Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers

OSHA Office of Training and Education

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Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers

Occupational Health and Safety Program


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Course Description

Introduces employees to the identification and control of fire hazards.

Topics includeIntroduction.Exits/Egress.Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Fire Extinguisher Practice.


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Introduction• Fires and explosions kill more than 200

and injure more than 5,000 workers each year.

• There is a long and tragic history of workplace fires in this country caused by problems with fire exits and extinguishing systems.

• Kentucky OSH and Kentucky Fire Code requires employers to provide proper exits, fire fighting equipment, and employee training to prevent fire deaths and injuries in the workplace.


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Exits/Egress

Terms exit and egress can be used

interchangeably.


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Exit RouteA continuous and unobstructed path of exit travel from any point within a workplace to a place of safety (including refuge areas).

Consists of three parts:Exit access.Exit.Exit discharge.

Refuge Area


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Exit Route

Exit routes must be permanent and there must be enough exits in the proper arrangement for quick escape.


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Exit Discharge

Each exit discharge must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside that is large enough to accommodate all building occupants likely to use the exit route.


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Exit Doors Must Be Unlocked

Exit stairs that continue beyond the level on which the exit discharge is located must be interrupted on that level by doors, partitions, or other effective means that clearly indicate the direction of travel to the exit discharge.


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Exit Doors Must Be Unlocked

• Must be able to open from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge.

• Device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted.

• Must be free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use if the device or alarm fails.

• May be locked from the inside only in mental, penal, or correctional facilities where there is constant supervision.

Locked and blocked exit!


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Side-hinged Exit Door

Must be used to connect any room to an exit route.

A door that connects any room to an exit route must swing out in the direction of exit travel if the room is designed to be occupied by more than 50 people or contains high hazard contents.


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Minimize Danger to Employees

• Exit routes must be free and unobstructed.

• Keep exit routes free of explosive or highly flammable materials.

• Arrange exit routes so that employees will not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless it is effectively shielded.

• Emergency safeguards (e.g., sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, exit lighting) must be in proper working order at all times.

Obstructed exit route!


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Exit Marking

Each exit must be clearly visible and marked with an “Exit” sign.

Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the door.


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Exit Marking

If the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge is not immediately apparent, signs must be posted along the exit access indicating direction to the nearest exit.

The line-of-sight to an exit sign must clearly be visible at all times.


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Exit Marking

Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked “Not an Exit” or similar designation, or be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g., closet).


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Emergency Action Plan

Describes actions that must be taken to ensure employee safety in emergencies.

Includes floor plans or maps which show emergency escape routes.

Tells employees what actions to take in emergency situations.

Covers reasonably expected emergencies, such as fires, explosions, toxic chemical releases, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods.


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Portable Fire Extinguishers

The employer must mount, locate and identify fire extinguisher so workers can access them without subjecting themselves to possible injury.

Blocked extinguisher!


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Extinguisher Classification

Class A – ordinary combustibles (wood, cloth, paper)

Class B – flammable liquids, gases, greases

Class C – energized electrical equipment

Class D – combustible metals

Class K – combustible cooking media

Letter classification given an extinguisher to designate the class or classes of fire on which it will be effective.

B C D

Ordinary

Combustibles

Combustible

Metals

Flammable

Liquids

Electrical

EquipmentA


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Maintaining Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Must maintain in a fully charged and operable condition.

• Must keep in their designated places at all times except during use.

• Must conduct an annual maintenance check.

• Must record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less.


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Maintaining Portable Fire Extinguishers

Must receive visual monthly inspection.

Inspection must be documented-

On the extinguisher tag, or

Separate report available to OSHA upon request.


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Portable Fire ExtinguisherTraining and Education

Where portable fire extinguishers have been provided for employee use in the workplace, employees must be provided with an educational program on the:General principles of fire

extinguisher use.Hazards of incipient (beginning)

stage fire fighting.


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Fire Protection Summary There must be enough exits in the proper arrangement for

quick escape. Exit routes must be marked, lighted, free of obstructions,

and locks must not be used to impede or prevent escape. An emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan must

be in place. Fire extinguisher classes and numerical ratings help a user

understand its capabilities. Fire extinguishers must be inspected, maintained and

employees must be trained in how to use them.


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Portable Fire Extinguishers

Identification and Use


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The Fire Triangle

Fire safety and extinguishing is based upon the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition

sources separate.


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The Fire Triangle

Enough OXYGEN to sustain combustion.

Enough HEAT to reach ignition temperature.

Some FUEL or combustible material.

Together, they produce the CHEMICAL REACTION that is fire.

Three things must be present at the same time to produce fire:

Take away any of these things and the fire will be extinguished!


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Fuel Classifications

Fires are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning.

If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you might make matters worse.

Its very important to understand the five different fire (fuel) classifications.


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Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics—solids that are not metals.

Class B: Flammable liquids—gasoline, oil, grease, acetone. Includes flammable gases.

Class C: Electrical—energized electrical equipment. As long as it’s “plugged in.”

Class D: Metals—potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium. Requires Metal-X, foam, and other special extinguishing agents.


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Class K: Kitchens and Food Preparation Areas—Cooking Fuels, Cooking Materials, Fats, Cooking

Oil and preparations.


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Fuel ClassificationsMost fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which types of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight.

For example, a simple water extinguisher might have a label like this…

…which means it should only be used on Class A fires.


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Types of Fire Extinguishers

Different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different classes of fire.

The 3 most common types of fire extinguishers are:

Water,

Carbon Dioxide,

Dry Chemical.


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Water (APW) Fire ExtinguishersLarge silver fire extinguishers that stand about 2 feet tall and weigh about 25 pounds when full.

APW stands for “Air-Pressurized Water.”

Filled with ordinary tap water and pressurized air, they are essentially large squirt guns.


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Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers

APW’s extinguish fire by taking away the “heat” element of the Fire Triangle.


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Types of Fire ExtinguishersWater (APW) Fire Extinguishers

APW’s are designed for Class A fires only:Wood, paper, cloth.

Using water on a flammable liquid fire could cause the fire to spread.

Using water on an electrical fire increases the risk of electrocution. If you have no choice but to use an APW on an electrical fire, make sure the electrical equipment is un-plugged or de-energized.


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Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

CO2 cylinders are red. They range in size from 5 lbs to 100 lbs or larger. On larger sizes, the horn will be at the end of a long,

flexible hose.

The pressure in a CO2 extinguisher is so great, bits of dry ice may shoot out of the horn.!


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CO2s will frequently be found in mechanical rooms, kitchens, and flammable liquid storage areas.

CO2’s are designed for Class B and C(Flammable Liquids and Electrical Sources)fires only!


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CO2 is very cold as it comes out of the extinguisher, so it cools the fuel as well.

Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable gas that takes away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. Without oxygen, there is no fire.


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Class A materials may also smolder and re-ignite.

A CO2 may be ineffective in extinguishing a Class A fire because it may not be able to displace enough oxygen to successfully put the fire out.


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Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers

The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire. These extinguishers are very effective at putting out fire.

Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust. This separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air.


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“ABC” fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. The greatest portion of this powder is composed of monoammonium phosphate. The extinguishers are pressurized with nitrogen.

ABC extinguishers are red. They range in size

from 5 to 30 pounds and larger.


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•ABC (can be used on Class A, B, or C fires)•BC (designed for use on Class B and C

fires)•DC (for “Dry Chemical”)

Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types…


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An “ABC” extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating it may be used on Class A, B and C fires.

It is extremely important to identify which types of dry chemical extinguishers are located in your area!

You don’t want to mistakenly use a “BC” extinguisher on a Class A fire thinking that it was an “ABC” extinguisher.


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Dry chemical extinguishers with powder designed for Class B and C fires (“BC” extinguishers) may be located in places such as commercial kitchens and

areas with flammable liquids.


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Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers Numerical Ratings

Numerical rating given to Class A and B extinguishers which indicate how large a fire an experienced person can put out with the extinguisher.

Ratings (Examples).

Class A: 1-A, 2-A, . . . 40-A.

Class B: 1-B, 2-B, . . . 640-B.


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Types of Fire Extinguishers-K Class

Fires involving cooking media (grease, fats, and oils in commercial cooking appliances are unlike most other fires because these oils have a wide range of auto-ignition temperatures.


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How to Use a Fire ExtinguisherIt’s easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you remember the acronym PASS:

PPull AAim SSqueeze SSweep


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How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

PPull the pin…

This will allow you to This will allow you to discharge the discharge the extinguisher.extinguisher.


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AAim at the base of the fire…

Hit the fuel.Hit the fuel.

If you aim at the If you aim at the flames...flames... … the extinguishing agent will fly

right through and do no good.


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SSqueeze the top handle…

This depresses a button This depresses a button that releases the that releases the pressurized extinguishing pressurized extinguishing agent.agent.


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SSweep from side to side…

.. .. until the fire is until the fire is completely out. completely out.

Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away, then slowly move forward.

Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-ignites.


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Rules for Fighting FiresFires can be very dangerous and you should always be certain that you will not endanger yourself or others when attempting to put out a fire.

For this reason, when a fire is discovered…

Assist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be accomplished without risk to yourself.

Call 911 or activate the building fire alarm. The fire alarm will notify the fire department and other building occupants and shut off the air handling system to prevent the spread of smoke.


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Rules for Fighting Fires. . . before deciding to fight the fire, keep these things in mind:

Know what is burning. If you don’t know what’s burning, you won’t know what kind of extinguisher to use.

Even if you have an ABC fire extinguisher, there may be something in the fire that is going to explode or produce toxic fumes.

Chances are you will know what’s burning, or at least have a pretty good idea, but if you don’t, let the fire department handle it.


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Rules for Fighting Fires

. . . before deciding to fight the fire, keep these things in mind:

Is the fire spreading rapidly beyond the point where it started? The time to use an extinguisher is at the beginning stages of the fire.

If the fire is already spreading quickly, it is best to simply evacuate the building.

As you evacuate a building, close doors and windows behind you as you leave. This will help to slow the spread of smoke and fire.


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Do not fight the fire if:

Your instincts tell you not to.

If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any reason.


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Rules for Fighting FiresDo not fight the fire if:

You don’t have adequate or appropriate equipment.

If you don’t have the correct type or large enough extinguisher.


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Rules for Fighting FiresDo not fight the fire if:

You might inhale toxic smoke.

When synthetic materials such as the nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a sofa burn, they can produce hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia in addition to carbon monoxide. These gases can be fatal in very small amounts.


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Always position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire.

In case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected happens, you need to be able to get out quickly. You don’t want to become trapped.


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Thank You For Your ParticipationThank You For Your Participation

For additional assistance contact:Richard T. OwenEducation Cabinet Safety Coordinator601 East Main StreetFrankfort, Kentucky [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Fire Extinguisher Practice

Actual Use of Fire Extinguishers

Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers

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