Hello,
Is there anywhere in the CFR’s that states what each type of fire extinguisher is? For example, a B-lll fire extinguisher is a 20 Pound Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher. Is there anywhere in the CFR’s that states that?
Thanks,
Pat
The letter is the type of fire it puts out. I don’t think they specify HOW you do it, just that you do.
01. Class A Fire Extinguishers
Class A fire extinguishers are safe for use on ordinary combustible fires, like those fueled by paper or wood. There are a number of safe ways to extinguish a Class A fire, so you’ll find a variety of Class A fire extinguisher options available. Some may use a clean agent, while others may use water mist to suffocate and cool a Class A fire.
02. Class B Fire Extinguishers
Class B fire extinguishers are rated for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, and oil, and most often use C02 or clean agents to safely suppress fires. Both clean agents and CO2 work to remove the oxygen from a fire, suffocating it and eventually extinguishing it. Clean agent Class B fire extinguishers are also a preferred option because they leave no residue and don’t require any cleanup.
03. Class C Fire Extinguishers
Class C fire extinguishers are safe for use on fires that are electrically energized. Most class C fire extinguishers use CO2 or another clean agent to suffocate the fire without adding any conductive materials to the flames.
04. Class D Fire Extinguishers
Class D fire extinguishers are used on combustible metals like magnesium and titanium. These types of fires require an extinguishing agent that will not react with the burning metal. Most Class D fire extinguishers use a dry powder agent to smother the fire and absorb heat, suppressing the fire.
05. Class K Fire Extinguishers
Class K fire extinguishers are made to combat kitchen fires. Used on cooking fat, grease, and oil fires, these fire extinguishers usually employ a wet chemical agent composed of potassium to simultaneously cool and suppress the fire.
Note that more than one agent can do the job for the various classes. I love CO2/Halon types because dry chemical causes such an awful mess that people hesitate to use them. Note you can squirt burning food with CO2/Halon and still eat the food, dry chemical not so much.
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I have several 3-A 40-B-C dry chemical extinguishers. I think they’re around six pound.
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Thanks for all of the information. I just don’t understand what the number (40 B:C) designates.
Pat
You may find a possible answer not in the CFR but in the following cg -cvc policy letter - CG-CVC Policy Letter 18-04 Crosswalk: Weight-Based Rating versus Performance-Based Rating
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I believe 40B means 40 square feet of burning liquid, and C means can be used on energized electrical equipment.
3A would be equivalent of three gallons of water.
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I think the CFR you’re looking for is 46 CFR 25.30-10
It has a table that breaks down B1-B5 for foam CO2 and Dry Chem.
For whatever reason, they spell it out in the OUPV regulations, but don’t duplicate it in the other sub chapters.
(Edit) Looks like it’s been removed from the current version of the CFR? Weird.
Here’s an older version
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If you are wanting this info for a CG exam, they do have a separate print out from 46CFR specifically for fire extinguishing equipment that is the version I took a photo of in the exam rooms.
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Thanks for all of the information. Are you talking about this reprint of the CFR’s? See attached link.
15_repr_46_cfr_portable_fire_ext_pre2016_vessel_regs (1).pdf (279.3 KB)
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Yes