Unit 8: Portable Fire Extinguishers & Smoke Control Management Systems Chapter 11: Portable Fire Extinguishers And Chapter 12: Smoke Control Management Systems

Unit 11: Portable Fire Extinguishers Discuss the fire extinguisher classification system. (Seminar 1) Discuss the fire extinguisher rating system and to which classification of extinguishers it applies. Explain why a certain extinguisher classification requires a conductivity test. Explain the acronym PASS in relation to fire extinguishers Describe the different types of fire extinguishers and their operation. List the different extinguishing agents and their applications. Discuss the inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures for portable fire extinguishers. systems

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Class A and B have ratings describing their performance capability. This rating expresses how much fire the extinguisher can handle based on testing.

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Class A uses wood cribbing to determine its capability. If an extinguisher rates as 1-A it must be able to extinguish 1 cubic foot of wood cribbing. If 4-A it must be able to extinguish 4-A or 4 cubic feet of cribbing

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Indoor classifications: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 6-A, 10-A, 20-A Outdoor classifications: 30-A and 40-A When water extinguishers, each 1.25 gallons = 1-A so, 5 gallons equals 4-A.

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Class B uses a flammable liquid fire to determine its capability, it is set in a pan. The liquid is typically heptane and based on the size of the pan the rating is determined. The rating is typically proportional to the square footage of the pan. However, as the size of the test fire increases the proportional relationship does not equally apply.

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Indoor classifications for Class B 1-B, 2-B, 5-B, 10-B, 20-B, 30-B Outdoor classifications: 40-B, 60-B, 80-B, 120-B, 160-B, 240-B, 320-B, 480-B, 640-B

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Rating Class C extinguishers do not receive a rating because there is no actual fire test for Class C agents. However, there is a test to determine if there is conductivity between the Agent the horn, hose or nozzle the electrically charged source. If conductivity the user could receive shock and be injured.

Chapter 11: Types of Fire Extinguishers Pump: require manual operation of pump mechanism. Pump can or backpack Stored Pressure: mix of agent and pressurized gas (air or nitrogen). Cartridge Pressure: agent and pressurized gas separate (air or nitrogen).

Chapter 11: Types of Fire Extinguishers

Chapter 11: Types of Fire Extinguisher Agents Water Foam Carbon Dioxide Dry Chemical Wet Chemical: K Halon or other clean agents

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Operation P-A-S-S Pull pin Aim nozzle at base of flames Squeeze trigger Sweep

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Testing Maintenance Visual Inspection: Present, correct location Visible, accessible Label is readable Proper type for hazard Damage to components Gauge if present “charged” Documentation/tags

Chapter 11: Fire Extinguisher Testing Maintenance Maintenance: Dependent on type, check tag/documentation. Maintenance / inspection yearly Disassemble/internal exam between 1 and 6 years. Hydrostatic testing: Refillable extinguishers can handle pressure and environment Interval between 5 and 12 years. Stamped on cylinder: date, company, and pressure tested to

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Define smoke control and smoke management. State design goals for smoke control and smoke management systems. Name the three general methods used to control smoke movement. Describe the four pressure differential methods used to control smoke. Describe five design requirements or operational characteristics of smoke control systems. List the different life safety and fire protection systems that interface with smoke control systems and describe how they interact. Discuss the importance of the acceptance testing and annual retesting processes for smoke control systems.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Smoke control: describes mechanical systems that pressurize areas of buildings with fans to limit smoke movement when there is a fire. Smoke management: describes passive and active systems used alone or in combination to alter smoke movement. Objective of both are to provide a tenable environment for occupants and assist firefighters during a fire and contain smoke within place of origin.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Passive design: utilizes building components; walls, bulkheads, doors, partitions high ceilings, sealed openings, smoke heat vents, draft curtains. Active design: uses mechanical systems to exhaust, pressurize, or oppose smoke with forced air.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Code mandated: Not required in many structures due to practicality, costs, or limited affect of life safety. High rise buildings Atriums greater than two stories. Detention and correctional facilities. Underground buildings Some health and assembly occupancies.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Pressure differentials: Create pressure differences to limit smoke spread. Stairway doors Refuge area doors Elevator landings. Stairway pressurization: Stairway has slightly higher pressure

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Floating zone/floor by floor pressurization: High rises HVAC system creates negative pressure on fire floors and slightly higher pressures on floors above and below fire. Smoke removed from fire floor and replaced by clean air. Elevator pressurization: pressurize elevator shaft. Refuge air pressurization: pressurize refuge areas.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Smoke removal: Large volume spaces: atriums, indoor stadiums, malls. Contaminated air is replaced with clean air. However these systems can be overwhelmed by fire growth.

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Best results: automatic or manual detection and suppression Properly operating fire detection systems and automatic fire sprinkler systems coupled with rapid firefighter response offers the best opportunity to control production and spread of visible smoke and associated toxic gases. Otherwise, a high probability of a fire overwhelming the control and management system

Unit 12: Smoke Control Managements Testing: Upon system completion Annually When other components are changed or re-programmed.

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