FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

• Safety Concerns, OSHA Regulations, Usage
  Procedures Maintenance

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Construction site fires are most commonly caused
by

• Careless smoking
• Poor housekeeping
• Sloppy maintenance on electrical tools
• Portable heating
• Lack of adequate fire watch
• Faulty wiring

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FACTS
Estimated 4,800 construction site fires annually
causing 35 million in property
damage Fire incidents at construction
sites tend to increase as the workday progresses
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• All four elements above must be present for fire
  to exist. The concept of fire prevention is based
  upon keeping these four elements separate.

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Parts of a Fire Extinguisher
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How to Operate a Fire Extinguisher
NOTE It is important to remember to aim at the
BASE of the fire and not at the flames. Spraying
the flames is ineffective and could potentially
spread the fire even further.
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FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLASSES
Fire Extinguisher classifications specify type,
what they can be used to extinguish, method of
operation, range and maintenance requirements.
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Water Foam Fire Extinguishers

• Extinguishes fire by taking away heat and oxygen
• Water extinguishers are for Class A fires only.
  If used on B or C fires, flammable liquid could
  be spread and could also increase shock hazard
• Foam extinguishers can be used on A and B fires
  only.

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Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

• Can be used for Class B and C fires, however are
  usually ineffective on Class A fires
• Extinguishes by taking away oxygen and removes
  heat with a very cold discharge

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Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

• Extinguishes by interrupting the chemical
  reaction needed for fire to be present
• Creates a barrier between the oxygen and the fuel
• Multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher is
  the most widely used today because it is
  effective on Class A, B C fires

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Additional Types

• Wet Chemical- Class K (usually used in commercial
  kitchens)
• Halogenated or Clean Agent- BC Fires
• Dry Powder- For Class D or combustible metal
  fires only

CLASS K
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Inspection Tips

• Is the fire extinguisher in the correct location?
• Is it visible and accessible?
• Does the gauge or pressure indicator show the
  correct pressure?
• According to code, must be maintained annually
• Inspect (quick check) every 30 days

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OSHA Regulations
Subpart F- Fire Protection Prevention Section
1926.150 (c)
Use Table F-1 Fire Extinguishers Data as a guide
when selecting the appropriate extinguisher
needed for specific applications
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Location Requirements

• Travel distance to the nearest fire extinguisher
  shall never exceed 100 feet
• At least one 2-A fire extinguisher shall be
  provided for each floor
• In multistory buildings, at least one fire
  extinguisher shall be located adjacent to the
  stairway

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Overview of Fire Extinguishers

• Fire protection prevention is highly important
  due to the numerous fires that occur on
  construction sites every year
• ONLY use the designated type of fire extinguisher
  depending on the fire hazard classification (A,
  B, C)
• Aim at the fuel of the fire, not at the flames
• Reference OSHA Subpart F, Section 1926.150(c) for
  regulations