FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - SSSPL

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

A fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity take place, the fuel has to be heated to its
in any home or office. While there’s a good ignition temperature.
chance that the extinguisher will sit on the
wall for years, collecting dust, it could end To put a fire out, you need to effectively
up saving your property and even your life. remove one of these elements.
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection ‫סס‬The best way to remove heat is to dump
device used to extinguish or control small
fires as the first line of defense. It is not water on the fire. This cools the fuel to
intended for use on an out-of-control fire, below the ignition point, interrupting the
such as one which has reached a ceiling, combustion cycle.

endangers the user (i.e. no escape route, ‫סס‬To remove oxygen, you can smother the
smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), Or otherwise fire so it is not exposed to air. One way
requires the expertise of a fire department. to smother a small fire is to cover it with
a heavy blanket. Another way is to dump
Fire is the result of a chemical combustion nonflammable material, such as sand or
reaction, typically a reaction between oxygen baking soda on top of it.
in the atmosphere and some sort of fuel
(wood or gasoline, for example). Of course, ‫סס‬Removing the fuel is the most difficult
wood and gasoline don’t spontaneously approach for most fires. In a house fire,
catch on fire just because they’re surrounded for example, the house itself is potential
by oxygen. For the combustion reaction to fuel. The fuel will only be removed once
the fire has burned all of it up.

Extinguisher Class D: extinguishers,
Ratings (US Standard) designed to put out burning

Class A: is designated for metal, are rare.
«ordinary combustibles»
such as wood, plastic or
paper.

Class B: classification is Class K: is for cooking
for burning liquids such appliances that involve
as gasoline or grease. cooking media such as
vegetable or oils and fats.
Class C: is for energized
electrical fires. Extinguishers Systems and Equipment cannot be
marked A, B and C can put reliable unless properly maintained by
out all types. professionals on a yearly basis

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Extinguisher Fires involving molten
Ratings (EN Standard) metals such as Magnesium,

Class A: is designated for Aluminum and so forth.
“ordinary combustibles”
such as wood, plastic or
paper

Class B: classification is Electrical equipment fires
for flammable liquids such
as gasoline or grease.

Class C: is for flammable Class F :is for cooking
gases. appliances that involve
cooking media such as
The Fire Extinguisher: vegetable or oils and fats.
Fire extinguishers are sturdy metal cylinders
filled with water or a smothering material. does not work well on electrical fires or fires
When you depress a lever at the top of the involving inflammable liquids. DO NOT USE
cylinder, the material is expelled by high ON ELECTRIC FIRES. In an electrical fire,
pressure, similar to the way material is the water may conduct the current, which
forced out of an aerosol can. The types of can electrocute. Water will only spread out
fire extinguishers are: an inflammable liquid, which will most likely
make the fire worse.
Water Type:
Foam Type:

Water is the most familiar extinguishing Foam type extinguishers add Class B fire
material, and it is one of the most effective. fighting capability to the Class A water
But it can be dangerous in the wrong situation. extinguisher. The Alcohol Resistant fire
A water extinguisher can put out things like fighting foam agent is effective on fires in
burning wood, paper or cardboard, but it a wide variety of Class B materials such as
alcohols, polar solvents, hydrocarbons and
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combinations such as gasohol. Apply to a These extinguishers are the best restaurant
non-ignited Class B liquid spill and it will seal kitchen appliance hand portable fire
the surface minimizing the chance of serious extinguishers. Tested and approved for
fire. As with the water extinguisher, this shall the new Class K listing by UL specifically
never be used on live electric equipment. for restaurant kitchen hazards. These
extinguishers contain a special potassium
Powder Type: acetate based, low PH agent developed for
The most popular extinguisher material is use in pre-engineered restaurant kitchen
dry chemical foam or powder, typically made
of sodium bicarbonate (normal baking soda), systems. The recent trend to more efficient
potassium bicarbonate (nearly identical to cooking appliances and use of unsaturated
baking soda), or mono ammonium phosphate.
Baking soda starts to decompose at only 158 cooking oils dictates the use of a hand
degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius),
and when it decomposes, it releases carbon portable fire extinguisher with greater fire
dioxide. The carbon dioxide, along with the fighting capacity and cooling effect to combat
insulation of the foam, works to smother the these very hot and difficult fires. The superior
fire. fire fighting capability of the Wet Chemical
agent is placed exactly where you aim it with
no chemical residue to clean up.

Carbon Dioxide Type:

Wet Chemical Type: One popular extinguisher material is
pure carbon dioxide. In a carbon dioxide
extinguisher, the carbon dioxide is kept in
pressurized liquid form in the cylinder. When
the container is opened, the carbon dioxide
expands to form a gas in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than oxygen,
so it displaces the oxygen surrounding the
burning fuel. This sort of fire extinguisher

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is common in restaurants because it won’t been found to be superior to all other known
contaminate the cooking equipment or food. fire extinguishing agents for lithium.

Water mist type: Halon Type:
Water mist is the ultimate extinguisher for Available for the aircraft
Class A fires and where a potential Class C industry only. HALON
(electrical) hazard exists. The fine spray from 1211 is a liquefied gas,
the unique misting nozzle of a water mist pressurized with nitrogen,
extinguisher provides safety from electrical which discharges as a
shock, greatly enhances the cooling and vapor causing no cold
soaking characteristics of the agent and or static shock and no
reduces scattering of the burning materials. impairment of the operator’s
Water Mist extinguishers contain de-ionized vision. This “CLEAN”
water making them the best extinguishers for agent quickly penetrates
protection of hospital environments, valuable difficult to see and hard to
books and documents, telecommunication reach areas and leaves no
facilities and “clean room” manufacturing residue. It is recommended
facilities.
for protection of delicate, sensitive and
Class D Type: expensive computers, electrical equipment,
There are two types of class D extinguishers: tapes and film, aircraft engines, laboratory
One that contains a special blended Sodium chemicals and equipment. This agent has
Chloride based dry powder extinguishing been removed from common market due to
agent. Heat from the fire causes it to cake its properties that deplete the earth’s Ozone
and form a crust excluding air and dissipating layer.
heat from burning metal. Metal fires involving
magnesium, sodium, potassium and sodium- Halotron I Type:
potassium alloys can be successfully Available for the common market.
extinguished with this extinguisher. There HALOTRON I is a “Clean Agent” Hydro -
is data showing that zirconium, uranium Chloro - Fluoro - Carbon discharged as a
and powdered aluminum fires can be rapidly evaporating liquid which leaves no
controlled and extinguished with this unique residue. It effectively extinguishes Class
extinguisher. The other contains a copper A and B fires by cooling and smothering
extinguishing agent specially developed by and it will not conduct electricity back to
the U.S. Navy for fighting lithium and lithium the operator. Halotron is pressurized
alloy fires. The copper compound smothers with Argon gas. Halotron is intended for
the fire and provides an excellent heat sink
for dissipating heat. Copper powder has

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use in areas formerly protected by Halon -- Located in designated place and position.
1211 hand portable extinguishers such
as computer rooms, telecommunications -- No obstruction to access or visibility.
facilities, clean rooms, data storage areas,
offices (for protection of sensitive electronic -- Operating instructions on label legible and
equipment), boats and vehicles. Halotron facing outward.
does not deplete the earth’s Ozone layer.
-- Safety seals and tamper indicators not
Inspection, Maintenance and broken or missing.
Recharge of Fire Extinguisers
-- Fullness determined by weighing or
Inspection is a “quick check” to ensure that “hefting.”
a fire extinguisher is available fully charged
and will operate. -- For obvious physical damage, corrosion,
-- It is in its designated place, leakage, or clogged nozzle.
-- That it has not been actuated or tampered
-- Pressure gauge reading or indicator in the
with, and operable range or position.
-- That there is no obvious physical damage
-- For wheeled units, the condition of the
or condition to prevent operation. tires, wheels, carriage, hose, and

Fire extinguishers shall be inspected on a -- Nozzle one also checked.
monthly basis when initially placed in service
and thereafter. Fire extinguishers shall be Maintenance is a thorough examination
inspected at more frequent intervals when followed by necessary recharge or
circumstances require; (i.e. severe corrosive replacement of defective parts of the fire
environment, exposure to direct sunlight, extinguisher, intended to give maximum
tampering, and so forth). assurance that a fire extinguisher will operate
effectively and safely. This process shall
Inspection shall be the responsibility of the be performed by a professional company,
end-user shall be performed by in-house certified to carry out the required services.
personnel.
‫סס‬All Fire extinguishers shall be subjected to
Periodic inspection of fire extinguishers maintenance once a year, at the time of
shall include a check of at least the following hydrostatic testing or any time in between
items: if an inspection requires so.

‫סס‬Stored pressure dry powder types shall
be disassembled on an annual basis and
subjected to complete maintenance. Prior
to disassembly, the fire extinguisher shall
be fully discharged to check the operation
of the discharge valve and pressure
gauge. The loaded stream charge may be
recovered and re-used provided that it is
subjected to agent analysis in accordance
with manufacturer’s instructions.

‫סס‬A conductivity test shall be conducted
annually on all carbon dioxide hose
assemblies. Hose assemblies found to be
non conductive shall be replaced.

‫סס‬Pressure regulators provided with
wheeled-type fire extinguishers shall
be tested for outlet pressure and flow
rate in accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions.

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‫סס‬Maintenance procedures shall include a type, contamination, and condition. Dry
thorough examination of the three basic chemical found to be of the wrong type, or
elements of a fire extinguisher: mechanical contaminated, shall not be reused.
parts, extinguishing agent, and expelling
means. During annual maintenance, it ‫סס‬The vapor phase of carbon dioxide shall
is not necessary to internally examine not be less than 99.5 percent carbon
non-rechargeable fire extinguishers and dioxide. The water content of the liquid
carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. phase, shall not be more than 0.01 percent
by weight, -34.4°C dew point. Oil content
‫סס‬At the time of maintenance, the tamper of the carbon dioxide shall not exceed 10
seal of rechargeable fire extinguishers ppm by weight.
shall be removed by operating the pull
pin or locking device. After the applicable ‫סס‬A rechargeable stored-pressure-type
maintenance procedures are completed, fire extinguisher shall be pressurized
a new tamper seal shall be installed. only to the charging pressure specified
on the fire extinguisher nameplate. The
‫סס‬Each fire extinguisher shall have a tag manufacturer’s pressurizing adapter
or label securely attached that indicates shall be connected to the valve assembly
the month and year the maintenance was before the fire extinguisher is pressurized.
performed. A regulated source of pressure, set no
higher than 2 bars above the operating
Hydrostatic Test - Fire extinguisher shells (service) pressure, shall be used to
shall undergo a hydrostatic test at the pressurize fire extinguishers.
following intervals:
‫סס‬Only standard industrial-grade nitrogen
‫סס‬Every 5 years for CO2 extinguishers - with a dew point of -51°C or lower shall
tested at 5/3 of the service pressure as be used to pressurize stored-pressure
stamped onto cylinder. dry chemical or loaded stream fire
extinguishers. Compressed air through
‫סס‬Every 5 years for wheeled (trolley) moisture traps shall not be used for
extinguishers - tested at 3 times the pressurizing even though so stated in the
working pressure of cylinder. instructions on older fire extinguishers.

‫סס‬Every 12 years for all other types of ‫סס‬Each fire extinguisher shall have a tag or
extinguishers - tested at 3 times the label securely attached that indicates the
working pressure of cylinder. month and year recharging was performed
and that identifies the person performing
Recharging is the replacement of the the service.
extinguishing agent including the excellent
gas for certain types of fire extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers are the first line
of defense in many fire situations. The
‫סס‬Only those agents specified on the proper classification, selection, distribution
nameplate, or agents proven to have and training on the use of extinguishers are
equal chemical composition, physical the key elements in the fastest response to
characteristics, and fire extinguishing fires. This evaluation shall also include the
capabilities shall be used. Agents potential users’ physical ability and reaction
specifically listed for use with that fire under stress. Because differences exist
extinguisher shall be considered to meet among extinguishers, it is imperative that
these requirements. people be trained to use them properly.

‫סס‬The remaining dry chemical in a discharged
fire extinguisher may be reused provided
that it is thoroughly checked for the proper

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‫סס‬The proper distribution of portable fire ‫סס‬Powder replacement is recommended
extinguishers shall be in accordance every 5 years & which can be extended
with applicable standards; i.e., one ABC relative to the status of powder. Taking
powder Extinguisher or equivalent shall be into consideration that the powder is
located at every exit and every 23 meter affected by the ambient condition of each
interval. Extinguishers shall be properly location.
mounted on stable fixtures, clearly market,
unobstructed. ‫סס‬Portable extinguishers should be as near
as possible to exits or on staircase landings
‫סס‬The gauge on the extinguisher indicates and escape routes to be within the reach
only the pressure inside it but never of your hands when a fire starts.
the expiry date or the weight of the
extinguishing agent ‫סס‬Golden Rule:

‫סס‬Maintenance should be done at regular -- Extinguishers are of a little value if the
intervals normally once each ear. personnel do not understand how to use
them.
‫סס‬Prompt replacement of extinguishing
agent should be executed when the status -- Training is an essential part of an effective
of powder shows caking. protection program

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How To
Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher

When it is time to use an extinguisher on a
fire, just remember the PASSword; Pull,
Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

Systems and Equipment cannot be Maintenance And
reliable unless properly maintained by
professionals on a yearly basis Recharge Of

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‫סס‬In accordance with National and

International Standards, fire extinguishers
shall be subject to a maintenance service
at every one year interval.

‫סס‬The powder agent inside fire extinguishers
is only changed after being examined by
specialists and deemed to be inappropriate
for use due to caking and dampness. If
powder agents are kept in appropriate
conditions and fire extinguishers
maintained on a yearly basis, it may
remain suitable for use for morethan 5
years.

How To Properly Extinguish A Fire

Always fight the fire from the same direction
of the wind, not against it.

Begin to extinguish the fire closest to you
starting from the base of the flames.

To extinguish fires of flammable liquids,
always start from the top of the flame.

If possible fight the fire by using several
extinguishers at the same time. This will
speed up the extinguishing process.

Make sure that the fire does not flare up
again from the burning materials. Cool down
with water if possible.

Have all utilized extinguishers recharged
immediately; even if partially emptied.
Used extinguishers will not operate again
unless recharged.

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