When Should You Use A Portable Fire Extinguisher?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Small, fully contained fires are usually safe to fight with a portable fire extinguisher. Large, uncontained fires are not safe to fight. Any fire involving highly flammable or hazardous materials isn’t safe to fight.

What are portable fire extinguishers used for?

Almost all fires are small in their incipient stage and can be put out quickly if the proper firefighting equipment is available and the person discovering the fire has been properly trained. Most employers turn to portable fire extinguishers for fighting incipient stage fires .

When using a portable fire extinguisher you should?

  1. PULL... Pull the pin. This will also break the tamper seal.
  2. AIM... Aim low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire. ...
  3. SQUEEZE... Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
  4. SWEEP... Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out.

When should I use a fire extinguisher?

You should only consider using a fire extinguisher if all members of your home have been alerted to the fire and the fire department has been called . Also, make sure you are safe from smoke and that the fire is not between you and your only escape route.

Which type of fires should you fight with a portable fire extinguisher?

Portable extinguishers are useful for putting out small fires ; however they are not effective against large, spreading fires. In these situations, doors should be closed to contain the fire. Type A: Pressurized water to be used on Class A fire only.

What are the classifications of portable fire extinguishers?

TYPES OF PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Class A (most common) – Identified by a green triangle containing the letter A. – Used for wood, paper, cloth, cardboard, and most ordinary combustibles. – Cool and quench using water. Class B – Identified by a red square containing the letter B.

What are portable fire extinguishers?

Portable fire extinguishers function by releasing an extinguishing agent intended to cool the fuel , remove or displace the oxygen, or stop the chemical reaction. Fire extinguishers can put out or control a fire until help arrives.

What is the operating time for most portable fire extinguishers?

The extinguisher must be large enough to put out the fire. Many portable extinguishers discharge completely in as few as 8 to 10 seconds .

What are the limitation of portable fire extinguisher?

Portable fire extinguishers have limitations. They are not designed to fight large fires or those that may spread quickly . Portable fire extinguishers are appropriate for fighting fires such as those on the stove-top, in the oven, or in a wastepaper basket. Use an extinguisher only if the fire is in its early stages.

How fast does a portable fire extinguisher discharge?

The approximate discharge time for 10 to 20 pounds of dry chemical ranges from 10 to 25 seconds . Once activated, can an ABC extinguisher be turned off? Yes, stop squeezing the trigger and the dry chemical stream will stop. This may be appropriate if you must reposition yourself in relation to the fire.

When should you not use a fire extinguisher?

  1. The fire is too big or would require more than one fire extinguisher.
  2. Fires involving escaping gases, high voltage electrics.
  3. The evacuation route is obstructed.
  4. There are high levels of smoke.
  5. The area is too hot.
  6. You have not been trained.

What are the three words to remember when pointing a fire extinguisher at a fire?

Remember that the extinguishers need care and must be recharged after every use. If you fight a fire, remember the words: Pass... Pull... Aim... Squeeze ...

What type of fire extinguisher is best for home use?

It’s important that your fire extinguishers be UL-approved. Every single one of the experts we spoke with recommended an extinguisher with an ABC rating . Simply put, ABC extinguishers are the standard for home use.

What are the 4 types of fires?

What are the fire safety rules? Class A – fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles. Class b – fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils. Class c – fires involving gases.

What are the 4 types of fire extinguishers?

There are four classes of fire extinguishers – A, B, C and D – and each class can put out a different type of fire. Multipurpose extinguishers can be used on different types of fires and will be labeled with more than one class, like A-B, B-C or A-B-C.

What type of fires should you fight with a portable fire extinguisher quizlet?

~Wet chemical systems and portable fire extinguishers are used to to control and extinguish Class K fires .

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.