It's another amazing day with our FIRE SAFETY Series, every episode has been a wrap and if you haven't been following, you certainly have missed out of the "Gold" we have been mining.

Yesterday we discussed the CLASSES OF FIRE and we left off saying that the whole aim of safety is that you GET AWARE OF THE DANGER and FOLLOW THE RULES with TIMELY ACTION!

Emphasis my friends, on ACTION!
And that's we will be dealing with today.

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO EACH OF THE CLASSES OF FIRE!

If you missed that episode, today's episode might be a rocky terrain for you because you'll definitely need the knowledge of yesterday's episode to understand this present one.

Before we proceed, I'll like to state that THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FIRE SAFETY IS THE PERSON WHO KNOWS WHERE THE EXTINGUISHER IS AND HOW TO USE IT.

Every Home should have a FIRE EXTINGUISHER, the only exception is for homes who do not have properties worth protecting.

So people we go straight up to;

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

• WATER AND FOAM EXTINGUISHERS

Water and Foam fire extinguisher, where the water extinguisher has a mixture of foam extinguishing components; it extinguishes the fire by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle.

The Foam agents in it is effective in separating the oxygen element from the other elements.

All water extinguishers have a red label on the body of the extinguisher.

Water extinguishers are for Class A fires only - they should not be used on Class B or C fires. The discharge stream could spread the flammable liquid in a Class B fire or could create a shock hazard on a Class C fire.

• CARBONDIOXIDE EXTINGUISHERS

Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish fire by taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and also be removing the heat with a very cold discharge.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers (CO2) have a black label on the body of the extinguisher.

Carbon dioxide can be used on Class B & C fires. They are usually ineffective on Class A fires.

• FIRE BLANKETS

Fire blankets are primarily for use on hot oil fires such as frying pans or small deep fat fryers.
They can also be used on someone whose clothing has caught fire.
They work by smothering the fire, stopping access to the oxygen fuelling it and extinguishing it.

• DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS

Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.

Today's most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires.
This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the fuel element on Class A fires.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers have a white band on the cylinders for identification

Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B & C fires only.

Again i emphasize, It is important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of fuel! 
Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to reignite after apparently being extinguished successfully.

• FOAM EXTINGUISHERS

Foam fire extinguishers can be used on Class A and B fires. They are most suited to extinguishing liquid fires such as petrol or diesel and are more versatile than water jet extinguishers because they can also be used on solids such as wood and paper.

The foam extinguishes liquid fires by sealing the surface of the liquid, preventing flammable vapour reaching the air and starving the fire of fuel. They are not suitable for use on free flowing liquid fires.

Foam extinguishers have a cream label on them.

• WET CHEMICAL

Wet Chemical is a new agent that extinguishes the fire by removing the heat of the fire triangle and prevents reignition by creating a barrier between the oxygen and fuel elements.

Wet chemical extinguishers have a yellow label on the body of the extinguisher.

Wet chemical of Class K extinguishers were developed for modern, high efficiency deep fat fryers in commercial cooking operations. Some may also be used on Class A fires in commercial kitchens.

• CLEAN AGENT EXTINGUISHERS

Halogenated or Clean Agent extinguishers include the halon agents as well as the newer and less ozone depleting halocarbon agents. They extinguish the fire by interrupting the chemical reaction and/or removing heat from the fire triangle.

Clean agent extinguishers are effective on Class A, B and C fires.

• DRY POWDER EXTINGUISHERS

Dry Powder extinguishers are similar to dry chemical except that they extinguish the fire by separating the fuel from the oxygen element or by removing the heat element of the fire triangle.

Powder extinguishers have a blue label on the body of the extinguisher.

However, dry powder extinguishers are for Class D or combustible metal fires, only. They are ineffective on all other classes of fires.

• WATER MIST EXTINGUISHERS

Water Mist extinguishers are a recent development that extinguish the fire by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle. They are an alternative to the clean agent extinguishers where contamination is a concern.

Water mist extinguishers are primarily for Class A fires, although they are safe for use on Class C fires as well.


USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• It is important to know the locations and the types of extinguishers in your Home or workplace prior to actually using one.

• Fire extinguishers can be heavy, so it's a good idea to practice picking up and holding an extinguisher to get an idea of the weight and feel.

• Take time to read the operating instructions and warnings found on the fire extinguisher label. Not all fire extinguishers look alike.

• Practice releasing the discharge hose or horn and aiming it at the base of an imagined fire. Do not pull the pin or squeeze the lever. This will break the extinguisher seal and cause it to lose pressure.

When it is time to use the extinguisher on a fire, just remember acronym PASS!

Pull the pin.

Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire from the recommended safe distance.

Squeeze the operating lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent.

Starting at the recommended distance, Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out. Move forward or around the fire area as the fire diminishes. Watch the area in case of reignition.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER MAINTAINANCE
Like any mechanical device, fire extinguishers must be maintained on a regular basis to ensure their proper operation.

You, the owner or occupant of the property where the fire extinguishers are located, are responsible for arranging your fire extinguishers' maintenance.

Fire extinguishers must be inspected or given a "quick check" every 30 days, that is monthly. 

Lastly, make sure your Fire extinguisher is in the correct location.
A Location where it is VISIBLE and ACCESSIBLE!

That's it people on FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, You'll just make reference to the picture below on HOW TO IDENTIFY EACH TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

And that's how we wrap up the FIRE SAFETY SERIES....
Thank you for staying with me on this voyage and I honestly hope it has been both interesting and rewarding for you!

And as a HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (HSE), i'll say;
Seek Safety, Aim Safety, Follow Safety, Ensure Safety, Teach Safety, Yield Safety!
SAFETY!

With Lot's of Love,
Your Fragile Giant!