Handheld fire extinguishers

A good example of a typical heavy-duty fire extinguisher can be found in figure 8-2. Employees who use this type of extinguisher are typically members of an onsite fire brigade. 

The NFPA was founded in 1896 to design sprinkler systems and develop techniques for their installation and maintenance. Since then. 

Since the inception of the association, standards and codes have become more than simple standardization, installation, and maintenance guides for sprinkler systems. There are currently hundreds of codes covering a large range of fire-related topics, with numerous NFPA committees developing standards and codes through a democratic process. All are published in the National Fire Codes or can be requested individually in pamphlet form. Some of the most widely used include NFPA 70, National Electric Code NFPA 101, Life Safety Code NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code NFPA 13, Automatic Sprinkler Standard NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gases Standard and NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Standard. 

The purpose of NFPA 70 is to provide a guide for the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. It covers installation of electrical conductors within 

NFPA 13 covers installation of sprinklers by providing minimum requirements for the design and installation of automatic sprinklers. 

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All chlorofluorocarbons have some fire-extinguishing properties even carbon tetrachloride was used at one time in small, handheld fire extinguishers. Flowever, bromofluorocarbons (BFCs) are exceptional because the bromine atom interferes most effectively with the radical propagation mechanism of the flame. Table 1 includes the three, commercially available bromofluorocarbons used as fire-fighting agents which are generally referred to industrially by the term Flalon . 

Combustible metals require the use of special dry compound agents for extinguishment and are applied manually with either hand scoops or handheld fire extinguishers. These agents are also sold under various proprietary names. Therefore, Table 7-7, which lists some selection parameters associated with these agents, also identifies these agents by their base component. 

Figure 8-2. Example of fire extinguishers found in the occupational environment. (A) 150-pound wheel fire extinguisher for protection of facilities where larger fires could occur. (B) Handheld fire extinguishers. 

ANSUL manufactures wheeled and handheld portable fire extinguishers. 

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