BASIC FIRE SAFETY

BASIC FIRE SAFETY

 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

• Basic rules
• The fire triangle
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• The fire tetrahedron

• Fire classes
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire emergency response

• Questionnaire

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 FIRE PREVENTION

• Good housekeeping
• Good maintenance of electrical
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and mobile equipment

• Proper safety training
• Proper storage and clean up of
combustible and flammable liquids
• Good maintenance of fire fighting
systems.
• Basically “all fires” in the industry
can be avoided, except of ones
that could be affected by natural
disasters 3
 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

What happens if a fire occurs?

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• Not all materials burn the same way.

• That is why all materials are grouped into the Classification of Fire.
• This determines how you can extinguish the fire.

To extinguish a fire, we shall know:

• Where are the fire extinguishers located and how many
• Where are the fire hoses, fire valves, nozzles
• … And how to use them

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
• The Fire Triangle
Three things are needed for conditions to be right for a fire to get started.
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Now represents the “smoldering” mode of combustion.

(тление, arder sin llama)

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
• The Fire Tetrahedron

Represents the “flaming” mode of combustion

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The chemical chain

reaction has been added
to properly represent a
burning fire.
If one of these four items
are taken away, the fire
will extinguish

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 FIRE CLASSES

A Trash Wood Paper C Electrical Equipment

BASIC FIRE SAFETY

• wood
• energized
• cloth
electrical
• paper equipment
• rubber
• many plastics
• gasoline COMBUSTIBLE METALS
B Liquids Grease
• oil • magnesium
• grease • sodium
• tar • potassium
•
•
oil-based paint
lacquer
D •
•
titanium
zirconium
• flammable • other flammable
gases metals
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 FIRE CLASSES

CLASS K FIRES
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K Cooking Media
• Recently recognized by NFPA 10.

• Fires involving new synthetic oils &

greases that are at the market & the
new ones being developed.

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
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Class A materials are:

Solids
• Wood
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• 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.
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

How to extinguish a Class A fire

Limit material
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Adding water burning

Class A fires Shovel away
only material
Add rock dust to
remaining fuel

Use a fire
Put a lid on it,
extinguisher
Usually oily rags
Usually Class A,
or paper in a
B & C fires
waste container

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

Class B materials are:

Liquids
• Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel
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• Greases, Hydraulic fluid

Gases; i.e. Acetylene, Propane, Natural Gas

Special care when using flammable and combustible liquids

• The “ flash point” is when at
• the right temperature,
• are released vapors that will ignite

Flammable Liquids Combustible Liquids

Flash point under 100oF Flash point over 100oF & under 164oF
•Gasoline (-42oF) •Diesel fuel (110oF)
•Toluene (73oF •Kerosene (102oF)
•Benzene (12oF) •Home heating fue l(120oF)
•Cleaning fluids •Hydraulic fluids
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

How to extinguish a Class B fire

BASIC FIRE SAFETY

Not Remove excess

recommended liquid fuel or
Water can cause shut off bottled
the fire to spread gas cylinders

Use a BC or
Put a lid on it
ABC fire
No oxygen, no fire extinguisher

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

Class C materials are: (In Russia “E” class)

“Energized” Electrical
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Equipment & Cables

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

Once the power has been removed, you 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”

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

How to extinguish a Class C fire

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Shut off the

Not recommended power
Water can conduct May still have A
electricity or B fire
remaining

May not work Use a BC or

because of the high ABC fire
temperature of the extinguisher
electric arc

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

Class D materials include

Combustible Metals
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

• 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
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

How to extinguish a Class D fire

Not
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recommended Shovel away all

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

Not recommended
Unsure if ABC
Attempt to extinguisher will put out
isolate the fire by
Unsure of dangerous by-
covering with
product from the
sand or rock dust
reaction of the
chemicals
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

Class K
This covers the new synthetic oils & greases that are the market & the new ones
being developed
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New synthetic oils & greases for

industry

Problem… ABC type fire extinguishers may not work on these fires, a special
Class K extinguisher may be needed!
Inquire about what new products that are available on your site that would fall
into this new category

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIRE EXTINGUISHER ANATOMY

PRESSURE GAUGE
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

DISCHARGE LEVER (not found on CO2

extinguishers)
CARRYING
DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN HANDLE
AND SEAL

DISCHARGE HOSE
DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE BODY

DISCHARGE ORIFICE
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

NUMERAL FIRE CLASS RANGE

A Trash Wood Paper

DIRECT INDEX OF THE SIZE FIRE THE 1-A thru 40-A

BASIC FIRE SAFETY

QUANTITY OF AGENT CAN HANDLE

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

B Liquids Grease
INDICATION OF THE SQUARE FOOT AREA
OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID THE
1-B thru 640-B
EXTINGUISHER WILL HANDLE

C Electrical Equipment
NO NUMERAL IS USED BECAUSE THERE
ARE NO DEGREES OF SAFETY WHERE
ELECTRICITY IS CONCERNED N/A

COMBUSTIBLE
NOT APPLICABLE BECAUSE OF THE
SPECIALIZED NATURE OF THE D
BURNING MATERIAL N/A
METALS
K Cooking Media

DIRECT INDEX OF THE SIZE FIRE THE

QUANTITY OF AGENT CAN HANDLE 1-A:C:K or 2-A:C:K
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
FIRE CLASS EFFECTIVE EXTINGUISHER TYPES
A Trash Wood Paper

PRESSURIZED WATER, MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL,

BASIC FIRE SAFETY

LARGER SIZE HALON, WET CHEMICAL

Fire Extinguisher
B Liquids Grease

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON

Applications
C Electrical Equipment

MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE, HALON,

WET CHEMICAL

COMBUSTIBLE

D COMBUSTIBLE METAL

METALS
K Cooking Media

WET CHEMICAL
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIRE EXTINGUISHER TYPES

PRESSURIZED WATER
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

A Trash Wood Paper

A Trash Wood Paper
• Class “A” fires only.
• 2.5 gal. water at 150-175 psi (up to 1
minute discharge time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease capacity check.
• 30-40 ft. maximum effective range.
• Can be started and stopped as
C Electrical Equipment
necessary.
C Electrical Equipment

• Extinguishes by cooling burning material

below the ignition point.

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TYPES
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
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A Trash Wood Paper

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

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TYPES
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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 discharge
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual
capacity check.

C Electrical Equipment
• 5-20 ft. maximum effective range.
C Electrical Equipment

• Extinguishes by smothering burning

materials.

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TYPES HALON
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• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires (smaller sizes ineffective

against Class “A”).
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper
• 9-17 lb. Halon 1211 (pressurized liquid) released
as vapor (8-18 seconds discharge time).
• Has pressure gauge to allow visual capacity check.

B Liquids Grease
• 9-16 ft. maximum effective range.
B Liquids Grease

• Works best in confined area--ideal for electronics

fire due to lack of residue.
• Extinguishes by smothering burning materials.
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

• Fumes toxic if inhaled.

• Halon is ozone depleting chemical--production
halted in Jan ‘94.
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TYPES
COMBUSTIBLE METAL
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

COMBUSTIBLE
• Class “D” combustible metal fires only.
• 30 lb. pressurized dry powder optimized
D for specific combustible metal (also
available in bulk containers for hand
METALS scooping onto fire to extinguish).
• 6-8 ft. maximum effective range.
EQUIPMENT

• To activate, must first open nitrogen

cylinder on back to pressurize body.
• Extinguishes by smothering burning
materials.

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TYPES
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper
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WET CHEMICAL
• Class “A”, “C”, and “K” fires.
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment
• 1.5 gal. of stored pressure PRX wet chemical
extinguishing agent (40 sec. discharge time).
• 10-12 ft. maximum effective range.
• On Class “K” fires, don’t use until after fixed
K Cooking Media
K Cooking Media extinguishing system has activated.
• Extinguishes by cooling and forming foam
blanket to prevent reignition.

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
EXTINGUISHER TYPE WORKS BY EFFECTIVE AGAINST

PRESSURIZED COOLING
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WATER

CARBON DIOXIDE SMOTHERING

MULTIPURPOSE
DRY CHEMICAL SMOTHERING

HALON SMOTHERING

COMBUSTIBLE
SMOTHERING D
METAL

COOLING/
WET CHEMICAL
SMOTHERING 29
 FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

R Rescue
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

A Alarm

C Contain

E Extinguish

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIREFIGHTING DECISION CRITERIA

• Know department emergency procedures and evacuation routes.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

• 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.
EQUIPMENT

• 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!

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

FIGHTING THE FIRE

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P Pull the pin

A Aim low at the

base of flames
S Squeeze the handle

S Sweep side to side

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

SUMMARY
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• 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.

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 EMERGENCY RESPONSE RPINCIPLES

QUESTIONS
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

&

SUGGESTIONS…

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
1. Fires are classified according to the “agent” that burns, which is the classification?
A. A, B, C, D, and K fires.
B. 1, 2, 3 and 4 fires.
C. Red, Yellow, Green and Blue fires.
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2. Class A materials are:

A. Liquids (Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel), Greases, Hydraulic fluid, Gases ( Acetylene, Propane, Natural Gas )
B. Solids (Wood, Paper, Plastic Rubber, Coal, etc)
C. “Energized” Electrical, Equipment & Cables

3. Class B materials are:

A. Liquids (Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel), Greases, Hydraulic fluid, Gases ( Acetylene, Propane, Natural Gas )
B. Solids (Wood, Paper, Plastic Rubber, Coal, etc)
C. “Energized” Electrical, Equipment & Cables

4. Class C materials are:

A. Liquids (Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel), Greases, Hydraulic fluid, Gases ( Acetylene, Propane, Natural Gas )
B. Solids (Wood, Paper, Plastic Rubber, Coal, etc)
C. “Energized” Electrical, Equipment & Cables
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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY
5. To extinguish a Class D fire, we should use:
A. Water
B. ABC powder extinguisher
C. Try to isolate the fire by covering with sand or rock dust
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6. A pressurized water extinguisher is used in:

A. Class “A” fires only
B. Class “B” fires only
C. Class “D” fires only

7. A CO2 extinguisher is used in?

A. Class “A” fires only
B. Class “B” or “C” fires
C. Class “D” fires only

8. Which kind of extinguisher is needed to extinguish a Class “D” fire?

A. pressurized water extinguisher
B. CO2 extinguisher
C. Combustible Metal extinguisher

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 BASIC FIRE SAFETY

9. Wet chemical extinguishers are used to extinguish?

A. Class “A”, “B”, and “K” fires
BASIC FIRE SAFETY

B. Class “A”, “C”, and “K” fires

C. Class “A”, “C”, and “D” fires

10. Where is located the pressure gauge in CO2 extinguishers?

A. On the top of the extinguisher

B. Next to the Nitrogen cylinder
C. CO2 extinguishers do not have pressure gauge

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