TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

TYPES OF FIRE
Fires involving freely burning materials For example wood, paper, textiles and other carbonaceous materials. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Water Powder Foam Wet Chemical Fires involving flammable liquids For example petrols and spirits. Not alcohol or cooking oil. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Foam Dry Powder Powder CO2 Fires involving flammable gases For example butane and propane. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Dry Powder, Powder

TYPES OF FIRE
Fires involving flammable metals
For example magnesium and lithium. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Powder

Fires involving cooking oil and fat

For example olive oil, maize oil, lard and butter. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Wet Chemical

Fires involving electrical equipment

For example photocopiers, fax machines and computers. Appropriate fire extinguisher that should be used Dry Powder CO2 Powder

FIRE EXTINGUISHER

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire department. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.

TYPES OF PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Water type 1. soda acid 2. gas cartridge(gas pressure) 3. stored pressure(constant pressure) 4. water bucket Foam type 1.Chemical foam 2.Mechanical foam Dry powder or chemical dry powder Carbondioxide

Vapourising liquid extinguishers

CTC CBM or BCM BCF or Halon 1211 BTM or Halon 1301 MB methyl bromide

High discharge extinguishers Other types

WATER TYPE EXTINGUISHER

These extinguishers depend upon the following properties of water in the fire extinguishing. Water released in jet form jet of water created by gas pressure in the upper part of cylinder. Gas pressure is induced by chemical reaction or mechanical means finely divided minute particles surface area increases and the cooling surface also increases Water released at high pressure it beats the surface of fire and compels it to extinguish by mechanical action Spraying water blankets the area surrounding the fire by reducing oxygen

DISADVANTAGES

They cannot be used in freezing conditions. To overcome this we use the following methods:

1. anti-freeze chemicals but they corrode the cylinder and sometimes they are flammable.
2. chemical wetting agents ....... Makes the extinguisher more effective in fighting the fire in closely packed textile materials.

SODA ACID WATER EXTINGUISHER

The most common fire extinguisher is soda acid. They are Cylindrical in shape 1.25mm/3.15mm thick.mild steeltin alloy coated finishing .red enamel coat/ paint

Working process: The carbon dioxide is liberated by the action of acid on baking soda. It increases the percentage of CO2in air This type of fire extinguisher contains a bottle of sulphuric acid in the central inner portion at the top of container supported by a metallic container filled with a baking soda solution

SODA ACID WATER EXTINGUISHER

When the cylinder is inverted and knob struck, against the ground, the acid bottle breaks and the acid comes in the contact with the backing soda. 2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2 Water thus released in the form of jet. This force helps in knocking the fire.

SODA ACID WATER EXTINGUISHER - TYPES

Sealed glass type Open glass type
Open glass type Contains lead weight in the form of ring Extinguisher is inverted and the lead weight is dropped and releases the acid in the bicarbonate solution. In inverted position only the gas will be released. Disadv. Once if it is used it cannot be restored. It has to be recharged. Sealed glass type Plunger should be struck to break the glass container Both types: Cylinders may be operated in 2 ways. upright position turn over

Open glass type

Sealed glass type

For both types:

The used up solution leaves a white deposit which will stain many materials. It must not be used where it can come in contact with electrical connections, wiring, switch gear,. Capacity: 9, 50, 150 litres portable trolleys Conical cylindrical type is also available.

Care & maintenance: Once in a week - polish the painted portion with colourless wax. Clean the nozzle & vent holes. Check the plunger. Once in 3 months dismantle the part, check and clean. Stir the solution and fill up the water if the level has gone below. Annually - operate 50% of extinguishers and observe the performance(speed 6m for 60 sec) Recharge them once in 2 years & carry out pressure test.

WATER-GAS PRESSURE(CARTRIDGE)
It is made up of Steel cylinder Water and anti-corrosion chemical are used Cap of cylinder carries (steel cylinder) high pressure carbon dioxide gas It is sealed with metal disc which can be pierced through a needle(by knocking) This compressed carbon dioxide pushes the water out Rubber hose connection can also be attached

Advantages: No damages or stains If any leakage of gas is suspected the cylinder can be weighed Capacities ------ 9, 45, 135, 150, 160 ltrs.

WATER-GAS PRESSURE(CARTRIDGE)

Keep the FIREAGE extinguisher in upright position and remove the safety clip provided on the cap, strike the knob. This will puncture the CO2 Gas Cartridge and thereby releases the CO2 Gas which expels the water out through the nozzle in a steady, powerful jet. This should be aimed at the base of the flames. Caution : Not for use on fires involving oil and electricity

STORED PRESSURE WATER EXTINGUISHERS

Has the expellant gas, dry air or nitrogen on & the agent stored in the container. When charging with air moisture trap must be used to prevent water in air supply from entering the extinguisher. Water extinguisher contains plain water instead of gas. Cylinder assembly is made air/water tight. Nearly 70% of the cylinder is filled with water and compressed air is pumped into it. An indicator or pressure gauge is always fitted to indicate the sufficiency of pressure inside the cylinder Every 3 months we have to check the water level by weighing the cylinder

STIR UP PUMP
Used in conjunction with water buckets is recommended for installation in all types of industrial and non-industrial buildings having class A' fire risk, in addition to other first-aid fire fighting appliances that may be necessary. The pump shall be operated at not more than 45 gallon per minute, and the nozzle shall be held horizontally at a height of 1.5 m from the ground. In still air the plain jet of water shall hit the ground at horizontal distance of not less than 7 m from the tip of the nozzle. The jet / spray can throw water to min. of 90cm and a max. of 9m In addition to the plain jet of water, the pump shall be capable of producing a spray of moderate fineness (light gentle rain). The spray shall be of uniform distribution, maximum width of spray approximately horizontal. Its width on the ground at a distance of 3 m from the nozzle shall not be less than 60 cm and at the minimum throw not less than 90 cm.

STIR UP PUMP
A pressure indicating gauge is provided. A hose end or nozzle directs the discharge & a valve is provided too for intermittent operation. The agent can be one of three Sodium bicarbonate (for fire on flammable liquid & electrical fires ) or Potassium bicarbonate base, (for fire on flammable liquid & electrical fires ) or Ammonium phosphate base dry chemical (fire in ordinary combustible as well as flammable liquid & electrical fires) These extinguishers discharge a clean stream of dry chemical which has range from 1.8m to 4.5m, effective duration of discharge range from 10 to 17 seconds for the portable. Stir-up pump is also used by the civil defence service for dealing with small fires resulting from enemy action.

FIRE BUCKETS IS:726-1956

1 bucket is required for every 100 sq.m Filled with water/sand. It depends on occupancy Capacity: 9-12ltrs Made of heavy galvanised metal and has a rounded or pointed bottom

Working principle: They have to be carried to a fire and the contents thrown over the burning material. Their effective range 3m Storage of these buckets are on racks at 0.6 -1.5m above the ground

FIRE BUCKETS
Usage- inside the buildings Should have lids or covers to exclude foreign matter --- used cigarette,. Should be painted in bright red and the word FIRE should be stenciled A Capacity of 9ltrs fire buckets shall be provided for every 200 sq.m area 3 buckets Or 6 buckets on each floor ADVANTAGE: Any untrained person can use

FOAM TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Foam is generated by entrapping the bubbles of the gas with foam binding solution This is blanketing method Foam should be applied at greater rate than the rater of collapse EGS. Acetones, Alcohols and Aldehydes dissolve the bubbles DISADVANTAGES: Spoil the surrounding materials Short circuiting agent..may reacts with electricity TYPES OF FOAM EXTINGUISHERS Chemical foam Mechanical foam

CHEMICAL FOAM EXTINGUISHER

Foam is produced by acidic and alkaline solutions The outer container contains sodium bi carbonate (gives carbondioxide) and inner container contains aluminium sulphate (made of brass or plastic) Stabilizer (turkey red oil and animal glue) is mixed with sodium bi carbonate Volume increases upto 7 or 8 times i.e 9 ltrs will get increased to 72 ltrs.
10ml solution produces 50ml volume of foam After 15 min. it will produce 20 ml vol. of foam

It should be used invertedly. Seal have to be removed before using TYPES Sealed ------by pressing the knob Unsealed-------- operated by turning upside down Capacity-----9, 45,50, 135, 150 ltrs

METHODS OF OPERATION
Remove the extinguisher Pull the plunger, shake well In liquid fire, jet the foam at far inside edge/ adjoining vertical surface above the level of burning liquid. Or sweep gently Jet length --------- 6m Do not direct the jet directly into the liquid ----- the foam drived beneath the oil or splashing of burning liquid will spread the fire CARE & MAINTENANCE same as water extinguishers DISADVANTAGES should be recharged if exposed to freezing

MECHANICALLY FORMED FOAM

They are operated with Gas cartridge It consists of water and binding solution and gas cartridge On discharge the foam is led through a special miniature branch pipe, having a central nozzle and at base of the branch pipe there are a no. of holes for entry of air. The branch pipe acts as an injector drawing air into the solution, as it emerges from the nozzle in such a manner that finely divided bubbles which are bound up by foam solution ADVANTAGES These foam is usually more liquid than chemically formed foam Mechanical foam extinguishers can be recharged more quickly than they can be discharged

MECHANICALLY FORMED FOAM

DRY POWDER / DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS

Dry powder based sodium or potassium bicarbonate as special chemicals are used Non-toxic, but produce irritant cloud of dust. Suitable for fire due to petroleum, gas fires, fire in electrical equipment and for controlling surface fires in textile fibres Capacity----- 1,2,5 and 10 kg. Special dry powders are mixtures of sodium, potassium and barium They are used for extinguishing fires in metals It does not conduct electricity GAS CARTRIDGE: Capacities--- ---- 1,2,5 and 10 kg

OPERATING PRINCIPLE
GAS CARTRIDGE: Stored pressure type
It contains carbon dioxide cartridge By puncturing a sealing disk in the cartridge gas is Dry air or nitrogen is stored Pressure indicator is also provided
released

AGENTS:
For class B,C ----- sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate For Class A, B, C---- ammonium phosphate DISCHARGE RANGE: --- 1.8m 4.5 m for 10 17 sec.

DISADVANTAGE:
If used in enclosed situation halon gives off a thick cloud which irritate the user's throat & it should not be inhaled.

WHEELED EXTINGUISHER
Suited for extinguishing fires in open tanks of flammable liquids, in spilled liquid and on ordinary combustibles when using multipurpose powder. CONTENTS: Welded steel cylinder for holding dry chemical powder Externally there will be a small cylinder of nitrogen gas or A stored pressure container with agent and expellant gas charge 15m of 20/25mm rubber hose with a shut off nozzle to direct the discharge of dry chemical. Discharge streams are fan-shaped, although some nozzles are of the adjustable type that will also provide a straight stream The 150 to 175 kg wheeled extinguishers have wheels with an extra wide tread to facilitate moving them in the contacts.

WHEELED EXTINGUISHER
The range with a straight stream is 35 ft. for the 150-lb unit and 45 ft. for the 350 lb. unit. With the fan shaped stream the range is 10 and 15 ft. respectively. The time required to discharge the entire contents of wheeled and stationary ranges from 30 to 90 seconds.

WORKING PRINCIPLE:
Extinguishers with external pressurizing tanks are operated by
Open the valve in the nitrogen cylinder This operates the external pressurizer tank This forces the dry chemical powder through the hose and nozzle In wheeled extinguishers the valve in between hose and nozzle can be adjusted

Wheeled stored pressure extinguishers are operated by

opening the valve between container and hose and the con trolling discharge at the nozzle.

WHEELED EXTINGUISHER

CARE AND MAINTENANCE: Once a week check and clean Once a quarter year check the weight Once a year check the operation Once in 3 years Recharged after discharging

Carbon dioxide type extinguisher

A fire extinguisher stored inside a cabinet mounted to a wall

SAND BUCKETS

Used in parts containing electrical apparatus, flammable liquids or fats

Not used on or near moving machinery (i.e) electric motors they damage the bearings Used for mopping up spillages of flammable liquids/ for making dams to restrict their flow

Sometimes used on metal fires

FIRE BLANKETS

Made of high grade woven asbestos, aluminized fabrics or flame proof wool. Size 62 x 82 Folded in metal wall cases or in portable canvas bags Used for class A fires

FIRE PAILS & WATER BARRELS

FIRE PAILS They are made up of GI iron and have flat bottom Capacity: 12 qt. with a loose fitting cover Water and calcium chloride(anti freeze solution) are used as agents The inner portion is painted with red lead and linseed oil and asphalt base paint They are used in industries For every 750 sq.ft. of floor area we have to provide 1 extinguisher It should be within 35 from any point

DISADVANTAGES Cannot be thrown very accurately Cannot be used on overhead fires Time consuming for daily inspection and maintenance

WATER BARRELS

They are made of wood or metal Painting of metal barrels are same as the fire bails

Wooden barrels are painted with asphalt

Used at buildings under construction

Should be within 70 from any point

COMBUSTIBLE METAL EXTINGUISHERS

GI POWDER Graphite based and additives Na-X POWDER Sodium carbonate and additives Li-X POWDER Recommended for Lithium fires T.E.C. POWDER KCl, NaCl and BaCl2 are used at fire by Na, K, U Tri methoxy boroxine For class D only

CARBON DIOXIDE (for B,C,E)

ADVANTAGES Leave no contaminating deposit CO2 is under pressure When relaxed displaces the air surrounding thus cutting the O2 supply (smothering) Non combustible and so dont react with most substances Being a gas it can penetrate & spread to all areas Capacity: 2-25lb (hand portables) 50-750lb(wheeled units) DISADVANTAGES Not to be used in fires involving chemicals Fires involving reactive metals such as Na, K, Mg, Al, Zn In textile linens

VAPOURISING LIQUID EXTINGUISHERS

It is a negative catalyst reaction CTC- Carbon Tetra Chloride At elevated temperatures dense clouds of heavy black fumes are produced which decompose to give corrosive and poisonous gases Therefore it is banned It is used in limited areas MB (methyl Bromide) Toxic but does not produce any instant fumes Stored in copper containers

CB or CBM (Chlorobromo methane) or BCM Approved by FOC for electrical appliances Less toxic thus replaces CTC

HALON -1211
It is colourless, electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive and nonabrasive liquefied gas and leaves no residue. Compared to carbondioxide (on weight basis), this is twice as effective when discharged, the agent is in the combined form of vapour and mist. Suitable for class B & C fires / sometimes used on electric fires TYPES: Upright type with squeeze grip valve and Inverted with piercing type valve

Capacities: 0.5,1,1.5 , 2 kg ---- packing 2.5, 4,5,6.5kg------cylinder 25 or 50 kg trolleys Storage pressure: 17-18 bars

HALON -1211

FEATURES:
It is made up of Steel, treated against corrosion and have squeeze grip valves with pressure gauge Nozzle is with delivery hose Pressure should not be less than 50kg/sq.m Pressurized using nitrogen gas WORKING PRINCIPLE: Upon actuation, the vapour pressure causes the agent to expand so that the discharge stream consists of a mixture of vapour droplets CARE & MAINTENANCE: Once a week check & clean, polish Once a month weight check, pressure Once in 6 yrs internal examination after emptying Once in 12 years hydrostatic test

AFFF EXTINGUISHERS

Aqueous type extinguisher (recently developed) Capacity : 9 & 45 ltrs.

CONTENTS: 1. Water , 2. aqueous film forming foam concentrate and 3. pressurized air (7kg/cm2) Used for class B

HALON 1301 (BTM)

Monobromo trifluro ethane (C+Fl+Br) Invisible vapour snuff out most fires in less than 10 sec.

Since less Halon-1301 agent is required to extinguish a fire less storage space
Low toxicity

FERION FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Ferion gas dissolves/digest the fire smoke in 1/5000 sec. This equipment consists of 2 infrared photocells, one having red filter and other greenish IR rays emitting out of red filter reacts with the ve electrical field at green filter thus activating the amplifier which in turn opens the solenoid valve Thus ferion gas evolves out This becomes ineffective if the fire emits oxides of Na, Mg

HIGH RATE DISCHARGE CONTAINERS(HRD)

In case of high explosive fires we are in need of high rate discharge containers used in explosion suppression system application Spherical refillable containers of dia.279 - 432m

High strength alloy steel

Capacity: 5,10,30 ltrs It shall release the entire amount within 200 milli-sec. through 8mm dia. Opening

HIGH RATE DISCHARGE CONTAINERS(HRD)

The containers can be filled with any one of the following agents Water Wetted water Bromo chloromethane Glycerine-wetted water Wetted water with sodium chromate, caalcium, chloride Bromotrifluromethane dibromotetrafluoroethane