Portable Fire ExtinguishersPortable Fire ExtinguishersSelection and PlacementSelection and Placement

University Safety Council University Safety CouncilApril 19, 2006April 19, 2006

Steven G. TrieboldSteven G. TrieboldFire Prevention and ProtectionFire Prevention and Protection

Program ManagerProgram ManagerEnvironmental Health and SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety

Penn State UniversityPenn State University865-6391865-6391

sgt4@psu.edusgt4@psu.edu

Program OutlineProgram Outline

Purpose of Portable Fire Purpose of Portable Fire ExtinguishersExtinguishers

Types of Portable Fire ExtinguishersTypes of Portable Fire Extinguishers Selection Criteria for ExtinguishersSelection Criteria for Extinguishers Distribution Criteria for ExtinguishersDistribution Criteria for Extinguishers

When a building is constructed When a building is constructed or renovated the selection, or renovated the selection, placement and installation of fire placement and installation of fire extinguishers is part of the extinguishers is part of the construction project based on construction project based on the layout of the building. As the the layout of the building. As the building is occupied and building is occupied and additional uses are added it may additional uses are added it may be necessary to add additional be necessary to add additional fire extinguishers to protect fire extinguishers to protect against fire.against fire.

Purpose of Fire Purpose of Fire ExtinguishersExtinguishers

Used properly, a portable fire Used properly, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives and extinguisher can save lives and property by extinguishing a small fire property by extinguishing a small fire or containing it until the fire or containing it until the fire department arrives. Portable fire department arrives. Portable fire extinguishers are not designed to extinguishers are not designed to fight large or spreading fires.fight large or spreading fires.

DefinitionsDefinitions Class A – Fires involving ordinary Class A – Fires involving ordinary

combustibles (wood, paper, rubber, plastics)combustibles (wood, paper, rubber, plastics) Class B – Fires involving flammable liquids, Class B – Fires involving flammable liquids,

oils, greases, tars, oil based paints, oils, greases, tars, oil based paints, flammable gases.flammable gases.

Class C – Fires involving energized electrical Class C – Fires involving energized electrical equipmentequipment

Class D – Fires involving combustible metals Class D – Fires involving combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, sodium etc.)(magnesium, titanium, sodium etc.) Class K – Fires involving combustible cooking Class K – Fires involving combustible cooking

media (fats, oils)media (fats, oils)

Class A Fire ExtinguisherClass A Fire Extinguisher

75 foot maximum 75 foot maximum travel distancetravel distance

Pressurized water Pressurized water extinguisher (2 ½ extinguisher (2 ½ gallons)gallons)

Extinguishes by Extinguishes by reducing temp of reducing temp of burning fuel.burning fuel.

Easy cleanupEasy cleanup

             

Class B Fire ExtinguisherClass B Fire Extinguisher

50 foot maximum 50 foot maximum travel distancetravel distance

Dry Chemical Dry Chemical extinguishing extinguishing agent (Common agent (Common Type) Type)

Extinguishes by Extinguishes by interfering with the interfering with the chemical chain chemical chain reaction of fire.reaction of fire.

Residue clean upResidue clean up

               

Class C Fire ExtinguisherClass C Fire Extinguisher Located in proximity to Located in proximity to

electrical equipment.electrical equipment. Extinguishing agent Extinguishing agent

non-conductive.non-conductive. De-energize electrical De-energize electrical

equipment.equipment. Removes Oxygen, Removes Oxygen,

interferes with interferes with chemical chain chemical chain reaction of fire.reaction of fire.

Some agents leave no Some agents leave no residue for cleanup.residue for cleanup.

Class D ExtinguisherClass D Extinguisher 75 foot maximum 75 foot maximum

travel distancetravel distance Installed in areas Installed in areas

where combustible where combustible metal powders, flakes, metal powders, flakes, shavings, chips are shavings, chips are generated.generated.

Dry Powder Dry Powder extinguishing agentextinguishing agent

Encapsulates burning Encapsulates burning metal.metal.

Extinguishes by Extinguishes by removing oxygen.removing oxygen.

Class K ExtinguisherClass K Extinguisher

30 Foot maximum 30 Foot maximum travel distance.travel distance.

Used in conjunction Used in conjunction with Hood with Hood Suppression Suppression SystemSystem

Extinguishes by Extinguishes by creating foam creating foam blanket on burning blanket on burning material and material and excluding oxygen.excluding oxygen.

Light (Low) HazardLight (Low) Hazard Locations where the Locations where the

total amount of total amount of Class A combustible Class A combustible materials including materials including finishes, decorations finishes, decorations and contents is of and contents is of minor quantity. (ex. minor quantity. (ex. office, classrooms, office, classrooms, churches, churches, guestrooms in guestrooms in hotels)hotels)

Class A ExtinguisherClass A Extinguisher

Ordinary (Light) HazardOrdinary (Light) Hazard Locations where the Locations where the

total amount of Class A total amount of Class A combustibles and Class combustibles and Class B flammables are B flammables are present in greater present in greater amounts than expected amounts than expected under light (low) under light (low) hazards. (ex. Dining hazards. (ex. Dining areas, mercantile shops, areas, mercantile shops, research operations)research operations)

Multi Class Extinguisher Multi Class Extinguisher ABC.ABC.

Extra HazardExtra Hazard

Locations where Locations where total amounts of total amounts of Class A Combustibles Class A Combustibles and Class B and Class B Flammables is over Flammables is over and above those and above those expected in Ordinary expected in Ordinary Light hazard Light hazard occupancies. (ex. occupancies. (ex. Commercial kitchen Commercial kitchen fryers, wood shops)fryers, wood shops)

Extra Hazard ExtinguishersExtra Hazard Extinguishers

Kitchen Kitchen – Type “K” Type “K”

extinguisherextinguisher– Maximum 30 feet Maximum 30 feet

travel distance.travel distance. Other AreasOther Areas

– Type ABCType ABC– Maximum 50 feet Maximum 50 feet

travel distance.travel distance.

Selection PrinciplesSelection Principles

Nature of the combustibles or Nature of the combustibles or flammables that might be ignited.flammables that might be ignited.

Potential severity (size, intensity, Potential severity (size, intensity, speed of travel) of any resulting fire.speed of travel) of any resulting fire.

Effectiveness of the fire extinguisher Effectiveness of the fire extinguisher on the hazard.on the hazard.

Ease of use of the extinguisherEase of use of the extinguisher

A fire creates conditions of stress and A fire creates conditions of stress and intense excitement. Under these conditions, intense excitement. Under these conditions, the choice of a correct fire extinguisher the choice of a correct fire extinguisher needs to be made quickly. The following needs to be made quickly. The following procedures can be used to ensure selection procedures can be used to ensure selection of the correct fire extinguisher.of the correct fire extinguisher.

Locating the fire extinguisher near fire hazards Locating the fire extinguisher near fire hazards for which they are suitable.for which they are suitable.

Using fire extinguishers suitable for more than Using fire extinguishers suitable for more than one class of fire.one class of fire.

Marking clearly the intended use of the fire Marking clearly the intended use of the fire extinguisher.extinguisher.

Training employees in the proper use of provided Training employees in the proper use of provided fire extinguishers.fire extinguishers.

Placement of ExtinguishersPlacement of ExtinguishersSelected locations should….Selected locations should….

Provide uniform Provide uniform distribution.distribution.

Provide easy Provide easy accessibility.accessibility.

Free from blocking by Free from blocking by equipment and equipment and storage.storage.

Be near normal paths Be near normal paths of travel.of travel.

Be near entrance and Be near entrance and exit doors.exit doors.

Be free from the Be free from the potential of physical potential of physical damage.damage.

Be readily visible.Be readily visible. Mounted on wall or in Mounted on wall or in

cabinet 4’’ to 48” off cabinet 4’’ to 48” off floor.floor.

Be installed on a floor Be installed on a floor by floor basis.by floor basis.

Non-Accessible LocationsNon-Accessible Locations

Accessible LocationsAccessible Locations

Max 150ft

Max 30 ft

Exit

Exit Exit

FFE

FE

FE

FE

FE

FE FE

Successful use of a Fire Successful use of a Fire ExtinguisherExtinguisher

Successful use of a Fire Successful use of a Fire ExtinguisherExtinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Selection Chart Facility

Symbol

Hazard

Extinguisher

Home or Office

Paper, Computers, Copiers, Cloth, Trash

ABC

Computer Room

Servers, Computers, Paper, Trash

Clean Agent, Carbon Dioxide, Water Mist

Kitchen

Grease Fires Class K

Kitchen

Electrical Equipment, Grease Fires Wet Checmical, BC

Warehouse

Gasoline, Grease, Oil, Paint, Flammable Liquids ABC

Boiler Room

Flammable Liquids BC

Flammable Liquid Storage

Flammable Liquids ABC, Carbon Dioxide

Hospital Operating Room

Electrical Equipment Clean Agent, Carbon Dioxide, Water Mist

Chemical Facility

Chemicals, Wood, Paper, Trash ABC

Large Warehouse or Chemical Facility

Numerous High Hazards Wheeled Units

Questions??Questions??