Essentials of Firefighting (4th Edition)
Chapter 5-Portable Extinguishers
FF 1 Test Review (Statements)

  • Class B fires are those involving flammable liquids, greases, and gases.
  • A non-expert user of a 60-B extinguisher can be expected to extinguish 60 square feet of a flammable liquid fire.
  • Considerations for extinguisher selection include: hazards to be protected, severity of fire, and ease of handling.
  • Modern fire extinguishers are designed to be held in the upright position.
  • Class A foam will assist in extinguishing deep-seated, vehicle, or wildland fires.
  • Class A and B extinguishers receive a numerical rating in addition to a letter classification.
  • Class B extinguisher ratings range from 1-B to 640-B.
  • AFFF extinguishers work best for suppressing vapors on small liquid fuel spills.
  • NPFA 10 covers extinguisher requirements.
  • Building inspections and pre-incident planning should include inspection of extinguishers.
  • Carbon dioxide extinguishers create a frost residue that can cause frostbite.
  • Carbon dioxide extinguishers weigh from 2 1/2 to 20 pounds.
  • A 1-A rating extinguisher is required to have 1 1/4 gallons of water.
  • Class C extinguishers should have a circle with the letter "C" inside affixed to the extinguisher.
  • Class C extinguishers are not specifically fire tested.
  • Extinguishing agent should be applied from a point that reaches the fire but does not disturb the fuel.
  • Class C fires are those involving energized electrical equipment.
  • An extinguisher lying on its side can be used to indicate that it is empty.
  • The most common AFFF extinguisher discharges in about 50 seconds and has a capacity of 2 1/2 gallons.
  • Class D extinguishing agent may be applied with a scoop rather than extinguisher.
  • Inverting-type fire extinguishers include: soda-acid, chemical foam, and cartridge-operated water.
  • Water-containing extinguishers should be stored in areas with temperatures no less than 40oF.
  • Reactions between extinguisher agent and extinguisher metal is not a tested factor for Class D extinguishers.
  • Numerical ratings of extinguishers reflect the relative quantity of fire that can be extinguished.
  • Halogens (used in Halon extinguishers) were phased out in 2000 and the U.S. stopped producing them in 1993.
  • Class C fires are essentially Class A or B fires involving electricity.
  • The Class C designation of an extinguisher simply confirms it is non-conductive.
  • An extinguisher with a 4-A rating should extinguish 4 times as much fire as a 1-A rating extinguisher.
  • Extinguishers showing slight damage can be hydrostatically tested, while ones with major damage should be discarded.
  • Methods of determining if an extinguisher is full include: weighing the extinguisher, inspecting the agent level, and checking the pressure gauge.
  • The cloud of chemicals used in dry chemical extinguishers may reduce visibility.
  • Ordinary dry chemical extinguishers may be used on Class B and Class C fires.
  • Class D extinguishing agent may not be multipurpose (used on other Classes) and are not given numerical ratings.
  • Pump-tank water extinguishers are Class A type.
  • A Class A extinguisher with a 12-A rating would have 12 times the water content of a 1-A extinguisher (1.25 gallons x 12=15 gallons).
  • Class A portable extinguishers are rated from 1-A to 40-A.
  • Chemicals that may be found in an ordinary base, dry chemical extinguisher include: sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, or potassium chloride.
  • Labeling for portable extinguishers may consist of pictographs and/or colored geometric shapes.
  • Dry chemical wheeled units have a maximum stream capability of 45 feet.
  • Hydrostatic test results for extinguishers must be recorded on the cylinder.
  • AFFF solution allows water to float on fuels that are lighter than water.
  • Wheeled carbon dioxide extinguishers have a discharge time of 30 seconds.
  • Portable (hand-carried) dry powder extinguishers have a stream reach of 4 to 6 feet and can weigh up to 30 pounds.
  • Dry chemical extinguishers that will be subject to freezing temperatures use a dry nitrogen cartridge.