1. FIRE EXTINGUISHER ORIENTATION

2. COORDINATORS
• William Bohmer---BAE Reston Front Desk Officer and involved
in the fire service since 1990.
• Name of person and brief info
• Name of person and brief info
• Name of person and brief info

3. TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
-COMPONENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE AND THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON
-CLASSES OF FIRE
-PASS METHOD
-FIGHT OR FLIGHT ANALYSIS
-DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF
-TRAINED VERSUS UNTRAINED
-PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
a. General information
b. Common features and discuss specific types
c. Discuss their use on each class of fire
-OK IT’S OUT---NOW WHAT?
-Discuss the location of fire extinguishers with the facility
-Handouts/Discussion/Questions

4. COMPONENTS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE

5. CLASSES OF FIRE

6. THE PASS METHOD

7. IMPORTANT PASS METHOD CONSIDERATIONS
• Keep your back to an unobstructed exit, stand at least 6 to 8
feet from the fire, then:
-Pull the pin
-Aim low at the base of the fire
-Squeeze the lever
-Sweep from side to side

8. WHEN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS USED
PROPERLY

9. FIGHT OR FLIGHT ANALYSIS
Use a fire extinguisher ONLY if:
a. Fire Department is being called (dial 911)
b. Building is being evacuated (fire alarm has been pulled)
c. The fire is small and contained (not spreading)
d. EXIT IS CLEAR, and there is no imminent peril
Q: Can you fight the fire with your back to an exit (be aware)
e. You can stay low and avoid smoke
f. The proper extinguisher is at hand, and…
-Make sure you read instructions and can use the extinguisher
-Use the buddy system: have someone back you up!
-Get assistance BEFORE trying to fight a fire!

10. DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF:
A. You don’t know what is burning
-Wrong extinguisher can make things worse
-Risk of toxic fumes or explosion hazards
-FEMA IS-5 course “Citizen orientation to HAZMAT
a. Highly recommended
-Note NFPA Labels
B. You don’t have adequate equipment and/or a backup buddy
C. Fire has started to spread
-Close windows and doors to slow its spread and LEAVE!!

11. DO NOT FIGHT A FIRE IF (CONTINUED)
D. Your instincts tell you not to fight the fire
-Trust your intuition, it may save your life
-Never pass a fire to get to a fire extinguisher
E. FINAL RULE-Always have an escape route at your back!
-LEAVE IMMEDIATELY if anything unexpected happens

12. UNTRAINED PEOPLE CAN’T USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER
SAFELY, BECAUSE THEY ARE:
A. UNABLE to evaluate a fire
-Fight or Flight Analysis
B. UNAWARE of DANGER due to:
a. Limitations of fire extinguishers( capacity, range and duration)
b. Risk of re-ignition of fire to be extinguished
-Use of the wrong extinguisher can intensify a fire!
C. INEXPERIENCED USER due to:
a. Unfamiliar with the proper use of the fire extinguisher
b. How to use-----PASS METHOD
c. Difficulty in removing the extinguisher from the wall
d. Weight of the fire extinguisher

13. Portable Fire Extinguishers

14. Types of Fire Extinguishers
Stored Pressure Type
-nitrogen typically used
-takes longer to get recharged after use
Cartridge Type
-unlike stored pressure, these use CO2
-the expellant gas contained in a separate cartridge which when
punctured exposes the propellant to the extinguishing agent
-found in industrial areas where higher than average use occurs
-advantage of simple and prompt recharge

15. GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER INFORMATION
A. Can be carried to a fire---5 to 30 pounds
B. Limited in capacity, range, and duration
- 1.5 to 25 pounds of extinguishing agent
- Typical range is from 3 to 15 feet
- Discharges their contents in only 5 to 30 seconds
C. Types
a. Water j. Water Mist
b. ABC Dry Chemical k. Foam
c. Dry Powder l. Wet Chemical Class K kitchen
d. Carbon Dioxide
e. Halon
f. Halotron I
g. Purple K stored pressure dry chemical
h. Regular dry chemical stored pressure sodium bicarbonate
i. CleanGuard FE-36

16. Fire Extinguisher Common Features
A. Carrying handle/operating lever
B. Locking pin
C. Pressure Gauge
D. Discharge nozzle or horn
E. Label
a. Type (water, CO2, Dry Chemical)
b. Instructions
c. Classification data (A, B, C)
d. Special applications: (Class D-flammable metals), (purple-K oil, gas and
electric utility industries).

17. INSIDE AN EXTINGUISHER
• REFER TO HANDOUT AND USE AN EXTINGUISHER TO VISUALLY
SHOW DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

18. CLASS A FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

19. How water extinguishers work
A. Main components are water and compressed gas(usually
CO2)
B. Works by cooling the fire which reduces the temperature
C. ONLY for Class A Fires(wood and paper)
D. NEVER for Class B, C or D Fires
-Intensifies fire if used on burning liquids or reactive metals
-Risk of electric shock if used on energized electrical equipment

20. ABC DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

21. ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers
-Mainly composed of the following:
a. Ammonium Phosphate
-NOT COMPATIBLE
a. Strong alkalis
b. Strong oxidizers
c. Calcium Hypochlorite AKA Pool Chlorine
d. Isocyanuric Acids
-ABC Dry Chemical recommended for general use
Examples: Home, Recreational Marine, Automotive, Office, Shop
and Commercial Vehicles

22. DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

23. DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
-contains pressurized gas such as nitrogen
-contains a powder such as:
a. Sodium bicarbonate AKA baking soda
b. Potassium Bicarbonate
c. Some other fire retardant powder

24. CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

25. CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
a. Clean gaseous agent
b. Short range of typically 3 to 8 feet
c. Discharges quickly (5 to 10 seconds)
d. Disperses quickly
e. CO2 not intended on CLASS A Fires due to re-ignition
f. CO2 units get dangerously cold—hold properly
g. Dangerously reactive on Class D (Flammable Metal Fires)

26. HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

27. Halon Fire Extinguishers
• Gaseous agent that inhibits the chemical reaction
• Banned from new production, except for military use, as of
Jan 1, 1994
• Its properties contribute to ozone depletion and long
atmospheric lifetime
• Although new production is banned—REUSE IS PERMITTED
• Halon 1311 and 1201 being replaced by:
a. Halotron
b. FE-36 CleanGuard
c. FM 200
These options have significantly reduced ozone depletion
potential

28. Halotron Fire Extinguishers

29. HALOTRON I FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
-Like CO2 it’s also a “clean agent”
-Leaves no residue after discharge
-Discharges as a liquid
-Non-Conducting
-Extinguishes A and B fires by cooling and smothering
IDEAL FOR:
a. Computer rooms
b. Clean rooms
c. Telecommunications equipment
d. Electronics
WILL BE PHASED OUT IN 2015

30. CleanGuard FE-36 Fire Extinguishers

31. CleanGuard FE-36 Fire Extinguishers
Hydrofluorocarbon-236fa OR HFC-236fa
a. another clean agent replacement for Halon 1211—does not leave a residue
b. available commercially in Cleanguard extinguishers
c. less toxic than Halon 1211 and Halotron I
d. environmentally preferred alternative to Halon with zero ozone depletion
potential
Suitable to protect high-value assets such as computer rooms,
telecommunications facilities, process control rooms, museums, archives,
marine, hospitals, banks, laboratories and airplanes.
NOT SCHEDULED FOR PHASE OUT

32. Purple K Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

33. Purple K Stored Pressure Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers
-contains a specially fluidized and siliconized potassium
bicarbonate dry chemical
-particularly effective on Class B flammable liquids and
pressurized gases
-electronically non-conductive
-has been the choice of oil, gas, chemical and utilities industries
as the preferred firefighting agent
Uses: garages, service bays, boats, vehicles, fuel storage and
transfer areas

34. Water Mist Fire Extinguishers

35. WATER MIST FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
A. Ideal for Class A fires where a potential Class C hazard exists
B. The misting nozzle provides safety from electric shock and
reduces scattering of burning materials
C. Best choice in the following areas:
a. Hospital environments
b. Books and Documents
c. Clean room facilities
D. In Non-Magnetic Versions
a. MRI
b. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers
E. Contains deionized water

36. FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

37. Foam Fire Extinguishers
-Many different types of foam
a. AFFF(aqueous film forming foam)
b. AR-AFFF(alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foams)
c. FFFP(film forming fluoroprotein)
d. CAFS(compressed air foam system)
-More expensive than water
-Class A and B fires only
-Not recommended for electrical fires but are safer than water if
inadvertently sprayed onto live electrical equipment

38. Wet Chemical Class K Kitchen Fire Extinguishers

39. Wet Chemical Class K Kitchen Fire Extinguishers
-best restaurant kitchen appliance hand portable fire
extinguisher you can purchase
-tested and approved for the new class K listing by UL specifically
for restaurant kitchen hazards
-contains a special potassium acetate based, low PH agent
-The recent trend to more efficient cooking appliances and use
of unsaturated cooking oils dictates the use of a hand portable
fire extinguisher with greater firefighting capacity and cooling
effect to combat these very hot and difficult fires

40. Class D Fire Extinguishers

41. SPECIALIZED UNITS-CLASS D FIRES
-Class D units have no numerical rating
-ARE NOT multi-purpose rated
-Used ONLY for combustible metal fires involving:
a. Magnesium
b. Lithium
c. Sodium
d. Uranium
-Are not recommended for home use

42. METAL/SAND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS D FIRES—FLAMMABLE METALS
A. Sodium Chloride -Works well on
magnesium, sodium, potassium, sodium-potassium
alloys, uranium and powdered aluminum
B. Powdered Copper Metal-Works well on lithium and
lithium alloys
-It is the only known lithium fire fighting agent
C. Graphite-Based Powders-Works well on lithium fires
-Effective on fires involving high melting metals such
as zirconium and titanium

43. METAL/SAND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
CLASS D FIRES—FLAMMABLE METALS Page 2
D. Specially designed sodium bicarbonate based dry agents
- Can suppress fires with most metal alkyls and pyrophoric
liquids
E. Sodium Carbonate based dry powders
- Works well on sodium, potassium and sodium/potassium
alloys

44. THE FIRE IS OUT—NOW WHAT?
A. Watch the fire area
-If the fire re-ignites repeat the process
-If you cannot control or confine the fire---LEAVE!!!
B. Ensure the fire department inspects the site
C. RECHARGE or REPLACE any fire extinguisher which has been
used

45. Discuss location of fire extinguishers within the building
a. Where are they located?
b. What type of extinguishers are used in the facility?

46. DISCUSSION

47. HANDOUTS
• Please pick up handouts that provides a lot of good
information

48. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
Let us take a few minutes and discuss anything that
needs some additional time.

49. If you’re seeing this you’ve completed this
informational seminar on fire extinguishers