| Next Page |
 |
I want to know what are various kinds of fire? |
|
| |
Fire can be classified on the basis of source of fire, as follows : |
|
| |
'A' Class - Wood, paper, cloth, plastic |
| |
'B' Class - Oil, petrol, paints, varnish |
| |
'C' Class - LPG, acetylene, industrial gases |
| |
'D' Class - Reactive metals - sodium, potassium |
|
|
I want to know how does one operate the Fire Extinguisher? |
|
| |
Typically, a fire extinguisher is operated using the following three very simple and easy-to-operate steps: |
|
| |
Removing the safety clip |
| |
Pressing the plunger down or by squeezing the operating lever |
| |
Aiming the jet at the fire |
|
|
What precautions do I need to take while operating the Fire Extinguishers? |
|
| |
It is very important to handle the fire extinguisher with adequate care. Apart from following the operating instructions carefully, one should also take care of the following: A particular type of fire extinguisher is meant only for a particular kind of fire. For instance, Water-CO2 based extinguisher is suitable for fire due to wood/paper/cloth/plastic and it should not be used on live electrical equipment. |
| |
|
|
Maintenance of fire extinguishers |
| |
Inspect fire extinguishers at least once a month (more often in sever environments).
Fire extinguisher maintenance is important for everyone's safety. |
|
| |
You must ensure that: |
|
| |
The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency. |
|
| |
The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge (such as that shown on the right), the
needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low. |
|
| |
The nozzle or other parts are not hindered in any way. |
|
| |
The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact. |
|
| |
There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk etc. that may have deposited
on the extinguisher. |
| |
|
| |
Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from settling. |
|
| |
Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested (a process called hydrostatic testing) after a number of years to ensure that the
cylinder is safe to use. Consult your owner's manual, extinguisher label or the manufacturer to see when yours may need such
testing. |
|
| |
If the extinguisher is damaged or needs recharging, replace it immediately! |
|
| |
IMPORTANT: Recharge all extinguishers immediately after use regardless of how much they were used. |
| Next Page |
