Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is a portable container usually filled with chemicals for putting out fires. (Merriam-Webster, 2004) An active fire protection device used to extinguish or control fires. Fire extinguishers are mostly used in emergency situations, and is not intended for an out of control fire. Fires that get out of control normally need the expertise of a fire department. Trying to put out a fire by yourself, can only cause you harm unless you know what you are doing. “Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent, which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.
(Nadar, 2010`) Fire needs fuel oxygen and heat to burn.
Fire extinguishers help to put out fires by either by applying an agent that cools the burning fuel, or displaces the surrounding oxygen, depending on the type of fire extinguisher that you use. There are many different types of fire extinguishers, each meant to put out a certain type of fire, which I will talk about later.
How a fire extinguisher works. Pulling out the body pin, and depressing the lever at the top of the cylinder release the material in the extinguisher released by high amounts of pressure.
At the top of the cylinder, there is a smaller cylinder filled with compressed gas. A release valve acts as a locking mechanism and prevents this gas from escaping. When you pull the safety pin and squeeze the lever, the lever pushes on an actuating rod which presses the valve down to open a passage to the nozzle.
The compressed gas is released, applying a downward pressure on the fire-extinguishing material. This pushes the material out the nozzle with high amounts of pressure. ” (“Fire extinguishers types,” ) There is a simple acronym to remember when putting out a fire. P. A. S. S. Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly, sweep from side to side.
Pulling the pin allows you to discharge the extinguisher. You aim at the base of the fire in order to extinguish the fuel. Squeeze the lever slowly, in order to discharge the extinguishing agent, if you let go of the lever the discharge will stop. Finally sweep from side to side, helps to cover a wider range of motion, to put the fire out faster. With so many fire extinguishers out there, picking the right one for your home could be a daunting task. “Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires.
Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. ” (“Fire extinguishers types,” ) There are many different types of fires: Class A fires are fires started by combustible materials. Such as paper, wood, and plastic. Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids, like gasoline or kerosene. Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as wiring and circuit breakers. Class D fires are fires caused by combustible metals such as magnesium and potassium.
Class K fires are fires that involve cooking oils, and trans fats. Each type of fire needs a specific fire extinguisher, since using the wrong extinguishing agent could cause the fire to expand at a faster rate. The most common types of fire extinguishers are water extinguishers, dry chemical extinguishers, and carbon dioxide extinguishers. Water extinguishers or APW, air pressurized extinguishers are used for class a fires only. Using water extinguishers on grease, electrical, or class d fires will cause the flames to spread. Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are used for cobinations of A,B, and C fires.
These extinguishers are filled with foam and powder and pressurized with nitrogen. Two types of dry chemical extinguishers are BC and ABC extinguishers. BC extinguishers are filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. ABC extinguishers are filled with monoammonium phosphate. Dry chemical extinguishers leave a harmful residue behind after use. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are used for class B and C fires. Unlike dry chemical extinguishers, they don’t leave residue behind, and are more useful on electrical fires. Fire extinguishers maintenance is important for everyone’s safety and should be inspected at least once a month.
While inspecting the fire extinguisher, you must ensure that: the extinguisher is not blocked by anything and could be easily accessed in case of an emergency, the pressure is at the recommended level on the gauge, the nozzle or other parts are not hindered in any way, the pin and tamper seal are intact, there are no signs of abuse/wear such as dents or rust. Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested after a few years, to make sure they are still safe to use. Fire extinguishers should be maintained at least once a year, to give maximum assurance that the extinguisher will operate effectively and safely, when an emergency situation strikes.
Fire extinguishers are a fire protection device, which is one of the most helpful devices you can buy. They are required in all buildings, and even on boats to ensure your safety. Fire extinguishers have been around for centuries for a reason, they are for our safety. Like any other fire safety device, it could be a difference between life and death in an emergency. So make sure all of you fire protection equipment in your home is working properly, because you never know when you are going to need to use them. A fire extinguisher is a portable container usually filled with chemicals for putting out fires.
An active fire protection device used to extinguish or control fires. Fire extinguishers are mostly used in emergency situations, and is not intended for an out of control fire. Fires that get out of control normally need the expertise of a fire department. Trying to put out a fire by yourself, can only cause you harm unless you know what you are doing. “Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent, which can be discharged to extinguish a fire. “ (Nadar, 2010`) Fire needs fuel oxygen and heat to burn.
Fire extinguishers help to put out fires by either by applying an agent that cools the burning fuel, or displaces the surrounding oxygen, depending on the type of fire extinguisher that you use. There are many different types of fire extinguishers, each meant to put out a certain type of fire, which I will talk about later. How a fire extinguisher works. Pulling out the body pin, and depressing the lever at the top of the cylinder release the material in the extinguisher released by high amounts of pressure. “At the top of the cylinder, there is a smaller cylinder filled with compressed gas.
A release valve acts as a locking mechanism and prevents this gas from escaping. When you pull the safety pin and squeeze the lever, the lever pushes on an actuating rod which presses the valve down to open a passage to the nozzle. The compressed gas is released, applying a downward pressure on the fire-extinguishing material. This pushes the material out the nozzle with high amounts of pressure. ” (“Fire extinguishers types,” ) There is a simple acronym to remember when putting out a fire. P. A. S. S. Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly, sweep from side to side.
Pulling the pin allows you to discharge the extinguisher. You aim at the base of the fire in order to extinguish the fuel. Squeeze the lever slowly, in order to discharge the extinguishing agent, if you let go of the lever the discharge will stop. Finally sweep from side to side, helps to cover a wider range of motion, to put the fire out faster. With so many fire extinguishers out there, picking the right one for your home could be a daunting task. “Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires.
Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. ” (“Fire extinguishers types,” ) There are many different types of fires: Class A fires are fires started by combustible materials. Such as paper, wood, and plastic. Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids, like gasoline or kerosene. Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as wiring and circuit breakers. Class D fires are fires caused by combustible metals such as magnesium and potassium.
Class K fires are fires that involve cooking oils, and trans fats. Each type of fire needs a specific fire extinguisher, since using the wrong extinguishing agent could cause the fire to expand at a faster rate. The most common types of fire extinguishers are water extinguishers, dry chemical extinguishers, and carbon dioxide extinguishers. Water extinguishers or APW, air pressurized extinguishers are used for class a fires only. Using water extinguishers on grease, electrical, or class d fires will cause the flames to spread. Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are used for cobinations of A,B, and C fires.
These extinguishers are filled with foam and powder and pressurized with nitrogen. Two types of dry chemical extinguishers are BC and ABC extinguishers. BC extinguishers are filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. ABC extinguishers are filled with monoammonium phosphate. Dry chemical extinguishers leave a harmful residue behind after use. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are used for class B and C fires. Unlike dry chemical extinguishers, they don’t leave residue behind, and are more useful on electrical fires. Fire extinguishers maintenance is important for everyone’s safety and should be inspected at least once a month.
While inspecting the fire extinguisher, you must ensure that: the extinguisher is not blocked by anything and could be easily accessed in case of an emergency, the pressure is at the recommended level on the gauge, the nozzle or other parts are not hindered in any way, the pin and tamper seal are intact, there are no signs of abuse/wear such as dents or rust. Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested after a few years, to make sure they are still safe to use. Fire extinguishers should be maintained at least once a year, to give maximum assurance that the extinguisher will operate effectively and safely, when an emergency situation strikes.
Fire extinguishers are a fire protection device, which is one of the most helpful devices you can buy. They are required in all buildings, and even on boats to ensure your safety. Fire extinguishers have been around for centuries for a reason, they are for our safety. Like any other fire safety device, it could be a difference between life and death in an emergency. So make sure all of you fire protection equipment in your home is working properly, because you never know when you are going to need to use them.
