While there is a similar approach to the basic operation of most fire extinguishers, there are some important distinctions in terms of the different types of fires that certain extinguishers are designed to combat. This article looks at the specific instructions for each of the main types of fire extinguisher in use today.
Water Fire Extinguishers Instructions
Take particular care not to use on deep fat fires or fires involving electrical equipment.
Point the hose to the base of the fire and sweep the jet of water from side to side over the fire. Even if the fire is spreading upwards, always start with the base of the fire and move upwards from there. When the fire appears to be out, check the whole area for smouldering material that could flare up again.
Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers Instructions
While this is one of the most flexible extinguishers, it should not be used on fires in deep fat fryers or burning oil. The powerful jet would not extinguish the flames, and could spread the fire further by splashing the burning fat around.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers do not have the cooling effect of water, so check carefully afterwards as there is an increased danger of re-ignition. Exercise caution when using in a confined area as the carbon dioxide gas can be harmful to health. Ventilate the area as quickly as you can after discharging an extinguisher.
Direct the plastic horn towards the lower part of the fire and sweep from side to side as with the water extinguisher. Check for re-ignition and use again if required.
Foam Fire Extinguishers Instructions
Another flexible extinguisher, but not for use on deep fat fires.
One of the main uses of this type of extinguisher is on burning liquids such as petrol, diesel and oil. If the extinguisher is being used on a burning liquid, you should avoid directing it straight into the middle of the liquid as this will break up the surface and could cause splashing and spreading of the fire. If the liquid is inside a container, a good technique is to direct the jet at the inside edge of this (or an adjoining wall) and allow the foam to spread down and slide over the liquid surface. This avoids breaking up the surface and will then smother the fire. Failing that, direct the jet upwards, allowing it to fall gently onto the liquid surface, which also ought to avoid breaking the surface.
Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers Instructions
These are very widely used because of their flexibility, but like carbon dioxide, they have very little cooling effect. This means there is an added likelihood of a fire re-igniting, so care must be taken to watch for this. Disconnect the power supply if you are using a dry powder extinguisher on a fire near electrical equipment.
As with other extinguishers, the powder should be directed towards the base of the fire and a sweeping action used to move this from side to side aver the lower part of the fire. Dry powder can be used on flammable liquid fires, and if being used for this purpose the powder should be pointed towards the near edge of the burning liquid first, then work backwards from there.
Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers Instructions
The wet chemical extinguisher is the only type that can be safely used on fires involving deep fat fryers. All extinguishers of this type come with a long applicator or lance. This is used to direct the chemical directly onto the burning oil, which should be done in a steady circular motion.
Key Points About Fire Extinguisher Use
Before tackling a fire, call the emergency services first, or ensure that someone else has done so.
Do not attempt to use a fire extinguisher to fight a fire unless you are confident about doing so.
Make sure you keep an escape route clear and do not let the fire get between you and your way out.
Try to keep someone else with you in case you get into difficulties.
These fire extinguishers instructions will help give you a basic understanding of the principles of using portable fire fighting appliances, but anyone who is expected to operate fire extinguishers as part of your workplace emergency plan should be properly trained in how to do this. This should include the opportunity to actually operate live equipment.
Find detailed information and advice on fire extinguishers here.
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Monday 8 June 2009
Fire Extinguisher Instructions – Find Out How To Properly Use A Fire Extinguisher
All fire extinguishers are required to be supplied with some basic operating instructions already on them. Before you even think about trying to put a fire out with a portable appliance, however, there are a few things that require some consideration. If you are the person in charge of your workplace premises, then you will have a responsibility under the law to ensure that all staff are properly trained in what to do in the event of a fire.
Depending on your situation, your staff may or may not be required to operate fire extinguisher, but this is something which should be specified in your Emergency Plan and communicated clearly to all staff. In the UK, it is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order which places this duty on employers and specifically on the so-called ‘Responsible Person’. If your staff are expected to use portable fire extinguishers to tackle fires then you need to ensure that they have all been properly trained and are competent to do so.
If you are confronted by a fire, there are some simple guidelines which should help you decide whether you should attempt to use a fire extinguisher on it or not. These are important factors to bear in mind for your own safety.
If the fire is already large or well established, you should not attempt to fight it.
Always check your escape route first. Don’t fight a fire if you do not have a clear way out and do not let the fire spread and prevent you getting to the escape route.
If the area is already full of smoke from the fire, do not try to put the fire out. This is too dangerous because smoke is highly poisonous and it could overcome you.
Try to avoid being left on your own to fight a fire. Have someone else with you if you can, as this could be vital if you get into difficulties.
If the fire continues to spread despite your efforts, just leave it and evacuate.
You should not use an extinguisher if you have any doubt about what it is that is on fire. This is because all extinguishers are designed for certain classes of fire, and some fire can only be put out safely with a specialist extinguisher. A good example of how this could go seriously wrong would be if you were to use a water extinguisher on a fire involving electrical equipment. This could lead to an electric shock and very serious consequences.
Fire Extinguisher Operating Instructions:
The general operating instructions for most fire extinguishers rely on the same principles, and there is a commonly used way of remembering these basic steps. The acronym is ‘PASS’, which stands for pull, aim, squeeze and sweep. Different types of fire require different extinguishers and slightly different approaches, but PASS is a good way of remembering a system that will work for the vast majority of common workplace fires. In a general office type environment, these instructions are perfectly valid for water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam fire extinguishers.
PASS The Fire Extinguisher Instructions
PULL the pin out of the fire extinguisher, to make it ready for use.
AIM the hose, nozzle, horn, etc at the base of the fire from about eight feet away.
SQUEEZE the nozzle to activate the extinguisher and eject the contents.
SWEEP the hose from side to side over the base of the fire.
These are only very basic instructions. If staff are required to operate extinguishers, they should be given proper training and allowed to actually use an extinguisher as part of the training. This is the only way to ensure that they will have the confidence and knowledge to take the proper action in an emergency.
Read a full guide to all types fire extinguishers here.
Depending on your situation, your staff may or may not be required to operate fire extinguisher, but this is something which should be specified in your Emergency Plan and communicated clearly to all staff. In the UK, it is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order which places this duty on employers and specifically on the so-called ‘Responsible Person’. If your staff are expected to use portable fire extinguishers to tackle fires then you need to ensure that they have all been properly trained and are competent to do so.
If you are confronted by a fire, there are some simple guidelines which should help you decide whether you should attempt to use a fire extinguisher on it or not. These are important factors to bear in mind for your own safety.
If the fire is already large or well established, you should not attempt to fight it.
Always check your escape route first. Don’t fight a fire if you do not have a clear way out and do not let the fire spread and prevent you getting to the escape route.
If the area is already full of smoke from the fire, do not try to put the fire out. This is too dangerous because smoke is highly poisonous and it could overcome you.
Try to avoid being left on your own to fight a fire. Have someone else with you if you can, as this could be vital if you get into difficulties.
If the fire continues to spread despite your efforts, just leave it and evacuate.
You should not use an extinguisher if you have any doubt about what it is that is on fire. This is because all extinguishers are designed for certain classes of fire, and some fire can only be put out safely with a specialist extinguisher. A good example of how this could go seriously wrong would be if you were to use a water extinguisher on a fire involving electrical equipment. This could lead to an electric shock and very serious consequences.
Fire Extinguisher Operating Instructions:
The general operating instructions for most fire extinguishers rely on the same principles, and there is a commonly used way of remembering these basic steps. The acronym is ‘PASS’, which stands for pull, aim, squeeze and sweep. Different types of fire require different extinguishers and slightly different approaches, but PASS is a good way of remembering a system that will work for the vast majority of common workplace fires. In a general office type environment, these instructions are perfectly valid for water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam fire extinguishers.
PASS The Fire Extinguisher Instructions
PULL the pin out of the fire extinguisher, to make it ready for use.
AIM the hose, nozzle, horn, etc at the base of the fire from about eight feet away.
SQUEEZE the nozzle to activate the extinguisher and eject the contents.
SWEEP the hose from side to side over the base of the fire.
These are only very basic instructions. If staff are required to operate extinguishers, they should be given proper training and allowed to actually use an extinguisher as part of the training. This is the only way to ensure that they will have the confidence and knowledge to take the proper action in an emergency.
Read a full guide to all types fire extinguishers here.
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Mounting Fire Extinguishers And How To Use A Fire Extinguisher Mounting Bracket
An essential part of reviewing your fire extinguisher provision is the consideration of where to site them and how to fix them in place. Some appliances will come with a mounting bracket supplied, but for others you will need to purchase a fire extinguisher mounting bracket separately. It is beyond the scope of this article to get into how many fire extinguishers you should have for your workplace, or which type you need, so let us assume that you have your supply of the correct number and type of appliances and now you need to go about putting them where they need to be.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers – Where To Site Extinguishers
The first thing to say is that it is not an option to just leave a fire extinguisher standing on its own somewhere. It is unprotected, could be knocked over and damaged, or moved from its proper place leaving it unable to be found in an emergency. All fire extinguishers should be fixed in place using either a proper fire extinguisher mounting bracket, or a special stand or cabinet (more on all these later). It is a British Standard that all fire extinguishers are mounted on either a wall or a proper stand.
Fire extinguishers should always be sited on escape routes, in conspicuous places where they can easily be seen by people. If they need to be in a place where they cannot be seen directly, then appropriate signs must be used to highlight where they are. To help you decide where the best place to put extinguishers is, try to think through what would happen in the event of a fire. If you were escaping from a fire in your building, where would you want the fire extinguishers to be so that you can see them and get to them without deviating from your escape route. Their position should encourage people towards the exits rather than pull them back into the building.
It is also a useful guideline to site extinguishers next to call points, so that the alarm can be sounded before tackling the fire. For extinguishers which are being provided to cover specific risks, the extinguisher must be situated close to the risk. For example, a wet chemical fire extinguisher for a kitchen with a deep fat fryer. Bear in mind, however, that any such extinguisher must still be accessible if the risk happens. So in the above example, you would not put the extinguisher where you might not be able to get at it if the fat fryer did burst into flames.
It is a good rule of thumb to say you should not have to travel more than 30m from anywhere in your workplace to get to a fire extinguisher. Take care not to mount fire extinguishers in places where they may be exposed to heat. Most extinguishers will be marked with safe operating temperatures on them, so ensure they are kept within that range.
Types of Fire Extinguisher Mounting Bracket
Most fire extinguishers can be mounted against a wall using a fire extinguisher mounting bracket. The bracket should be fixed so as to result in the fire extinguisher handle being about 1m from the ground. An appropriate fire extinguisher identification sign should be mounted immediately above the appliance. These indicate the type of fire extinguisher and highlight its location.
Some fire extinguishers can be very heavy, so you need a solid wall to fix the bracket to, and fixings which are appropriate for something which is going to take a lot of weight. If you are in doubt about the ability of the wall to withstand such a load, it would be better to use a stand instead (see below).
The main types of fire extinguisher mounting brackets available are Lug Brackets, J Brackets and Shoulder Brackets. J brackets get their name from the fact that the letter J describes their shape. They are suitable for most types of fire extinguisher where the extinguisher’s bracket is at the back or the side of the appliance. Shoulder Brackets are so called because they are for fire extinguishers where the bracket is attached at the shoulder (the curved bit between the side and the top). Lug Brackets have a small arm coming out from the wall, with a small metal lug sticking up. These are for locating fire extinguishers with a corresponding fitting with a hole that fits on top of the lug.
There are other more specialist types of brackets available, such as the transport bracket, which has a retaining strap to hold the appliance in environments that move around, such as goods vehicles.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers - Cabinets and stands
There are certain situations where a fire extinguisher is required, but it cannot be fixed to a wall. This may be because the wall is not suitable, or even that there is no wall at all in the place where the extinguisher needs to be. In these situations a fire extinguisher cabinet or stand should be used. As mentioned earlier, it is not acceptable just to leave an appliance somewhere without being either attached to a wall or on a stand.
The option of a stand or cabinet may be the solution if the fire extinguisher needs to be situated next to cavity walls, plasterboard, glass, etc. Such stands are free standing and require no fixing at all. They simply stand on their own, and provide a secure position for the extinguisher. They are typically available to hold a single extinguisher or two extinguishers. Cabinets are available for environments where greater protection is required. These are often used in places such as workshops and petrol stations.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers – Conclusions
Mounting fire extinguisher is a relatively straightforward business, provided you understand the main principles. The main points to remember are to select conspicuous locations on escape routes to site the extinguishers, then adopt the most appropriate method for mounting them, based on that particular environment. If brackets are supplied with your appliances then you can’t go far wrong, and if not, just ensure you check the type of bracket that each of your extinguishers is going to require.
Read more about fire extinguishers here.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers – Where To Site Extinguishers
The first thing to say is that it is not an option to just leave a fire extinguisher standing on its own somewhere. It is unprotected, could be knocked over and damaged, or moved from its proper place leaving it unable to be found in an emergency. All fire extinguishers should be fixed in place using either a proper fire extinguisher mounting bracket, or a special stand or cabinet (more on all these later). It is a British Standard that all fire extinguishers are mounted on either a wall or a proper stand.
Fire extinguishers should always be sited on escape routes, in conspicuous places where they can easily be seen by people. If they need to be in a place where they cannot be seen directly, then appropriate signs must be used to highlight where they are. To help you decide where the best place to put extinguishers is, try to think through what would happen in the event of a fire. If you were escaping from a fire in your building, where would you want the fire extinguishers to be so that you can see them and get to them without deviating from your escape route. Their position should encourage people towards the exits rather than pull them back into the building.
It is also a useful guideline to site extinguishers next to call points, so that the alarm can be sounded before tackling the fire. For extinguishers which are being provided to cover specific risks, the extinguisher must be situated close to the risk. For example, a wet chemical fire extinguisher for a kitchen with a deep fat fryer. Bear in mind, however, that any such extinguisher must still be accessible if the risk happens. So in the above example, you would not put the extinguisher where you might not be able to get at it if the fat fryer did burst into flames.
It is a good rule of thumb to say you should not have to travel more than 30m from anywhere in your workplace to get to a fire extinguisher. Take care not to mount fire extinguishers in places where they may be exposed to heat. Most extinguishers will be marked with safe operating temperatures on them, so ensure they are kept within that range.
Types of Fire Extinguisher Mounting Bracket
Most fire extinguishers can be mounted against a wall using a fire extinguisher mounting bracket. The bracket should be fixed so as to result in the fire extinguisher handle being about 1m from the ground. An appropriate fire extinguisher identification sign should be mounted immediately above the appliance. These indicate the type of fire extinguisher and highlight its location.
Some fire extinguishers can be very heavy, so you need a solid wall to fix the bracket to, and fixings which are appropriate for something which is going to take a lot of weight. If you are in doubt about the ability of the wall to withstand such a load, it would be better to use a stand instead (see below).
The main types of fire extinguisher mounting brackets available are Lug Brackets, J Brackets and Shoulder Brackets. J brackets get their name from the fact that the letter J describes their shape. They are suitable for most types of fire extinguisher where the extinguisher’s bracket is at the back or the side of the appliance. Shoulder Brackets are so called because they are for fire extinguishers where the bracket is attached at the shoulder (the curved bit between the side and the top). Lug Brackets have a small arm coming out from the wall, with a small metal lug sticking up. These are for locating fire extinguishers with a corresponding fitting with a hole that fits on top of the lug.
There are other more specialist types of brackets available, such as the transport bracket, which has a retaining strap to hold the appliance in environments that move around, such as goods vehicles.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers - Cabinets and stands
There are certain situations where a fire extinguisher is required, but it cannot be fixed to a wall. This may be because the wall is not suitable, or even that there is no wall at all in the place where the extinguisher needs to be. In these situations a fire extinguisher cabinet or stand should be used. As mentioned earlier, it is not acceptable just to leave an appliance somewhere without being either attached to a wall or on a stand.
The option of a stand or cabinet may be the solution if the fire extinguisher needs to be situated next to cavity walls, plasterboard, glass, etc. Such stands are free standing and require no fixing at all. They simply stand on their own, and provide a secure position for the extinguisher. They are typically available to hold a single extinguisher or two extinguishers. Cabinets are available for environments where greater protection is required. These are often used in places such as workshops and petrol stations.
Mounting Fire Extinguishers – Conclusions
Mounting fire extinguisher is a relatively straightforward business, provided you understand the main principles. The main points to remember are to select conspicuous locations on escape routes to site the extinguishers, then adopt the most appropriate method for mounting them, based on that particular environment. If brackets are supplied with your appliances then you can’t go far wrong, and if not, just ensure you check the type of bracket that each of your extinguishers is going to require.
Read more about fire extinguishers here.
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