To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with the carrying handle placed 312 to 5 feet above the floor. Using portable fire extinguishers osha safety manuals. Osha requires that the employer shall mount portable fire extinguishers so they are accessible to employees. Put fire extinguishers close to where they might be needed. Portable fire extinguishers, if used properly, can make that difference. Using the correct type of extinguisher for the fire, use the fourstep pass technique. Move forward or around the fire area as the fire diminishes. Below is an overview of each type of fire extinguisher including its rating and suitable uses.
The water is discharged onto the fire, which in turns cools the burning material below its ignition temperature. Today we will discuss the five different classes of fire. Employee safety suggestions and specific workplace hazards. Some extinguishers are combination types that can be used on several different types of fires using a fire extinguisher pass pull the pin aim at base of fire squeeze the handle sweep from side to side types of fires. The successful use of a fire extinguisher depends on the following conditions. Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material. Different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different types of fire. Oshas complete standards for portable fire extinguishers are in regulation 29 cfr 1910. Unless you know what is burning, you wont know what type of fire extinguisher to use. The extinguisher must be easily accessible and in good working order. Portable fire extinguishers proper selection reference 1910. Type of fire extinguisher foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide. The fire must be discovered in its incipient stage for the extinguisher to be effective. May 03, 2017 to prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with the carrying handle placed 312 to 5 feet above the floor.
The program will run more effectively if the fire extinguishers are wellpositioned and clearly marked. Expert osha 10hour and fire extinguisher training to help you meet osha s training requirement for employees who use fire extinguishers, lion offers the fire extinguisher safety online course. One type portable extinguisher is a canister filled with water and pressurized with compressed air. Water and foam based extinguishers should not be used on fires involving an electrical. The wrong type of extinguisher can be dangerous or life threatening. Unfortunately blocked extinguishers are found in most workplaces.
Fire extinguisher training requirements legal beagle. An inspection and recharging program should be in place to insure that when an extinguisher is needed, it is fully charged and operational. How to use a fire extinguisher marsden fire safety. Points to remember unit outline fire is a triangle. At confires, we provide a full line of fire extinguisher services, including. Use this guide to determine which class of fire extinguisher you should purchase to keep your home or workplace safe. May 17, 2017 selection and distribution requirements. If one of the three required elements is removed, there is no longer a fire. Types of fire extinguishers different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different types of fire. Fire extinguisher selection chart australian standard 2444 post 1999 type of extinguisher class type of fire water foam wet chemical co2 dry chemical vaporising liquid a ordinary combustibles wood, paper etc 3 yes most suitable 3 yes 3 yes 3 yes not very suitable 3 yes be powders not suitable 3 yes b flammable liquids 2 no 3. Starting at the recommended distance, sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out. Some extinguishers are combination types that can be used on several different types of fires using a fire extinguisher pass pull the pin aim at base of fire squeeze the handle sweep from side to side types of fires class a. A 12inch diameter gardentype hose line, not to exceed 100 feet in length and equipped with a nozzle, may be substituted for a 2arated fire extinguisher, providing it is capable of discharging a minimum of 5 gallons per minute with a minimum hose stream range of 30 feet horizontally. There are a variety of portable fire extinguishers that work in different ways to extinguish a small fire.
Are portable fire extinguishers mounted, located, and identified so that they are readily accessible. Fumes toxic if inhaled halon is no longer manufactured halon a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment. Follow these guidelines for safe fire extinguisher use. Grantee materials by topic occupational safety and. Class a fire extinguishers are used for ordinary combustibles, such as paper, wood, cloth, and some types of plastic. All fire extinguisher use will be reported to the program administrator 5. In the event of a fire, the correct use of a portable fire extinguisher could mean the difference between suffering a minor loss or a major one. Do not allow the fire, heat, or smoke to come between you and your evacuation path. Youve got to choose the right fire extinguisher for the job. By federal regulation, osha reserves a license to use and disseminate such material for the purpose of promoting safety and health in the workplace. Always have an exit to your back in case you need to escape.
Your local amerex fire equipment distributor is professionally equipped to help you evaluate and implement these recommendations. Expert osha 10hour and fire extinguisher training to help you meet oshas training requirement for employees who use fire extinguishers, lion offers the fire extinguisher safety online course. Osha requires a minimumrated 10b fire extinguisher be provided within 50 feet of the point of job site use of more than 5 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or 5 pounds of flammable gas. When its time to use a fire extinguisher, just remember pull aim squeeze sweep pass. Osha fire extinguisher mounting height, placement, and. A common type is the abc extinguisher, which is for use in fighting class a, b, and c fires. Fire extinguishers are clearly marked with the classes of fires they will extinguish safely. However, they must be of the correct type for the particular fire, and they must be used correctly. Larger fire extinguishers need to be mounted at lower heights with the carrying handle about 3 feet from the floor. We have an absolute belief in quality it is the cornerstone of our companys culture. Select and distribute the extinguishers based on the types of anticipated workplace fires and on the size and degree of hazard that would affect their use.
The three most common types of fire extinguishers are. There are real life consequences to not having the right type of fire extinguisher in the area the fire extinguisher is designated for use. Our primary aim is to help you protect the lives and livelihoods of people and your organisation or business by ensuring that we only provide quality products that fully meet industry standards also, by providing continuous training to our staff via recognised trade. The grantees hereby authorize employers and workplace safety and health professionals to use this material, distributed by or through osha, in their workplaces or practices in accordance with the. Water fire extinguishers are made to extinguish class but a water mist extinguisher is made for both a and c class fires. The types and numbers of extinguishers legally required for an area are governed by the safety. The osha regulations set forth the requirements of when training is.
Flexible, 247 access allows employees to complete this selfpaced online course without sacrificing productivity. Do not touch the horn on a co2 extinguisher, it gets very cold and can damage the skin. Fire extinguisher training osha standards beacon ohss. Halon 1211 818 seconds discharge time range 916 ft. Each type of fire extinguisher is suitable for different types of burning media and will have a fire rating based on the volume of fire that they are capable of extinguishing. Basic fire extinguisher training online powerpoint training. Fire extinguisher, water, class a, ul rating 2a, capacity 2. Portable fire extinguishers will generally be labeled with the symbols for the types of fires they are designed to extinguish. Operational safety rules for fire extinguisher use are.
Grantee materials by topic occupational safety and health. The extinguisher must be the right type for the fire. This is produced as a guide, always check manufacturers recommendations for use and suitability. Fire extinguishers are portable devices used to extinguish small fires or reduce their destruction before firefighters arrive at the scene. The most current issue of nfpa10 should be consulted for minimum recommended fire extinguisher types, placement and travel distances. Selection of fire extinguishers there are a number of types of portable fire. Apr 29, 2016 water fire extinguishers are made to extinguish class but a water mist extinguisher is made for both a and c class fires. For example, a type a extinguisher is suitable for use only on class a materials, and should never be used on a flammable or combustible liquid fire oil and water dont mix.
Since fire is one of the most common hazards in the workplace, it is important for your employees to know how to properly use a fire extinguisher if a fire should break out. Fire protection and prevention occupational safety and. To activate, must first open nitrogen cylinder on back to pressurize body. If portable fire extinguishers are provided for employee use. Identify a safe evacuation path before approaching the fire. Using a fire extinguisher the following steps should be followed when responding to incipient stage fire. Where the employer has established and implemented a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal and which includes an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan that meet the requirements of 29 cfr 1910. The employer shall distribute portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on class b fires so that the travel distance from the class b hazard area to any extinguisher is 50 feet 15. Emergency standards portable fire extinguishers osha.
Fire extinguishers safety training handout extinguishers are classed by the type fire they can put out. Osha fire extinguisher requirements may surprise you. These two types of fire extinguishers do not have a chemical component, making them ideal for people who do not wish to use chemicals. Osha also makes some fire extinguisher selection and distribution requirements. You must visually inspect your fire extinguishers at least once a month.
Sound the fire alarm and call the fire department, if appropriate. Carbon dioxide co 2 a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment fire extinguisher types cont. An abc extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating that it may be used on class a, b and c fires. Also the type of fires it is appropriate and safe to use on. But there are several things to consider in using fire extinguishers.
Osha fines are per violation, and in this case, it means per fire extinguisher. Extinguishes by cooling burning material below the ignition point. The wrong type of extinguisher can be dangerous or life. Option 1there are no portable fire extinguishers, and all employees are evacuated after an alarm is sounded. These types of fire extinguishers are operated by inverting the extinguisher to rupture the cartridge or to initiate an uncontrollable pressuregenerating chemical reaction to expel the agent. Osha is the government agency that oversees workplace safety. Types of fire are separated into different classes based on the fuel source involved.
Knowing the classes of fire will help you choose the appropriate extinguisher. These are kept handy at places, namely fire points, in buildings, factories, public paces or transportation. You dont want to mistakenly use a bc extinguisher on a class a fire, thinking that it was an abc extinguisher. The following table provides information regarding the type of fire and which fire extinguisher should be used. Type of fire extinguisher water, foam, dry powder, wet chemical. Fire classes type water afff foam abc powder c0 2 wet. Each rating denotes the type of fire the extinguisher can be effectively used against. Fire extinguisher selection chart australian standard 2444 post 1999 type of extinguisher class type of fire water foam wet chemical co2 dry chemical vaporising liquid a ordinary combustibles wood, paper etc 3 yes most suitable 3 yes 3 yes 3 yes not very suitable 3 yes be powders not suitable 3 yes b flammable liquids 2 no 3 yes special foam. The 3 as cont attempt attempt to fight a fire only after the first two steps have been completed and you feel confident in yourself to do so. This program will teach your employees how to calmly and effectively deal with fires and correctly use a fire extinguisher. Aim low, pointing the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. This course is designed to meet the requirements of osha 1910. Types of fire extinguishers and their uses most people couldnt tell you the six different types of portable fire extinguishers, let alone what each is primarily used for. Only use a fire extinguisher when the fire is in its early stages you dont know what is burning.
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