FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

JENGKA, PAHANG LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE BUILDING SERVICES

COURSE CODE ECM346
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 0
CATEGORY FULLY GUIDED
DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 0
PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK (WEEK 2)

TITLE FIRE FIGHTING EQUIMENT FIRE EXTINGGUISHER AND DEMONSTRATION

PREAMBLE
1.1 Introduction
Level 0 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways &
means are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the
assignment are left to the students to solve using the group creativity and
innovativeness. The activity is hope to slowly introduce and inculcate
independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much
harder task of open-ended laboratory activities.
In this laboratory session, students will be introduced to the concept,
principles, and the mechanism of a fire extinguisher.

1.2 Objective
The objectives of the laboratory session are:
To acquire understanding of basic concepts and principles of the utilities in
the building, to apply the knowledge and familiar with the equipment and
their operation and to acquire and apply the knowledge on the safety of the
building.

1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:
1. Acquire understanding of basic concepts and principles of the utilities in
the building.
2. Apply the knowledge and familiar with the equipment and their
operation.
3. Acquire and apply the knowledge on the safety of the building.

FKA, UiTM, PAHANG Sept 2017

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
JENGKA, PAHANG LABORATORY MANUAL

1.4 Theoretical Background

A fire extinguisher, flame extinguisher, or simply an extinguisher, is an
active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires,
often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-
control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the
user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or
otherwise requires the expertise of a fire department. Typically, a fire
extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel
containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.
There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored pressure and
cartridge-operated. In stored pressure units, the expellant is stored in
the same chamber as the fire fighting agent itself. Depending on the
agent used, different propellants are used. With dry chemical
extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used; water and foam extinguishers
typically use air. Stored pressure fire extinguishers are the most
common type. Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant
gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge,
exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. This type is not as
common, used primarily in areas such as industrial facilities, where
they receive higher-than-average use. They have the advantage of
simple and prompt recharge, allowing an operator to discharge the
extinguisher, recharge it, and return to the fire in a reasonable amount
of time. Unlike stored pressure types, these extinguishers use
compressed carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen, although nitrogen
cartridges are used on low temperature (-60 rated) models. Cartridge
operated extinguishers are available in dry chemical and dry powder
types in the U.S. and in water, wetting agent, foam, dry chemical
(classes ABC and B.C.), and dry powder (class D) types in the rest of
the world.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored pressure and
cartridge-operated. As a group you are given two types of fire extinguisher
in the laboratory. The group must carry out the observation and
subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper technical format.

FKA, UiTM, PAHANG Sept 2017

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
JENGKA, PAHANG LABORATORY MANUAL

3.1 Apparatus
Fire extinguisher (2 types).
3.2 Procedures
1. Prepare yourself for a site visit within the surrounding area of
the laboratory.
2. Equipment to be observed is the types of fire extinguisher.
WAYS & MEANS
3. Obtain the schematic diagram on the operational mechanism of
the fire extinguisher.
4. Observe and obtain information regarding the function of each
components and accessories.
3.3 Data Acquisition
All data such as picture/ sketches/ schematic diagram and problem are
recorded during the observation.

4 Results, Analysis and Conclusion

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory results
highlighting the data acquisition process, and the relevancy of the set-out
output to achieve the objective.
The report must incorporate the followings:
RESULTS i. The component of the fire extinguishers (stored pressure and
cartridge-operated) model and its schematic diagram are labelled.
ii. The information of the basic concepts and principles of function of
each components and accessories which obtained from internet/books.

The report must be submitted 1 week after the task is given.

FKA, UiTM, PAHANG Sept 2017