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portable fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are an important part of your facility's fire safety preparedness and are often your first line of defense when a small fire starts. Fire extinguishers should be easy to locate and readily accessible throughout your facility. But don't just install them — you need to train staff on how to successfully use fire extinguishers.
Fire extinguishers are available in two types — nonrechargeable and rechargeable.
Rechargeable fire extinguishers must be recharged after every use or when pressure is lost. Recharging a fire extinguisher should only be performed by a certified technician or company. Facililties with several fire extinguishers may find rechargeable extinguishers are more cost-effective than nonrechargeable ones.
Nonrechargeable fire extinguishers are disposable and intended for one-time use. Never attempt to re use or test a nonrechargeable fire extinguisher.
HOW A FIRE BURNS
• Before learning how to use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a fire, you need to understand how a fire burns as well as the five different classes of fire.
• A fire needs three elements to burn: fuel, oxygen and a heat source. The fire must have all three elements to continue burning. If any one element is removed, the fire will be extinguished.
• That’s the purpose of a fire extinguisher. It removes or neutralizes one or more of these three elements.
CLASSES OF FIRES & TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS
• There are multiple classes of fire and some classes require a special type of fire extinguisher be used in order to put out the fire. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a fire can have disastrous consequences and cause the fire to spread.
• Fire extinguishers are categorized by the class of fire they are designed to extinguish.
• Class A fires are fueled by common combustible materials such as paper or wood. These fires can be put out with a Class A air-pressurized water extinguisher.
• Class B fires involve flammable liquids, including gasoline, kerosene and alcohol. Water should never be used to extinguish Class B fires because water can make this type of fire spread.
• ABC rated extinguisher that uses carbon dioxide or an ABC-rated extinguisher that uses a dry chemical powder are common types of extinguishers which can be used on Class B fires.
• Class C fires are those occurring in electrical equipment connected to a live electrical source. They also may be extinguished with a BC or ABC extinguisher. Never spray water on an electrical fire due to the risk of electric shock.
• Class K fires are fueled by cooking oils or fats which are commonly found in cooking appliances. Class K extinguishers use potassium acetate expelled as a fine mist to avoid spreading hot grease and to help cool the cooking appliance after the fire is out.
THE CLASS ABC EXTINGUISHER
• As you have seen, selecting the correct extinguisher for the class of fire is critical. This is why the Class ABC extinguisher is so popular. An ABC extinguisher is effective in putting out Class A, B and C fires and is the type of extinguisher you are most likely to use should a fire break out in your workplace.
• The Class ABC extinguisher uses a powder such as monoammonium phosphate to remove the oxygen from around the fire, starving the fire of one of its needed elements.
• As we mentioned earlier, no matter what type of extinguisher you use, it must be the type intended for the class of fire that is burning. All extinguishers are labeled with this important information.
• It’s important to understand which class of fire is most likely to occur at your facility and the nearest location of the proper type of fire extinguisher.
DECIDING WHETHER TO USE AN EXTINGUISHER
• Besides having the right type of extinguisher, there are other conditions that you must consider before using a fire extinguisher. Never risk your life to try and put out a fire if it is unsafe to do so.
• When you initially notice any type of fire, the first action you must take is to alert others and sound the fire alarm. Only after the alarm is sounded should you consider using a fire extinguisher.
• In order to extinguish a fire, the fire must be in its incipient stage, meaning that it has just begun and is small enough that you can put it out easily with an extinguisher. Fire extinguishers aren’t designed to put out large fires.
• If there is an abundance of smoke present, do not fight the fire. Smoke from fire can quickly overwhelm and incapacitate you. Smoke kills more people each year than the actual fire. When smoke is heavy, evacuate the premises.
• Before attempting to extinguish a fire, you must have a viable escape route in sight and are confident that you won’t be trapped if the fire gets out of control.
• If for any reason you are unsure if you can extinguish a fire safely, don’t take any chances by using an extinguisher. Evacuate the premises immediately and close any doors behind you to help prevent the fire from spreading.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher - If you doubt your ability to fight a fire using the fire extinguisher with the PASS method or if fire starts to spread, evacuate immediately and call 911. Most small, contained fires can be quickly and safely put out with a fire extinguisher. To successfully operate a fire extinguisher, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests keeping a safe distance and remembering the word PASS:
P — Pull the pin and aim nozzle away from you
A — Aim low at the base of the fire
S — Squeeze the handle slowly and evenly
S — Sweep the nozzle from side to side until the fire is out
Fire Extinguisher Storage, Care & Maintenance
OSHA requires fire extinguishers be located within a specific distance of potential fire hazards for maximum effectiveness. Learn More About OSHA's Requirements on Specific Placement
OSHA requirements state that fire extinguishers must remain fully charged and in their designated storage area when not in use. Fire extinguisher cabinets are the perfect storage solution, designed to hold all types of fire extinguishers while keeping them highly visible and easily accessible.
Regular inspections and routine fire extinguisher maintenance ensure fire extinguishers are ready when needed. Every month, make sure:
Pressure is at the recommended level, usually indicated by the "green" area on the gauge
Access to the extinguisher isn't blocked
The spray nozzle isn't jammed
The pin and seal are still intact
There are no dents, rust, or signs of tampering or abuse
Installation - To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with their carrying handles placed 3-1/2 to 5 feet above the floor, depending on the type of extinguisher. Those with gross weights of no more than 40 pounds (lbs.) should be mounted with their carrying handles no higher than 5 feet from the floor. Larger fire extinguishers (over 40 lbs. gross weight) need to be mounted at lower heights, with their carrying handles no more than 3-1/2 feet from the floor. All hand-portable fire extinguishers need to have at least 4 inches of clearance between their bottoms and the floor.
Two other considerations for mounting height are your local fire code (which may specify a tighter range) and local building codes, which often incorporate guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act or newer versions of the National Fire Protection Association standard for portable extinguishers. Before installing any portable fire extinguisher, check the label to be sure it is approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. [29 CFR 1910.157(c)(2)].
Provide portable fire extinguishers for employee use:
Portable extinguishers for use on Class A fires must be so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 75 feet (22.9 meters) or less. [29 CFR 1910.157(d)(2)]
Use uniformly spaced standpipe systems or hose stations connected to a sprinkler system installed for emergency use by employees, instead of Class A portable fire extinguishers, provided that such systems meet the respective requirements of 29 CFR 1910.158 or 29 CFR 1910.159, that they provide total coverage of the area to be protected, and that employees are trained at least annually in their use. [29 CFR 1910.157(d)(3)]
Distribute portable fire extinguishers for use on Class B fires so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 50 feet (15.2 meters) or less. [29 CFR 1910.157(d)(4)]
Distribute portable fire extinguishers for use on Class C hazards on the appropriate pattern for the existing Class A or Class B hazards. [29 CFR 1910.157(d)(5)]
Distribute portable fire extinguishers or other containers of Class D extinguishing agent for employee use so that the travel distance from the combustible metal working area to any extinguisher is 75 feet (22.9 meters) or less. Portable fire extinguishers for Class D hazards are required in areas where combustible metal powders, flakes, shavings, or similarly sized products are generated at least once every two weeks. [29 CFR 1910.157(d)(6)]
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NOTE: This information is a summary interpretation and was prepared as general reference material only. This summary is not authoritative as laws can be amended over time. For specific compliance requirements and updates, please refer to the actual code language and the statute or legal counsel.
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