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Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are used in homes, schools, businesses and boats as a way to put out a small fire. Fire extinguishers come in many types for different purposes, including portable or fixed systems. This category relates to the science, origins, operation, selection and standards for fire extinguishers.

1,462 Questions

What is requirement of fire extinguisher on a boat?

Powerboat, unless it is a small, open, outboard (Class A or Class 1) that otherwise qualifies for exemption.

At least one USCG-approved Class B-1 fire extinguisher is required on any powerboat with a permanently installed fuel tank or carrying passengers for hire.

A UL-listed 5-B:C extinguisher, with 2 pounds of dry chemical, may provide the basis for the extinguisher, but it must ALSO conform to USCG-approvals (proper corrosion protection, labeling, mounting bracket, etc).

A 4-pound CO2 extinguisher or 6 quarts foam extinguisher may also be rated for USCG B-1 service.

Powerboats over 26 feet may require additional extinguishers, as detailed in the related questions.

What would happen if you used a water extinguisher on an electrical fire?

Water and electricity generally do not mix very well. Impurities in ordinary tap water help make it a good conductor of electricity. Using a water fire extinguisher on an electrical fire will almost always present a major shock hazard and should never be considered. That being said there is a "special" type of water fire extinguisher that can be used on electrical fires, but it uses purified distilled water and a special nozzle that disperses the water in tiny beads. To be safe, unless you know what type of extinguisher you have and what it is used for, it is best to evacuate the area and call the fire department.

it makes big sparks

What type of fire extinguisher needs to be used on oxidizer solids?

Ordinary burning solids (wood, cloth) would need a water extinguisher (Class A). Burning metallic solids (lithium, magnesium) would need a special power found in Class D fire extinguishers (in the USA).

A Class ABC extinguisher would also work on ordinary combustibles (Class A fire), but not on Class D solid fires.

What are the different ways to extinguish fire?

eliminate the fuel,

eliminate the air,

or cool it below the ignition point

Using the "fire tetrahedron", rather than triangle, you could also stop a fire by breaking the chemical chain reaction that keeps the fire burning.

Is an abc fire extinguisher rated for wood?

Yes, a wood fire is Class A and an ABC can be used on a Class A, B or C fire.

What can water fire extinguishers be used for?

Actually water IS used as a fire extinguisher - but not for all fires. Fire extinguishers are categorized by the "class" of fire they are intended to extinguish.

In the USA (other regions have different classification schemes):

Class A extinguishers are often (but not always) just water under pressure and are intended to extinguish fires where solid organic materials such as wood or paper are burning.

Class B extinguishers are designed to put out burning liquid fires like oil, grease, gasoline, industrial solvents, etc. CO2 and foam are often used in these extinguishers. Water is not suitable because it would tend to just spread the liquid around and the burning liquid would float on top of the water and continue to burn. Even so, firefighters will often spray water over huge burning liquid fires (as a spray or mist) to cool things down and inhibit the spread of the fire to nearby flammable structures.

Class C extinguishers are designed to fight electrical fires. The problem with using water in these extinguishers should be apparent - the water would conduct the electricity and increase the hazard not to mention causing additional shorting which can destroy other electrical equipment not involved in the fire.

Class D extinguishers are designed to fight burning metal fires. Since many metals react with water to give off other flammable gases, pouring water on them is hardly a good solution. As an example - when pure sodium is placed into water it bursts into flames and give off Hydrogen gas.

There is also a Class K extinguisher that is intended for grease and oil fires such as might flare up in a pan in a kitchen. they overlap the Class B extinguishers somewhat.

How many fire extinguishers are required on board 18 foot powerboat with fuel tanks?

At least one USCG-approved Class B-1 fire extinguisher is required on any powerboat, unless it is under the following exception:

  • "motorboats less than 26 feet in length,
  • propelled by outboard motors and
  • not carrying passengers for hire, need not carry such portable fire extinguishers if
  • the construction of such motorboats will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors" [bullets added]

A UL-listed 5-B:C extinguisher, with 2 pounds of dry chemical, may provide the basis for the extinguisher, but it must ALSO conform to USCG-approvals (proper corrosion protection, labeling, mounting bracket, etc).
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What fire extinguisher to use when a person is on fire?

Yes. But there are different kinds of fire extinguishers. If the person's clothing is on fire, you would use a water-type (Class A extinguisher). If they were covered in flammable liquid or gas (e.g., propane), you may need to use CO2. Do not spray CO2 near a person's face, to avoid them inhaling it and damaging their lungs.

If you use CO2 on them for a prolonged period of time they may suffocate due to the lack of oxygen or if you are too close to them you may freeze their skin. Commonly known as CO2 burn, because it will feel like the skin is on fire when it is actually just the capillaries freezing, like frostbite.

How many fire extinguishers should be in a house?

First determine the total square footage of both floors. Second, determine the hazard occupancy (low, moderate, or high) by reading examples written in the NFPA10, 2007 Edition, Standard For Portable Fire Extinguishers on page 10-23.

If you are installing 10 lb. ABC Dry Chemical extinguishers (the most common type and size), most of them are UL rated at 4-A. A 4-A extinguisher will protect the following: low hazard occupancy - 11,250 sq. ft. ;ordinary hazard occupancy - 6,000 sq. ft. :high hazard occupancy - 4,000 sq. ft. Next divide your total square feet by the square feet of the occupancy hazard and you have your MINIMUM number of 4-A rated fire extinguishers required. You may have to add extinguishers due to the building layout. From any place in the building, you have to be able to walk to a fire extinguisher in no more than 75 feet (75 foot maximum travel distance). Lastly if there are any special hazards (computer room, electrical room, flammable liquids, etc.), they should be protected separately in addition to the building's fire extinguishers.

What is the first action you should take on discovering a fire?

Always stay calm and think logically. Do not panic as this well not help you. First assess you are in no danger, then immediately phone the emergency services as they will advise your from there.

Why must you not hold a door open with a fire extinguisher?

If it's a fire or smoke door, it must be able to close automatically to carry out its design function during a fire. If the door is propped open with ANYTHING, the fire and smoke may spread uncontrollably and cause severe injury and fire spread.

Also, it is a code violation to set a fire extinguisher on the floor, unless it is on wheels. Also, it is a code violation to place any obstacle within the clear width of any escape doorway. Also, if the fire extinguisher is being used to prop open a door, then it is not where it should be when it may be needed. The proper location may have been designed specifically to fulfill a distance requirement.

If caught by a fire inspector, this single act could result in four or more violations.

What colour is the powder fire extinguisher?

It might be red, but most are simply unpainted stainless steel with some labels attached. So, the best answer might be silver.

It is red of course!

Which type of fire extinguisher should be onboard a vessel with a permanently?

A class ABC which is an all purpose (Monoammonium phosphate) dry chemical fire extinguisher. Probably a 20# capacity within 25 feet reach lets say or minimum two 10# ABC extinguishers which are easier to handle weight wise. A class D (Sodium Chloride or Graphite chemical) fire extinguisher for burning metals may also be appropriate given the scenario here regarding a vessel with a fuel tank. If a fire gets hot enough to burn metals nearby, this class D type works wonders.

What type of fire extinguisher should you use for an electrical fire?

It is the Class C fires that invlove electrically energized equipments, and they are suppressed using CO2 extinguishers or dry chemical extinguishers. Certainly the use of water or water-based extinguishers or other water-based suppression equipment is not to be considered.

What is it to put fuel on a fire?

To stoke a fire is to put fuel on the fire.

What are the functions of fire extinguisher?

you'll never know when any type of fire extinguisher can come handy in case of a fire

When there a fire extinguisher color code?

Silver is a water can (Class A) or a Class K for grease fryers. Red is ABC extinguishers (multi-purpose) and for CO extinguishers. Yellow is for Class D (flammable metals).

As for Fire Extinguisher LABEL colours, that depends on what they contain, which determines which type of fires each type may be used to extinguish, thus:

a) Red (Water/Gas originally) - for solid fuel (i.e.wood/paper), fires - though this colour has now been adopted for other extinguishers.

b) Blue (Dry Powder) - for Wheel/Brake fires on aircraft.

c) Cream (Foam) - for liquid/fuel fires.

d) Black (Carbon Dioxide gas) - for electrical or fuel fires.

e) Green (Bromoclorodiflouromethane, or BCF) - for fuel/electrical fires.

The green type is no longer available in the UK for civilian use.

What is the consequences of incorrect use of carbon dioxide extinguisher?

it could possibly reignite after apparently being extinguished successfully.

How does carbon dioxide extingush a fire?

Fire consists of Heat and the stuff that burns (usually oxygen from air and a combustible material). Removing any component extinguishes the fire. Carbon Dioxide CO2 is not flammable and pushes air (with it's highly reactive oxygen content) away, it is highly compressible and when released is very cold (aiding in reducing the heat. CO2 is not toxic (like the halons used in some fire fighting systems).