Extinguishers Flashcards
Alcohol Resistant Foam (AR Foam)
Foram containing a polymer that will form protective layering between the burning surface and the foam. The layering prevents foam breakdown due to alcohol present in the burning fuel. Alcohol-resistant foams are used for fighting fuel fires that contain alcohol additives, such as E85 gasoline blend.
Aqueous Film-Foaming Solution (AFFF)
A synthetic foam that as it breaks down forms an aqueous layer of film over a flammable liquid.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
An inert colorless and odorless gas that is stored under pressure as a liquid that is capable of being self-expelled and is effective in smothering Class B and C fires.
Class A
Classification of fire involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, plastics, and rubber.
Class B
Classification of fire involving flammable and combustible liquids, gases, and greases. Common products are gasoline, oils, alcohols, propane and cooking oils.
Class C
Classification of fire involving energized electrical equipment, which eliminates using water based agents.
Class D
Classification of fire involving combustible metals and alloys such as magnesium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
Class K
Classification of fire as of 1998 that involves fires in combustible cooking fuels such as vegetable or animals oils and fats.
Dry Chemicals
Dry extinguishing agents divided into two categories. Regular dry chemicals work on Class B and C fires; multipurpose dry chemicals work on Class A, B, and C fires.
Dry Powders
Extinguishing agent for Class D fires.
Electronic Monitoring
A method of electronic communication (data transmission) between an in place fire extinguisher and electronic monitoring device/system.
Film-Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP)
Foam that incorporates the features of AFFF and fluoroprotein foams with good resistance and the film forming barrier.
Loaded Stream Extinguisher
Combats the water freezing problem by adding an alkali salt as an antifreezing agent.
Polar Solvent Type of Foam
Foam that is compatible with alcohol and/or polar solvents by creating a polymetric barrier between the water in the foam and the polar solvent.
Wet Chemicals
Extinguishing agents that are water-based solutions of potassium-carbonate based chemicals, potassium acetate-based chemicals, potassium citrate-based chemicals or a combination of these.
Portable extinguishers are used to fight which type of fires?
Small, unusual fires, that are not easily extinguished with water, or fires that cannot be reached quickly with hoselines.
When defining a “small fire” firefighters should think about what?
Size of extinguisher to be the determining factor in choosing the proper extinguisher. There are no hard and fast rules and it is up to the firefighter’s experience to make this decision.
Untrained civilians or firefighters with tunnel vision have a tendency to do what when using an extinguisher?
Spray agent on the smoke instead of the seat of the fire, wasting agent and time.
Why should you use a water-extinguisher to practice?
Easily refilled and cost effective.
When should firefighters plan for special hazards and take extinguisher placement into account at a structure?
Pre-incident plan, or fire inspection.
What will dictate the correct size, type and extinguisher location?
Fire Prevention Bureau
Extinguishers are no longer required in which type of building?
Educational and assembly facilities. It allows fire suppression systems activate much quicker without extinguisher involvement and are more effective.
Why is water preferred to be used on Class A fires?
Most cost effective.
Special Hazard
Flammable liquids that are spilling or overflowing their container and spilling vertically. Also, refers to situations where where extinguishers have not been tested and may be inadequate.
Common extinguishing agents for Class B fires are?
CO2, regular and multipurpose dry chemical, and foam.
How should pressurized fuels be extinguished?
By shutting down the flow of fuel. In some cases firefighters need to extinguish fires to reach control valve.
What cannot be used to extinguish Class C fires?
Water, until electricity has been shut down. Then it becomes a different class of fire.
Class C extinguishers differ due to what?
Have extinguishing agent, hose and nozzle that will not conduct electricity.
True or False: There are exclusively Class C extinguishers?
False, BC or ABC. Agent include CO2, and regular and multipurpose dry chemicals.
Outside of industrial areas and factories where can you now find combustible metals?
Lightweight components or cars and lawn mowers.
Where can you locate Class D extinguishing agent?
At the facility that uses it. Facility must keep adequate amounts of agent on hand in case of fire.
Are there any exclusively Class D agents?
No, what will work on one alloy with cause another to explode.
Common agents for Class D fire include:
Dry powder, dry sand, phosphate salts, silica, Lith-X and Met-Ex.
Quick Response Teams (QRT)
Private fire brigade used at facilities to put out fires and are trained extensively and are very familiar with hazards at the facility.
Class K agents are found normally in what?
Fixed systems or portable extinguishers near hood.
Factors when choosing an extinguisher include?
Type of fuel.
Person using the extinguisher.
Building or environment where it will be used.
The first factor to consider when choosing an extinguisher is?
The type AND amount of fuel present.
What may eliminate possible water based extinguishing agents at a facility?
Temperature.
When considering what your protecting what should you address?
Certain agents can be corrosive to certain substances.
What should you be cautious about when using a CO extinguisher in close quarters?
Oxygen deprivation.
Where will CO2 no be as effective?
Well-ventilated areas.
Electrical equipment can be thermoshocked by which type of extinguisher?
CO2
What are the three basic types of dry chemical?
Sodium bicarbonate based, potassium based, (regular dry chemical agents effective on B and C) and multipurpose dry chemicals (effective on ABC).
Dry chemicals are effective due to what?
Their coating action. which reduces chances of reignition.
Clean agents replaced which chemical that was banned by the Montreal Protocol?
Halon
Why are clean agents used for sensitive electrical equipment?
Does not conduct electricity, don’t leave residue, and are nonvolatile.
Clean agents are divided into which two classes?
Halocarbon agents and inerting gases. Which are somewhat ineffective on local application systems.
Older extinguishers are labeled with what?
Colored geometrical shapes with letter designation.
Newer extinguishers are labeled with what?
Picture label system.
Three type of Class A extinguishers?
Pump type, Pressurized water, Pressurized loaded stream.
Pump type extinguishers come in which two types?
Internal or external (wild land) pumps. Both are 2 1/2 gallons.
Which is the only type of extinguisher without a pressure gauge and why?
CO2 they have to weighed.
Cartridges for some stored pressure extinguishers are expelled how?
It punctures the cartridge and gas fills the tank.
Who conducts rating tests for extinguishers?
Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, or the Coast Guard.
A 1-A extinguisher will extinguisher 1 cubic foot of cribbing. How much will a 2-A extinguish?
Twice as much, and a 3-A three times as much.
Class B 20-B can extinguish how much fire?
20 square feet.
What happens if one extinguisher doesn’t put out the fire?
Do NOT use another. However, two should have been used at the same time.
Which fire stage are extinguishers designed for?
Growth
Three obsolete extinguishers are?
Soda acid, chemical foam, and vaporizing liquids (carbon tetrachloride)
Extinguishers should be inspected on the rig and in the station.
Daily and monthly
Hydrostatic testing for extinguishers range from?
5 to 12 years.
Effective range for a water or foam extinguisher is how far?
About 20 feet.
Effective range for a dry chemical unit is how far?
15-20 feet.
Effective range for a CO2 extinguisher is how far?
10-15 feet.
