FM Techie

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire. There are two operation types of fire extinguishers:  i. Stored pressure  ii. Cartridge operated  Stored Pressure  In stored pressure units, the expellant is stored in the same chamber as the fire fighting agent itself. Depending on the agent used, different propellants are used. With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used; water and foam extinguishers typically use air.  Cartridge Operated  Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. This type is not as common, used primarily in areas such as industrial ...

Fire Triangle Flames require fuel, oxygen, and heat to sustain combustion, a concept known as the Fire Triangle. Fire extinguishers work by removing one of these elements through the application of an agent that either cools the burning fuel, removes fuel, or displaces the surrounding oxygen. The Basic Concept of Fire Control Removing Heat (Cooling) Heat can be removed by applying a substance that reduces the temperature and limits the heat available for the fire reaction. Removing Fuel (Starving) A fire ceases when its fuel source is eliminated. This can be done manually, mechanically, or chemically by removing or isolating the fuel from the fire. Reducing Oxygen (Smothering) A fire requires oxygen to sustain combustion. Reducing oxygen concentration slows or stops the combustion process. Fire Prevention Systems in a Building Fire prevention systems are categorized into: Active Fire Protection (AFP) AFP consists of systems and equipment that require motion and response to function ...