What Is The Proper Way To Use A Fire Extinguisher?

Bypreventive fire

A fire extinguisher is an essential tool for your workplace. All commercial businesses must have a fire extinguisher available for guests and employees. Many states require employees to be certified before they can use one. We will be discussing the different parts of a fire extinguisher as well as how to properly use it.

 

Parts of a Fire Extinguisher

Although there are many types of fire extinguishers, they all have the same basic design. It is important that you understand all the parts of a fire extinguisher. What are they used for? What do they do? We will be discussing the eight major components of a fire extinguisher and their respective uses.

  • Safety pin This safety pin is an integral component of your fire extinguisher. It is placed inside the valve to prevent accidental discharge. Before you can use your fire extinguisher, it must be removed.
  • The discharge lever This lever allows you to control your fire extinguisher. After removing the safety pin, push this lever to activate the fire extinguisher.
  • Carrying handle This handle allows you to carry your fire extinguisher.
  • Pressure gauge This is a gauge that shows the pressure inside a canister for a fire extinguisher. If the pressure is too low, your extinguisher will not work properly.
  • Pickup tube Sometimes called a discharge tube, the pickup tube allows the extinguishing agents from the tank to reach a nozzle.
  • The gas canister Holds expellant. Open it by pulling the nozzle. It releases the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguisher.
  • Fire extinguishing agents – A chemical substance kept in the tank of a fire extinguisher. It is used to quickly extinguish flames by ejecting from the nozzle.
  • Discharge nozzle: This is located at the end a fire extinguisher line. Here is where you can disperse the extinguishing agents.

 

Use a Fire Extinguisher

If you don’t know what fire extinguishers are, it can be confusing. There’s an easy way to use one. The PASS method is a four-step procedure that teaches you how to use a fire extinguisher. Each step of the fire-extinguisher “PASS” method will be covered and how it can help you use a fire extinguisher correctly.

 

PASS Technique

  • Pull: To fire your extinguisher, remove the safety pin from the lock and open the locking mechanism. To avoid accidentally spraying yourself, be sure to point your nozzle away.

  • Target: After you have pulled the pin, aim the fire extinguisher at its base. This will ensure that you extinguish the fire at its source.

  • Squeeze To start putting out the flames, slowly squeeze the lever on your fire extinguisher evenly and steadily to ensure that the expellant has been distributed correctly.

  • Sweep As you aim at the base of your fire, move the nozzle side-to-side to ensure that the fire is extinguished evenly.

 

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