Grantley Adams Memorial School

Level 1 in Basic Furniture Making

General Safety

Fire and Emergency Procedures

Elements essential for a fire
The three essential elements that required for a fire to ignite and burn are fuel,
oxygen and heat or an ignition source.

Fires need three things to start – a source of ignition (heat), a source of fuel
(something that burns) and oxygen:
 sources of ignition include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical
equipment, smokers’ materials (cigarettes, matches etc), and anything else
that can get very hot or cause sparks
 sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, loose packaging
materials, waste rubbish and furniture
 sources of oxygen include the air around us

Methods of fire prevention

Employers should undertake a risk assessment of the workplace to establish the
type and number of fire extinguisher requires in the event of an emergency.
Employers also have a duty to undertake certain actions in order to eliminate or
reduce the risks in the workplace.

Procedures in emergency situations

Emergencies are situations or events that require immediate action and it is
essential that individuals are aware of the procedures and responsibilities for
dealing with them.

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Fire Safety Equipment

Fire Truck

Fire Hose

Fire Blanket

Smoke Alarm

Fire Alarm

Fire Extinguisher

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Types of fire extinguishers
There are various fire extinguishers and fire blankets available for tackling a fire
in its early stages. It is essential that the correct type is selected, as using the
wrong type can make the fire spread or cause injury to the user.

There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry

Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. You should have the right types of
fire extinguisher for your premises, or you may not meet current
regulations.

The various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of
fuel – these are called ‘classes’ of fire.  The fire risk from the different classes of
fire in your business premises will determine which fire extinguisher types you
need.

You will also need to make sure that you have the right size and weight of fire
extinguisher as well as the right kind.  

Whilst there are 5 main types of fire extinguisher, there are different versions of
both the Water and Dry Powder extinguishers, meaning there are a total of 8 fire
extinguisher types to choose from.  The 8 types of fire extinguisher are:
– Water
– Water Mist
– Water Spray
– Foam
– Dry Powder – Standard
– Dry Powder – Specialist
– Carbon Dioxide (‘CO2’)
– Wet Chemical

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There is no one extinguisher type which works on all classes of fire.

Below is a summary of the classes of fire, and a quick reference chart showing
which types of extinguisher should be used on each.  We then provide a detailed
explanation of each type of fire extinguisher below.

The classes of fire

There are six classes of fire: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, ‘Electrical’, and
Class F.
 –    Class A fires – combustible materials: caused by flammable solids,
such as wood, paper, and fabric
 –    Class B fires – flammable liquids: such as petrol, turpentine or paint
 –    Class C fires – flammable gases: like hydrogen, butane or methane
 –    Class D fires – combustible metals: chemicals such as magnesium,
aluminum or potassium
 –    Electrical fires – electrical equipment: once the electrical item is
removed, the fire changes class
 –    Class F fires – cooking oils: typically a chip-pan fire
 
Which fire extinguisher types are used for each class of fire? – Quick
guide

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The different types of extinguisher tackle different types of fire
 
Types of fire extinguisher – a detailed guide
 

Water Extinguishers

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Overview:
Water extinguishers are the most common fire extinguisher type for class A fire
risk. Most premises will require either water or foam extinguishers.

Label Colour:
– Bright Red

Use for:
– Organic materials such as:
o Paper and cardboard
o Fabrics and textiles
o Wood and coal

Do not use for:

– Fires involving electrical equipment
– Kitchen fires
– Flammable gas and liquids

How water extinguishers work:

The water has a cooling effect on the fuel, causing it to burn much more slowly
until the flames are eventually extinguished.

Types of premises/business who may need water extinguishers:

– Buildings constructed of wood or other organic materials
– Premises where there are organic materials to be found such as:
o Offices
o Schools
o Hospitals

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o Residential properties
o Warehouses
In fact most buildings need either water or foam extinguishers.

Where to locate water extinguishers:

– By the exits on a floor where a Class A fire risk has been identified

Water spray extinguishers – what’s the difference?:

Water spray extinguishers are equipped with a spray nozzle, rather than a jet
nozzle, meaning a greater surface area can be covered more quickly and the fire
put out more rapidly.

Water mist extinguishers – what’s the difference?:

Water mist extinguishers have a different type of nozzle again which releases
microscopic water particles. These particles ‘suffocate’ the fire and also create a
wall of mist between the fire and the person using the extinguisher, reducing the
feeling of heat.

Foam Extinguishers

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Overview:
Foam extinguishers are most common type of fire extinguisher for Class B fires,
but also work on Class A fires as they are water-based.

Label Colour:
– Cream

Use for:
– Organic materials such as:
o Paper and cardboard
o Fabrics and textiles
o Wood and coal
Plus:
– Flammable liquids, like paint and petrol

Do not use for:

– Kitchen fires
– Fires involving electrical equipment
– Flammable metals

How foam extinguishers work:

As with water extinguishers, foam extinguishers have a cooling effect on the fuel.
On burning liquids, the foaming agent creates a barrier between the flame and
the fuel, extinguishing the fire.

Types of premises/business who may need Foam extinguishers:

– Buildings constructed of wood or other organic materials
– Premises where there are organic materials to be found such as:
o Offices

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o Schools
o Hospitals
o Residential properties
o Warehouses
– Buildings where flammable liquids are stored
In fact most buildings need either water or foam extinguishers

Where to locate foam extinguishers:

– By the exits on a floor where a Class A or Class B fire risk has been identified

Dry Powder Extinguishers

Overview:
Standard dry powder extinguishers are also called ‘ABC’ extinguishers because
they tackle class A, B and C fires, however they are not recommended for use in
enclosed spaces. This is because the powder can be easily inhaled, and also the
residue is very difficult to clean up after. ABC powder extinguishers can also be
used on some electrical fires. Specialist dry powder extinguishers are used for
flammable metals.

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Label Colour:
– Blue

Use for:
– Organic materials such as:
o Paper and cardboard
o Fabrics and textiles
o Wood and coal
Plus:
– Flammable liquids, like paint and petrol
Plus:
– Flammable gases, like liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and acetylene
Plus:
– Fires involving electrical equipment up to 1000v
Specialist dry powder extinguishers are only used on flammable metals, such as
titanium and magnesium.

Do not use for:

– Fires involving cooking oil
– Fires involving electrical equipment over 1000v
– or in enclosed spaces, such as offices or residential properties

How dry powder extinguishers work:

Dry powder extinguishers smother fires by forming a barrier between the fuel
and the source of oxygen.

Types of premises/business who may need Dry Powder extinguishers:

– Businesses using flammable gases for chemical processes
– Premises where welding and flame cutting takes place

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– Garage forecourts
– Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) dispensing plants
– Premises with large, commercial boiler rooms

Where to locate Dry Powder extinguishers:

– Place dry powder extinguishers near to the source of the fire risk.

Specialist Dry Powder extinguishers – what’s the difference?:

Specialist dry powder extinguishers work in the same way as standard dry
powder extinguishers but are for use with flammable metals only. There are 2
types of specialist dry powder extinguishers – ‘L2’ which only tackles lithium
fires, and ‘M28’, for all other flammable metal fires.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguishers

Overview:
CO2 extinguishers are predominantly used for electrical fire risks and are usually
the main fire extinguisher type provided in computer server rooms. They also put
out Class B fires (flammable liquids, such as paint and petroleum).

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Label Colour:
– Black

Use for:
– Flammable liquids, like paint and petrol
– Electrical fires

Do not use for:

– Kitchen fires – especially chip-pan fires
– Combustible materials like paper, wood or textiles
– Flammable metals

How CO2 extinguishers work:

CO2 extinguishers suffocate fires by displacing the oxygen the fire needs to burn.

Types of premises/business who may need CO2 extinguishers:

– Premises with electrical equipment, such as:
o Offices
o Kitchens
o Construction sites
o Server rooms
All work vehicles should also carry a smaller 2kg CO2 extinguisher.

Where to locate CO2 extinguishers:

– Place near to the source of the fire risk and/or near the fire exits.

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Wet Chemical Extinguishers

Overview:
Wet chemical extinguishers are designed for use on Class F fires, involving
cooking oils and fats.  They can also be used on Class A fires although it is more
usual to have a foam or water extinguisher for this type of fire risk.

Label Colour:
– Yellow

Use for:
– Cooking oil/fat fires
– Organic materials such as:
o Paper and cardboard
o Fabrics and textiles
o Wood and coal

Do not use for:

– Flammable liquid or gas fires

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– Electrical fires
– Flammable metals

How wet chemical extinguishers work:

Wet chemical extinguishers create a layer of foam on the surface of the burning
oil or fat, preventing oxygen from fuelling the fire any further. The spray also has
a cooling effect.

Types of premises/business who may need CO2 extinguishers:

– Commercial kitchens
– Canteens

Where to locate CO2 extinguishers:

– Place near to the source of the fire risk.

How to use a fire extinguisher

It's easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you can remember the
acronym PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.

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Pull the pin.
This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.

Aim at the base of the fire.

If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the temptation), the extinguishing
agent will fly right through and do no good. You want to hit the fuel.

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Squeeze the top handle or lever.
This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent in the
extinguisher.

Sweep from side to side

until the fire is completely out. Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance
away, and then move forward. Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case
it re-ignites.

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