- Joined
- Feb 27, 2009
- Location
- Milan, NY 12571
OK. We all have the appropiate fire extinguishers in our boats, (or at least I hope you do), but do we know how to use them? they are very limited in usage time, so you really want to use them to their best. That's why that takes us to a new theme "FIRE FIGHTING"
The fire triangle
Firerequirethreeelements. Remove one and the fire goes out. This the basic principle of fire fighting.
*Fuel- any combustible material, such as wood, paper, oil, plastic, gasoline,paint.
*Oxygen- A minimum of 16% by volume of air. Normal concentration is 21%
*Heat- Temperature high enought to ignite the fuel.
Fires are grouped into four classes depending primarily on the type of fuel. which brings us to "FUEL CLASSIFICATIONS"
Class A- wood, cloth, paper, rubber, some plastics.
Class B- petrolium products, alcohols, paints.
Class C- energizrd electrical components.
Class D- combustible metals such as magnesium.
Fire extinguisher characteristics
type-----fire class -----how it works-----comments
Water--------A ---------removes heat------conducts electricity
CO2 -------ABC --------displaces oxygen. --doesn't lower temperature, so fire can reignite. easily dissipateby wind. suffocating.
Halon----- ABC-------- displaces oxygen--- being discontinued due to ozone deplection.
Dry Chemical- ABC-------Reacts with fuel ---powder residue harmful to engines and electronics.
--------------BC -------to inhibit combustion----------
Foam---------AB -------cuts off oxygen/----conducts electricity, removes heat.
required contents of fire extinguishers
Extinguisher class/ CO2, lb. /Halon, lb/ Dry Chemical, lb/ Foam, lb
B-I -------------------4 ---------2.5 -----------2 --------------1.25
B-II ----------------- 15 ---------10 -----------10 -------------2.5
The all purpose fire nozzle
Large vessels have fixed fire-fighting systems consisting of hydrant stations, hoses and nozzles. The all purpose nozzle can spray water in three patterns:
1- straight stream (handle pulled back) for maximum range and force.
2- High-velocity fog (handle straight up) for a wide, coarse spray with a range of 20-30 feet.
3- Low-velocity fog (handle straight up with special applicator nozzle) for a fine fog that absorbs the maximum amount of heat.
Fighting a fire
The coast guard encourages an organized approach to fire fighting. The recommended procedure is:
1- sound the general alarm bell for 10 seconds. Simultaneously, turn the vessel so any smoke and flames are downwind.
2- Issue a PAN-PAN distress call on VHF CH16
3- Have the crew assemble any passengers far from the fire and have them don life preservers.
4- Use your head- remember the fire triangle.
*Fuel- If fuel is an easily handle object, throw it overboard!
*Oxygen- If the fire is an enclosed space, deprive it of oxygen by sealing off the space.
*Heat- If there is a fixed fire extinguisher in the space, activate it. If not, and the fire is accessible, use the appropriate type of extinguisher to cool the fire.
Once you have extinguished a fire in an enclosed space, do not open the space for at least 15 minutes to avoid reignition.
If you have extinguished an electrical fire by turning off the battery switch or the main circuit breaker, do not turn on again until you have isolated or disconnected the circuit involved in the fire.
--------- Heat
----------The
----------Fire
--------Triangle
Fuel ----------Oxygen
The fire triangle
Firerequirethreeelements. Remove one and the fire goes out. This the basic principle of fire fighting.
*Fuel- any combustible material, such as wood, paper, oil, plastic, gasoline,paint.
*Oxygen- A minimum of 16% by volume of air. Normal concentration is 21%
*Heat- Temperature high enought to ignite the fuel.
Fires are grouped into four classes depending primarily on the type of fuel. which brings us to "FUEL CLASSIFICATIONS"
Class A- wood, cloth, paper, rubber, some plastics.
Class B- petrolium products, alcohols, paints.
Class C- energizrd electrical components.
Class D- combustible metals such as magnesium.
Fire extinguisher characteristics
type-----fire class -----how it works-----comments
Water--------A ---------removes heat------conducts electricity
CO2 -------ABC --------displaces oxygen. --doesn't lower temperature, so fire can reignite. easily dissipateby wind. suffocating.
Halon----- ABC-------- displaces oxygen--- being discontinued due to ozone deplection.
Dry Chemical- ABC-------Reacts with fuel ---powder residue harmful to engines and electronics.
--------------BC -------to inhibit combustion----------
Foam---------AB -------cuts off oxygen/----conducts electricity, removes heat.
required contents of fire extinguishers
Extinguisher class/ CO2, lb. /Halon, lb/ Dry Chemical, lb/ Foam, lb
B-I -------------------4 ---------2.5 -----------2 --------------1.25
B-II ----------------- 15 ---------10 -----------10 -------------2.5
The all purpose fire nozzle
Large vessels have fixed fire-fighting systems consisting of hydrant stations, hoses and nozzles. The all purpose nozzle can spray water in three patterns:
1- straight stream (handle pulled back) for maximum range and force.
2- High-velocity fog (handle straight up) for a wide, coarse spray with a range of 20-30 feet.
3- Low-velocity fog (handle straight up with special applicator nozzle) for a fine fog that absorbs the maximum amount of heat.
Fighting a fire
The coast guard encourages an organized approach to fire fighting. The recommended procedure is:
1- sound the general alarm bell for 10 seconds. Simultaneously, turn the vessel so any smoke and flames are downwind.
2- Issue a PAN-PAN distress call on VHF CH16
3- Have the crew assemble any passengers far from the fire and have them don life preservers.
4- Use your head- remember the fire triangle.
*Fuel- If fuel is an easily handle object, throw it overboard!
*Oxygen- If the fire is an enclosed space, deprive it of oxygen by sealing off the space.
*Heat- If there is a fixed fire extinguisher in the space, activate it. If not, and the fire is accessible, use the appropriate type of extinguisher to cool the fire.
Once you have extinguished a fire in an enclosed space, do not open the space for at least 15 minutes to avoid reignition.
If you have extinguished an electrical fire by turning off the battery switch or the main circuit breaker, do not turn on again until you have isolated or disconnected the circuit involved in the fire.
--------- Heat
----------The
----------Fire
--------Triangle
Fuel ----------Oxygen
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