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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
When should you receive your last check after being fire?
Each State in the Union has it's own laws. Please check with your state's government or a lawyer.
Why the fire extinguishers is painted a bright colour?
So that the fire extinguisher is identified in case of need. Also for accessibility of the fire extinguisher since it can reflect.
How does a Water Extinguisher Work?
a fire extinguisher work on the rule that a fire needs 3 things to burn 1. fuel (wood ,gas) 2. heat 3. oxygen with out any of these a fire will not burn a ABC dry chem extinguisher removes the oxygen while a hydrogen extinguisher removes the heat
What should you do if you discover a small fire?
Use an ABC fire extinguisher , cover it and starve it of oxygen , or you could dump flour or baking soda on it. NOT sugar. It will burn.
What is the height requirement for fire extinguishers on a boat?
According to some fire codes, such as NFPA 1, portable fire extinguishers of up to 40 pounds must be mounted no higher than where the top is 5 feet from the floor and the bottom is no less than 4 inches from the floor. Portable extinguishers over 40 pounds (and not on wheels) may be mounted such that the top is no more than 3 and a half feet (42 inches) from the floor and the bottom no less than 4 inches from the floor.
What are the four steps for using a fire extinguisher?
Answer by Regan Morben
Step one - Check gauge to see if it is charged, you don't want to go near a fire with an empty extinguisher,
Step two - Locate and pull pin near trigger. You cannot discharge the extinguisher until the pin is out.
Step three - Test extinguisher by discharging a small burst in front of your feet, once again you don't want to go near a fire with a non functioning extinguisher.
Step four - Approach fire and and aim at base of the flames, not the flames themselves. Sweep side to side until fire is out or extinguisher is depleted.
Which type of fire is a Class B fire extinguisher is designed to put out?
The purpose of having an extinguisher rated on class B fires is so that such an extinguisher is capable of extinguishing any incipient flammable liquid as designated in the US by the NFPA or in Europe and the rest of the world by BSI or EN3 reliance.
The problem with most class B rated portable fire extinguishers is that almost all of them are not capable of extinguishing all of the subclasses of fuels defined under this category of fires. For example, in the class B definition of fuels there are 2-types: Polar and Non-Polar fuels and under the Non-Polar category there are 2-divisions that clearly require separation because of their different properties requiring different extinguishing medias to neutralized them if ignited. This is gasoline, their heavier varieties of products, and their lighter products used as solvents versus grease and cooking oil medias that exclusively and safely require them to be extinguished by their own category of chemical that are designed to qualify under the "K" fire class ratings.
The only product in the world that can extinguish all the class B fires including class K is only available by the newest Technology and steam of fire extinguisher products known as FireStopper® containing the exclusive extinguishing agent PFE-FR™, a Non-Toxic, Non-Irritant, and Non-Agressive, all fire class effective fire extinguisher and media.
How many fire extinguishers are required on 18 ft boat with installed 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).
BCF fire extinguisher means a fire extinguisher containing Halon 1211;
A Halon fire extinguisher would be used where delicate processes or electronics near the fire would be severely damaged by residue of dry chemical extinguishers. It is sometimes better to use a $10,000 fire extinguisher than destroy a $500,000 piece of equipment.
BromochlorodiflouromethaneA person may use or store a BCF fire extinguisher if-
was manufactured or imported before 1 June 1990; or
(ii) was manufactured or imported after that date by an exempt person;
and
(b) it is used only for the purposes of extinguishing a fire (not being a fire
deliberately lit for the purposes of firefighting training).
(2) Subregulation (1) ceases to apply in relation to a BCF fire extinguisher on-
(a) the day on which it is next liable to be subjected to a hydrostatic test; or
(b) 31 December 1995,
whichever is the earlier, and the person who owns or has possession of the
extinguisher must, before that day, deliver the extinguisher to an office or station
What is the role of carbon dioxide in a soda-acid fire extinguisher?
You turn it upside down or strike a plunger (depends on model), to release sulfuric acid into the water containing sodium bicarbonate, resulting in carbon dioxide gas pressure. The pressurized gas expels the water/acid solution out the hose.
Of course, under most US and Canadian fire codes, this type of fire extinguisher has been obsolete for many years and must be removed from service immediately, if any are found.
What type of fire extinguisher on-board of a PWC?
PWCs and boats up to 26 feet must carry at least one B-I fire extinguisher unless exempt (i.e., Class A or 1, open, outboard motor, not carrying passengers for hire, etc).
A B-1 extinguisher may be a 2-pound dry chem, 4-pound CO2 or 6 quart foam, if properly labelled as USCG certified.
Boats 26 to 40 feet must carry two B-I or one B-II. If there is a permanently installed fire extinguisher system only one B-I extinguisher is required. For vessels 40 to 65 feet, three B-I or one B-II and one B-I extinguishers are required. Vessels in this class with permanently installed fire extinguisher systems are required to carry two B-I or one B-II extinguishers.
Vessels without combustible fuel onboard, no gasoline engine or no areas where vapors can be trapped are not required to carry a fire extinguisher.
What is a class d extinguisher used for?
No, hence them being Class D fire extinguishers they are only used on combustible metal fires. there are different class d extinguishers as well for specific metal fires no one class d extinguisher on all metal fires mostly very specific
What is the Minimum space around a fire extinguisher?
There should be about a 1 metre (or 3 feet) clearance around any fire extinguisher. This ensures easy access in a emergency situation.
Which fire extinguishers would be best suited for use on board a boat?
Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. Nearly all powerboats are required to have at least one portable Class B fire extinguisher (i.e., USCG approved B-I or B-II).
Other types of extinguishers are optional, depending upon what types of fuels may catch fire, such as Class A for "ordinary combustibles" and Class C for energized electrical fires. Class ABC extinguishers are quite popular.
The numerical rating BEFORE the letter B, for class B extinguishers, indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish (i.e., with no significant depth).
The numerical rating (I, II, III) AFTER the letter B indicates Coast Guard classification. For example, a UL 5-B:C, rated for 5 sq ft of liquid fire, would be a USCG B-I extinguisher (with 2 pounds of dry chemical).
To obtain a USCG B-II rating you would need the equivalent of 10 pounds of dry chemical, such as having two UL 3-A, 40-B:C extinguishers, or a 15-pound CO2 extinguisher, or 2 1/2 gallons of AFFF "foam" (UL 3-A:20B).
A 20-pound dry-chemical (120-B:C) would meet USCG B-III requirements.
USCG ratings go as high as V, which is a big extinguisher on wheels.
What are the labels of classification located on the fire extinguisher?
It contains information about the fire extinguisher. The diamond with letters in it refers to what the extinguisher is used for.
LETTER- type of fire it will extinguish
NUMBER- capacity. Higher the number, the bigger the fire it can extinguish.
How long does a fire extinguisher last in a fire?
Well if your using a big water/foam (usually silver) extinguisher they last about 1 minute More Or Less. A co2 extinguisher (normal size) about... 11 seconds
Other ones usually 10 to 20 seconds.
Can a fire extinguisher set off a smoke detector?
To answer your question, no. Gasoline vapors (from automotive gasoline), propane gas, or natural gas will not set off smoke detectors. There are special detection devices available to detect the above mentioned. The most common detectors found in homes are smoke and CO(carbon monoxide). All homes; that use propane, natural gas, wood, coal, or have an attached garage should have both of these detectors. One does not take the lace of the other one. Being in the Fire Service over 30 years, the simple battery operated ones seem to work as well as any. To answer your question, no. Gasoline vapors (from automotive gasoline), propane gas, or natural gas will not set off smoke detectors. There are special detection devices available to detect the above mentioned. The most common detectors found in homes are smoke and CO(carbon monoxide). All homes; that use propane, natural gas, wood, coal, or have an attached garage should have both of these detectors. One does not take the lace of the other one. Being in the Fire Service over 30 years, the simple battery operated ones seem to work as well as any.
What to do in case there is fire in school?
the fire alarm should go off. you should have a fire exit in most classes . Lead the reguout to the playground or a large space where everyone can gather, take the register for each class wait for the brigade if its a real fire, make sure children walk not run
Can you use a foam fire extinguisher on electrical fires?
Foam fire extinguishers are used mainly for flammable liquid fires and are mostly used by professionals and in commercial and industrial settings. These extinguishers are charged with anther AFFF, FFFP, or AR-AFFF, however, these class of extinguishers are only rated class A & B fires and are hazardous to the environment, humans and animals in addition to being very corrosive.
What part of the fire triangle is removed by a carbon dioxide extinguisher?
Oxygen - The fire triangle, consisting of heat, fuel and oxygen requires a combination of the three for continued pyrolysis. The fire tetrahedron is now being taught, adding a continued chemical reaction as research has shown that the combination of heat, fuel and oxygen actually facilitates a sustained chemical rection between these factors that promotes pyrolysis. CO2 displacec oxygen and thus removes that leg of the fire triangle or tetrahedron making it impossible ofr continued combustion. Oxygen - The fire triangle, consisting of heat, fuel and oxygen requires a combination of the three for continued pyrolysis. The fire tetrahedron is now being taught, adding a continued chemical reaction as research has shown that the combination of heat, fuel and oxygen actually facilitates a sustained chemical rection between these factors that promotes pyrolysis. CO2 displacec oxygen and thus removes that leg of the fire triangle or tetrahedron making it impossible ofr continued combustion.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of co2 fire extinguisher?
It can be safely used on electrical fires, it will extinguish burning liquids, and it leaves no residue behind.
