishers

 Operate similarly

 Do not need to be inverted

Pick up the extinguisher by the handle and carry it to the point of discharge (application)

PASS Method

Make sure the extinguisher reaches the fire

Operate with enough distance; being too close with an extinguisher can scatter lightweight fuels. Be careful!

Move closer for final extinguishment after the fire is knocked down



37

PASS Method

 PASS Method

 Pull the pin, breaking the seal.

 Aim the nozzle at whatever is burning.

 Squeeze the handles together to release the agent.

 Sweep the nozzle back and forth to cover the burning material.



38

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers

 NFPA 10 requires that portable fire extinguishers be inspected at least once every year, and that they are accessible and operable.

 Inspections are the responsibility of the building owner, and are usually done by the owner or their designee, such as a licensed extinguisher company.

 Firefighters should include extinguisher inspections as part of their annual building inspections.

 Fire extinguisher inspections should include





Location and accessibility

Checking the following



39


(continued)

 The discharge nozzle or horn for obstructions

 For cracks, dirt, or grease accumulations

 The extinguisher shell for damage

 The operating instructions for legibility

 The locking pin and tamper seal

 That the extinguisher is full and pressurized





The weight and pressure gauge

If the extinguisher is found to be deficient in weight by 10 percent, it should be removed from service

 The inspection tag for date of previous inspection, maintenance, or recharging

 The hose and hose fittings



40


(continued)





Regularly inspect extinguishers located on fire apparatus

Three factors that determine the value of a portable fire extinguisher:







Serviceability

Accessibility

Simplicity of operation



41

Damaged & Obsolete Extinguishers

 Damaged extinguishers should be replaced. Do not use them again until they are certified for use.

 Obsolete extinguishers should be removed from service.







Inverting-type extinguishers stopped being manufactured in 1969.

Copper and brass shells have been discontinued.

Carbon tetrachloride and chlorobromomethane have been obsolete since 1982



42

Halon Fire Extinguishers

 Termination and consumption of Halon by the year 2000 because of its ozone depletion material

 The only exception is for essential uses where there is no alternative

 The U.S. stopped producing halogens in 1993.

 Extinguishes fire by interrupting the chemical chain reaction

 The vapor is non-conductive and effective on surface fires

 Halon 1211 was replaced by FE-36 (hexafluoropropane)

 Halon 1301 was replaced by FE-241 (chlorotetrafluoroethane) and FM-200



43

Resources

 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5 th Edition),

International Fire Service Training Association

(IFSTA)

 Images used with permission from IFSTA.



44

Firefighter II

General Information

General Information (continued)

Expelling of Agents

Fire Classifications

Fire Classifications

Fire Classifications

Class C

Fire Classifications

Extinguisher Types

Pump-Type Water

Extinguishers

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers

Water-Mist Stored Pressure Extinguishers

Wet Chemical Stored-Pressure Extinguishers

(Class K)

Aqueous Film Forming Foam

(AFFF) Extinguishers

Clean Agent Extinguishers

Clean Agent Extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide (CO

) Extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide (CO

) Extinguishers

Dry Chemical Extinguishers

Dry Chemical Extinguishers

Dry Chemical Extinguishers

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires

Fire Extinguisher Rating System

Class A Ratings

Class B Ratings

Classified with numerical ratings from 1-B through 640-B

Ratings are based on the approximate square foot area of flammable liquid fire that a non-expert operator can extinguish

Non-expert operators are expected to extinguish 1 square foot for each numerical rating

Class C Ratings

Class D Ratings

Class K Ratings

Multiple Markings

Multiple Markings

Proper Extinguisher Selection

Using Portable Extinguishers

Using Portable Extinguishers

PASS Method

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers

Damaged & Obsolete Extinguishers

Halon Fire Extinguishers

Resources

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