Firefighter II

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General Information 3 Every agent extinguishes fire with at least one of the following methods: Smothering – oxygen exclusion Cooling – reducing the fuel to below its ignition temperature Chain Breaking – interrupting the chemical chain reaction Saponification – forming oxygen- excluding soapy foam Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

General Information (continued) NFPA 1901, the Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, requires that pumping apparatus Have two approved, portable fire extinguishers with mounting brackets Must be suitable for use on Class B and Class C fires A dry chemical extinguisher’s minimum size is a rating of 80 B:C A carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) extinguisher has a required rating of 10 B:C Carry at least one 2½ gallon or larger water extinguisher for use on Class A fires. Be protected from freezing if exposed to temperatures lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit (water type extinguishers) 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Expelling of Agents All portable extinguishers expel their agent in one of the following ways: Manual pump (water can) Stored pressure Pressure cartridge 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fire Classifications Classified according to the material that is burning Some extinguishing agents are most effective on specific fuel types The agent dictates which type of portable extinguisher is most effective on that class fire The five Classifications are A, B, C, D, and K 6 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fire Classifications (continued) Class A Ordinary combustibles, extinguished by water or water- based agents, such as foam or multipurpose dry chemicals Water is the most common agent used by the fire service Class B Flammable and combustible liquids and gases Agents used are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), dry chemical, and class B foam 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fire Classifications (continued) Class C Fires created by electrical energy Water-based agents are not effective or safe to use until the electricity has been eliminated. Disconnect the electrical source and use the appropriate extinguisher. 8 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fire Classifications (continued) Class D Combustible metals These fires are often identified by the bright white emissions from the burning process Dry powder extinguishers are the most effective Class K Combustible cooking oils Wet chemical extinguishers and extinguishing systems are the most effective 9 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Extinguisher Types Pump-Type Water Extinguishers Intended for use on small Class A fires Equipped with a single- or double-action pump 10 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers Also called air pressurized water (APW) extinguishers, or pressurized water extinguishers Intended for use on all types of small Class A fires They are often used for hot spots during overhaul. Water is stored with compressed air or nitrogen 11 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Stored Pressure Water Extinguishers (continued) Class A foam concentrate is Sometimes added to water extinguishers to increase their effectiveness Also used as a wetting agent to help reach Deep seated fires in upholstered furniture Baled fuels Wildland fires with dense matted vegetation 12 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Water-Mist Stored Pressure Extinguishers Intended for use on Class A and C fires Use deionized water as an agent The deionized water is non-conductive The extinguisher uses a fine spray that increases the cooling and soaking characteristics of water 13 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Wet Chemical Stored-Pressure Extinguishers (Class K) Similar in appearance to conventional stored- pressure units Designed to control and extinguish fires in deep fryers found in kitchens Contain a special potassium-based, low pH agent that is designed to cool and extinguish fires in unsaturated cooking oils 14 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Extinguishers Also known as “light water” Intended for use on Class A and Class B fires Effective in suppressing vapors from small liquid fuel spills A highly effective extinguishing and blanketing agent on hydrocarbon fuels Ineffective on polar solvents AFFF is corrosive and can remove finishes from tools and apparatus 15 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Clean Agent Extinguishers Designed to replace Halon 1211 Discharge a rapidly evaporating liquid that leaves no residue Agents include: Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCCF) Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Fluoroidiocarbon (FIC) 16 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Clean Agent Extinguishers (continued) Effectively cool and smother fires in Class A and B fuels, and, because the agents are non-conductive, they may be used on Class C fires They are pressurized with Argon gas Approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 17 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

18 Typical Class K Extinguisher Foam Aspirating Nozzle Clean Agent Extinguisher Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Extinguishers Effective on Class B and Class C fires Come as handheld and wheeled units Wheeled units are usually found in airports and industry. Wheeled unit hoses (usually less than 15 feet long) must be unwound before use. Limited reach because they are discharged as a gas 19 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Extinguishers (continued) Do not require freeze protection Stored under their own pressure The CO 2 gas displaces available oxygen and smothers the fire. It has little cooling effect, despite the fact that it is discharged at subzero temperatures Does not produce a vapor-suppressing film, so reignition is always possible 20 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers For use on Class A:B:C fires and/or Class B-C fires The most common portable extinguishers in use today Come as handheld units or wheeled units Cartridge-type and stored-pressure design Two basic types: Regular B:C-rated Multipurpose A:B:C-rated 21 B:C rated extinguisher Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers (continued) Commonly used dry chemicals: Sodium bicarbonate Potassium bicarbonate Potassium chloride Monoammonium phosphate Urea-potassium During manufacturing, chemicals are mixed with an additive to make them moisture resistant. This prevents them from caking inside the extinguisher. 22 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers (continued) Monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate agents are not compatible with foam. They will cause a foam blanket to break down. Dry chemical agents are considered non-toxic. Upon discharge, chemical clouds can reduce visibility and create respiratory problems as airborne particulates. Discharge should be directed at whatever is burning, to cover it with the chemical. When the flames are knocked down, the agent should be applied intermittently on any hot spots. Many of the agents are corrosive. On wheeled units, the hose must be extended before use. 23 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires No single agent can control fires in all combustible metals. Some powered agents can be applied by extinguishers, while others need to be applied by a shovel or scoop. Portable extinguishers for Class D fires can be handheld or wheeled units. Agents must be applied in sufficient depth to completely cover the area that is burning; the agent creates a smothering blanket. The agents may form a crust over the metal, and if the crust breaks, the fire may reignite. Avoid scattering the burned metal. After the metal is extinguished, the material should be left undisturbed until it is cooled completely; then it may be disposed of. 24 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Extinguishers and Agents for Metal Fires (continued) 25 Class D agent may be applied with a shovel. Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Firefighter II Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fire Extinguisher Rating System Extinguishers are classified according to their intended use. Icons, such as the ones on this label, indicate that this is intended for Class A fires but prohibited for use on Class B and C fires. 27 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Class A Ratings Rated from 1-A through 40-A Ratings are based on the amount of extinguishing agent, and the duration and range of the discharge used in extinguishing test fires For a 1-A rating, 1¼ gallons of water is required For a 2-A rating, 2½ gallons, or twice the capacity, is required Ratings are based on test fires in various sizes of fuel test cribs 28 Controlled Fire In a Wooden Crib Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Class B Ratings Classified with numerical ratings from 1-B through 640-B Ratings are based on the approximate square foot area of flammable liquid fire that a non-expert operator can extinguish Non-expert operators are expected to extinguish 1 square foot for each numerical rating 29 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Class C Ratings There are no number ratings Class A and Class B fires involving energized electrical equipment Extinguishing agents for Class C extinguishers are tested to make sure they are non-conductive The rating is assigned to extinguishers in addition to their Class A or Class B rating, or both 30 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Class D Ratings No numerical rating is given Test fires for establishing Class D ratings vary with the combustible metal being tested The following factors are considered: Reaction between the metal and the agent Toxicity of the agent Toxicity of the fumes produced and the products of combustion. The time needed to allow the metal to burn out without fire suppression efforts, versus the time needed to extinguish the fire Application instructions for specific agents are on the faceplate 31 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Class K Ratings Recognized by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) since 1996 Class K Extinguishers Must be capable of saponifying vegetable, peanut, canola, and other oils with little or no fatty acids Saponify – reduce fatty acids or fats into a soap or foam Work by suppressing vapors and smothering the fire Class K agents must be able to extinguish a fire in a deep fryer with a surface area of 2.25 square feet. 32 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Multiple Markings Extinguishers may be capable of extinguishing more than one class of fire The three most common extinguisher combinations are Class A:B:C Class A:B Class B:C Extinguishers should be properly marked, or not used. The ratings of each class of fire that an extinguisher can extinguish are independent of each other. Example: a 4-A 20-B C extinguisher can extinguish a Class A fire 4 times greater than a 1-A extinguisher can, and a Class B fire 20 times greater than a 1-B:C can 33 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Multiple Markings Portable extinguishers are identified two ways: Geometric shapes of specific colors with the class letter in the shape Pictographs to make the selection of the most appropriate extinguisher easier. An additional pictograph shows the type(s) of fire the extinguisher will not extinguish. This method is recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). 34 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Proper Extinguisher Selection Classification of the burning fuel. Rating of the extinguisher. Hazards to be protected. Size and intensity of the fire. Atmospheric conditions. Life hazards or operational concerns. Ease of handling. Availability of trained personnel. 35 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Using Portable Extinguishers Become familiar with the instructions found on the different types of extinguishers. Make sure that extinguishers are accessible from fire service vehicles, and fully operational. Check it before using it. After choosing the proper extinguisher (size and type), approach the fire from the windward side (wind at your back). 36 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Using Portable Extinguishers (continued) All modern extinguishers Operate similarly Do not need to be inverted Pick up the extinguisher by the handle and carry it to the point of discharge (application) PASS Method Make sure the extinguisher reaches the fire Operate with enough distance; being too close with an extinguisher can scatter lightweight fuels. Be careful! Move closer for final extinguishment after the fire is knocked down 37 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

PASS Method Pull the pin, breaking the seal. Aim the nozzle at whatever is burning. Squeeze the handles together to release the agent. Sweep the nozzle back and forth to cover the burning material. 38 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers NFPA 10 requires that portable fire extinguishers be inspected at least once every year, and that they are accessible and operable. Inspections are the responsibility of the building owner, and are usually done by the owner or their designee, such as a licensed extinguisher company. Firefighters should include extinguisher inspections as part of their annual building inspections. Fire extinguisher inspections should include Location and accessibility Checking the following 39 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers (continued) 40 The discharge nozzle or horn for obstructions For cracks, dirt, or grease accumulations The extinguisher shell for damage The operating instructions for legibility The locking pin and tamper seal That the extinguisher is full and pressurized The weight and pressure gauge If the extinguisher is found to be deficient in weight by 10 percent, it should be removed from service The inspection tag for date of previous inspection, maintenance, or recharging The hose and hose fittings Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Inspecting Fire Extinguishers (continued) 41 Regularly inspect extinguishers located on fire apparatus Three factors that determine the value of a portable fire extinguisher: Serviceability Accessibility Simplicity of operation Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Damaged & Obsolete Extinguishers 42 Damaged extinguishers should be replaced. Do not use them again until they are certified for use. Obsolete extinguishers should be removed from service. Inverting-type extinguishers stopped being manufactured in Copper and brass shells have been discontinued. Carbon tetrachloride and chlorobromomethane have been obsolete since 1982 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Halon Fire Extinguishers Termination and consumption of Halon by the year 2000 because of its ozone depletion material The only exception is for essential uses where there is no alternative The U.S. stopped producing halogens in Extinguishes fire by interrupting the chemical chain reaction The vapor is non-conductive and effective on surface fires Halon 1211 was replaced by FE-36 (hexafluoropropane) Halon 1301 was replaced by FE-241 (chlorotetrafluoroethane) and FM Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Resources , Essentials of Firefighting (5 th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) Images used with permission from IFSTA. 44 Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.