1.3 Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is a vital emergency device designed to control or extinguish small fires before they spread. Depending on the burning materials, different fire extinguishers with specific extinguishing mediums and label colours must be used.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the four common types of fire extinguishers based on medium, label colour, and usage.
- Classify fires into Class A, B, C, D, E, and F and select the appropriate fire extinguisher for each class.
- Describe other fire extinguishing equipment, including the ABC fire extinguisher, fire blanket, sand, and water.
- Demonstrate the correct 4-step method of using a fire extinguisher.
- Carry out an audit on fire extinguishers in school by checking their type, expiry date, pressure gauge, and location.
Summary of Fire Extinguishers and Fire Classes
Pair each label colour with its extinguishing medium, fire class, and operating steps.
Short Explanation
Definition
A fire extinguisher is a device used to control or extinguish fire.
Fire extinguishers are categorized into four main types by their extinguishing medium: water (red label), foam (cream label), carbon dioxide (black label), and dry powder (blue label). Fires are classified into six categories (Class A to F) depending on the burning fuel, which ranges from ordinary solids and flammable liquids to electrical items and cooking oils.
Remember the operating steps. Pull out the safety pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire from a distance of 2.0 to 2.5 metres, squeeze the upper handle, and sweep across the fire from side to side.
Special equipment. Fire blankets made of glass fibres can put out small fires or protect victims, while ABC fire extinguishers provide versatile and environmentally safe coverage.
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are classified based on their medium.
| Type | Label colour | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Red | Extinguishes flammable solids such as cloth, paper, and wood. |
| Foam | Cream | Extinguishes flammable solids such as wood and paper as well as types of liquid or gas that are flammable such as oil, paint, and natural gas. |
| Carbon dioxide | Black | Extinguishes fire that involves electrical appliances, gas, and vapour. |
| Dry powder | Blue | Extinguishes all types of fires. |
Types of Fires and Suitable Fire Extinguishers
Fires are grouped into six classes based on the burning fuel.
| Fire class | Burning material | Suitable extinguishers |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Flammable solids (except metals) such as wood, paper, cloth, and any flammable material. | Water, Foam, Dry powder |
| Class B | Liquids such as petrol, kerosene, diesel, paint, and varnish. | Foam, Dry powder, Carbon dioxide |
| Class C | Gases such as LPG, LNG, and oxygen. | Dry powder, Carbon dioxide |
| Class D | Metals such as magnesium, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. | Dry powder |
| Class E | Electrical appliances. | Dry powder, Carbon dioxide |
| Class F | Fats and oils. | Dry powder, Carbon dioxide |
Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment
Special equipment used for specific fire situations.
ABC Fire Extinguisher
Can be used for all types of fires except fire resulting from metals and gases that will not allow explosion. It is not harmful to human and animal, does not pollute the soil, and is easy to maintain at least once a year. The moisture produced lasts longer, preventing fire from spreading again.
Fire Blanket
Made of two layers of glass fibres. It is able to extinguish small or moderate fires that are difficult to extinguish with water, and it can extinguish fire on a victim when wrapped around them.
Sand
Used to extinguish early-stage fire.
Water
Used to extinguish fire except fire resulting from oil.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Follow these four steps in the correct order.
Step 1
Remove the safety pin from the fire extinguisher. Ensure the fire extinguisher is positioned upright.
Step 2
Aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Ensure you are at a distance of around 2.0 – 2.5 metres from the fire.
Step 3
Squeeze the handle on the top of the fire extinguisher.
Step 4
Spray evenly on the entire fire source by sweeping the nozzle from side to side.
Carrying Out an Audit on Fire Extinguishers at School
Items inspected and recorded during an audit.
- Type of fire extinguisher
- Expiry date from inspection tag or sticker, for example Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia
- Pressure gauge reading
- Number of fire extinguishers based on types
- Location of fire extinguishers marked on the school's emergency route plan
Home Fire Safety Checklist
- Install smoke detectors.
- Have an emergency plan and route from each room.
- Use light bulbs with suitable wattage.
- Store heat-producing appliances at least 1 metre away from flammable materials.
- Avoid charging electronic equipment on the bed or unattended.
- Inspect wiring regularly; avoid unauthorised extensions or overloading circuits.
- Keep matches, lighters, and flammable liquids away from children and heat sources.
- Keep one dry powder or ABC-type fire extinguisher at home.
Try to Answer First
Answer in your mind, then press "Check Answer".
What type of fire extinguisher is represented by a cream-coloured label and what can it extinguish?
Why should water not be used to extinguish oil fires?
What is the recommended distance a person should maintain from the fire when aiming the nozzle of a fire extinguisher?
Common Mistakes
- Aiming the nozzle at the top of the flames instead of the base of the fire.
- Using water on Class B liquids or electrical fires, which can spread the burning liquid or cause electrocution.
- Mixing up the label colours, for example confusing red for carbon dioxide instead of water, or cream for dry powder.
- Standing too close, under 2 metres, to the fire while discharging the extinguisher.
Concept Misunderstandings
Any fire extinguisher can put out any type of fire safely.
Specific mediums are formulated for specific fuel types; for instance, water is dangerous for electrical or oil fires, whereas dry powder covers all fire classes.
A fire blanket is only meant to be thrown on cooking appliances.
A fire blanket, made of glass fibres, can also be wrapped around a victim whose clothes are on fire to smother flames.
ABC fire extinguishers can put out absolutely all types of fires without exception.
ABC fire extinguishers can be used for all types of fires except fires that result from metals and gases that will not allow explosion.
Summary
- Fire extinguishers control small fires and are categorized into Water (Red), Foam (Cream), Carbon Dioxide (Black), and Dry Powder (Blue).
- Fires are grouped into Class A (solids), Class B (liquids), Class C (gases), Class D (metals), Class E (electrical appliances), and Class F (fats and oils).
- Fire blankets are made of glass fibres to smother small fires or rescue victims.
- Using a fire extinguisher follows 4 steps: remove pin, aim at base (2.0–2.5 m away), squeeze handle, and sweep side to side.
- School audits require checking extinguisher types, expiry dates, pressure readings, and locations.
Short Activity
A. Objective Quiz
1 Which type of fire extinguisher has a black label and is suitable for extinguishing fires involving electrical appliances?
2 What material is a fire blanket made of?
B. Fill in the Blanks
3 When using a fire extinguisher, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire from a distance of around to 2.5 metres.
4 Fires that involve flammable metals such as magnesium, aluminium, sodium, and potassium are classified as Class fires.
C. Drag and Drop: Match the Label Colour to Its Medium
Drag each label colour to the correct extinguishing medium. On a phone, tap an answer first, then tap a matching box. Tap the Answer Choices area to return a selected item.
C. Match the Label Colour to Its Medium
Write the correct extinguishing medium next to each label colour.
| Label Colour | Medium |
|---|---|
| 1. Red label | |
| 2. Cream label | |
| 3. Black label | |
| 4. Blue label |
Answer choices: Water • Foam • Carbon dioxide • Dry powder
