Proper use of a fire extinguisher greatly impoves its effectiveness.

To employ the extinguisher with proper technique, just remember the acronym “PASS.”

• Pull the pin.
• Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. You must apply the extinguishing againt to the base of the fire, not the top of the flames to be effective.
• Squeeze the trigger. In a controlled manner, squeeze the trigger to release the agent.
• Sweep from side to side. Sweep the nozzle from side to side until the fire is put out. Keep aiming at the base while you do so. Most extinguishers will give you about 10-20 seconds of discharge time.

Slowly back away. Even if the fire appears to be extinguished, don’t turn your back on it. There might be unseen hot spots or hidden fires that can ignite into a large flame at any moment. You want to be on guard for that.

Once you’ve used a fire extinguisher, even if you didn’t deplete all the pressure, you must have it recharged by a qualified person as soon as possible. If it’s a disposable extinguisher, throw it away and have it replaced. Contact us to have your fire equipment serviced proffessionally and affordably.

Next time you see a fire extinguisher in the hallway, you can give it a nod of confidence as you PASS it by.

Fire Extinguisher Symbols

• Class A – for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The geometric symbol is the green triangle and the pictograph shows ordinary trash and wood on fire.
• Class B – for fires involving flammable or combustible liquids, like gasoline, kerosene, grease or oil. The geometric symbol is the red square and the pictograph shows a fuel can in flames.
• Class C – for fires involving electrical equipment, like appliances, wiring, circuit breakers or outlets. You should never use water to extinguish a class C fire. Water is a powerful conductor, so the risk of electrical shock is substantial. The geometric symbol is a blue circle and the pictograph shows an electrical cord and outlet that have caught on fire.
• Class D – for fires most commonly occurring in a chemical laboratories. These involve combustible metals, like magnesium, titanium, potassium or sodium. The geometric symbol is the yellow star, or decagon. A pictograph is not commonly used for this class but you might see one that shows a metal beam and flames.
• Class K – for fires that involve cooking oils, trans-fats, or fats in cooking appliances, typically occurring in restaurants or cafeteria kitchens. The geometric symbol is the black hexagon and the pictograph shows a frying pan in flames.
• Combinations – there are some multi-purpose use fire extinguishers available, some of which are commonly used in residential homes. These types of extinguishers are labeled with more than 1 symbol and pictograph in order to indicate every fire class they can be used for.  Common combination you might see are “BC” and “ABC”.
• You should never use a fire extinguisher on a type fire that it is not labeled for. If you are ever unsure, you should exit the premises immediately and call the fire department. You should also always remember that fire extinguishers are only meant to put out small, manageable fires. If a fire begins to spread you should immediately get to a safe place and call the fire department.

• Combinations – there are some multi-purpose use fire extinguishers available, some of which are commonly used in residential homes. These types of extinguishers are labeled with more than 1 symbol and pictograph in order to indicate every fire class they can be used for.  Common combination you might see are “BC” and “ABC”.
• You should never use a fire extinguisher on a type fire that it is not labeled for. If you are ever unsure, you should exit the premises immediately and call the fire department. You should also always remember that fire extinguishers are only meant to put out small, manageable fires. If a fire begins to spread you should immediately get to a safe place and call the fire department.