Overview of Portable Fire Extinguishers

In Overview of Portable Fire Extinguishers, you'll learn ...

• Be able to identify the different classes of fires
• Learn the various types of fire extinguishers with their uses and limitations
• Be able to select, locate and distribute the extinguishers within a facility
• Understand how to use the appropriate fire extinguisher

Overview

Credit: 3 PDH

Length: 31 pages

Each year fire causes over $9 billion in direct property loss in the U.S. alone. A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives. Studies have shown that an individual who is properly trained on the use of fire extinguishers is 2½ times more effective when extinguishing a fire.

Extinguishers are classified by the types of fire that they can extinguish. Some extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing only one type of fire, while others can be effective on multiple types. To help in choosing the proper extinguishers, fires are classed A, B, C, or D, according to the type of fuel (e.g., paper, grease, oil) that is involved in the fire. Extinguishers are available for use on one or more classes of fire, depending on the extinguishing agent they contain (e.g., water, dry chemicals, CO2 or foam). Location and accessibility of fire extinguishers are vital considerations. Extinguishers are more likely to be used when they are readily available in sufficient number and type to persons familiar with their operation.

This 3-hour course is designed to provide basic information on portable fire extinguishers and their proper selection, location, identification, maintenance and use and is of particular interest to all engineers, architects, environmentalists, operations and maintenance personnel, as well as consultants and contractors who construct, build and manage facilities.