Role of Fire Extinguisher in Fire Protection System
Fire Extinguisher
Fire protection system plays a crucial role in building sector which ensures safety of humans inside the building and also to the properties inside the building. Fire is a tetrahedron process, because there are four elements that must be present for a fire to exist, oxygen to sustain combustion, heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature, fuel to support the combustion and a chemical reaction between the other three elements. Remove any one of the four elements to extinguish the fire.
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored-pressure and cartridge-operated.
According to types of fire, extinguishers are used. For class A fire, water and form is generally used, it helps to reduce the heat element from the fire. Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish fire by taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle; this process is called smoothening, mainly used for Class B & C fires. Dry Chemical extinguishers helps to interrupt the chemical reaction of the fire triangle, effective on Class A, B, and C fires. Dry Powder extinguishers are similar to dry chemical except that they extinguish the fire by separating the fuel from the oxygen element or by removing the heat element of the fire triangle.
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 is mainly used in industrial areas.
Key word for operating fire extinguished is PASS. Pull the pin. Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire from the recommended safe distance. Squeeze the operating lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent. .Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out. Move forward or around the fire area as the fire diminishes. Watch the area in case of re-ignition.
