Portable Extinguishers

• Introduction
• Types of Portable Extinguishers
• Extinguisher Rating System
• Selecting Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Using Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Inspecting Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Damaged Portable Extinguishers
• Obsolete Portable Extinguishers
 Introduction

• Definition
– A portable fire extinguisher is a device used to
put out fires of limited size.
• Parts
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
• Pump-Tank Water Extinguishers
– intended for use in small Class A fires only
– generally equipped with a double-acting pump
• Stored-Pressure Water Extinguishers
– also called air-pressurized water (APW) extinguishers
– useful for all types of small Class A fires
– often used for extinguishing confined hot spots during
overhaul operations
– Class A foam concentrate is sometimes added to
enhance its effectiveness, and acts as wetting agent
that aids in extinguishing deep-seated fires, vehicle
fires, and wildland fires
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Extinguishers
– suitable for use on Class A and Class B fires
– particularly useful in combating fires or suppressing
vapors on small liquid fuel spills
– tank contained specified amount of AFFF concentrate
mixed with the water
– it should not be applied directly onto the fuel
– it should be allowed to either gently rain down onto the
fuel surface or deflect off an object
– good wetting and good penetrating properties on Class A
fuels but is ineffective on flammable liquids that are
water-soluble (polar solvents) such as alcohol and
acetone
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Extinguishers (Cont…)
– they are most effective on static pools of
flammable liquids
– not suitable for fires in Class C or Class D fuels
– not suitable for three-dimensional fires such as
in fuel flowing down from an elevated point and
fuel under pressure spraying from a leaking
flange
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Halon Extinguishers
– Halon is a generic term for halogenated hydrocarbons and is
defined as a chemical that contains carbon plus one or more
elements from the halogen series (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or
iodine)
– included in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer for phaseout by the year 2000 for their ozone-
depleting potential
– halogenated vapor is nonconductive and is effective in
extinguishing surface fires in flammable and combustible liquids
and electrical equipment
– these agents are not effective in fires in self-oxidizing fuels such as
combustible metals, organic peroxides, and metal hydrides
– their primary modern-day application is for the protection of
sensitive electronic equipment such as computers
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Halon Extinguishers (Cont…)
– the two most common are Halon 1211
(bromochlorodifluoromethane) and Halon 1301
(bromotrifluoromethane)
• Halon 1211
– research suggests that it interrupts the chain reaction of the
combustion process
– intended primarily for use on Class B and Class C fires
– stored in the extinguisher as a liquefied compressed gas,
but nitrogen is added to the tank to increase discharged
pressure and stream reach
– it is discharged from an extinguisher in a clear liquid
stream, giving it greater reach than a gaseous agent;
however, the stream may be affected by wind when
operated outside
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Halon Extinguishers (Cont…)
• Halon 1301
– normally not used by itself in portable fire extinguishers
because the agent is discharged as a nearly invisible gas
that is highly susceptible to being affected by wind
– in confined space, the agent’s volatility allows it to disperse
faster than Halon 1211
– the agent of choice in most total-flooding systems using
halogenated agents

WARNING: When Halon is used to extinguish a fire, it

decomposes and liberates toxic components, so these agents
should not be used in unventilated, confined spaces.
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
– effective in extinguishing Class B and Class C fires
– have a limited reach because their discharge is in the
form of gas
– stored under its own pressure as a liquefied compressed
gas ready for release at anytime
– the gaseous discharge is usually accompanied by little
dry ice crystals or carbon dioxide “snow”
– when released, the carbon dioxide gas displaces
available oxygen and smothers the fire
– produces no vapor-suppressing film on the surface of the
fuel; therefore, reignition of the fuel is always a danger
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Dry Chemical Extinguishers
– dry chemical agents are for use on Class A-B-C fires
and/or Class B-C fires, dry powder agents are for Class
D fires only
– among the most common portable fire extinguishers in
use today
– two basic types
• regular B:C-rated
• multipurpose and A:B:C-rated
– commonly used dry chemicals: sodium bicarbonate,
potassium bicarbonate, potassium chloride,
monoammonium phosphate
– come in both handheld and wheeled models
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Dry Chemical Extinguishers (Cont…)
– dry chemical agents themselves are non-toxic and generally
considered quite safe to use, although the cloud of chemicals
may reduce visibility and create respiratory problems like any
airborne particulate
– some dry chemicals are compatible with foam, but others will
degrade the foam blanket
– on Class A fires, the discharge should be directed at whatever
is burning in order to cover it with chemical
– when the flames have been knocked down, the agent should be
applied intermittently as needed on any smoldering hot spots
– many dry chemical agents are corrosive to metals, so it may be
better to use another agent such as carbon dioxide on them
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Dry Chemical Extinguishers (Cont…)
CAUTION: Never mix or contaminate dry chemicals with any
other type of agents because they may chemically react and
cause dangerous rise in pressure inside the extinguisher.

CAUTION: The top of the extinguisher should be pointed

away from the firefighter or other personnel when
pressurizing the unit. Because of the size of the nozzle, the
firefighter should be prepared for a significant nozzle
reaction when it is opened.
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Extinguishers and Powder Extinguishing Agents
for Metal Fires
– extinguishing agents discussed so far generally should
not be used on Class D fires
– no single agent will control or extinguish fires in all
metals
– some agents are effective against fire in several metals;
others are effective on fires in only one type of metal
– some powdered agents can be applied with portable
extinguishers, but others must be applied by either a
shovel or a scoop
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Extinguishers and Powder Extinguishing Agents
for Metal Fires (Cont…)
– the application technique for any given dry powder is
described in the manufacturer’s technical sales
literature, and firefighters should be familiar with the
information that applies to any agent carried on their
emergency response vehicles
– come in both handheld and wheeled models
– it must be applied in sufficient depth to completely
cover the area that is burning to create smothering
blanket
– agent should be applied gently to avoid breaking any
crust that may form over the burning metal
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Extinguishers and Powder Extinguishing Agents
for Metal Fires (Cont…)
– if the crust is broken, the fire may flare up and expose
more uninvolved material to combustion
– care should be taken to avoid scattering the burning
metal
– if the burning metal is on a combustible surface, the fire
should first be covered with powder
– then, a 1- to 2-inch (25 mm to 50 mm) layer of powder
should be spread nearby and the burning metal
shoveled onto this layer with more powder added as
needed
 Types of Portable Extinguishers
(Cont…)
• Extinguishers and Powder Extinguishing
Agents for Metal Fires (Cont…)
– after extinguishment, the material should be left
undisturbed
– disposal should not be attempted until the mass
has cooled completely
 Extinguisher Rating System
portable fire extinguishers are classified according to the types of fire (A, B, C or
D) for which they are intended
Class A and Class B extinguishers are also rated according to performance
capability, which is represented by a number
the classification and numerical rating system is based on tests conducted by
Underwriters Laboratories Inc, (UL) and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)

these tests are designed to determine the extinguishing capability for each size
and type of extinguisher
• Class A Ratings
– rated from 1-A through 40-A
– based primarily on the amount of extinguishing agent and the
duration and range of the discharge used in extinguishing test fires
– for a 1-A rating, 11/4 gallons of water are required, a 2-A rating
requires 21/2 gallons or twice the 1-A capacity
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)

• Class B Ratings
– classified with numerical ratings from 1-B through 640-
B
– rating is based on the approximate square foot (square
meter) area of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert
operator can extinguish
• Class C Ratings
– no fire extinguishing capability tests specifically
conducted for Class C ratings
– Extinguishing agent is tested for non-conductivity of
electricity
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)
• Class D Ratings
– ratings vary with the type of metal being tested
– details of instruction are included on the faceplate of
the extinguisher
– Class D agents cannot be given multipurpose rating for
use on other classes of fire
– factors in consideration:
• reaction between the metal and the agent
• toxicity of the agent
• toxicity of the fumes produced and the products of combustion
• time to allow metal to burn out without fire suppression efforts
versus time to extinguish
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)

• Multiple Markings
– identified by combinations of the letters A, B,
and/or C or the symbols for each class
– most common combinations are Class A-B-C,
Class A-B and Class B-C
– any extinguisher not properly marked is not a
listed unit and should not be used
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)

• Labeling System
– one system uses
geometric shapes of
specific colors with the
class letter shown
within the shape
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)
• Labeling System (Cont…)
– uses pictographs to make
the selection of the most
appropriate fire
extinguishers easier
– also shows the types of fires
on which the extinguisher
should not be used
– currently recommended in
NFPA 10
 Extinguisher Rating System (Cont…)

• Labeling System
(Cont…)
 Selecting Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Factors:
– classification of the burning fuel
– rating of the extinguisher
– hazards to be protected
– severity of the fire
– atmospheric conditions
– availability of trained personnel
– ease of handling extinguisher
– any life hazard or operational concerns
 Operating Instruction

• P – Pull the pin

• A – Aim at the base

• S – Squeeze the lever

• S – Sweep side-to-side
 Inspecting Portable Fire
Extinguishers
• Things to check by the Firefighter
– External condition – no apparent damage
– Hose/nozzle – in place
– Weight – feels as though it contains agent
– Pressure gauge (if available) – in operable
condition
 Inspecting Portable Fire
Extinguishers (Cont…)
• Procedure for the Inspector
– Check to ensure that the extinguisher is in a proper location and
that it is accessible
– Inspect the discharge nozzle for obstructions
– Inspect extinguisher shell for any physical damage
– Check to see if the operating instructions on the extinguisher
nameplate are legible
– Check the lock pins and tamper seals to ensure that the
extinguisher has not been tampered with
– Determine if the extinguisher is full of agent and fully pressurized
by checking the pressure gauge, weighing the extinguisher, or
inspecting the agent level
– Check the inspection tag for the date of the previous inspection,
maintenance, or recharging
– Examine the condition of the hose and its associated fittings
 Damaged Portable Extinguishers
• Leaking, corroded, or otherwise damaged
extinguisher shells or cylinders should be discarded
or returned to the manufacturer for repair
• It should be hydrostatically tested by the manufacturer
or a qualified testing agency for slight damage or
corrosion
• Leaking hoses, gaskets, nozzles, and loose labels
can be replaced by firefighters

Caution: Never attempt to repair shell or cylinder of a

defective fire extinguisher.
 Obsolete Portable Extinguishers
• Inverting-type extinguishers
– Soda-acid
– Foam
– Internal cartridge-operated water and loaded stream
– Internal cartridge dry chemical extinguishers
• Extinguishers made of copper or brass with
cylinders either soft soldered or riveted
• Toxic types/Ozone-depleting
– Carbon tetrachloride
– chlorobromomethane