By Gregory Havel
In firefighter certification classes, we are taught how to operate portable fire extinguishers for the different classes of fire. In fire inspector classes, we are taught how to determine the number, distribution, and location of fire extinguishers for different classes of fire throughout the building they protect. Yet, we learn little about the capabilities of any specific type or size of portable fire extinguisher.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL®) has developed standards by which fire extinguishers are tested and their capacities rated. These standards include fire extinguishers using water-based agents, carbon dioxide, dry chemicals, and dry power for combustible metal fires. For example, UL 8 is the standard for water-based agent portable fire extinguishers (photo 1).
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These standards provide detailed information on the design, performance, and testing of the construction of the fire extinguisher cylinders, caps, valves, pressure relief devices, pressure gauges, locking devices, hoses, nozzles, mounting devices, expellant gases, extinguishing agents, agent discharge rates and volumes, hydrostatic testing; tests for resistance to vibration, temperature extremes, rough usage, and corrosion; tests for the durability of labels and nameplates; and all other details.
UL® has also developed ANSI/UL 711, Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers. This standard describes in detail the test methods and volume of fire that a portable fire extinguisher of a certain type must extinguish to achieve a specific rating.
In the remainder of this article, I will use the testing of a Class A water-based agent portable fire extinguisher rated at 3A as an example.
The fire performance test of a Class A portable fire extinguisher is in two parts: the vertical wood panel (Table 1) and the test crib (Table 2).
The vertical wood panel for a 3A fire extinguisher test is 12 × 12 feet (3.65 × 3.65 meters) (photo 2) and is built of tongue-and-groove 1 x 6 pine boards faced with four layers of uniformly-spaced ¾-inch square boards with the first and third layers vertical and the second and fourth layers horizontal (Figure 1). It is held vertical by steel bracing at the back. The bottom of the panel is sealed against the concrete floor with a layer of Class B fire extinguishing agent.
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FIGURE 1.
The test panel is sprayed with three gallons (11.35 liters) of Number 2 fuel oil before ignition. Four windrows of excelsior, weighing a total of 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms), are spread on the floor; the first at the base of the panel, and the remaining three at a distance from it.
The first windrow of excelsior, at the base of the panel, is ignited at one side of the panel. At specified time intervals, the remaining windrows of excelsior are pushed to the base of the burning panel one at a time to ensure that the entire face of the panel is fully involved in fire. Once the four windrows of excelsior have been burned at the base of the panel and the panel is fully involved in fire, any remaining excelsior will be pushed away from the base of the panel to provide a safe walking surface for the fire extinguisher operator. While the panel is being ignited, and while it is burning, laboratory technicians monitor the panel and extinguish with small water streams any fire that attempts to wrap around the edges or the back of the test panel.
At this point, a laboratory technician will begin discharging the test fire extinguisher onto the burning test panel, sweeping the stream from side to side and bottom to top (photo 3). The fire extinguisher valve is completely open, and the total time of extinguishing agent application is recorded. To be rated as 3A, the contents of a single 3A portable extinguisher must completely put out the fire without reignition (photo 4).
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In addition, test records will include the moisture content of the wood in the panel, the precise weight of the Class A fuels, and the precise volume of the accelerant. The test record will also include digital video and still photos.
The test crib for a 3A portable fire extinguisher test is built from 144 pieces of wood, each 2 x 2 x 29 inches (38 x 38 x 735 millimeters) in 18 layers of eight pieces, each layed perpendicular to the adjacent layers. Photo 5 shows two Class A test cribs stacked on a pallet, ready for use. For the test, a single test crib is placed on a support frame over an ignition pan with an accelerant. The fire is ignited, and when the wood crib is fully involved, a laboratory technician will put out the fire with a single portable extinguisher. To be rated as 3A, the contents of a single 3A portable extinguisher must completely put out the fire without reignition.
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For rating as 3A, the portable fire extinguisher must pass the vertical panel and test crib, as described above. For ratings other than 3A, the vertical panel and test cribs have different dimensions, as shown in Tables 1 and 2. ANSI/UL 711 rates Class A fire extinguishers up to 60-A.
The same tests are used for dry chemical fire extinguishers with an A rating such as ABC dry chemical. These portable fire extinguishers must also pass the Class B test, which is a separate topic.
Portable fire extinguishers are often regarded as only fire code requirements and are only useful on small fires. Yet, in the hands of a skilled operator, a fire extinguisher can be effective on large and deep-seated fires for the protection of persons and property before the arrival of the fire department.
Despite the capabilities of portable fire extinguishers, public fire educators must emphasize to building occupants and owners that their primary responsibilities during a fire are to call the fire department’s emergency number and evacuate the building. The RACE acronym described below is used by health care facilities is applicable to most other types of facilities as well.
- Rescue anyone who is directly threatened by the fire, its flames, or its smoke.
- Alarm. Activate the building fire alarm, and call the fire department’s emergency number (911 in most areas in the United States).
- Confine the fire by closing doors to slow the spread of smoke and flames.
- Extinguish the fire only if the fire is small and you have training in fire extinguisher operation and only after threatened individuals have been rescued and the fire department has been notified.
Author’s note: The author thanks Stephen Kerber, PE, and the staff at Underwriters Laboratories for their assistance with the research and photos for this article.
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Gregory Havel is a member of the Town of Burlington (WI) Fire Department; retired deputy chief and training officer; and a 35-year veteran of the fire service. He is a Wisconsin-certified fire instructor II, fire officer II, and fire inspector; an adjunct instructor in fire service programs at Gateway Technical College; and safety director for Scherrer Construction Co., Inc. Havel has a bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College; has more than 35 years of experience in facilities management and building construction; and has presented classes at FDIC.
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