Portable Fire Extinguishers (IFSTA) Flashcards
(169 cards)
1
Q
Primarily intended for occupants to use on small, incipient fires or on fires in the early growth stage
A
Portable fire extinguishers
2
Q
Firefighters must learn about portable fire extinguishers for ___
A
Use on the job and to teach members of the community to use them properly
3
Q
According to ___, those qualified at the FF1 level must know about portable fire extinguishers
A
NFPA 1001
4
Q
What does a person qualified at the FF1 level need to know about portable fire extinguishers?
A
- Fire classifications
- Risks associated with each class of fire
- Operating methods of portable fire extinguishers
- Limitations of portable fire extinguishers
5
Q
In regards to a portable fire extinguisher, the FF1 must be able to ___
A
- Select the appropriate extinguisher for size and type of fire
- Safely carry portable fire extinguishers
- Approach fire with portable fire extinguishers
- Operate portable fire extinguishers
6
Q
Portable fire extinguishers are classified according to ___
A
The type of fire that each is designed to extinguish
7
Q
How many classes of portable fire extinguishers are there?
A
5
8
Q
Portable fire extinguishers are identified by the ___
A
Class letter or combination of letters for which the extinguisher is rated
9
Q
Three most common classification combinations
A
- A-B-C
- A-B
- B-C
10
Q
All new portable fire extinguishers must be labeled with ___
A
The appropriate letters and/or symbols
11
Q
An extinguisher should be used only for the ___
A
Fire type for which it is intended
12
Q
___ extinguishers are classified with both letter and numerical rating systems
A
Class A and B
13
Q
What does the rating of 4-A 10-B:C indicate?
A
- Should extinguish a Class A fire that is 4 times larger than a 1-A fire
- 20 times as much Class B fire than a 1-B extinguisher
- Extinguish a deep-layer flammable fire of 20 sq/ft in area
- Must be nonconductive
14
Q
The classification and numerical rating system is based on tests by ___
A
Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
15
Q
Portable fire extinguishers are identified in two ways ___
A
- Geometric shapes of specific colors with the class letter shown within the shape
- Pictographs
16
Q
Fire classifications
A
A - Ordinary combustibles
B - Flammable and combustible liquids and gases
C - Electrical
D - Combustible metals
K - Kitchen (cooking oils)
17
Q
Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles such as ___
A
- Textiles
- Plastics
- Wood
- Paper
- Rubber
18
Q
All class A fires can be extinguished with ___
A
Water and water-based agents like Class A foam or dry chemicals
19
Q
Rating range of Class A extinguishers
A
1-A to 40-A
20
Q
The Class A rating of extinguishers is primarily based on the ___
A
Amount of water and the duration and range of the discharge used in extinguishing test fires
21
Q
To calculate the water capacity of a Class A extinguisher, ___
A
Multiply the number in front of the A by 1.25 gallons
22
Q
Agents used to extinguish Class B fires include ___
A
CO2, dry chemicals, and Class B foam
23
Q
Flammable and combustible liquids include ___
A
- Alcohol
- Lubricating oils
- Gasoline
- LPG
24
Q
LPG
A
Liquified petroleum gas
25
Class B extinguisher rating range
1-B to 640-B
26
The Class B rating is based on ___
The approximate square foot area of a flammable liquid fire that a nonexpert operator can extinguish using one full extinguisher
27
The nonexpert operator of a Class B extinguisher is expected to extinguish ___
1 square foot for each numerical rating or value of the extinguisher rating
28
___ agents cannot be used on Class C fires
Water and water-based
29
Class C extinguishing agents will not ___
Conduct electricity
30
The Class C rating is assigned in addition to ___
A rating for Class A or B fires
31
To determine a Class C extinguishers extinguishing ability, check the ___
Class A or B rating
32
Class D fires include ___
1. Titanium
2. Magnesium
3. Sodium
4. Lithium
5. Potassium
33
Can be identified by the bright white emissions during the combustion process
Magnesium fires
34
Common uses of magnesium
1. Cameras
2. Laptops
3. Luggage
4. Metal box springs for beds
5. Wheels and transmission components for cars
35
The use of water or water-based agents on Class D fires will ___
Cause the fire to react violently, emit bits of molten metal, and could injure nearby firefighters
36
Works best on Class D fires
Class D dry powder
37
Do not confuse Class D dry powder extinguishers for ___
Dry chemical units used on Class A, B, and C fires
38
Test fires for establishing Class D extinguisher ratings vary with ___
The type of combustible metal tested
39
Testers for Class D extinguishers consider various factors during testing ___
1. Reactions between the metal and the agent
2. Toxicity of the agent
3. Toxicity of the fumes produced and the products of combustion
4. Time to allow metal to burn completely without fire suppression compared to the time to extinguish the fire using the extinguisher
40
The application instructions for a Class D extinguisher are on the ___
Faceplate
41
Class D extinguishers do not get a ___
Numerical rating
42
Involve combustible cooking oils such as vegetable or animal fats and oils that burn at extremely high temps
Class K fires
43
What agents are used on a Class K fire?
Wet chemical systems and portable fire extinguishers
44
Class K rated extinguishers work because of ___
Saponification
45
Saponification converts ___
The fatty acids or fats in oils to a soapy film
46
Oils that saponification in Class K extinguishers works on ___
1. Vegetable oil
2. Canola oil
3. Peanut oil
4. Other oils with little or no fatty acids
47
Wet chemical agents containing an alkaline mixture, such as potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, or potassium citrate ___ the Class K fire
Suppress the vapors and smother
48
Agents capable of extinguishing a fire from ___ meet the minimum criteria for a Class K rating
A deep fryer using these light oils with a surface area of 2.25 sq/ft
49
In addition to being rated according to the type of fire they will extinguish, portable fire extinguishers are also rated according to the ___
Type of extinguishing agent and the mechanism used to expel the contents
50
Extinguishing agents use at least one of the following methods to extinguish a fire ___
1. Smothering
2. Cooling
3. Chemical flame inhibition
4. Saponification
51
Excluding oxygen from the burning process
Smothering
52
Reducing the burning material below its ignition temp
Cooling
53
Interrupting the chemical chain reaction
Chemical flame inhibition
54
Forming an oxygen-excluding soapy foam surface
Saponification
55
Smothering agents wont work on materials that ___
Contain their own oxidizing agent
56
Water-type extinguishers must be protected against freezing if exposed to temps below ___
40°F
57
Protection options for water-type extinguishers against freezing
1. Adding antifreeze
2. Storing them in warm areas
58
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of water
1. Cooling
2. Oxygen depletion
59
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of CO2
1. Oxygen depletion
2. Cooling
60
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of foam
1. Oxygen depletion
2. Vapor suppression
61
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of clean agent
1. Chain inhibition
2. Cooling
62
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of dry chemical
1. Chain inhibition
2. Oxygen depletion
63
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of wet chemical
1. Oxygen depletion
2. Vapor suppression
64
Primary and secondary method of extinguishing of dry powder
1. Oxygen depletion
2. Heat transfer cooling
65
Mechanisms portable extinguishers use to expel their contents
1. Manual pump
2. Stored pressure
3. Pressure cartridge
66
The operator physically applies pressure to a pump that increases pressure within the container which forces the agent out of a nozzle at the end of a hose
Manual pump
67
Compressed air or inert gas within the container forces the agent out a nozzle at the end of a hose when the operator presses the handle
Stored pressure
68
A separate cartridge on the side of the container contains inert gas. When the operator punctures the cartridge seal, the expellant enters the container and forces the agent out a nozzle on the end of a hose
Pressure cartridge
69
Common portable fire extinguishers
1. Pump-type water extinguishers
2. Stored-pressure extinguishers
3. AFFF extinguishers
4. CO2 extinguishers
5. Dry powder extinguishers
6. Stored-pressure water extinguishers
7. Wet chemical stored-pressure extinguishers
8. Clean agent extinguishers
9. Dry chemical extinguishers
70
AFFF
Aqueous film forming foam
71
Pump-type water extinguishers are intended primarily for use on ___
1. Ground cover fires
2. May also be used on small Class A fires
72
Operators usually wear pump-type water extinguishers on their ___ and use a ___
1. Backs
2. Manually operated slide pump
73
A pump-type water extinguisher nozzle produces ___
A straight stream, fog, or water-mist pattern
74
Stored-pressure water extinguishers are also called ___
Air-pressurized water extinguishers or pressurized water extinguishers
75
APW
Air-pressurized water
76
APW extinguishers are useful for ___
1. All types of Class A fires
2. Extinguishing confined hot spots during overhaul operations
77
Stored-pressure water extinguishers store water along with ___
Compressed air or nitrogen
78
APW extinguishers have a ___ to display the extinguishers pressure level
Gauge located on the valve assembly
79
The pressure in an APW extinguisher's stored pressure forces water ___
Up the siphon tube and out through the hose
80
Some manufacturer's add ___ to pump-type or stored-pressure water extinguishers to increase their effectiveness
Class A foam concentrate
81
Stored-pressure water-mist extinguishers use ___ as the agent and nozzles that produce ___
1. Deionized water
2. A fine spray instead of a solid stream
82
Impurities in water make it conduct ___
Electricity
83
Stored-pressure water-mist extinguishers are safe to use on ___ in addition to Class A fires because of the ___
1. Class C fires
2. Deionized water
84
The fine spray from a stored-pressure water-mist extinguisher enhances ___ and reduces ___
1. The water's cooling and soaking characteristics
2. Scattering of the burning materials
85
Stored-pressure wet chemical fire extinguishers are intended for use on ___
Class K fires involving cooking fats, greases, and vegetable and animal oils in commercial kitchens
86
Stored-pressure wet chemical fire extinguishers contain ___
A special potassium-based, low-pH agent formulated to operate on the principle of saponification
87
AFFF extinguishers are intended for ___
Class B fires
88
AFFF extinguishers are particularly useful in ___
Combating fires in or suppressing vapors from small liquid fuel spills
89
AFFF extinguishers differ from stored-pressure water extinguishers in two ways
1. The AFFF extinguisher tank contains a specified amount of AFFF concentrate mixed with the water to produce a foam solution
2. It has an air-aspirating foam nozzle that aerates the foam solution
90
The water/AFFF solution is expelled using ___
Compressed air or nitrogen stored in the tank with the solution
91
The resulting finished AFFF foam ___ on the surface of fuels that are lighter than water
Floats
92
The film of AFFF creates a ___
Vapor seal that extinguishes the flame and prevents reignition
93
To avoid disturbing the AFFF foam blanket when applying the foam, ___
Do not apply the foam directly to the fuel, instead, allow it to rain down gently onto the fuel's surface or deflect the foam off a nearby object or surface
94
AFFF extinguishers are most effective on ___
Static pools of flammable liquids
95
AFFF extinguishers are not suitable for fires in ___ fuels
Class C, D, or K
96
AFFF extinguishers are not suitable when the fuel is ___
Flowing downhill or under pressure spraying from a leak
97
Clean agents in halotron extinguishers effectively ___
Cool and smother fires in Class A and B fuels and inhibit the sustained chemical reaction in Class C fuels
98
Why can clean agents extinguish Class C fires?
They are nonconductive
99
Clean agents were developed to replace ___
Halons
100
Halons are also known as ___
Halogenated extinguishing agents
101
Halons were extremely effective for extinguishing fires in ___
Computer rooms, Aircraft engines, and areas that contain materials that could easily be damaged by water or dry chemical agents
102
Disadvantage of halogenated extinguishing agents
Damaging to the ozone layer
103
CO2 fire extinguishers are available as both ___ units
Handheld and wheeled
104
CO2 extinguishers are most effective at extinguishing ___
Class B and C fires
105
___ will disperse the CO2 from the extinguisher
Wind
106
CO2 extinguishers have a limited ___
Reach
107
CO2 extinguishers do not require ___ protection
Freeze
108
CO2 extinguishers store CO2 ___
Under its own pressure as a liquified gas
109
CO2 extinguishers discharge the agent through a ___
Plastic or rubber horn at the end of a short hose or tube
110
The gaseous CO2 discharge usually forms ___
Dry ice crystals or CO2 snow
111
The snow from CO2 changes ___
From a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid
112
How does the CO2 put out the fire?
Displaces oxygen and smothers the fire
113
Even though CO2 discharges at subzero temps, it has ___
Little if any cooling effect on fires
114
CO2 does not suppress the ___
Surface vapors of fuel
115
When the extinguishers discharge CO2, a ___ builds up on the discharge horn
Static electrical charge
116
Wheel CO2 unit typical capacity
50 to 100 lbs
117
Wheeled CO2 units are most commonly used in ___
Airports and industrial facilities
118
After operators wheel the CO2 unit to the fire, they must ___
Deploy or unwind a hose from the unit before use
119
Wheel CO2 unit typical hose length
15'
120
Dry chemical agents are for use on ___
Class A-B-C fires and/or Class B-C fires
121
Most common portable fire extinguishers in use
Dry chemical
122
Two basic types of dry chemical extinguishers
1. Regular B-C rated
2. Multipurpose and A-B-C rated
123
Commonly used dry chemicals
1. Sodium bicarbonate
2. Potassium bicarbonate
3. Urea-potassium bicarbonate
4. Potassium chloride
5. Monoammonium phosphate
124
Manufacturers mix dry chemical agents with additives that make the agents ___
Moisture-resistant and prevent them from caking
125
Drying or hardening into a mass
Caking
126
Because dry chemical agents don't cake, the application may result in a ___
Cloud of airborne particulate
127
With dry chemical agents on Class A fires, direct the agents at ___
The fuel in order to cover it with chemical
128
Many dry chemical agents can be ___ to all surfaces
Mildly corrosive
129
Some dry chemicals are compatible with ___
Foam
130
___ agents will cause the foam blanket to deteriorate when applied in conjunction with or after foam to a Class B fire or spill
Monoammonium phosphate and some sodium bicarbonate
131
Once the dry chemical agent has knocked down the flames, the operator should ___
Apply the agent intermittently as needed on any smoldering areas
132
Two basic designs for handheld dry chemical extinguishers
1. Cartridge-operated
2. Stored-pressure
133
A stored-pressure handheld dry chemical extinguisher's agent storage tank maintains a constant pressure of about ___
200 psi
134
Employ a pressure cartridge connected to the agent tank
Cartridge-operated extinguishers
135
How to operate a cartridge-operated extinguisher
Push a plunger to release the gas from the cartridge and pressurize the agent tank
136
Both cartridge-operated and stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers use either ___ or ___ as the pressurizing gas
1. Nitrogen
2. CO2
137
When pressurizing a cartridge-type extinguisher, do not ___
Place your head or any other part of your body above the top of the extinguisher
138
Why should you not be above a cartridge-type extinguisher when pressurizing?
If the fill cap is not properly screwed back on, the cap and/or a cloud of agent can be forcibly discharged
139
Dry chemical wheeled units are ___ versions of the handheld units
Larger
140
Dry chemical wheeled units are rated for Class A, B, and C fires based on the ___
Dry chemical in the unit
141
Dry chemical wheeled units configuration
Extinguishing agent is kept in one tank, and the pressurizing gas in a separate cylinder
142
After positioning the dry chemical wheeled unit at the fire, and before discharging the agent, the operator should ___
Stretch out the hose completely
143
Why should the hose on the dry chemical wheeled unit be stretched out before pressurizing?
It can make removing the hose more difficult and the powder can sometimes clog in sharp bends of the hose
144
Operators of a dry chemical wheeled unit should ___ before opening the nozzle
Introduce the pressurizing gas into the agent tank and allow it a few seconds to fully pressurize
145
An operator of a dry chemical wheeled unit should be prepared for a significant ___ when the nozzle is opened
Nozzle reaction
146
Fires involving Class D combustible metals require ___
Special dry powder extinguishing agents and application techniques
147
Some powdered agents can be applied with portable extinguishers, but others must be applied with ___
Either a shovel or a scoop
148
Describes the appropriate application technique for any given dry powder
Manufacturer's technical sales literature
149
Class D portable fire extinguishers come in both ___ models
Handheld and wheeled
150
Whether applying a particular dry powder with an extinguisher or with a scoop, the operator must apply the agent ___
In a sufficient depth to completely cover the burning area
151
Operators should apply the dry powder gently in order to avoid ___
Breaking any crust that may form over the burning metal
152
If the crust of a dry powder over a burning metal breaks, ___
The fire may flare and expose more uninvolved material to combustion
153
Water applied to a combustible metal fire results in a ___
Violent reaction that intensifies the combustion and causes bits of molten metal to spatter in every direction
154
How to extinguish a fire fueled with a small amount of burning metal on a combustible surface
1. Cover the fire with powder
2. Spread a layer of powder 1 to 2 inches deep nearby
3. Shovel the burning metal onto this layer
4. Add more powder as needed
5. After extinguishment, leave the material undisturbed until the mass has cooled completely before attempting disposal
155
In most cases, your supervisor will make the decision on the need to use a portable fire extinguisher and will tell you the ___
Correct type to select and use
156
Select extinguishers that ___
Minimizes the risk to life and property and are effective in extinguishing the fire
157
Factors to consider when selecting an extinguisher
1. Classification of the burning fuel
2. Hazards to be protected against
3. Atmospheric conditions
4. Ease of handling the extinguisher
5. Rating of the extinguisher
6. Size and intensity of the fire
7. Availability of trained personnel to operate the extinguisher
8. Any life hazard or operational concerns
158
Even though fires in electronics or computer equipment are Class C fires, you should select ___ to fight fires in highly sensitive computer equipment
1. Clean agent or CO2
159
Dry chemical effect on Class C fire in sensitive computer equipment
The residue will leave a residue that could potentially do more damage to the computer than the fire itself
160
A ___ of the extinguisher should be conducted before it is used
Visual inspection
161
The visual inspection of the extinguisher before use is necessary to ensure ___
That the extinguisher is charged and operable
162
The visual inspection of the extinguisher before use may protect you from injury from a ___
Defective or depleted extinguisher
163
The visual inspection before use of an extinguisher includes ___
1. External condition - No apparent damage
2. Hose/nozzle - In place
3. Weight - Feels as though it contains agent
4. Pressure gauge (if available) - Should register a reading in the operable range
164
Approach the fire from ___
Upwind
165
Once in position to attack the fire, use the ___ method
PASS application
166
PASS
Pull - pull the pin
Aim - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
Squeeze - Squeeze the handles together to release a short burst to test the extinguisher, then squeeze continuously
Sweep - Sweep the nozzle back and forth to cover the burning material
167
A portable fire extinguisher is a ___ fire fighting appliance and does not take the place of an ___
1. First aid
2. Appropriate-size hoseline
168
If extinguishment is not achieved after an entire extinguisher has been discharged onto the fire, ___
Withdraw and reassess the situation
169
What to do with empty extinguishers
Lay on their sides
