PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS 

4 Conditions of Success

1. Must be properly located and in good working order

2. Must be the proper type for the fire which occurs

3. The fire when discovered must be small enough to extinguish effectively

4. The fire must be discovered by a person willing and able to use the fire extinguisher

EXTINGUISHER CLASSIFICATION

• Consists of a Letter that indicates the class of fire on which an extinguisher would be most effective.
• 5 Classes of Fire: A, B , C, D & K 
• All Portable Extinguishers must be ULC Listed

CLASS A 

Classes of Fire

• Ordinary Combustible Materials
• ie. Wood, cloth paper, rubber and plastics
• Class A fires tend to produce burning embers of coals

CLASS B 

Classes of Fire

• Flammable or Combustible Liquids, oils, greases & gases
• Class B fires are usually surface burning fires 
• Usually more Severe than Class A

CLASS C

Classes of Fire

• Energized Electrical Equipment fires
• Also involves shock hazard
• Extinguishing agent is electrically non-conductive 

CLASS D

Classes of Fire

• Combustible metals
• ie. Magnesium, sodiu potassium, aluminium
• Class D fires require special extinguishing agents 

CLASS K 

Classes of Fire

• Cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media
• ie. Vegetable, or animal oils and fats

Light (LOW) Hazard Occupancy

Classification of Occupancy Hazards

• Locations where the quanity and combustibility of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables is LOW
• Fires - Relatively LOW rates of heat 

Ordinary (MODERATE) Hazard Occupancies

Classification of Occupany Hazards

• Locations where the quantity and combustibility of Class A combustible materials and Class B flammables is moderate
• Fires - MODERATE rates of heat 

Extra (HIGH) Hazards Occupanies

Classification of Occupancy Hazards

• Locations where the quantity and combustibility of Class A Combustible material is high or where high amounts of Class B flammambles are prsent 
• Fires - HIGH rates of heat release

Types of Portable Extinguishers Today

• Water Pump Tank
• Water Stored Pressure
• Water Loaded Stream
• Aqueous Film Forming Foam 
• Carbon Dioaxide 
• Ordinary Dry Chemical
• Multi Purpose Dry CHemical 
• Halon 1211
• Dry Powder
• K Extinguisher

Hydrostatic Testing 

of Portable Extinguishers

• All must be tested every 5-12 years in accordance with NFPA 10 (2010)
• Consists of filling the extinguisher with water  (After original contents are removed) and pressurizing the specific pressure and maintaining the pressure for 1 min. Observations of distortion or leakage of shell.
• Test failure - Must be destroyed.
• Test record must be shown on extinguisher. Include month an deyar of test, name or initial of technician & Company conducting the test
• The purpose is to protect against FAILURE due to:
• Undetected internal corrosion caused by moisture in extinguisher
• External corrosion caused by atomospheric humidity or corrosive vapours
• Damage caused by rough handling
• Manufacturing flaws in the construction of the extinguisher
• Exposure of the extinguisher to abnormal heat, as after exposure in a fire. 

3 Types of Fire Supression Systems

• Carbon Dioxide (C02)
• Dry Chemical
• Clean Agent Fire Suppression

3 Common Characteristics

of Fire Suppression Systems

1. Usually permanently installed in one location = fixed systems
2. Pre-Engineered fire suppression system have determined flow rates, nozzle pressures and volume of extinguishing agents
3. Automatically operated by a fire detection system. These systems must be arranged for manual actuation from remote location

Carbon Dioxide 

Fire Suppression System

• CO2 is a non-combustible gas which does not react with most substances
• Easily liquefied by compression 
• Amount of pressure stored by liquid CO2 varies by stored temp. 
• Extinguishing properties - Reduces the amount of O2 in the air to a point where combustion cannot be sustained. Most materials, this occurs when O2 is reduced to 6% (From 21%). 
• Most wide spread use is extinguishing flammable and combustible liquid fires. 
• NOT an effective extinguishing agent on materials that contain their own O2 supple or on metals such as magnesium which cna decompose CO2
• Known to crease a spark/electrostatic charge

Dry Chemical

Fire  Suppression System

• Non-Conductive (Can be used on electrical fires)
• Cannot be used on Electronic Equipment due to possibility of corrosion
• Stable at low and normal temperatures. Max. Storage temp is 60 degrees C.
• When discharged onto a fire, the reactive particles are prevented from coming together and the chain reaction is broken thereby extinguishing the fire.
• Types of hazards and equipment protected by dy chemical extinguishing properties:
• Flammamble/combustible liquids
• Flammamble/combustible gases
• Combustible solids
• Electrical hazards (circuit breakers)
• Textile Operations (Flash Surface fires)
• Ordinary combustibles
• Restaurant and commercial hoods, ducts, and associated cooking appliance hazards such as deep fat fryers

Clean Agent

Fire Suppression System

• Defined as Electrically non-conducting, volatile or gaseous fire extinguishing agent that does not leave residue upon evaporation
• May exist in a pressurized liquid form and vaporized as a gas or pressurized gaseous state utilizing a combination of inert gases
• Types:
• FM-200 - Choice for waterless fire protection
• FE-25 - Developed to replace Halon 1301. Choice to remove Halon 1301 from an area while maintaining the main structure of the system
• FE-13 - Safest agent to replace Halon 1301
• Novec 1230 - Used to protect computer rooms, control centres, document storage vaults, archives, museums
• Inergen - Replaced the use of CO2 in fixed extinguishing systems due to the dangers associated with the lack of oxygen tha tis prsent after discharge. Orginally developed so that humans could remain in an atmosphere after the system had been discharged.

Components of Fire Suppression Systems

• Detectors
• Control Head
• Cylinders
• Pipes & Fittings
• Discharge Nozzels

SEE TEXTBOOK PG 12-14 (A1-9.2)

Maintenance, Inspection & Test Procedures

Fire Suppression Systems

• A service contract with a qualified contractor and installer is required. Contractor should make a fully operational test annually on the system. This can be done by attaching a small test cyclinder used during normal operation
• Carbon Dioxide - Cylinders are required to be weighed semi-annually to detect leakage. If the weight loss exceeds 10% of the normal weight when the container is full, then it should be refilled. All otehr parts should be checked for deterioration or mechanical damage.
• Dry Chemical - Gas expellant cartridge should be weighed semi-annually and replaced if it loses 10% of its contents. The dry chemical powder should be checked annually for any evidence of caking and semi-annually for quantity. In stored pressure systems, the pressure gauge should be checked semi-annually for cyulinder leakage and teh cylinder weighed in order to check the quantity of available use
• Clean Agent - These types of systems should be checked annually to ensure all electronics and components are in good working order. Like CO2 systems, inert gas systems should have cylinders weighs and checked to detect leakage.

1

Automatic Smoke & Heat Detection

• Until a fire is detected, no corrective action can be taken. Therefore, detection becomes the most important step in the process.
• Detection system must be properly engineered. May be needed primarily for life safety or for property or combination.

4 Classifications of Fire

1. Type of Combustion process
2. Growth Rate
3. Ventilation
4. Fire Stage

4 Stages of Fire

1. Incipient Stage - Invisible products of combustion are produced. No visible smoke, flame or any significant heat present. Smoldering but insufficient flaming for established burning
2. Smoldering/Growth Stage - As the fire condition develops,t he quantity of combustion particles increases. Becomes visible as Smoke. Represents increasing fire growth WRT heat release over time.
3. Flame/Steady Stage - Actual fire now exists. Significant heat is still not present but follows instantaneously. When heat release is constant , to be considered in the steady-state stage.
4. Heat/Fire Decay Stage - At this point, large amounts of heat, flame, smoke and toxic gases are produced. This stage develops quickly. At this stage, the heat release decreases over time. May be due to cosumption of fuel or continued O2 depletion in a ventilation-controlled scenario. Also may return to growth stage depending on availability of O2 and fuel present.

4 Types of Detectors

Automatic Smoke & Heat Detectors

1. Ionization - Incipient Stage
2. Photoelectric - Smoldering Stage
3. Flame - Flame Stage
4. Heat - Heat Stage

Ionization Detectors

Auto Smoke & Heat Detectors

• Responds to invisible products of combustion
• Major advantage - sensitivity to a fire in its earliest stage
• Contains a small amount of radioactive material. When combustion particles enter the chamber, it absorbs alpha particles which reduces the ionization and interrupes this current, setting off the alarm
• Recommended for adjoining bedrooms, adjoining hallways

Photoelectrical (optical) Detectors

Auto Smoke & Heat Detectors

• The true smoke detectors
• Use photoelectrics sensor technology to provide early warning of slow burning fires 
• Optical detector is a light sensor
• Each detector contains a light source (incandescent bulb or infrared LED), a lens to collimate the light into a beam, & a photoiode or other photoelectric sensor at an angle to the beam as  light detector
• In the absence of smoke, the light passes in front of the detector in straight line 
• When smoke enters the optical chamber, some light is scattered by the smoke particles, directing it at the sensor thus triggering the alarm
• Common causes of smoldering fires: Cigarettes, fireplace embers, electrical shorts
• Where to install: Kitchen,bathroom, living areas

Flame Detectors

• React directly to the presence of flame or specifically to the radiant energy produced by all fires
• Fast detection capabilities
• Use in High Hazard area - Must "see" the fire, cannot be blocked by objects
• Two Types: Infrared & Ultraviolet
• Infrared: Sense infrared radiation produced by all fires. Advancement has been development of a detector capable of sensing a specific and limited band of IR Radiation. 
• Ultraviolet: Respond to the shortwave UV radiation produced by the fires. 
• Where to install: Fuel loading platforms, off-shore drilling rigs, high ceiling areas & atmospheres where very rapid fires may occur

Heat Detectors

Auto Smoke & Heat Detectors

• The oldest type of auto detection. Been around in one form since 1890. 
• Least expensive & lowest false alarm rate of all, also th eslowest in detecting fires
• Fixed temps units that detect heat temps of 58 Degrees C or higher. They rely on a thermistor that is sensitive only to temp. Alarm is triggered at 58 Degrees C
• Provide additional protection to ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms
• NOT to be used on their own and are not substitute for ionization or photoelectric  smoke alarms. 
• Where to install: Kitchens, garages, attics, boiler rooms and basements. Best suited for fire detection in a small confined space where rapidly building high heat output fires are expected.
• Two Types: Fixed Temp & Rate of Rise

Fixed Temperature

Heat Detector

• Are designed to alarm when the temperature of its operating element reaches a specified or fixed temp. 
• Air temp at time of alarm is considerably higher than the rated detector activation temp because it takes time for air to raise the temp of the operating element to its set point = Thermal Lag
• Are available to cover wide range of operating temps, 135 Degrees F and up. 
• Comes in restorable and non-restorable options (must be replaced after one fire)

Rate-of-Rise 

Heat Detector

• Will function when the rate of temp increase exceeds a predetermined value, usually around 15 Degrees F per min. 
• Designed to compensate for the normal changes in ambient temp which are expected in the area of these detectors under nomal conditions.
• More effective over a wide range of ambient temps 
• They are equally useful in low temp and high temp areas 
• They are restorable where as some fixed detectors are not

Combination 

Heat detecors

• Operate on both the rate-of-rise and fixed temp principles.
• The advantage is that teh rate-of-rise element will repsond quickly toa  rapidly developing fire, while the fixed temp element will respond to slowly developing fire when the detecting element reaches its set poin ttemp 
• Vented air chamber and flexibe diapgragm = Rate-of-rise function
• Spring held back by a eutectic or fusible alloy = Fixed temp

Automatic Sprinkler System 

• 2010 Edition of NFPA 2013 - Standards of min. requirements for all aspects of auto sprinkler protection system deisgn and installation 
• Covers the character and adequacy of water supplies and the selection of sprinklers, piping and valves
• NFPA records indicated that auto sprinkler systems are in excess of 96% eff. in suppressing or containing fires. 
• When a sprinkler system fails to control a fire, there are generally two primary reasons: water supply or sprinkler was inadequate for the particular hazard OR a control valve on a supply line was closed
• Water discharged:
• cools burning materials by direct contact of water particles
• removes heat from the room
• wets unburned combustibles to prevent fire spread
• Displaces O2 by formation of steam

Approved

NFPA Definitions

• Accepted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). The NFPA does not approve, inspect or certify any installations, procedures, equip or materials, nor does it approve or evaluate testing laboratires

Authority Having Jurisdiction

NFPA Definitions

• An organization, office or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard or for approving equipment, materials, an installation or a procedure

Listed

NFPA Definitions

• Equipment, materials or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the AHJ and concerned with evaluaton of products and services, that maintains periodic inspections or production of listed equip or materials or periodic evaluation of services

Shall

NFPA Definitions

• Indicates a mandatory requirement

Should

NFPA Definitions

• Indicates a recommendation which is advised, but not required

Sprinkler System Installations

• When considering water supply problems, the performance of spinklers (Dry pipe or wet systems) the designation "sprinkler systems" applies to the sprinklers controlled by the water supply valuve.
• Large buildings may require several sprinkler systems
• Single water system may supple a number of sprinkler systems
• Fundamentals of sprinkler protection evolve around the principle of auto discharge of water in sufficient density to control or extinguish a fire in its incipiency

Planning for a Sprinkler Sytem: Factors

• The sprinkler system itself
• Features of building construction 
• Hazards of occupuancy/commodity
• Available water supply

Automatic Sprinkler System

Definition

• An integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection egnineering standards
• With right water supply and alarm devises, in case of afire in teh area covered by the system, the fire is auto detected adn controlled whilst alarm is sounded

3 Purposes of Sprinkler System

• Respond to heat produced by a fire
• Alert building occupants making them aware of the fire situation. Electrical or mechanical operated alarms.
• Control or surpress the fire. Water is discharged from each of the sprinkler operated in the area.

Components of Sprinkler System

SEE PG 4-6 (Ch. Intro to Auto Sprinkler Systems)

1. Water Supply
2. Key Valve
3. Riser Shut-Off Valve
4. Alarm Devices
5. Audio Alarms
6. FDPC (Fire Department Pumper Connection)
7. Overhead Piping
8. Sprinklers

Sprinkler Heads

• the component of a fire sprinkler system that discharges water when the effects of a fire have been detected, such as when a predetermined temperature has been exceeded.

3 Types of Sprinklers Heads

1. Upright
2. Pendant
3. Sdiewall Sprinklers

Upright (Standard Spray) or SSU

Sprinkler System

• Is designed to be installed in the upright position, so that the water discharged is directed upward against the deflector
• Evenly distributes the water over the protected area

Pendant (Standard Spray) or SSP

Sprinkler System

• Designed to be installed with the deflector in the pendant position
• The water stream is direted down against the deflector
• Evenly distributes water over the protected area
• Like SSU, both produce fine water droplet = very eff. when extinguishing most fires

Sidewall Sprinklers

• Designed to discharge most of the water away from a nearby wall with only a small portion of the discharge directed at te wall behind the sprinkler
• Recommended to be installed only in light hazard occupancies
• Can spray out approx. 15 ft in one direction, allowing the omission of ceiling sprinklers in rooms of light hazard occupancies up to 30 ft wide.

Other Types of Sprinklers

SEE PG 9 (CH. Intro to Auto Sprinklers)

• Old Style
• Corrosion Resistant
• Fine Spray
• Window Sprinkler
• Flush Sprinkler
• Concealed Sprinkler

*Only Listed sprinklers are acceptabel

Sprinkler System Discharge

• Standard Orifice opening: 13mm (1/2 inch) in diameter
• Pintle: small metal protrusion oextending above or beyond the sprinkler deflector whic are used to identify sprinklers using other than the stnadard orifice/thread combinations
• A small change in diameter can result in a drastic change in teh amount of water delivered

Temp. Ratings & Color Coding

Sprinkler Systems

• Temp. rating of the sprinkler is just as an important as the size of the orifice
• If rating is too low, too many sprinklers might open and take water away from the sprinklers that are actually fighting the fire
• If temp/ rating is too high, the sprinklers would not operate as quickly as they should
• Diff types of sprinlersare assigned a classification and color coded.

Two Common Types of Sprinkler Systems

1. Wet Pipe System
2. Dry Pipe System

Wet Pipe System

Sprinkler System

• All of the sprinkler piping is filled with water
• Considered the most common and located in most residential, commercial and industrial buildings where areas to be protected are heated at all times
• Two Types:
1. Alarm Valve
2. Water Supply Line with Check Valve and Flow Switch

Alarm Valve

Wet Pipe Sprinkler System

• Have an alarm bell which is actuated by the "alarm valve"
• As water flows through alarm valve, it lifts the "Clapper" which covers the "pilot valve". 
• Pilot valve opens, water flows from alarm valve via alarm line connection to the outside water motor gong a/o to an electrical pressure switch connected to an electric bell
• Control valve is provided to shut off water supply to the alarm valve 

Water Supply Line with Check Valve and Flow Switch

Wet Pipe Sprinkler System

• Utilize a water supply line equipped with a back flow preventer (ie check valve) and a flow switch
• Water moves through the pipe and actuates the flow switch which sounds the alarm
• The check valve is located on the system to prevent contaminated water from the back flowing into the municipal water supply

Advantages & Disadvantages

Wet Pipe System

• Advantages: System simplicity and reliability
• Disadvantages: 
• Not suitable for sub-freezing environments
• Concerns where piping is subject to severe impace dmg and could subsequently leak

Dry Pipe System

Sprinkler System

• The 2nd most common type of sprinkler
• Typically installed in unheated areas such as warehouses, underground parking garages, outside exposed loading docks and other unheated areas
• Similar components to Wet pipe system but system should have dry pipe valve visible on the valve cover plate and air is in the pipes opposed to water 
• Pressurized air would be released first the then decreasing pressure would allow dry pipe valve to open admitting water to sprinkler piping and out the sprinklers and alarm will sound
• SEE PG 15 of CH for discussion on air pressure and post release of sprinkler system

Advantages & Disadvantages

Dry Pipe System

• Advantages:
• Provides automatic protection in aras where freezing is possible
• Disadvantages:
• Increased system complexity
• Higher installation and maintenance costs
• Increased fire response time

FIRE PREVENTION SEE CH

SAFETY CANS

Storage & Handling of Flammamble/Combustible Liquids

• Primarily for storage and handling of small quantities of flammamble liquids
• Specifically designed with self-closing valve openings
• Sizes up to 23 L (5 Gallons)
• Compliance with published codes and standards

GLASS or PLASTIC CONTAINERS 

Flammamble/Combustible Liquids

• Not permitted for Class I or II liquids inside a building uless the amount of storage is limited to 0.6 L (1 pint) for Class 1A and 5.0L for CLass II 
• Can only be used if purity of liquid would be affected by a metal contrainer or cause corrosion to

PORTABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Storage of Flammamble/Combustible Liquids

• Complaiant with Standard for Portable Containers for Gasoline and other Petroleum Fuels
• Intended for TEMP storage and handling of SMALL quantities of petroleum fuel 
• NOT a substitute for metal safety cans

DISPENSING

Storage & Handling of Flammamble/Combustible Liquids

• Can be transferred through:
• Hand Transfer Pump
• Gravity flow through Drum Faucet
• Bonding and Grounding devises are required when transferring flammambles from one container to another. 
• Essential to overcome the hazard of static electricity
• Connect both containers to each other to a suitable ground -> there will be no static spark

TRANSFER PUMP

Flammamble/Combustible Liquids

• Preferred - easily controlled 
• Hand pump is released, flow stops

GRAVITY FLOW by DRUM FAUCET

Flammamble and Combustible Liquids

• Involes the hazard of continued flow in case of accident or if faucet is left open
• Faucets on drums should be of the spring-closing type -> will folow while held open manually
• Drum Vents are located inthe drum bung opening and serve the important function of releasing the dangerous internal pressure of build up caused by a fire or atmosphere temp. changes
• The vent auto opens relieving a buildup of pressure or automatically opens to permit air to enter the drum for contraction or while dispensing

CABINET STORAGE

Flammable/Combustible Liquids

• LIST flammamble liquids cabinet is compliant with the codes/standards and must have a label
• # of cabinets is usually restricted to 3 per fire division
• ADVANTAGES:
• Better control of flammables eliminates the problem of careless open storage of small containers
• Time-saving method of storage - locating cabinets in or adj. to work areas reduces the frequency of trips to the drum storage room
• Some UNLISTED Cabinets are acceptable:
• Limit the internal temp to not more than 163 degrees C (325 F) when subjected to a 10min fire test
• Structurally secure (Seams reamin tight)
• Labeled "FLAMMABLE - KEEP FIRE AWAY"
• Metal and Wood cabinets are acceptable but subject to specific design requirements. SEE PG 10 - A1-7.2