Fire Safety & Extinguishers

Introduction

• Fire extinguishers are located throughout all

buildings in the district.
• This presentation will provide you with
information regarding extinguisher
responsibilities, inspections, recharging, and
use. Also general fire safety and
procedures.
 Agenda

• Who is responsible for site / department & other extinguishers?

• Who recharges extinguishers and coordinates recharging?
• When is recharging accomplished & how does it get done?
• Are there required inspections?
• How are fires classified?
• How to prevent fires & When not to fight a fire.
• How fires start & How to extinguish small fires.
• How to identify the proper fire extinguisher.
• How to use a portable fire extinguisher & How to inspect your
extinguishers.
• Different extinguishers look different.
• What if only part of the extinguisher is used.
• How to evacuate a burning building & What to do if someone catches on
fire.
• Summary.
Who is responsible for school site
extinguishers?
• Head custodians are responsible at their
respective school sites.
 Who is responsible for
department extinguishers?
• Departments have assigned individuals that
are responsible.
• Departments involved are:
• Transportation / Food Service
• Head custodians should also inspect kitchen
extinguishers in addition to food service
personnel.
 Who is responsible for
extinguishers in other areas?
• Individuals in special areas are responsible for
their extinguishers.
Areas are:
• Vehicles
• Warehouse
• District Office
• Special extinguishers (kitchen overheads), are
inspected and maintained by an outside contractor.
• Periodic inspection by Head custodians is required
to supplement this.
 Who recharges extinguishers?

• An outside company recharges all district

extinguishers.
• The company currently used is Fire Masters
located in Reno, Nv.
Who coordinates the recharging?

• The district maintenance department

coordinates recharging of all extinguishers
except transportation.
• The transportation supervisor coordinates
all transportation extinguishers.
 When is recharging
accomplished?
• Once a year (annually)
• The month of August is the month of
outside company inspection and recharging.
 How do I get spent extinguishers
recharged?
If there is a spent extinguisher from use or
vandalism:
• Call the number on the fire extinguisher tag (Fire
Masters) to come out and recharge the unit(s).
• Place the necessary information in the log,
(document), including when the unit was
recharged.
• Notify the maintenance department of the situation
in order for proper billing and tracking to occur.
 Are There Required Inspections?
Yes
• Responsible individuals must inspect
extinguishers in areas of access to the public once
a week. These area include hallways and meeting
areas.
• Extinguishers in areas not accessed by the public
must be inspected once every three (3) months.
• Recording of dates of inspections, findings, and
repairs and / or actions taken, must be documented
by the responsible idividual and kept in the back
of the site safety binder.
 How Fires Are Classified

CLASS A
Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material,
such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and
some plastics.
 How Fires Are Classified

CLASS B
Flammable or combustible liquids
such as gasoline, kerosene, paint,
paint thinners and propane.
 How Fires Are Classified

CLASS C
Energized electrical equipment,
such as appliances, switches,
panel boxes and power tools.
 How Fires Are Classified

CLASS D
Certain combustible metals, such
as magnesium, titanium, potassium
and sodium. These metals burn at
high temperatures and give off
sufficient oxygen to support
combustion. They may react
violently with water or other
chemicals, and must be handled
with care.
 How To Prevent Fires
Class A —
Ordinary combustibles:
Keep storage and working areas
free of trash Place oily rags in
covered containers.
 How To Prevent Fires
Class B —
 Flammable liquids or gases:
 Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment
in a confined space, especially in the
presence of an open flame such as a
furnace or water heater.
 Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment
while it's hot.
 Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly
closed, self-closing, spill-proof containers.
 Pour from storage drums only what you'll need.
 Store flammable liquids away from spark-
producing sources.
 Use flammable liquids only in well-ventilated areas.
 How To Prevent Fires
• Class C —
Electrical equipment:
 Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report
any hazardous condition to your supervisor.
 Prevent motors from overheating by keeping them clean and in good
working order. A spark from a rough-running motor can ignite the oil
and dust in it.
 Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over them.
Heat from an uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary
combustibles.
 Don't misuse fuses. Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for
the circuit.
 Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that
smells strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of fire.
 Don't overload wall outlets. Two outlets should
have no more than two plugs.
 How To Prevent Fires
Class D — Flammable metals:
 Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium generally
take a very hot heat source to ignite; however, once ignited are
difficult to extinguish as the buring reaction produces sufficient
oxygen to support combustion, even under water.
 In some cases, covering the burning metal with sand can help
contain the heat and sparks from the reaction.
Class D extinguishing agents are available
(generally as a dry powder in a bucket or box)
which can be quite effective, but these agents
are rare on the campus.
 If you are planning a research project using a
large amount of flammable metals you should
consider purchasing a five or ten pound container
of Class-D extinguishing agent as a precaution.
 How To Prevent Fires
• Class D — Flammable metals:
 Pure metals such as potassium and sodium react violently
(even explosively) with water and some other chemicals, and must
be handled with care. Generally these metals are stored in sealed
containers in a non-reactive liquid to prevent decay (surface oxidation)
from contact with moisture in the air.
 White phosphorus is air-reactive and will burn/explode on contact
with room air. It must be kept in a sealed container with a non-reactive
solution to prevent contact with air.
 All of these metals are not uncommon in labs on the OU campus,
but are generally only found in small quantities and accidental
fires/reactions can be controlled or avoided completely
through knowledge of the properties of the metals and using
good judgment and common sense.
 When Not to Fight a Fire

Never fight a fire:

•If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started.
•If you can't fight the fire with your back to an escape exit.
•If the fire can block your only escape.
•If you don't have adequate fire-fighting equipment.

In any of these situations,

DON'T FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF.

CALL FOR HELP.
 How Fires Start
Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or
burning of a fuel. It needs three elements to occur:

FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid

or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before
they will burn.

OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen.

fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent
oxygen.

HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the

temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are
given off for ignition to occur.
 When Not to Fight a Fire
• CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur
when the three elements of fire are present in the
proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when
this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.
Take any one of these factors
away, and the fire cannot occur or
will be extinguished if it was already
burning.
 How to Extinguish Small Fires
• Class A - Extinguish ordinary combustibles by
cooling the material below its ignition temperature
and soaking the fibers to prevent re-ignition.

Use pressurized water, foam or multi-purpose(ABC-

rated) dry chemical extinguishers.
DO NOT USE carbon dioxide or
ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical
extinguishers on Class A fires.
 How to Extinguish Small Fires
• Class B - Extinguish flammable liquids, greases or
gases by removing the oxygen, preventing the vapors
from reaching the ignition source or inhibiting the
chemical chain reaction.

Foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary

(BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-
purpose dry chemical, and halon
extinguishers may be used to fight
Class B fires.
 How to Extinguish Small Fires
• Class C - Extinguish energized electrical equipment by using
an extinguishing agent that is not capable of conducting
electrical currents.

Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical,

multi-purpose dry chemical and halon* fire
extinguishers may be used to fight Class C
fires. DO NOT USE water extinguishers on
energized electrical equipment.

* Even though halon is widely used, EPA

legislation is phasing it out of use in favor of
agents less harmful to the environment.
 How to Extinguish Small Fires

• Class D - Extinguish combustible metals such as magnesium,

titanium, potassium and sodium with dry powder extinguishing
agents specially designated for the material involved.

In most cases, they absorb the heat from the material, cooling it
below its ignition temperature.
 How to Extinguish Small Fires
• NOTE: Multipurpose (ABC-rated)chemical extinguishers leave
a residue that can harm sensitive equipment, such as
computers and other electronic equipment. Because of this,
carbon dioxide or halon extinguishers are preferred in these
instances because they leave very little residue.

ABC dry powder residue is mildly corrosive to many metals. For

example, residue left over from the use of an ABC dry powder
extinguisher in the same room with a piano can seriously
corrode piano wires.

Carbon dioxide or halon extinguishers are provided for most

labs and computer areas on campus.
 How to Identify the Proper Fire
Extinguisher
• All ratings are shows on the extinguisher
faceplate. Some extinguishers are marked
with multiple ratings such as AB, BC and
ABC. These extinguishers are capable of
putting out more than one class of fire.

Class A and B extinguishers carry a

numerical rating that indicates how large a
fire an experienced person can safely put out
with that extinguisher.
 How to Identify the Proper Fire
Extinguisher
• Class C extinguishers have only a letter
rating to indicate that the extinguishing
agent will not conduct electrical current.
Class C extinguishers must also carry a
Class A or B rating.

Class D extinguishers carry only a letter

rating indicating their effectiveness on
certain amounts of specific metals.
 How to Use a Portable Fire
Extinguisher
• HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
Remember the acronym, "P.A.S.S."—
P......Pull the Pin.
A......Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the
base of the flames.
S......Squeeze trigger while holding the
extinguisher upright.
S......Sweep the extinguisher from side to
side, covering the
area of the fire with
the extinguishing agent.
 How to Use a Portable Fire
Extinguisher
• REMEMBER:
• Should your path of escape be threatened

• Should the extinguisher run out of agent

• Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective

• Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire

• ...THEN LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY!
 How to Inspect Your Fire
Extinguishers
• Know the locations of the fire extinguishers in your work area.

Make sure the class of the extinguisher is safe to use on fires

likely to occur in the immediate area.

Check the plastic seal holding the pin in the extinguisher handle.
Has the extinguisher been tampered with or used before?
Report any broken/missing seals/pins to the Fire Safety Unit at
325-1015.

Look at the gauge and feel the weight. Is the extinguisher full?
Does it need to be recharged?
 How to Inspect Your Fire
Extinguishers
• Water, some foam, and dry chemical extinguishers
have gauges indicating the pressure inside the
extinguisher. The pressure needle should be in the
"green" area (generally 100-175 lbs., depending on
the type of agent).
•

CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers are high pressure

cylinders with pressures ranging from 1500 lb to 2150
lb. These extinguishers DO NOT have gauges and
must be weighed by Fire Safety Unit staff to
determine the amount of contents remaining.
 How to Inspect Your Fire
Extinguishers
• Make sure the pin, nozzle and nameplate are intact.

The Fire Safety Unit inspects and services all OU fire

extinguishers on a year-round basis, but we would
still encourage you to be aware of the condition of
your area's extinguishers by visual inspection on a
frequent basis to ensure you have a working
extinguisher there when you need one.

Report any missing, empty or damaged fire

extinguishers to the Fire Safety Unit (325-1015)
whenever you notice any discrepancies.
 Different Extinguishers Look
Different
• Generally, you can tell with a glance which
type an extinguisher is hanging on the wall, or
in the cabinet, just by looking at its shape.
Check the labels of the extinguishers in your
area and note the color and shape/size of the
extinguisher. This may help if someone runs
in to help you fight a fire with the WRONG
extinguisher (i.e. water on an electrical fire) -
you can STOP them before they are injured
or make matters worse!
 Different Extinguishers Look
Different
BC-rated multipurpose dry powder
extinguishers are the most common on campus,
particularly in the corridors of academic
buildings. They are almost always RED in color
and have either a long narrow hose or no hose (just a
short nozzle). These extinguishers are very light (5-
25 lbs total weight) Halon extinguishers look
virtually identical to ABC multipurpose dry
chemical extinguishers.
 Different Extinguishers Look
Different
• Water extinguishers are generally only found
in the dormitories and are usually SILVER
(crome-metal) in color, have a flat bottom,
have a long narrow hose, are quite large (2-
1/2 gallons). Foam extinguishers (rare on the
OU campus, nowadays) look similar and the
type without gauges have a handle inset in
the flat bottom (you turn the extinquisher
upside down to start it and use it)
Different Extinguishers Look
Different
CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers
are generally red (often yellow around
aircraft or on military sites), have a
LARGE "tapered" nozzle (horn), are
VERY HEAVY (15-85 lbs.) -some CO2
extinguishers for aircraft hangers or
special industrial use are so large as to
require roll-around carts to move them.
These are all high-pressure cylinders.
 Different Extinguishers Look
Different
 Care should be used not to drop a CO2
cylinder; if it is damaged it can punch a hole
through the nearest wall(s) and end up on
the other side of campus! (The containers
are quite sturdy, but don't abuse them.) CO2
cylinders do not have a pressure gauge -
they must be weighed to determine the
amount of contents.
 What If I Don’t Use all of the
Extinguisher Contents?
 After ANY use a BC or ABC extinguisher
MUST be serviced and recharged. This is
very important for home extinguishers also;
YOU MUST HAVE THE EXTINGUISHER
REFILLED AFTER ANY USE.

You can't "test" an extinguisher and put it

back in the cabinet!
 How to Evacuate a Burning
Building
 The last one out of the room should not lock the
door, just close it. Locking the door hinders the fire
department's search and rescue efforts.

 Proceed to the exit as outlined in the Emergency

Action Plan.

 NEVER, NEVER use elevators under any

circumstances.

 Stay low to avoid smoke and toxic gases. The best

air is close to the floor, so crawl if necessary.
 How to Evacuate a Burning
Building
 If possible, cover your mouth and nose with
a damp cloth to help you breathe.

 If you work in a building with multiple stories,

a stairway will be your primary escape route.
Most enclosed stairwells in buildings over
two stories are "rated" enclosures and will
provide you a safe means of exit; don't panic
descend stairs slowly and carefully.
 How to Evacuate a Burning
Building
 Once in the stairwell, proceed down to the
first floor. Never go up.

 Once outside the building, report to a

predetermined area so that a head count can
be taken.
 What to do if Trapped in a
Burning Building
 If you're trying to escape a fire, never open a closed
door without feeling it first. Use the back of your
hand to prevent burning your palm. If the door is hot,
try another exit. If none exists, seal the cracks
around the doors and vents with anything available.

If in a dorm room, use wet towels to seal the space

under the door and prevent the entry of smoke.
Cracks around the door can be sealed with masking
tape if necessary.
 What to do if Trapped in a
Burning Building
 If trapped, look for a nearby phone and call the fire
department, giving them your exact location.

If breathing is difficult, try to ventilate the room, but

don't wait for an emergency to discover that window
can't be opened.

If on an upper floor and your window is of a type that

CANNOT be opened, DON'T break it out- you'll be
raining glass down on rescuers and people exiting
the building. If you can't contact the fire department
by phone, wave for attention at the window. Don't
panic.
 What to do if Someone Catches
on Fire
 If you should catch on fire:

STOP - where you are

DROP - to the floor

ROLL - around on the floor

This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.

Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.

If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a

blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save
them from serious burns or even death.
 Summary

• Fire extinguisher training is necessary to

prevent harm from misuse.
• Know your evacuation plan.
• Know the location of all fire extinguishers
in your building.
• There are many types of fires and all are
handled differently.
 Questionnaire

Please click here to go to the Fire

Extinguisher and Safety Questionnaire.