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Portable
fire extinguishers
Topics
General
Choosing Your Extinguisher
Classes of Fire
Extinguisher Sizes
Installation and Maintenance
How to use an extinguisher
Should you fight the fire?
General
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Used
properly, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives
and property by putting out a small fire or containing
it until
the fire department arrives.
-
Portable
extinguishers for home use, however, are not designed to
fight large or spreading fires. They are useful
only under certain conditions
-
Extinguishers
should not be used by small children.
-
The operator
most know how to use the extinguisher. There is no time
to read directions during an emergency.
-
The
extinguisher must be within easy reach and in working
order, fully charged.
-
The operator
must have a clear escape route that will not be blocked
by fire.
-
The
extinguisher must match the type of fire being fought.
Extinguishers containing water are unsuitable for use on
grease or electrical fires.
-
The
extinguisher must be large enough to put out the fire.
Many portable extinguishers discharge completely
in as few as 8 to 10 seconds.
Choosing
Your Extinguisher
SELECT ONLY fire
extinguishers that have been tested by an independent
laboratory and labeled for the type and size
of fire they can extinguish. Use these labels as a guide to
purchase the kind of extinguisher that suits your needs.
Classes
of Fires
There are three
basic classes of fires. All fire extinguishers are labeled
using standard symbols for the classes of fires they
can put out. A red slash through any of the symbols tells
you the extinguisher cannot be used on that class of
fire. A missing
symbol tells you only that the extinguisher has not been
tested for a given class of fire.
Class A:
 
Ordinary combustibles (paper, wood, cloth)
The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount
of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will
extinguish.
Class
B:
 
Flammable liquids (gasoline, oil, grease, kerosene)
The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher states the approximate
number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert person can
expect to extinguish.
Class
C:
 
Energized electrical equipment (wiring, fuse boxes,
circuit breakers, machinery)
This class of fire
extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter “C”
indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.
Your
extinguisher must be appropriate for the type of fire being
fought. If you use the wrong type of extinguisher, you can
endanger yourself and make the fire worse. Multi-purpose
extinguishers, labeled ABC, may be used on all three classes
of fires. In some cases, it may be dangerous to use any type
of extinguisher. For example, an extinguishing agent
released under pressure could spread a grease fire in a
frying pan instead of putting it out. Read directions on how
to use the extinguisher carefully before the fire.
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Extinguisher
Sizes
Portable
extinguishers are also rated for the size of fire they can
handle. This rating will appear on the label, for
example, 2A:10B:C.
The larger the numbers, the larger the fire that the
extinguisher can put out, but higher rated models
are often heavier. Make sure you can hold and operate an
extinguisher before you buy it.
Installation
and Maintenance
Extinguishers
should be installed in plain view, above the reach of
children, near an escape route, and away
from stoves and heating appliances.
Extinguishers
require routine care. Read your operator's manual to learn
how to inspect your extinguisher. Follow manufacturer's
instructions or maintenance.
Rechargeable
models must be serviced after every use. (Service companies
are listed in the Yellow Pages under "Fire
Extinguishers".) Disposable fire extinguishers can be
used only once and must be replaced after use.
How
to use a fire extinguisher
Any
extinguisher has the same methods in principle application. Be sure you have the
right type for the right class of fire.
Keep
your back to an unobstructed exit
and stand six to eight feet (two to three meters) away.
Follow the four-step P-A-S-S method of using a fire
extinguisher
.
P
PULL
the pin:
This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.
Some extinguishers may have other lever-release mechanism
A
AIM
low: Point the extinguisher
nozzle (or hose) at the base of the fire
S SQUEEZE the handle:
This discharges the extinguishing agent. Releasing the lever will stop the
discharge. (Some extinguishers have a button instead of a lever.)
S
SWEEP
from side to side: Moving
carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire
and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out. Watch the fire area.
If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.
Always be
sure the fire department inspects the fire site, even if you think you've
extinguished the fire.
Should
You Fight the Fire?
Before you begin
to fight a fire, make sure:
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Everyone
has left, or is leaving, the building and make sure the
fire department has been called.
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The fire is
confined to a small area and is not spreading.
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You have an
unobstructed escape route to which the fire will not
spread.
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The
extinguisher is the right type for the fire.
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You have read
the instructions and you know how to use the
extinguisher.
It is reckless
to fight a fire under any other circumstances. Instead,
leave immediately and close off the area.
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