Fire Safety awareness

EXTINGUISHER

Rathin Biswas रथीन बिश्वास

Assistant General Manager सहायक महाप्रबंधक
Human Resource Development Centre, Kiriburu मानव संसाधन विकास कें द्र, किरीबुरु
Bokaro Steel Plant बोकारो इस्पात संयंत्र
Steel Authority of India Limited स्टील अथॉरिटी ऑफ इंडिया लिमिटेड
 Objectives
• Understand the combustion process and
different fire classes.
• Understand fire extinguisher types,
operating procedures, capabilities, and
limitations.
• Understand basic firefighting concepts:
– R.A.C.E.
– P.A.S.S.
 ॐ अग्निमीले पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम्। होतारं रत्नधातमम्। ॥१॥
- ऋग्वेद का प्रथम श्लोक
Agnimile purohitam yajnasya devam rtvijam
hotaram ratnadhatamam
हे अग्नि स्वरूप परमात्मा, इस यज्ञ के द्वारा मैं आपकी आराधना करता हूं। स्रिष्टि के पूर्व भी आप थे और आपके अग्निरूप से
ही स्रिष्टि की रचना हुई। हे अग्निरूप परमात्मा, आप सब कु छ देने वाले हैं। आप प्रत्येक समय एवं ऋतु में पूज्य हैं। आप ही
अपने अग्निरूप से जगत् के सब जीवों को सब पदार्थ देने वाले हैं एवं वर्तमान और प्रलय में सबको समाहित करने वाले हैं।
हे अग्निरूप परमात्मा आप ही सब उत्तम पदार्थों को धारण करने एवं कराने वाले है।
• The meaning of the mantra: Before the time of origin of the universe, self effulgent fire God
holds the atom. The creator God created the macro universe over and over at the time of origin.
• The hidden science within mantra : there is a self effulgent fire which is the eternal support
of all. Self existed and the leader of all.
The Combustion Process
THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON

Fuel

Chemical
Chain
Reaction

Oxygen Temperature
 Fire Classes
A Trash Wood Paper C Electrical Equipment

• Wood
• Cloth • Energized
• Paper electrical
• Rubber equipment
• Many plastics

• Gasoline COMBUSTIBLE • Magnesium

B Liquids Grease
• Oil • Sodium
• Grease • Potassium
• Tar • Titanium
•

•
Oil-based
paint
Lacquer
D •
•
Zirconium
Other
flammable
• Flammable METALS
metals
gases
 Fire Classes .....
CLASS K FIRES
K Cooking Media
• Fires involving combustible
vegetable or animal non-
saturated cooking fats in
commercial cooking equipment.
 Class A –
Materials are:

Solids
• Wood
• Paper
• Plastic Rubber
• Coal

“A” stands for “ash”

How does a solid
burn?

Takes place as wood, coal, conveyor belts or any

carbon based products decomposes from the action of
the heat
Remember, it is the vapors that burn, not the solid.
 How to extinguish a Class A fire

Limit material
Adding water burning
Class A fires Shovel away
only material
Add rock dust to
remaining fuel

Pit a lid on it,

Use a fire
Usually oily rags extinguisher
or paper in a
Usually Class
waste container
A, B & C fires
 Class B
Materials are:
Liquids
• Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel
• Greases, Hydraulic fluid
• Gases; i.e.
Acetylene, Propane
Natural Gas

“B” stands for “boil”

 How to extinguish a Class B fire

Remove excess
Not recommended liquid fuel or shut
Water can cause off bottled gas
the fire to spread cylinders

Put a lid on it Use a BC or ABC

fire extinguisher
No oxygen, no fire
 Class C
Materials are:

“Energized” Electrical
Equipment & Cables

Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!

Once the power has been removed, Fir can probably treat it like a
Class A or B fire, but remember that cables & equipment can hold
electricity even after the power is off!

“C” stands for “current”

 How to extinguish a Class C fire

Not recommended Shut off the power

Water can conduct May still have A or
electricity B fire remaining

May not work

because of the high
Use a BC or ABC
temperature of the
fire extinguisher
electric arc
 Class D
materials include
Combustible Metals
• Magnesium
• Titanium
• Zirconium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Lithium
• Calcium
• Zinc

D stands for “ding”

 Class D materials are usually in alloy type metals

They are usually started by a Class A-B-C fire, and will burn
at extremely high temperatures

Not recommended- Shovel away all

materials that can be
The O2 and H2 in the ignite by the high heat
water will accelerate generated
the fire

Not recommended-

Attempt to isolate the Unsure if ABC

fire by covering with extinguisher will put out
sand or rock dust Unsure of dangerous by-
product from the
reaction of the
chemicals
 Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
Pressure Gauge
Discharge Lever (not found on CO2
extinguishers)

Discharge Locking Pin Carrying

and Seal Handle

Discharge Hose

Data Plate

Discharge Nozzle Body

 TYPES OF PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
Water based

Foam based

Powders based ABC/BC/D Type

Carbon dioxide

Clean agents

Water mist type (Wet Chemical)

 Fire Extinguisher Applications
FIRE CLASS EFFECTIVE EXTINGUISHER TYPES
A Trash Wood Paper

PRESSURIZED WATER, MULTIPURPOSE DRY

CHEMICAL, LARGER SIZE HALON, WET CHEMICAL

B Liquids Grease

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE,

HALON

C Electrical Equipment

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE,

HALON, WET CHEMICAL

COMBUSTIBLE

COMBUSTIBLE METAL
D
METALS

K Cooking Media

WET CHEMICAL
 Fire Extinguisher Types
PRESSURIZED WATER
• Class “A” fires only.

• 2.5 gal. water at 150-175 psi (up to 1

A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

minute discharge time).

B Liquids Grease
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
B Liquids Grease
capacity check.

• 30-40 ft. maximum effective range.

C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

• Can be started and stopped as

necessary.

• Extinguishes by cooling burning

material below the ignition point.
Fire Extinguisher Types .....
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
• Class “B” or “C” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper • 2.5-100 lb. of CO2 gas at 150-
200 psi (8-30 seconds
discharge time).
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease
• Has NO pressure gauge--
capacity verified by weight.
• 3-8 ft. maximum effective
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
range.
• Extinguishes by smothering
burning materials.
• Effectiveness decreases as
temperature of burning
material increases.
 Fire Extinguisher Types .....
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL
• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

• 2.5-20 lb. dry chemical (ammonium

phosphate) pressurized to 50-200
psi by nitrogen gas (8-25 seconds
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease
discharge time).

• Has pressure gauge to allow visual

C Electrical Equipment
capacity check.
C Electrical Equipment

• 5-20 ft. maximum effective range.

• Extinguishes by smothering burning

materials.
Fire Extinguisher Types .....
HALON
• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires (smaller
sizes ineffective against Class “A”).
• 9-17 lb. Halon 1211 (pressurized
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper liquid) released as vapor (8-18
seconds discharge time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
B Liquids Grease
capacity check.
B Liquids Grease

• 9-16 ft. maximum effective range.

• Works best in confined area--ideal
for electronics fire due to lack of
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment residue.
• Extinguishes by smothering burning
materials.
• Fumes toxic if inhaled.
• Halon is ozone depleting chemical.
Fire Extinguisher Types .….
COMBUSTIBLE METAL
• Class “D” combustible metal
fires only.
• 30 lb. pressurized dry powder
optimized for specific
combustible metal (also
available in bulk containers
for hand scooping onto fire to
extinguish).
• 6-8 ft. max. effective range.
• To activate, must first open
COMBUSTIBLE
nitrogen cylinder on back to
pressurize body.
D • Extinguishes by smothering
METALS burning materials.
Fire Extinguisher Types .….
WET CHEMICAL
A Trash Wood Paper
• Class “A”, “C”, and “K” fires.
A Trash Wood Paper

• 1.5 gal. of stored pressure

PRX wet chemical
extinguishing agent (40 sec.
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
discharge time).
• 10-12 ft. maximum effective
range.
K Cooking Media
K Cooking Media
• On Class “K” fires, don’t use
until after fixed extinguishing
system has activated.
• Extinguishes by cooling and
forming foam blanket to
prevent reignition
 Fire Extinguisher Summary
EXTINGUISHER TYPE WORKS BY EFFECTIVE AGAINST

PRESSURIZED COOLING
WATER

CARBON SMOTHERING
DIOXIDE
MULTIPURPOSE
DRY CHEMICAL SMOTHERING

HALON SMOTHERING

COMBUSTIBLE
SMOTHERING D
METAL

COOLING/
WET CHEMICAL
SMOTHERING
 Fire Emergency Response

R Rescue

A Alarm

C Contain

E Extinguish
 Firefighting Decision Criteria
• Know department emergency procedures and
evacuation routes.
• Know locations of extinguishers in your area and
how to use them.
• Always sound the alarm regardless of fire size.
• Avoid smoky conditions.
• Ensure area is evacuated.
• Don’t attempt to fight unless:
– Alarm is sounded.
– Fire is small and contained.
– You have safe egress route (can be reached without
exposure to fire).
– Available extinguishers are rated for size and type of fire.
• If in doubt, evacuate!
 Fighting the Fire

P Pull the pin

Aim low at the

A base of flames
Squeeze the
S handle

S Sweep side to side

Use of Fire Extinguisher
 Summary
• Combustion process (Fire Tetrahedron).
• Class A, B, C, D, K fires.
• Types of portable fire extinguishers:
– Operating procedures.
– Capabilities and limitations.

• Basic firefighting concepts:

– R.A.C.E.
– P.A.S.S.
OPEN SESSION

?
Thank You
Back Up Slides
 Classification of Fires
Material on Fire UK/ Europe US Australia
Solid
combustible Class A Class A Class A
materials of
organic nature
Flammable Class B Class B Class B
liquids
Flammable Class C Class B Class C
gases under
pressure
Combustible Class D Class D Class D
metals
Cooking Class F Class K Class F
media (Kitchen
Fire)
Energised No Class Class C Class E
electrical
conductors/
equipment
Cylinder Colour Code & Identification Label