This expression is a blending of what’s wished for with what’s realistic. It applies to individuals, communities, companies, nations, and specifically to the workplace

FIRE SAFETY ORIENTATION
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
PORTABLE
FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Objectives:
• Explain the purpose of portable fire extinguishers
• Identify the different types of portable fire extinguishers
• Understand the requirements of the Occupational
Safety and Health Standards regarding portable fire
extinguishers

A portable apparatus containing fire fighting
elements that can be discharged in a jet to
extinguish a small fire.

Portable Fire Extinguishers are designed to put out or
control small fires. A small fire, if not checked immediately,
will soon spread out of control. In fact, most big fires start
out as small ones. It is important, therefore, that you equip
your workplace with the proper fire extinguishers as part of
your fire protection plan. It’s also the law.
Importance of Portable Fire Extinguishers

 the extinguisher must be right for the type of fire;
 it must be located where it can be easily reached;
 it must be in good working order;
 the fire must be discovered while it is still small;
 the person using the extinguisher must be trained to use
it properly.
For a fire extinguisher to be effective,
the following conditions must be met:

Parts of a Portable Fire Extinguisher
DISCHARGE HOSE
DISCHARGE NOZZLE
BODY
DATA PLATE
CARRYING
HANDLE
PRESSURE GAUGE
(not found on CO2
extinguishers)
DISCHARGE LEVER
DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN
AND SEAL

Class A Extinguishers will put out fires of ordinary
combustibles, such as wood and paper. The
numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher
refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher
holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish.
Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Class B Extinguishers should be used on fires
involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline,
oil, etc. The numerical rating for this class of fire
extinguisher states the approximate number of square
feet of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert person
can expect to extinguish.

Class C Extinguishers are suitable for use on
electrically energized fires. This class of fire
extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The
presence of the letter “C” indicates that the
extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

Class D Extinguishers are designed for use on
flammable metals and are often specific for the type of
metal in question. There is no picture designator for
Class D extinguishers. These extinguishers generally
have no rating nor are they given a multi-purpose
rating for use on other types of fires.

Class K Extinguishers. Due to new and improved cooking
appliances, higher heating rates and industry trends towards
using more unsaturated oils, the potential for severe restaurant
fires is greater than ever. The 1998 edition of NFPA-10 contains
a new Class “K” extinguisher rating to specifically identify and
address these commercial “combustible cooking media” fire
hazards in kitchens.

Fire Extinguisher Labeling
Picture Symbol
No Current Picture
Symbol
For wood, paper, cloth, trash and other
ordinary materials
For gasoline, grease, oil, paint and other
flammable liquids
For live electrical equipment
For combustible metals
For combustible metal
Letter Symbol

Fire Extinguisher Labeling
This is the old style of
labeling indicating
suitability for use on
Class A, B, and C fires.
Newer extinguishers
now carry a Pictograph
Labeling System

Most Common Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers
Class A, B, C
Class A & B
Class B & C
Class A
Class D

If pictograph is used, labeling will be…
Class A & B only
Class B & C only
Class A only
Class A, B, C

Types of Fire Extinguishers
by Extinguishing Agent

Type: Class A Fire Extinguisher
Pressure Gauge: Yes
Agent: Water
Method: Water Cools fire by removing heat.
Designated for: Class A (wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and certain plastics.
Safety and Health
Precautions:
1. Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fires.
2. Never use on Metal Fire (water reactive).
3. Water is a good conductor and may lead to electrocution if used
to extinguish an electrical fire.

For Class A & B Fires
FOAM-BASED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS (AFFF)
Type: Class A & B Fire Extinguisher
Pressure Gauge: Yes
Agent: Water & Foam
Method: Cools fire by removing heat and isolate fuel from oxygen
Designated for: Class A (ordinary combustibles) , Class B (liquid fuels)
Typical applications include chemical industries, oil companies, labs,
chemicals dealership stores, transportation.
Safety and Health
Precautions:
1. May cause skin and eye irritation.
2. Water is a good conductor and may lead to electrocution if used to
extinguish an electrical fire.

Type: BC Fire Extinguisher
Pressure Gauge: No (Must be weighed to determine leakage)
Agent: Carbon dioxide is discharged as a white cloud of “snow”
Method: Removes oxygen from fire
Designated for: Class B and C (flammable liquid and electrical) fires only
Health and Safety
Precautions:
1. Inhalation of this product may cause dizziness, an irregular
heartbeat, narcosis, nausea or asphyxiation.
2. After the CO2 dissipates, Class A fire may reignite.
3. Never use CO2 extinguishers in a confined space

Type: Multipurpose / ABC Dry Chemical
Pressure Gauge Yes
Agent: Mono ammonium phosphate, non-conductive, mildly corrosive
Method: Fire retardant powder separates the fuel from the oxygen.
Designated for: Wood, paper, Flammable Liquid, & Electrical Fire
Safety and Health
Precautions:
1. May be harmful in contact with skin.
2. Causes eye irritation.
3. May be harmful if inhaled
4. Mildly Corrosive – Sensitive to Electronic Equipment

Type: Class D – Metal Fires
Pressure Gauge Yes
Agent: Sodium Chloride, copper, Graphite…many types.
Method: Heat causes agent to cake and form a crust which excludes air and
dissipates heat from burning metal.
Designated for: Metal powders, flakes, shavings or chips (sodium, lithium)
Safety and Health
Precautions:
1. May be harmful if swallowed
2. May be harmful in contact with skin
3. Causes eye irritation
4. May cause respiratory irritation

Type: K – Kitchen Fire
Pressure Gauge: Yes
Agent: Mixture of dry and wet chemicals (Conductive)
Method: Fires burn at extremely high temperatures
Designated for: Vegetable or Animal Fat (not listed in OSHA)
Safety and Health
Precautions:
1. Whether or not under a hood, required for all solid fuel cooking
appliances with a fire box of 5 cubic feet volume.
2. Class K extinguishers are electrically conductive
3. Electrical power to the kitchen appliance has been shut off.

HCFC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
They have the same mode of action as powder extinguishers, as they interrupt the
chemical chain reaction in the fire tetrahedron. They offer the additional advantage of
being clean extinguishing agents, which leave no trace after the fire has been
suppressed.
HCFC 123 extinguishers have been designed to protect areas containing Class A (solid
fuels), Class B (liquid and gaseous fuels), as well as Class C fire risks (energized
electrical equipment). Typical applications include computer and communications
rooms, libraries, document archives, art galleries and labs, among others.
Inhalation of high concentrations of vapor is harmful and may cause heart irregularities,
unconsciousness, or death. Vapor reduces oxygen available for breathing and is heavier
than air. Product causes mild eye irritation. Decomposition products are hazardous.
Safety and Health Precautions:

Selection
Using the wrong extinguisher to fight a fire can have
serious results. For example, if a water-based extinguisher
is used on a flammable liquid fire (Class B fire), the fire
may flare up, spread, and cause personal injury to the user
and others. If a water-based extinguisher is used to fight a
fire in or near electrical equipment (Class C fire), the user
could suffer an electric shock.

Location
No matter how carefully they are selected, fire extinguishers
won’t be of any use if they can’t be reached in an emergency.
Locate extinguishers where they can be readily reached for
use while a fire is still small. However, don’t locate them
where they could be a hazard to employees, or where they
could get damaged.

Post signs to show the locations of fire extinguishers, particularly in
large floor areas where they could be easily blocked from view.
The signs should be large enough to be seen clearly from a
distance.

P.A.S.S. Method
1. Pull the pin
This will allow you to
squeeze the handle
in order to discharge
the extinguisher
Proper Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers

2. Aim at the base
of the fire
Aiming at the middle
will do no good. The
agent will pass
through the flames.
P.A.S.S. Method

3. Squeeze the
handle
This will release the
pressurized
extinguishing agent
P.A.S.S. Method

4. Sweep side to side
Cover the entire area that is
on fire. Continue until fire
is extinguished. Keep an
eye on the area for
re-ignition.
P.A.S.S. Method

In the Use of Fire Extinguishers …
Even a willing operator cannot
successfully extinguish a fire
unless he knows how to actuate
the available equipment.
Reminder !!!

OSHS RULE NO. 1944.05
GENERAL REQUIREMENT - PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER
a. all places of employment, including those where
automatic-sprinkler protection system is installed, shall
be provided with portable fire extinguishers for
protection against incipient fires;
b. portable extinguishers shall be maintained in fully
charged and operable condition and kept in their
designated places at all times when not in use;

c. approved fire extinguishers shall be used;
d. extinguishers shall be installed on hangers or brackets
conspicuously located in unobstructed areas readily
accessible in the event of fire;
e. extinguishers having group weight not exceeding 18 kgs.
shall be installed so that the top is not more than 1.5 meter
above the floor. Those exceeding 18 kgs. except wheeled
types, shall be installed not more than 1 meter above the
floor;

f. extinguishers shall be inspected monthly or at more frequent
intervals when circumstances require to ensure they are in
their designated places, to determine physical damages
and that they are in good operable condition;
g. at regular intervals of not more than a year, or when
specifically indicated by an inspection, extinguishers shall
be thoroughly examined, recharged, or repaired;
h. on the place where extinguishers are located, the type and
use of the extinguishers and instructions on its proper use
shall be marked in visible and easily readable letters.

Classification of Hazards
1. Low Hazard
Light hazard occupancies are locations where the total amount of
Class A combustible materials, including furnishings, decorations, and
contents, is of minor quantity. This can include some buildings or
rooms occupied as offices, classrooms, churches, assembly halls,
guest room areas of hotels/motels, and so forth. This classification
anticipates that majority of content items are either noncombustible or
so arranged that a fire is not likely to spread rapidly. Small amounts of
Class B flammables used for duplicating machines, art departments,
and so forth, are included, provided that they are kept in closed
containers and safely stored.
(From 2008 Fire Code of the Philippines)

2. Moderate Hazard
Ordinary hazard occupancies are locations where the total
amount of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables are
present in greater amounts than expected under light (low) hazard
occupancies. These occupancies could consist of dining areas,
mercantile shops, and allied storage; light manufacturing,
research operations, auto showrooms, parking garages, workshop
or support service areas of light (low) hazard occupancies.

3. High Hazard
Extra hazard occupancies are locations where the total amount of
Class A combustibles and Class B flammables present, in storage,
production, use, finished product, or combination thereof, is over and
above those expected in occupancies classed as ordinary (moderate)
hazard. These occupancies could consist of woodworking, vehicle
repair, aircraft and boat servicing, cooking areas, individual product
display showrooms, product convention center displays, and storage
and manufacturing processes such as painting, dipping, and coating,
including flammable liquid handling.

TYPE OF
HAZARD
MIN.
EXTINGUISHER
RATING
MAX. TRAVEL
DISTANCE TO
EXTINGUISHER
(m)
MAX. AREA
(OPEN AREA)
PER
EXTINGUISHER
(M2)
LOW 2-A 15 200
MODERATE 3-A* 12 100
HIGH 4-A* 10 75
Table 9:
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASS A HAZARDS
* Two 2-A rated fire extinguishers, provided they are installed
adjacent to each other, may be used to fulfill the requirements of
one 3-A or 4-A rated extinguisher

TYPE OF
HAZARD
MIN.
EXTINGUISHER
RATING
MAX. TRAVEL
DISTANCE TO
EXTINGUISHER
(m)
MAX. AREA
(OPEN AREA)
PER
EXTINGUISHER
(M2)
LOW 5-B 10 200
MODERATE 10-B 10 100
HIGH 40-B 10 75
Table 10
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASS B HAZARDS

Maintenance
Extinguishers must be properly maintained to ensure that they will work
when needed, and that they are safe to use.
Adequate maintenance of extinguishers consists of regular inspections,
recharging as needed, and a complete annual checkup and servicing.
Records must be kept of all maintenance work carried out, including
inspections.
Testing and servicing is usually carried out by a service agency. If
employees in your company look after testing and servicing, they must
be trained and fully qualified to do so.

Appropriate use of extinguishers
• Alarm has been sounded
• Fire is small and confined
• You can fight the fire with your back toward an escape
route
• The extinguisher matches the fire type
• The extinguisher works effectively
• You are properly trained in the use of the extinguisher
• You are confident you can put the fire out
2a

Remember……….
The average hand portable extinguisher will
only operate for 30 seconds ----- There is NO
TIME to learn during an actual emergency.
Fire can be devastating, but when used properly,
a fire extinguisher can save lives and property.

If the fire does not go out immediately or the
extinguisher appears to be getting empty,
leave the area at once. Back out with the lever
squeezed and the nozzle pointed at your feet.
This will help protect you until you are out of
the area.

This expression is a blending of what’s wished for with what’s realistic. It applies to individuals, communities, companies, nations, and specifically to the workplace

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to This expression is a blending of what’s wished for with what’s realistic. It applies to individuals, communities, companies, nations, and specifically to the workplace

Similar to This expression is a blending of what’s wished for with what’s realistic. It applies to individuals, communities, companies, nations, and specifically to the workplace (20)

More from NoeAranel

More from NoeAranel (12)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

This expression is a blending of what’s wished for with what’s realistic. It applies to individuals, communities, companies, nations, and specifically to the workplace