Extinguish Fire - Fire Safety

How do you extinguish fires?

This involves the elimination of one side of the fire triangle.
Starvation - remove the fuel, e.g. turn off the gas supply, drag burning pallets away from the fire.

Smothering - remove the oxygen supply or adding inert gas (without oxygen) to the burning mixture, e.g. fire blanket onto a pan, or using a foam extinguisher. Main risk is that the fire may reignite when foam (wet chemical used for fat fryers) or blanket is removed as heat will still be present.

Carbon dioxide is commonly used in extinguishers and nitrogen is used in the petrochemical industry. Smothering is only effective when the source of oxygen is air. It is ineffective when the substance that is burning contains oxygen.

Cooling - commonest, cheapest and most effective method. For example,water sprayed onto a fire, will cause the temperature to be lowered. The steam produced acts as a blanket to smother reducing the potential for further ignition. Dry powder extinguishers rapidly absorb the heat and also smother.

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Portable Fire Fighting Equipment

The main types of Portable Fire Fighting Equipment are Fire Extinguishers.

In most countries portable appliances must be coloured red and display a distinguishing coloured label, usually on its collar, to identify the type of extinguishing agent contained. These are as follows:

• Water : Red
• Chemical foam : Cream
• Carbon dioxide : Black
• Dry powder : Blue

In addition, each appliance has to have the date of its last inspection marked on it.

Water Extinguishers:

Stored - pressure extinguishers must be checked to ensure that the pressure is correct, that the hoses and nozzles are not blocked and there is no corrosion. They should be discharged annually.

Gas - cartridge extinguishers should be opened annually and the working parts and contents checked. The gas cartridge should be weighed to check for losses and the sealing washer examined. They should be discharged every five years.

Foam Extinguishers:

These should be opened annually and checked to ensure that no clogging has occurred and all the working parts are in good order. Gas cartridges should be weighed and losses in excess of 10% will require replacement. 

The Extinguisher, if pre-mixed, should be discharged every two years, or if the compound is kept separate, every four years. All foam extinguishers must be thoroughly washed out after discharging.

Dry Powder Extinguishers:

Examination should be once a year for all the features covered for the other extinguishers. With the gas cartridge type, which can be opened, the powder should be checked to ensure it has not caked. They should be discharged every five years.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers:

The contents should be checked by weighing or by gamma ray to ensure there is no loss. The working parts should be examined and the horn checked for freedom of movement. Every 10 years, or when discharged, the cylinder should be hydraulically tested.  After 20 years the test should be every five years.

Vaporising Liquid Extinguishers:

Annual working order checks are required by weighing the contents. The extinguishers should be checked by discharge every five years.

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Fire extinguishers are colour-codes

Fire extinguishers are colour-coded; each colour denotes the type of extinguishing agent that is contained in the extinguisher.

The different types are: Water, AFFF Foam, Dry powder, Carbon Dioxide and Wet Chemical.

Fires are Categorised into Classes:

Class A - Flammable solids or freely burning material
Class B - Flammable liquids,
Class C - Flammable gases,
Class F - Cooking oils. There is also the hazard of electrical fires involving electrical appliances or wiring.

It is always important to use the correct extinguisher on each type of fire. Use of the wrong type could cause the fire to flare up.

Class A fires should be tackled with Water, AFFF foam or dry powder extinguishers.

Class B fires should be tackled with AFFF foam, Dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguishers.

Class C fires should be tackled by isolating the gas/liquid supply and not primarily by use of a fire extinguisher. Only a Dry Powder extinguisher should be used.

Class F fires should be tackled with only a Wet Chemical fire extinguisher.

Electrical hazards should be tackled with either Dry Powder or Carbon Dioxide extinguishers.

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Fire Fighting Equipments

Sprinklers
Sprinklers may start automatically when the fire alarm is activated, or when a predefined temperature has been reached. Some sprinkler systems may also be activated manually.

Fire Blankets
Fire blankets are used to control small fires and are commonplace in kitchens as they smother a fire. They may also be wrapped around someone if their clothing is on fire. Fire blankets must conform to British Standards.

Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are one of the most common types of equipment for fighting fire. Different types of extinguishers are available for fighting different types of fires. Extinguishers should ONLY be used if you have been trained to fight fires and it is safe to do so.

Fire Alarm
Warning other people about fire is one of your key responsibilities. The sooner you do this, the better, as it gives everyone more time to get out of the building.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are relatively common devices, designed to detect fires in buildings. There may be smoke detectors in your organisation, depending on the size and type of work that is carried out.

Fire Door
In many organisations, fire doors play a key role in slowing down the speed a fire takes hold.

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