Chapter 6: Portable Fire Extinguishers Flashcards
What is a….
Foam Nozzle designed to provide the aeration required to make the highest quality foam possible; most effective appliance for the generation of low-expansion foam.
Air-Aspirating Foam Nozzle
What does AFFF stand for?
Aqueous Film Forming Foam
What is a Class A Fire?
Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as textiles, plastics, rubber, wood, paper, cloth and similar materials.
What is a Class B Fire?
Fires of flammable and combustible liquids and gases.
What is a Class C Fire?
Fires involving energized electrical equipment.
What is a Class D Fire?
Fires of combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium and titanium.
What is a Class K Fire?
Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking vegetable or animal oils and fats.
Commonly occurring in commercial cooking facilities such as restaurants and institutional kitchens.
Extinguishing agents:
Define- Dry Chemical
Any one number of powdery extinguishing agents used to extinguish fires.
Extinguishing agents:
Define- Dry Powder
Extinguishing agent suitable for use on combustible metal fires.
Define- Extinguishing Agent
Any Substance used for the purpose of controlling or extinguishing a fire
Define- Fire Extinguisher
Portable fire fighting device designed to combat incipient (early stage) fires.
Define- Halogenated Extinguishing Agents
(halogenated hydrocarbons):
Chemical Compounds that contain carbon, plus one or more elements from the halogen series.
Halon 1301 and Halon 1211 are most commonly used as extinguishing agents for Class B and Class C fires.
Methods of extinguishing fire:
What is a…
Phenomenon that occurs when mixtures of alkaline based chemicals and certain cooking oils come into contact, resulting in the formation of a soapy film.
Saponification
Methods of extinguishing fire:
Define- Smothering
Act of excluding oxygen from a fuel.
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
Define- Water Mist Extinguisher
Fire extinguisher capable of discharging atomized water through a special applicator.
Pressurized water mist extinguishers use distilled water, whereas back-pump water mist extinguishers use ordinary water.
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
Define- Wet Chemical System
Extinguishing system that uses a wet chemical solution as the primary extinguishing agent.
Usually installed in range hoods and associated ducting where grease may accumulate.
What must the firefighter 1 know about portable fire extinguishers? (6)
- Fire classification
- Risks associated with each fire class of fire
- Operating methods of portable fire extinguishers
- Limitations of portable fire extinguishers
- How to approach a fire with portable fire extinguishers
- How to operate portable fire extinguishers
A = ____ gallons of water
1 1/4 gallons
The class A rating of extinguishers is primarily based on what?
The amount of water and the duration and range of the discharge used in extinguishing test fires.
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
Class A: 1A - _____A
1-A through 40-A
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
Class B: 1B - ____B
1-B though 640-B
Flammable and combustible liquids and gases include: (4)
- Alcohol
- Gasoline
- Lubricating oils
- Liquified petroleum gas
What are liquefied petroleum gases? and where in a home can you find them?
Flammable hydrocarbon gases such as propane, butane, and isobutane.
In fuel for cooking (steel BBQ bottles, cylinders, or tanks), heating, and vehicles
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
The class \_\_\_\_ rating is based on the approximate square foot area of the flammable liquid fire that a nonexpert operator can extinguish using one full extinguisher. - expected to extinguish 1 square foot for each numerical rating.
Class B
Water and water-based agents conduct electrical current and cannot be used on Class C fires until…
… the electricity has been shot off.
What are examples of combustible metals and alloys? (5)
And where can you find them?
- Titanium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Lithium
- Potassium
Can be found in- building material/metal framing, some roofing shingles, cameras, laptops, metal box springs, wheels and transmission components, gun powder, fertilizers, pesticides.
The use of water or water-based agents on Class D fires will cause the fire to…
… react violently, emit bits of molten metal, and could injure nearby firefighters.
Testers of a Class D extinguisher consider what factors during each test? (3)
- Reactions between the metal and the agent
- Toxicity of the fumes produced and products of combustion
- Time to allow metal to burn completely without fire suppression compared to the time to extinguish the fire using the extinguisher.
What are examples of Class K combustible cooking oils?
Vegetable, canola, and peanut oil
Portable fire extinguisher ratings:
What’s the minimum criteria for a Class K rating?
Agents capable of extinguishing a fire from a deep fryer with a surface area of 2.25 square feet.
What are the 4 methods of extinguishing a fire?
- Smothering
- Cooling
- Chemical flame inhibition
- Saponification
Methods of extinguishing fire:
Define- Cooling
Reducing the burning material below its ignition temperature.
Methods of extinguishing fire:
Define- Chemical flame inhibition
Interrupting the chemical chain reaction in the burning process.
Water type extinguishers should be protected against what?
Freezing if exposed to temperatures lower than 40 *F.
Water, water-based agents such as Class ___ foam or dry chemicals can extinguish Class ___ fires.
Class A
Carbon dioxide, dry chemical and Class ___ foam, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) extinguishers can extinguish Class ___ fires.
Class B
Dry Powder and wet chemical stored-pressure extinguishers can extinguish Class ___ fires.
Class D
Class ___ extinguishing agents will not conduct electricity, which makes them suitable for electrical fires.
Class C
Once in position to attack the fire, use the P.A.S.S application method.
What does “P.A.S.S” stand for?
Pull- pull the pin
Aim- aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
Squeeze- squeeze the handle
Sweep- sweep the nozzle back and forth
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
______ ________ extinguishers work best on Class D fires.
Only use Class D rated fire extinguishers to extinguish metal fires.
Dry powder
How can class D fires be identified?
Bright white emmissions
Class K rated extinguishers work because of _________, which converts the fatty acids, or fats in oils, into a soapy film.
Saponification
If a fire extinguisher is deficient by _____%, remove from service.
10%
Dry chemicals must be replaced every _____ years.
6 years
What kinds of fires are portable fire extinguishers intended to be used on?
Small fires in the incipient (early growth) stage.
What are portable fire extinguishers classified by?
The type of fire they are designed to effectively extinguish
Extinguishing agents that work by smothering are ineffective on materials that contain their own _____________ agent.
Oxidizing
All portable fire extinguishers use which means for expelling their contents?
Pressure
A portable fire extinguisher is best suited for which situation?
a. room and contents fire
b. vegetation fire
c. car fire
d. fire in a wastebasket
d. fire in a wastebasket
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
______ _______ fire extinguishers:
The operator physically applies pressure to a pump that increases pressure within the container, forcing the agent out a nozzle at the end of a hose.
Manual Pump Fire Extinguisher
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
_________ _______ fire extinguishers:
Compressed air or inert gas within the container forces the agent out a nozzle at the end of a hose when the operator presses the handle.
Stored-Pressure Fire Extinguisher
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
_________ _______ fire extinguishers:
Compressed inert gas is contained in a separate cartridge on the side of the container. When the operator punctures the cartridge, the explellant enters the container forcing the agent out a nozzle on the end of a hose.
Pressure Cartridge Fire Extinguisher
What type of fires are pump-type water extinguishers intended for?
_______ ________ fires or Class ______ fires.
Ground cover fires or small Class A fires
What type of fire extinguishers are designed to be worn on the back with a manually operated trombone-style slide pump?
_______ _____ ___________ extinguishers.
Pump-type water extinguisher
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
________ ________ ________ ________extinguishers:
A fire extinguisher capable of atomizing water through a special applicator. Water-mist fire extinguishers use distilled water, while back-pump type water-mist extinguishers use ordinary water.
Stored-Pressure Water-Mist Extinguishers
What type of fire extinguisher is useful for all types of small Class A fires (often used on confined hot spots during overhaul)?
______ ______ ________ extinguishers.
Stored-Pressure Water Extinguishers
How does Class A foam concentrate in water enhance the effectiveness?
By reducing the surface tension of water, allowing it to quickly penetrate the surface
What type of fire extinguisher uses deionized water?
______ ______ _______ _______ extinguishers.
Water-Mist Stored-Pressure Extinguishers
What is the difference between a stored-pressure and water-mist stored-pressure extinguisher?
Stored-pressure: solid stream
Water-mist: fire spray (making it safe to use on Class C)
What type of fire extinguisher is best suited for extinguishing an induction fire in a reciprocating engine?
________ ________ extinguishers.
carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers
What type of fire extinguisher is intended for Class K fires?
______ _______ ________ ______ extinguishers.
Wet Chemical Stored-Pressure Extinguishers
Which fire extinguisher contains a special potassium-based, low pH agent formulated to operate on the principle of saponification?
_______ _______ _______ _______ extinguishers.
Wet Chemical Stored-Pressure Extinguisher
Manufactures mix _______ ________ agents with additives that make the agents moisture-resistant and prevent them from caking.
Dry chemical
What type of extinguisher is intended for Class B fires?
_______ _________ _________ _________ extinguishers.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam
How should AFFF extinguishers be administered?
Do not apply the foam directly onto the fuel.
Gently rain down onto the fuel surface or deflect of nearby surface (to prevent the disturbance of the foam blanket).
AFFF extinguishers are most effect on what?
Class _______ or static pools of flammable ________.
Class B fires or Static pools of flammable liquids
________ ________ extinguishers effectively cool and smother fires in Class A and Class B fuels, and inhibit the sustained chemical reaction in Class C fuels.
Clean Agent extinguishers
What were halons effective for extinguishing?
Fires in computer rooms, aircraft engines, and areas that contained materials that could be easily damaged by water/dry chemical agents
Types of portable fire extinguishers:
________ ________ extinguishers:
Designed specifically as a replacement for Halon 1211. These agents effecively cool and smother fires in Class A and B fuels, non-conductive and can be used on energized electrical equipment. If these agents are pressurized with Argon gas, they are approved by the EPA.
Clean Agent Extinguishers
What class of fires are CO2 extinguishers most effective?
Class B and C fires
How does a CO2 extinguisher extinguish fire?
_______ available oxygen (________ the fire)
Displaces available oxygen (smothers fire)
What type of extinguisher is among the most common portable fire extinguishers in use today?
Dry chemical extinguisher
What type of fire extinguisher is meant to control fires in all combustible metals?
Dry powder extinguishers
A 2-A rating, ____ gallons of water are required.
2½ (twice the 1-A)
An operator is expected to extinguish ___ sq ft for each numerical rating.
1 square ft
What class of fire extinguisher does not have any capability tests?
Class C
Class C rating confirms that the extinguishing agent will not…
… conduct electricity
Why do Class D ratings vary?
Vary with the type of combustible metal being tested
What are the 3 most common combination ratings?
ABC
AB
BC
What class of fire has a green triangle symbol?
A (Ordinary combustibles)
What class of fire has a red square symbol?
B (Flammable and Combustible Liquids and Gases)
What class of fire has a blue circle symbol?
C (Electrical)
What class of fire has a yellow star symbol?
D (Combustible metals)
What class of fire has a black hexagon symbol?
K (Kitchen/oils)
What type of extinguisher should you never use near computer equipment, and why?
A ________ _________ extinguisher, because….
Dry chemical extinguisher because of the corrosive particulate residue
What is the minimum PPE you must wear while operating a portable fire extinguisher?
Full structural PPE including respiratory protection
Which side do you approach a fire from?
Windward (wind at your back)
What should the next steps be if the discharge of one full extinguisher does not achieve extinguishment?
___________ and ___________
Withdraw and reassess
NFPA and most fire safety codes require portable fire extinguishers to be inspect at least ________ a year.
once
How should you clean a portable fire extinguisher?
With warm water and soap after each use or periodically (remove corrosion with steel wool or sand paper)
How are portable fire extinguishers tested?
Hydrostatically
What are the 9 common portable fire extinguishers?
- Pump-type water extinguishers
- Stores-pressure water extinguishers
- Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) extinguishers
- CO2 extinguishers
- Dry powder extinguishers
- Stored-pressure water-mist extinguishers
- Stored-pressure Wet chemical extinguishers
- Clean agent extinguishers
- Dry chemical extinguishers
Carbon dioxide extinguishers store carbon dioxide under…
… its own pressure as a liquefied gas.
What are the 2 basic types of dry chemical extinguishers?
- Regular B-C rated
- Multipurpose and A-B-C rated
Name examples of commonly used dry chemicals. (5)
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Potassium bicarbonate
- Urea-potassium bicarbonate
- Potassium chloride
- Monoammonium phosphate
What is inspected immediately before use of an extinguisher? (4)
- External condition: no apparent damage
- Hose/nozzle: in place
- Weight: feels as though it contains agent
- Pressure gauge (if applicable): if present, should register a reading within the operable range.
What are the 4 methods that portable fire extinguishers use to extinguish fire?
- smothering
- cooling
- chemical flame inhibition
- saponification
What factors should be considered when selecting a portable fire extinguisher? (8)
- classification of the burning fuel
- hazards to be protected against
- atmospheric conditions
- ease of handling the extinguisher
- rating of the extinguisher
- size and intensity of the fire
- availability of trained personnel to operate the extinguisher
- any life hazards or operational concerns
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Water
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Cooling
Oxygen depletion
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Carbon Dioxide
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Oxygen depletion
Cooling
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Foam
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Oxygen depletion
Vapor suppression
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Clean Agent
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Chain inhibition
Cooling
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Dry Chemical
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Chain inhibition
Oxygen depletion
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Wet Chemical
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Oxygen depletion
Vapor suppression
Extinguishing Agent Characteristics: Dry Powder
Primary Method- _________
Secondary Method- _________
Oxygen depletion
Heat transfer cooling
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
Class C
No extinguishing capability tests.
Tests are to determine non-conductivity.
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
Class D
No numerical ratings.
Tested for reactions, toxicity, and metal burn out time.
Portable fire extinguishing ratings:
Class K
No numerical rating.
Tested to ensure effectiveness against 2.25 square feet of light cooking oil in a deep fat fryer.
Once the power supply (electricity) has been furred off or disconnected, firefighters can treat the fire as a class ___/___ fire.
Class A or Class B fire.
Wet chemical agents contain a ___________ mixture (such as potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, or potassium citrate) to suppress the capers and smother the fire.
Alkaline
