Portable Fire Equipment Information

1. Fires are classified as:
   • CLASS A
     • Fires in ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood cloth, trash, etc. which normally are extinguished by COOLING.
   • CLASS B
     • Fires involving flammable liquids (e.g.: gasoline, oil, paints, alcohol, grease, etc.) are extinguished by smothering.
   • CLASS C
     • Fires involving electrical equipment, appliances, and wiring, in which the use of NON- CONDUCTIVE extinguishing agent prevents injury.
2. Water possesses the greatest COOLING effect of any ordinary and readily available substance and, therefore, is the principal content of all CLASS “A” or COOLING type extinguishers. A wide variety of dense, heavier-than-air gases, powdered chemicals, and foam producing substances are used in CLASS “B” extinguishers. All of these SMOTHER CLASS “B” fires by excluding air. A NON-CONDUCTIVE extinguishing agent is used in CLASS “C” extinguishers and normally is the same as found in CLASS “B” extinguishers.
3. Extinguishers by class:
   1. CLASS “A” TYPE EXTINGUISHERS:
      1. Air pressure water tank
      2. Hand pump water tank
      3. Hose lines
      4. Multipurpose (ABC) Dry Chemical extinguishers are suitable for ALL fires. Some additional cooling will be needed for items that smolder (couches, mattresses, etc.)
   2. CLASS “B” TYPE EXTINGUISHERS:
      1. Pressurized dry chemical
      2. Carbon Dioxide & Halon
      3. Foam
   3. CLASS “C” TYPE EXTINGUISHERS:
      1. Pressurized dry chemical
      2. Carbon Dioxide & Halon
4. The discharge time and useful range of extinguishers are:
   1. The stream from water type extinguishers will reach approximately 30 feet; contents can be discharged in 60 seconds.
   2. The stream from hose lines will reach approximately 40 feet; water supply is unlimited.
   3. Dry Chemical types have an effective range of only up to 6 feet; contents can be discharged within 10-18 seconds. (Standard portable extinguishers).
5. A fire extinguisher can be operated easily if you remember the word PASS:
   • P – PULL THE SAFETY PIN (usually a twist-pull action)
   • A – AIM (the nozzle, horn or hose) AT THE BASE OF THE FIRE
   • S – SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER HANDLE
   • S – SWEEP SLOWLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE
     (watch for re-flash)
6. You should:
   1. NEVER re-hang an extinguisher once it has been discharged (even if only used for a few seconds). Have it recharged by a licensed service company.
   2. ALWAYS maintain an area of 3 square feet clearance around ALL fire equipment.

ALWAYS PRACTICE FIRE PREVENTION
AND
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING TECHNIQUES