FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING

Fire safety, at its most

basic, is based upon the
principle of keeping fuel
sources and ignition
sources separate.
Three things must be present at the same time to produce fire:
1. Enough Oxygen to sustain combustion
2. Enough eat to reach ignition temperature
!. "ome Fuel or combustible material
Together, they produce the chemical reaction that is fire. Take a#ay any of these things
and the fire #ill be extinguished.
FUEL CLASSIFICATIONS
Fires are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. $f you use the #rong
type of extinguisher on the #rong class of fire, you might make matters #orse. $t is %ery
important to understand the four different fire &fuel' classifications:
(lass ): *ood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics+solids that are not
metals.
(lass ,: Flammable li-uids+gasoline, oil, grease, acetone. $ncludes
flammable gases.
(lass (: Electrical+energi.ed electrical e-uipment. )s long as it is
/plugged in.0
(lass 1: 2etals+potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium.
3e-uires special extinguishing agents.
Fire Extinguisher Training
2ost fire extinguishers #ill ha%e a pictograph label telling you #hich types of fire the
extinguisher is designed to fight.
For example, a simple #ater extinguisher might ha%e a
label like this, #hich means it should only be used on
(lass ) fires.
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
1ifferent types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire. The
three most common types of fire extinguishers are:
1. Water (APW)
4arge, sil%er fire extinguishers
that stand about 2 feet tall and
#eigh about 25 pounds #hen
full.
)6* stands for /)ir76ressuri.ed
*ater.0
Filled #ith ordinary tap #ater
and pressuri.ed air, they are
essentially large s-uirt guns.
)6*8s extinguish fire by taking a#ay the /eat0 element of the Fire Triangle.
)6*8s are designed for (lass ) fires only: *ood, paper, cloth. ere are a
couple of reasons you need to be careful about #hich extinguisher you use:
9sing #ater on a flammable li-uid fire could cause the fire to spread.
9sing #ater on an electrical fire increases the risk of electrocution. $f you
ha%e no choice but to use an )6* on an electrical fire, make sure the
electrical e-uipment is unplugged or de7energi.ed.
)6*8s #ill be found in older buildings, particularly in public hall#ays, as #ell as
in residence halls on campus. They #ill also be found in computer laboratories.
$t is important to remember, ho#e%er, that computer e-uipment must be
disconnected from its electrical source before using a #ater extinguisher on it.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age 2
Fire Extinguisher Training
. Car!on "#o$#%e (CO

)
The pressure in a (O
2

extinguisher is so great,
bits of dry ice might
shoot out of the horn:
(O
2
cylinders are red. They range in si.e from 5 pounds to 1;; pounds or larger.
On larger si.es, the horn #ill be at the end of a long, flexible hose.
(O
2
8s are designed for (lass , and ( &flammable
li-uids and electrical sources' fires only:
(O
2
8s #ill fre-uently be found in laboratories, mechanical rooms, kitchens, and
flammable li-uid storage areas.
$n accordance #ith <F6) regulations &and manufacturers8 recommendations' all
(O
2
extinguishers at O"9 undergo hydrostatic testing and recharge e%ery fi%e
years.
(arbon dioxide is a non7flammable gas that takes a#ay the oxygen element of
the Fire Triangle. (O
2
is %ery cold as it comes out of the extinguisher, so it cools
the fuel as #ell.
) (O
2
may not be %ery effecti%e in extinguishing a (lass ) fire because it may
not be able to displace enough oxygen to successfully put the fire out. (lass )
materials may also smolder and re7ignite.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age !
Fire Extinguisher Training
&. "ry C'e(#)al (A*C+ *C+ "C)
),( extinguishers are red. On
campus, they range in si.e from
fi%e pounds to 2; pounds.
On the O"9 campus, ),( extinguishers are filled #ith a fine, yello# po#der.
This po#der is mostly composed of monoammonium phosphate. The
extinguishers are pressuri.ed #ith nitrogen.
1ry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel #ith a thin layer of
dust. This separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air. The po#der also #orks
to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire. These extinguishers are %ery effecti%e
at putting out fire.
1ry chemical extinguishers come in a %ariety of types. =ou may see them
labeled:
1( &for dry chemical'
),( &can be used on (lass ), ,, or ( fires'
,( &designed for use on (lass , and ( fires'
$t is extremely important to identify #hich types of dry chemical fire extinguishers
are located in your area:
)n /),(0 extinguisher #ill ha%e a label like this,
indicating it may be used on (lass ), ,, and (
fires.
=ou don8t #ant to mistakenly use a /,(0 extinguisher on a (lass ) fire thinking
that it #as an /),(0 extinguisher.
1ry chemical extinguishers #ith po#der designed for (lass , and ( fires &/,(0
extinguishers' may be located in places such as commercial kitchens and areas
#ith flammable li-uids.
On campus you #ill find ),(8s in public hall#ays of ne# buildings, in
laboratories, break rooms, offices, chemical storage areas, mechanical rooms,
9ni%ersity %ehicles, etc.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age >
Fire Extinguisher Training
HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER
$t is easy to remember ho# to use a fire extinguisher if you remember the acronym,
/6)"".0
P P,ll
A A#(
S S-,ee.e
S S/ee0
P P,ll t'e 0#n
T'#1 /#ll allo/ yo, to %#1)'ar2e t'e e$t#n2,#1'er.
A A#( at t'e !a1e o3 t'e 3#re
H#t t'e 3,el4#3 yo, a#( at t'e 3la(e1+ t'e
e$t#n2,#1'#n2 a2ent /#ll 0a11 r#2't t'ro,2' an% %o
no 2oo%.
S S-,ee.e t'e to0 'an%le
T'#1 %e0re11e1 a !,tton t'at relea1e1 t'e
0re11,r#.e% e$t#n2,#1'#n2 a2ent.
S S/ee0 3ro( 1#%e5to51#%e ,nt#l t'e 3#re #1 )o(0letely
o,t.
Start ,1#n2 t'e e$t#n2,#1'er 3ro( a 1a3e %#1tan)e
a/ay an% t'en 1lo/ly (o6e 3or/ar%. On)e t'e 3#re
#1 o,t+ 7ee0 an eye on t'e area #n )a1e #t re5#2n#te1.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age 5
Fire Extinguisher Training
RULES FOR FIGHTING FIRES
Fires can be %ery dangerous and you should al#ays be certain that you #ill not
endanger yourself or others #hen attempting to put out a fire. For this reason, #hen a
fire is disco%ered,
1. )ssist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be accomplished
#ithout risk to yourself.
2. (all ?11 or acti%ate the building fire alarm. The fire alarm #ill notify the fire
department as #ell as other building occupants and shut off the air handling
system to pre%ent the spread of smoke.
$f the fire is small &and Only after ha%ing done these t#o things', you may attempt to use
an extinguisher to put it out.
Ho/e6er, before deciding to fight the fire, keep these things in mind:
8no/ /'at #1 !,rn#n2. $f you don8t kno# #hat is burning, you #on8t kno# #hat
kind of extinguisher to use.
E%en if you ha%e an ),( fire extinguisher, there might be something in the fire
that is going to explode or produce toxic fumes.
(hances are you #ill kno# #hat is burning, or at least ha%e a pretty good idea,
but if you don8t, let the fire department handle it.
$s the fire spreading rapidly beyond the point #here it started@ The time to use
an extinguisher is at the beginning stages of the fire.
$f the fire is already spreading -uickly, it is best to simply e%acuate the building.
A1 yo, e6a),ate a !,#l%#n2+ )lo1e
%oor1 an% /#n%o/1 !e'#n% yo, a1 yo,
lea6e.
T'#1 /#ll 'el0 to 1lo/ t'e 10rea% o3
1(o7e an% 3#re.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age A
Fire Extinguisher Training
"o not 3#2't t'e 3#re #39
=ou don8t ha%e ade-uate or appropriate e-uipment.
$f you don8t ha%e the correct type or large enough extinguisher, it is best not to try
fighting the fire.
=ou might inhale toxic smoke.
*hen synthetic materials such as the nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a
sofa burn, they can produce hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and ammonia in
addition to carbon monoxide. These gases can be fatal in %ery small amounts.
=our instincts tell you not to.
$f you are uncomfortable #ith the situation for any reason, Bust let the fire
department do their Bob.
The final rule is to al#ays position yourself #ith an exit or means of escape at your back
before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire.
$n case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected happens, you need to
be able to get out -uickly. =ou don8t #ant to become trapped.
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age C
Fire Extinguisher Training
FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING :UI;
1. )n example of t#o /(lass ,0 fuels #ould be:
a. (ardboard, ne#spapers
b. 4amp, hot plate
c. Drease, paint thinner
2. )n )6* &#ater extinguisher' is safe to use on an electrical fire.
a. True
b. False
!. (arbon 1ioxide extinguishers are designed for #hich types of fuels@
a. (lass , and (
b. (lass ), , and (
c. (lass ) and (
d. (lass ) and ,
>. *hich type of extinguisher has a hard horn on the end of a flexible hose or metal arm@
a. )6* &air7pressuri.ed #ater'
b. (O2 &carbon dioxide'
c. ),( &dry chemical'
5. )s a general rule, you should not attempt to fight a fire if it is spreading rapidly.
a. True
b. False
A. ),( fire extinguishers extinguish fire by cooling it do#n.
a. True
b. False
C. *ater #ill not extinguish most flammable li-uid fires.
a. True
b. False
E. =ou should al#ays keep an exit or means of escape at your back #hen trying to fight a fire.
a. True
b. False
?. The three elements of the fire triangle are:
a. *ater, a heat source, and fuel
b. Oxygen, #ater, and fuel
c. Oxygen, fuel, and a heat source
d. Fuel, oxygen, and earth
1;. 1o you kno# #here the nearest fire extinguisher is in your #ork area@
a. =es
b. <o
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age E
Fire Extinguisher Training
An1/er1
1. (
2. ,
!. )
>. ,
5. )
A. ,
C. )
E. )
?. (
1;. )
Oklahoma "tate 9ni%ersity 6age ?