5.

1DESCRIPTION
portableFire Extinguishers are elementaryfire fightingequipmentintendedfor firsfaid fire fighting
duringthe initialoutbreakof fire incidentto preventescalationinto a full scalefire. Properusageof
portaOtefire extinguishersoften effectivelycontroland extinguishera fire even beforefire authorities
is summoned.Howeverthey are not supposeto be used againsta large scalefire.

portable fire extinguishersshould be suitablyselectedfor the type of fire in accordanceto the

classificationand the fire size and sited in suitable locationsin close proximityto the potentialfire
hazards

portablefire extinguishers shouldhave minimumgrossweightbut with higherfire ratingin orderto

be user friendlyand shall be able to be carriedand operatedby one person.

portablefire extinguishersshouldbe maintainedand servicedannuallyfor their effectiveness.

5.2DESIGNREQUIREMENTS

5.2.1 Codes and Standards

(a) is described
Underthe UniformBuildingBy-laws1984,portablefire extinguisherrequirement
under By-law 227.

(b) Portablefire extinguishersshall be designed,tested,select,installand maintainin

accordanceto:

- M.S.1539- Specification for portablefire extinguishers:

Part 1 : Constructionand test methodology

- M.S.1539- Specification for portablefire extinguishers:

Part 3 : Selectionand Application- Code of Practice

- M.S.1539- Specificationfor portablefire extinguishers:

Part 4: Maintenanceof portablefire extinguishers- Code of practice

(c) shall be manufacturedwith the followingrequirements:

Portablefire extinguishers

- SIRIM qualitycertification
scheme

5.2.2 Glasses of Fire

Portablefire extinguishers shouldbe providedfor dealingwith the followingpotentialclassesof fire
identifiedin the risk assessment: (see Figure5-2-2.1)

- ClassA : Fires involvingsolid materialsof organicnaturewith the formationof glowingambers,

eg. paper,wood, etc
- Class B : Firesinvolvingliquidsor liquefiablesolids,eg. petrol,kerosene,diesel,etc
- Class C : Firesinvolvinggases,eg. oxygen,LNG, LPG' etc
- Class D : Firesinvolvingmetals,eg. sodium,potassium,magnesium,etc
- Class E : Firesinvolvingelectricalequipment
- Class F : Firesinvolvingfats and cookingoils

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 5.2.3 Selection and Application
The typicalmediumfor portablefire extinguishersare as foilows:

- Water - Suitablefor ClassA fires

- Foam - Suitablefor ClassA and Class B fires
- Dry ChemicalPowder - Suitablefor ClassA, B, C and E fires
- CarbonDioxide - Suitablefor Class B and E fires

5.2.4Color Coding
colour of extinguishercylinder/bodyshall be signal red to RAL
3000. All wordings,diagram,
pictogramshall be white in colour and all extinguiihingmedium
shal be "oiour;il as foltows:
(see Figure5.2.4.1)

Water Red
Foam Cream
DryChemicalPowder- Blue
CarbonDioxide Black
Halon GoldenYellow

Note : Halonportablefire extinguishers

are only allowedfor military,aviationor specialapplications
only where permittedby Departmentof EnvironmentMaraysia.

5.2.5 Label Marking

All portablefire extinguishersshall be markedas per labels attached.
All label markingsshall be
fullyvisiblefrom the front (see FigureS.2.S.j and5.2.5.2)

5.2.6 Installation
- Generally,portablefire extinguishers
shouldbe locatedin conspicuouspositionwhere they can
be easily spotted by person followingan escape route.

- Siting positionnear to room exits,

corridors,stainvays,lobbiesand landingsare most suitable.
They shouldnot be sitedwhere a potentialfiremight preventaccess
to them.
- Extinguishersshould be locatedpreferably
within recessedclosetsif they be sited along protected
corridorsto avoid obstructionduring evacuation.

- They should be sited not more than

20 metres from a potentialfire hazard

5.2.7 PerformanceDesign
Fire classes, fire hazard location, extinguisherdistribution,extinguisherperformance
as well
as applicationshould be the criteria for determiningthe size and quantities
of portable fire
extinguishers.

For dry chemicalpowder extinguisher,vast improvementin chemical

content has increasedthe
performanceof the extinguisher.Weight is hence no longer
the criteriafor selectionbut fire rating
determinesthe performanceseg. minimumfire performancerating
of a 9kg extinguisherof 30%
chemicalpowderis 27A and 144B..A 6kg extinguisherof 50%chemicalpornde,
can achievea fire
ratingof 27A and 1838.

Gross weight of portablefire extinguishersshould be kept to a minimum (recommended

to be
below 12kg)to ensureportability.Currentweight ratingof portableflre
extinguishersis net weight
of fire extinguishing
mediumexcludingthe weightof tne cyiinoer,valve body, metreand hose;e.g.
grossweightof SkgCOz extinguisheris 21kg.

91
 It is recommend to designfor 2 smallerextinguishers to achievethe same ratinginsteadof 1
extinguisher
to increasethe effectiveness
of fire extinguishment.

Example1

Fora singlestoreybuildingof floorarea1,600m2,

the minimumaggregated
classA ratingis

0.065x 1,600= 104A

Thetotalfire ratingcan be providedby:

BxI3APFE= 1044 Bx4kgpFEofl3A

4x27APFE = 108A 4 x 6 k g p F E o f2 7 A
* PFE- Portable
fireextinguisher

Note- Portablefireextinguishers
of smallercapacitybuthigherfireratingis preferredfor portability
and effectiveness

5.3 VISUAL INSPECTIONCHECKLIST

5.3.1Portablefire extinguisher

Q Cylinderbodyshouldbe redwithmediumcolourcodedin respective colour

o All labelmarkingwordings,diagramsand pictogramsshallbe in whitecolourand
shallbe fully
visiblefromthe front
O LabelshouldcarrySIRIMproductcertification logo
Q ExtinguishersshallhavevalidFireand RescueDepartment ApprovalLetter
O EachExtinguisher shallhavea validFireand RescueDepartment H13certificate
o Extinguishermeterindicationshouldindicateadequatepressure(GreenZone)within the cylinder
Q Cylinderbodyand valveshouldbe rustfree
Q Safetypin shouldbe in placeand secured
O DischargeHoseshouldhaveno cracks

92
 :1
I
I
i

Fire involvingsolids,organicin nature,combustionnormallyleadsto formation

of glowing embers, carbonaceousfires

Firesinvolvingliquidsor liquefiablesolids

Fire involvinggases

Note : 1. Must turn off the gas valve or plug the leak before putting out the fire
2. Preferablyto be handled by trained fire fighters
3. May require protectiveclothing and/or SCBA
(SelfContainedBreathingApparatus)

Fire involvingmetals

Note : 1. To refer to materialsafety data sheet of types of metals used

2. Preferablyto be handledby trained fire fighters
3. Special applicationand technique required
4. May require,:,protectiveclothing and/or SCBA
(Self ContainedBreathingApparatus)

Fire involvingelectricalequipments

Note : 1. Extinguishermustpassdielectrictest of 35 kva to carryClassE marking

2. Shallnot be used on live electricalequipment

Fire involvingfats and cooking oils 0 . 0 1 5m 2

0.02m2
0.04 m2
0 . 1 1m 2
Figure 5.2.4.1

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