Chapter 7 Portable Fire Extinguishers Flashcards
An extinguishing agent used in dry-chemical fire extinguishers that can be used on Class A, B, and C fires
Ammonium Phosphate
A solution based on fluorinated surfactants plus foam stabilizaers to produce a fluid aqueous film for suppressing liquid fuel vapors (NFPA 10 and 11)
Aqueous film-forming foam
A colorless, odorless, electrically nonconductive inert gas that is suitable medium for extinguishing Class B and Class C fires (NFPA 10)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A fire extinguisher that uses carbon dioxide gas as the extinguishing agent. It is rated for use on Class B and C fires
Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher in which the expellant gas is in a seperate container from the agent storage container (NFPA 10)
Cartridge/Cylinder-operated fire extinguisher.
A fire in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and many plastics. NFPA 10
Class A fire
A fire in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols and flammable gases. (NFPA 10)
Class B fire
A fire that involves energized electrical equipment. (NFPA 10)
Class C fire
A fire in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and potassium. (NFPA 10)
Class D fire
A fire in a cooking appliance that involves combustible cooking media (Vegetable or animal oils and fats). NFPA
Class K fire
Electrically non-conducting, volatile or gaseous fire extinguishant that does not leave a residue upon evaporation (NFPA 10)
Clean Agent
The body of the fire extinguisher where the extinguishing agent is stored
Cylinder
A powder composed of very small particles, usually sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate or ammonium phosphate based with added particulate material supplemented by special treatment to proivde resistance to packing, resistance to moisture absorption (caking) and the proper flow capabilities.
Dry Chemical
Solid materials in powder or granular form designed to exitinguish Class D combustible metal fires by crusting, smothering or heat-transferring means. (NFPA 10)
Dry Powder
A fire exitinguisher that uses a powder composed of very small particles, usually sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate or ammonium phosphate based with added particulate material supplemented by special treatment to proivde resistance to packing, resistance to moisture absorption (caking) and the proper flow capabilities. These fire extinguishers are rated for use on Class B and C fires, although some are also rated for Class A fires.
Dry-chemical extinguisher
A fire extinguisher that uses solid materials in powder or granular form to extinguish Class D combustible metal fires by crusting, smothering or heat transferring means.
Dry-powder fire extinguisher
A material used to stop the combustion process. Extinguishing agents may include liquids, gases, dry-chemical compounds and dry powder compounds.
Extinguishing agent.
Occupancies where the total amounts of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables are greater than expected in occupancies classed as ordinardy (moderate) hazards. The combustibility and heat release rate of the materials are high.
Extra hazard locations.
A protein-foam solution that uses fluorinated surfactants to produce a fluid aqueous film for suppressing liquid fuel vapors. (NFPA 10)
Film-forming fluoroprotein foam.
The total energy content of combustible materials in a building, space, or area including furnishing and contents and combustible building elements expressed in MJ (NFPA 557)
Fire Load
Agents that include hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC’s), fluoroiodocarbons (FIC’s) and other agents that are found acceptable under the environemental protection agency (EPA) significant new alternatives policy program. (NFPA 10)
Halocarbon
A liquiefied gas extinguishing agent that extinguishes fire by chemically interrupting the combustion reaction between fuel and oxygen. They leave no residue (NFPA 402)
Halogenated Agent
Also called a clean agent fire extinguisher.
Halogenated-agent fire extinguisher
A halogenated agent whose chemical name is bromochlorodifluormethane (CBrClF2) and that is a multipurpose, Class ABC-rated agent effective against flammable liquid fires. (NFPA 408)
Halon 1211
Chemicals including bromochlorodifluormethane, bromotrifluoromethane, and mixtures of these two. (NFPA 10)
Halons
The grip used for holding and carrying a portable fire extinguisher.
Handle
A tapered discharge nozzle of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.
Horn
Pressure testing of a fire extinguisher to verify its strength against unwanted rupture. (NFPA 10)
Hydrostatic testing
Occupancies where the quantity, combustability, and heat release of the materials is low and the majority of materials are arranged so that a fire is not likely to spread
Light hazard locations
A water based fire extinguisher that uses an alkali metal salt as a freezing-point depressant.
Loaded-stream fire extinguisher
A device that locks a fire extinguishers trigger to prevent its accidental discharge.
Locking mechanism.
A fire extinguisher that uses an ammonium phosphate-based extinguishing agent that is effective on fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as wood or paper and fires involving flammable liquids. It is rated to fight Class A, B and C fires.
Multi-purpose dry-chemical fire extinguisher.
A device for use in applications requiring special water discharge patterns, directional spray or other unusual discharge characteristics (NFPA 13).
Nozzle
Occupancies that contain more Class A and Class B materials than are found in light hazard locations. The combustibility and heat release of the materials is moderate.
Ordinary hazard locations.
Acronym for the steps involved in operating a portable fire extinguisher
PASS
A water-soluble flammable liquid such as alcohol, acetone, ester and ketone.
Polar solvent.
A guage on a pressurized portable fire extinguisher that indicates the internal pressure of the expellant.
Pressure indicator.
A nonpressurized, manually operated water-type fire extinguisher that is rated for use on Class A fires. Discharge pressure is provided by a hand-operated, double-acting piston pump.
Pump tank fire extinguisher.
The process of convertin gthe fatty acids in cooking oils or fats to soap or foam; the action caused by a Class K fire extinguisher.
Saponification
An agent that has sufficient vapour pressure at normal operating temperatures to expel itself from a fire extinguisher.
Self-expelling agent.
A fire extinguisher in which both the extinguishing agent and expellant gas are kept in a single container and that includes a pressure indicator or gauge. (NFPA 10)
Stored-pressure fire extinguisher.
A fire exitinguisher in which water or a water-based extinguishing agent is stored under pressure.
Stored-pressure water-type fire extinguisher.
A retaining device that breaks when the locking mechanism is released.
Tamper Seal
The button or lever used to discharge the agent from a portable fire extinguisher.
Trigger
The organization that tests and certifies that fire extinguishers (among many other products) meet established standards.
Underwriters laboratory of Canada
A fire extinguisher containing distilled or de-ionized water and employing a nozzle that discharges the agent in a fine spray. (NFPA 10)
Water mist fire extinguisher.
Normally an aqueous solution of organic or inorganic salts or a combination thereof that forms and an extinguishing agent. (NFPA 10).
Wet-chemical extinguishing agent.
A fire extinguisher contianing a wet-chemical extinguishing agent for use on Class K fires.
Wet-chemical extinguisher.
A fire extinguisher that expels water combined with a concentrate to reduce the surface tension and increase its ability to penetrate and spread.
Wetting-agent fire extinguisher
A portable fire extinguisher equipped with a carriage and wheels intended to be transported to the fire by one person. (NFPA 10).
Wheeled fire extinguisher.
