10 Special Agent Extinguishing Systems Flashcards
For a special. Agent system to be considered effective or successful it must do what
Completely extinguish the fire
Different types of special agent systems
Dry chem Wet chem Clean agent Co2 Foam
Class of fire normally involving commercial kitchens, deep fryers and food prep areas where oil and grease can ignite
Class k
The method class k extinguishers work, agent turns fats and oils into a soapy form that extinguishes fire
Saponification
When is a dry chem system used
Whenever rapid extinguishment is required and reigniting is unlikely
Dry chem systems are commonly found where
Flammable liquid storage areas Dip tanks Paint spray booths Commercial cooking areas Kitchens Exhaust ducts
Dry chem system consisting of storage tanks expellant storage tanks heat detection and activating system, piping and nozzles
Fixed system
Two types of fixed system
Local application
Total flooding
Type of fixed dry chem system that discharges agent onto specific surface like cooking area. Most common type
Local application
Type of fixed dry chem system that introduces a thick concentration of agent into a closed area like a spray booth
Total flooding
Dry Chen system is not recommended for what type of area
Sensitive electrical equipment, because of the mess
Aka ordinary dry chem, effective against class b and c fires
Sodium bicarbonate
When evaluated against an equal weight of co2, sodium bicarbonate is how many times more effective on class b fires
Twice
Sodium bicarbonate in systems is treated to be water repellant and
Free flowing
Aka multipurpose dry chem (pale yellow in color) effective on class a,b,c fires
Monoammonium phosphate
How does monoammonium phosphate behave on class a fires
It melts forming a solid coating to smother fire
Dry powders are designed for what type of fire
Class d
True false no single agent is effective against all combustible metals
True
Sodium bicarbonate based Sargent with additives to enhance flow. Designed specifically for sodium, potassium, and sodium potassium alloy fires
Na-x
Na-x forms a cake like crust on the metal and is rated up to what temp
1400f
Sodium chloride (salt) based agent intended for use on magnesium, sodium and potassium fires and is applied slowers to bury the materials involved
Met-L-x
Graphite based agent that extinguishes fires by conducting out heat away from fuel. Developed for lithium but also effective against sodium magnesium and zirconium, does not form a crust
LITH-x
Any number of inert gasses compressed to force extinguishing agents from an extinguisher, nitrogen is most common
Expellant gas
Dry Chen system component that may contain both the agent and expellant gas or either. Commonly nitrogen or co2, storage ranging from 30-100 lbs
Storage container for expellant gas and or agent
Critical feature and limitation of special agent systems
Quantity of agent in the system
Of a system is controlled by a fusible link, the link should be replaced how often
At least annually or by manufacturer recommendations
Dry Chen storage containers that are less and 150 lbs should be hydro tested how often
Every 12 years
True false. Dry chem storage cylinders larger than 159 lbs have no hydrostatic testing requirements
True
What type of extinguishing systems is best suited for applications in commercial cooking hoods, plenums, ducts and associated cooking appliances
Wet chem
Wet chem systems are most effective on fires in
Deep fryers
Primary difference between dry and wet chem
Type of agent used.
Wet chem agents are typically composed of water and either
Potassium carbonate, potassium citrate or potassium acetate.
Potassium is abbreviated as K. CLASS K FIRES
Inspection and testing of systems should include
All parts in right location
All actuators unobstructed
tamper indicators intact
Maintenance tags up to date
Clean agents will conduct electricity true false
False they won’t conduct
Clean agents are used for what classes of fire
Class a b c
Clean agents are stored as liquids and turn to gas when exposed to
The air
Clean agents are used in what type of rooms
Mri Archives Art galleries Aircraft engines Irreplaceable documents or storage items sensitive electronics
Clean agents leave no residue and work by
Cooling, smothering fire and displacing oxygen
Halogenated agents contain atoms from halogen elements such as
Fluorine chlorine bromine and iodine
Halogenated agents are effective against what classes of fire
B and c
Halon agents haven’t been manufactured since 1994 except
In certain exclusions to the Montreal protocol of 1987
Two types of halon still in use
Halon 1211
Halon 1301
Halon 1211 is most commonly found in what
Portable extinguishers
Halo carbon agents that are available commercially now
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon hcfc
Hydrofluorocarbon hfc
Halocarbon agents that rapidly evaporates when released. Limited class a rating in exit guises over 9 lbs
Halotron
A 28 lb Halotron extinguisher is given a rating of
2a:10bc
Acceptable replacement for halon 1301 but requires more
Fm200
Blend of three inert gasses, nitrogen ,argon and co2
Inergen
Hydrofluorocarbon based agent that is non conductive non corrosive and residue free and zero ozone hazard. Human exposure for 5 min
Ecaro 25
Halon agent developed by DuPont to replace 1301 and 1211. Made of HFC-236fa
FE-36
Clean agent systems must be tested how often by qualified personnel
Annually
Contents and pressure of clean agents need to be inspected how often
Semiannually
Clean agent systems need to be hydro tested every
5 years
Co2 is how cold
-110 f
Most serious problem involving co2 systems is
Personal safety
Total flooding system of co2 is designed to deliver what percent of co2 in an enclosed area. Meaning the atmosphere will be what percent co2 after discharge
34%
Total flooding systems must be equipped with what type of alarm
Pre discharge alarm
Three means of co2 system actuation
Automatic operation
Normal manual
Emergency manual
Automatic operation of co2 system
Triggered by product of combustion detector
Normal manual operation co2 system
Triggers by person manually operating control device
Emergency manual operation co2 system
Discharge immediately without advanced warning to area
High pressure co2 tanks are at what psi
850 psi
Low pressure co2 tanks are designed to protect large hazards. Liquefied co2 is stored in large tanks refrigerated and stored at what temp and pressure
Temp 0F and 300 psi
What type of co2 nozzle promotes better distribution of material
High pressure
A foam extinguishing system is used when water alone may not be sufficient. Examples of locations are
Aircraft hangars
Flammable liquid storage
Paper and textiles storage
Foam systems extinguish using any of the four following methods
Smothering
Separating
Cooling
Suppressing
Foam extinguishment by suppressing is
Preventing the release of flammable vapors
Foam extinguishing method by separating is
Intervenes between fuel and fire
Type of foam system that is pipes from a central foam station and automatically discharges from through delivery outlets
Fixed system
Most fixed foam systems have unlimited water supplies and are of what type of function
Deluge
Prepped system for foam where there is no permanent source attached. Requires interventions form brigade or department. Commonly found at oil refineries
Semi fixed type a system
When surface application of foam may not be effective, foam injected at the base of a burning storage tank is what type of foam system
Subsurface injection system
Foam solution is delivered through pipes to a hydrant, throughout facility, for use with hose lines. Permanently attached foam source but doesn’t apply foam to fire
Semi fixed type b
Total flooding type of foam system that is either automatic or manual. Foam is generated by motors or water pressure. Aircraft hangars and shipboard engine rooms
High expansion foam system
Basically a deluge sprinkler system with foam introduced with limited foam concentrate available. Continues as water once foam runs out.
Foam-water system.
Raw foam liquid before introduction on water. Usually 5 or 55 gallon.
Foam concentrate.
Device that introduces correct amount of concentrate into water to make foam solution
Foam proportioner.
Homogenous mixture of foam concentrate and water before air introduction
Foam solution
Completed product once air is introduced into solution
Foam, aka finished foam.
Four elements to make high quality foam
Concentrate, water, air, mechanical agitation
Class b foam is used at what concentrations
1,3 and 6 percent.
Hydrocarbon fires require what foam concentrations
1-6 percent
Polar solvent fuels, like alcohols, require what percent foam
3-6 percent
Medium and high expansion foams are used at what percent
1, 1.5, 2, or 3 percent.
Finished foam is what percent water
94-99.5%
Type of foam expansion for liquid fuels and vapor suppression, for liquid fuel temp not exceeding 212F
Low expansion
Low expansion fuel has an air solution ratio of
7:1 to 20:1
Type of foam expansion when rapid vapor suppression is needed
Medium expansion
Medium expansion foam expansion ratios
20:1 to 200:1
Foam expansion type for space filling in hard to reach areas and total flooding.
High expansion foam
High expansion foam expansion ratio
200:1-1000:1
Type of foam concentrate that is based on hydrolysis protein solids and fortified with fluoronated surfactants that enable the foam to shed or separate from hydrocarbons
Fluoroprotein foam
Foam concentrate type based on fluoroprotein foam and AFFF capabilities for fast extinguishment and long lasting effects
Film forming fluoroprotein FFFP
Foam concentrate with fluorinated surfactant added to detergent . Causes water to drain from foam blanket and float on top of hydrocarbon
Aqueous film forming foam AFFF
Foam with reduced surface tension that has good penetrating abilities, capable of being used in normal fog nozzle for low expansion
AFFF
Synthetic based foam that foams a membrane over polar solvent fuels, separating foam blanket from attack of solvent
AR-AFFF
Alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foam
Two types of AR-AFFF
One type is 1% for hydrocarbon and 3% for polar solvents
Other is 3% hydrocarbon and 6% polar
Foam concentrate type that has low moisture content and is suitable for pesticide fires and suppressing vapors of fuming acids.
Medium and high expansion foam
Type of foam proportioner that has a foam concentrate line connected to each fire pump discharge outlet or to the system riser providing equal pressure as the water from the fire pump
Balanced pressure proportioner
Advantages of balanced pressure proportioner
Ability to monitor demand and adjust
Ability to discharge foam from some outlets and water form others
Proportioner with small return line or bypass from discharge side of fire pump back to intake side of fire pump with an eductor
Around the pump proportioner
This type of proportioner is especially useful when ther is low water pressure or when a separate motor and concentrate pump is not available. Type built into fire apparatus
Around the pump proportioner
Disadvantages of a prune the pump proportioner
Pump dedicated solely to foam operation
Can’t take advantage of incoming pressure, anything over 10 psi water inlet and concentrate won’t enter pump
Proportion in system consisting of foam concentrate tanks connected to both water supply and foam solution lines in the system. Small amount of water pumped into concentrate tanks
Pressure proportioning system
Proportioner consists of two positive displacement rotary gear pumps mounted pt the same shaft. One for concentrate other for water.
Coupled water motor pump proportioner
Type of proportioner used in fixed systems. Limited to two sizes both at 6% foam.
Coupled water motor pump proportioner
Two types of gpm flow from coupled water motor pump proportioner
60-180 gpm
200-1000 gpm
What class extinguishers receive a number to indicate extinguishing capacity
Class a and b
Class a extinguishers are rated from 1a to
40a
Class b extinguishers are rated from 1b to
640 b
Class b extinguisher ratings are based on the approximate area in square feet of
2 inches of heptane in a 8 inch deep pan
A 10 b can extinguish 10 square feet
No numerical rating is Given to class c extinguishers, instead they are tested for
Electrical non conductivity
What is the rating given for class d extinguishers
There is no rating given, it Gary’s based on extinguishing agent
In the pictorial system of extinguisher labeling, blue indicates the type of fire it can be used for. What indicates inability to use
Absent picture or blacked/ grey picture with red line through it
Letter symbol for class a extinguisher
Green triangle
Letter symbol for class b extinguisher
Red square
Letter symbol for class c extinguisher
Blue circle
Letter symbol for class d extinguishers
Yellow star
Letter symbol for class k extinguishers
Black hexagon
Maximum size of water can considered portable
5 gallon
Frequently used dry chem agents for portable extinguishers
Sodium bicarbonate Potassium bicarbonate Monoammonium phosphate (multi purpose) Urea potassium bicarbonate Potassium chloride
Type of extinguisher that contains expellant gas and extinguishing agent in a single chamber. Pressure forces agent thorough siphon tube
Stored pressure extinguisher
Type of extinguisher that expels agent by manual pump operating
Pump operated extinguisher
Occupancy in which the amount of ordinary combustibles present a small expected fire. School church assembly hall
Light hazard occupancy
Occupancy hazard in which amount of combustible would create incipient fire of moderate size. Parking garages, mercantile, light manufacturing
Ordinary hazard occupancy
Occupancy hazard where amount of combustibles present a rapidly spreading fire. Auto repair, paint shops, flammable liquid storage
Extra hazard occupancy
Fire extinguisher requirement for light hazard
2a per 3000 ft2
Fire extinguisher requirement for ordinary occupancy hazard
2a per 1500 ft2
Fire extinguisher requirement for extra hazard occupancy
4a per 1000 ft2
In all occupancies, the maximum travel distanced to a class a extinguishers is
75 ft
Determination point of class b spill for being “with” or “without depth”
Less than 1/4” is without
More than 1/4” is with depth
Maximum recommended travel distance to a class d extinguishers
75 ft
In areas where class k fires are likely the maximum travel distance to an extinguisher is
30 ft
Extinguishers less than 40 lbs should be how high off the ground.
Top of extinguisher not more than 5 ft above floor
Extinguishers greater than 40 lbs except wheeled types should be mounted how high above floor
Top of extinguisher No more than 3.5 ft above floor
Clarence from bottom of extinguishers to the floor should never be less than
4 inches
What types of antifreeze can’t be used in stainless extinguisher bodies
Ethylene glycol and calcium chloride
Antifreeze cannot be added to what type of extinguisher
AFFF extinguishers
While monthly extinguisher inspections is the property owners responsibility, who’s responsibility is it to verify this is taking place
Responsibility of jurisdiction fire inspector
