Supply & Refilling of Fire Extinguishers 

Choosing Fire Extinguishers

 Identify the type of materials in the area 

 

Class A: SOLIDS such as paper, wood, plastic etc

Class B: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS such as paraffin, petrol, oil etc

Class C:  FLAMMABLE GASES such as propane, butane, methane etc

Class D:METALS such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium etc

Class E:Fires involving ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

Class F:Cooking OIL & FAT etc

 

Types of fire extinguisher

 

 CO2 Fire Extinguishers:
Carbon Dioxide is ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B liquid fires, but has NO POST FIRE SECURITY and the fire could re-ignite.

 

Water Fire Extinguishers:
The cheapest and most widely used fire extinguishers. Used for Class A fires. Not suitable for Class B (Liquid) fires, or where electricity is involved.

 

 Foam Fire Extinguishers:
More expensive than water, but more versatile. Used for Classes A & B fires. Foam spray extinguishers are not recommended for fires involving electricity, but are safer than water if inadvertently sprayed onto live electrical apparatus.

 

 Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers:
Often termed the ‘multi-purpose’ extinguisher, as it can be used on classes A, B & C fires. Best for running liquid fires (Class B). Will efficiently extinguish Class C gas fires, BUT BEWARE, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO EXTINGUISH A GAS FIRE WITHOUT FIRST ISOLATING THE GAS SUPPLY.  Special powders are available for class D metal fires.

Warning: when used indoors, powder can obscure vision or damage goods and machinery. It is also very messy.

 

Usage of Fire Extinguishers 

Fire extinguishers can be very easy to use. We just need to follow the abbreviation P.A.S.S. ( P ull, A im, Squeeze and S weep).  

 

First procedure is to pull the pin located at the top of the extinguisher. The pin will release a locking mechanism that will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.  

 

Secondly, do not target the flames directly. Instead, aim at the base of the fire. The reason for this is to extinguish the fuel that serves as life of the fire.  

 

Next, squeeze the lever carefully and slowly since we deal with a pressurized material by that the extinguishing agent will be released in the extinguisher. Then, if the handle of the extinguisher is released after squeezing, the discharge will discontinue.

 

Lastly, sweep the extinguisher from side to side until the fire is completely extinguished. It is also important to know the safest distance to operate should be several feet away. Note that there are different types of fire extinguishers and they have different operating distances.