Fire Extinguisher Guidance (Theory)

Lancashire County Care Services

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

Do not attempt to fight the fire :

• Unless trained to do so with practical training

• Do not take any personal risks

• This presentation is Guidance

• GET OUT STAY OUT

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

• Only use extinguisher on small fire (maximum size of a waste bin) if fire is blocking direct escape route

• Only use if trained to do so with practical training

• You must remove the safety pin before operating/using the fire extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

• All extinguishers are coloured red

• All display a colour coded panel to differentiate the specific type of extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

TYPES of Fire Extinguisher within Care Services

• Water• Foam• Dry Powder• Carbon Dioxide• Wet Chemical• Fire Blanket

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

WATER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Panel Colour is RED

Best for:• Wood, cloth, paper, plastics

and coal • Fires involving solids

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

WATER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Danger DO NOT USE on flammable liquids, flammable gases, burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

WATER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Water cools the burning material and extinguishes fire

• Water is applied to fire through discharge hose playing backwards and forwards on the fire

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Panel Colour is CREAMBest for:• Fires involving solids -wood,

cloth, paper, plastics and coal

• Flammable liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint and petrol

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Danger DO NOT USE on chip or fat pan fires

• Danger DO NOT USE on flammable oil fires

• Foam is expelled under pressure through a flexible discharge hose

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Foam floats on surfaces of oils and other flammable liquids

• Has cooling action• Extinguishes the fire by

smothering and preventing air getting to the fuel

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Panel colour is BLUE• Best for liquids such as

grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol• Safe on live electrical

equipment

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Danger DO NOT USE on chip or fat pan fires

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Knocks down the flames and smothers the fire

• Discharged through hose to a nozzle

• Forms a barrier between the burning fuel and the air

• Take care that fire does not reignite

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• The fire panel is BLACK

Best for• Fires that involve electrical

equipment

• Liquids such as grease, fats, oil paint, petrol.

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

DO NOT USE on chip or fat pan fires

The vaporising liquid gas smothers the flames by displacing oxygen in the air.

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Fumes from Carbon Dioxide extinguishers can be harmful if used in confined spaces

• Ventilate the area as soon as fire has been controlled

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Can be very noisy

• Very short operating time small cylinder may last only 12 seconds

• Take Care to hold and direct by the tube

• DO NOT TOUCH the horn risk of freeze burns to fingers

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

WET CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Panel colour is YELLOW

Best for on cooking oils and fats in kitchens

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

FIRE BLANKET

• Good for chip pan fires provided the fire blanket completely covers the fire.

• Fire blanket smothers the fire

Fire Extinguisher Guidance

Using a Fire Blanket

• Pull down the tapes• Fully open the

blanket ensuring your hands are protected

• Place the blanket over the flames, do not put yourself at risk

• Extinguishes by asphyxiating

Fire Extinguisher GuidanceDo not attempt to fight the fire :• Unless trained to do so with

practical training

• Do not take any personal risks

• This presentation is GUIDANCE

GET OUT - STAY OUT