Laboratory Report

Objective :

 To identify the types of firefighting equipment and utilities used with different
classification on safety in the building and illustrate the floor plan.
 To identify the type of fire extinguisher, function and procedure.

Problem Statement :
Nowadays, there are lacks of safety awareness among citizens. This is because citizens are
not being properly educated and expose the importance of safety especially in fire fighting
aspect. The importance of safety awareness must be taking into consideration to increase the
level of building safety. As the students of UiTM Pulau Pinang, it is essential to investigate
the fire fighting equipments available at UiTM Pulau Pinang and ensure all fire fighting
equipments meet their standard requirements of Fire Department. For that purpose, you are
required to observe and identify the location, types and numbers of firefighting equipment at
any level in a building.

Introduction :

A fire sprinkler contractor will generally have a fire extinguisher that is installed in a
company supplied truck located at the jobsite. Fire sprinkler contractors may also rely on
extinguishers provided by the general contractor, unless they are doing “hot work.” Hot work
includes soldering, silver soldering, welding, or oxyacetylene torch cutting but would include
any similar process that produces a spark or fire that could start a fire. In any situation where
fire sprinkler contractors are doing “hot work,” they are generally required to provide
extinguishers or other appropriate fire protection.

Theoretical Background :

Fire fighting systems and equipment vary depending on the age, size, use and type of
building construction. A building may contain some or all of the following features; fire
extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire hydrant systems and automatic sprinkler systems. Fire
extinguishers are provided for a 'first attack' fire fighting measure generally undertaken by the
occupants of the building before the fire service arrive. It is important that occupants are
familiar with which extinguisher type to use on which fire. Most fires start as a small fire and
may be extinguished if the correct type and amount of extinguishing agent is applied whilst
the fire is small and controllable. The extinguishing agents used for fire extinguishers that
currently available include water, foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, wet chemical and
special purpose. Fire extinguisher locations must be clearly identified. Extinguishers are
colour coded according to the extinguishing agent.

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 A) Fire Extinguisher

1) Type of Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher Description

Water and Foam

Water and Foam fire extinguishers extinguish the fire
by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle.
Foam agents also separate the oxygen element from
the other elements.

Water extinguishers are for Class A fires only - they

should not be used on Class B or C fires. The discharge
stream could spread the flammable liquid in a Class B
fire or could create a shock hazard on a Class C fire.

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish fire by
taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and
also be removing the heat with a very cold discharge.

Carbon dioxide can be used on Class B & C fires. They

are usually ineffective on Class A fires.

Dry Chemical
Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire
primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the
fire triangle.

Today's most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the

multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A,
B, and C fires. This agent also works by creating a
barrier between the oxygen element and
the fuelelement on Class A fires.

Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B & C fires only. It is

important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of
fuel! Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to re-
ignite after apparently being extinguished succesfully.

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 Wet Chemical
Wet Chemical is a new agent that extinguishes the fire
by removing the heat of the fire triangle and prevents
re-ignition by creating a barrier between
the oxygen and fuel elements.

Wet chemical of Class K extinguishers were developed

for modern, high efficiency deep fat fryers in commercial
cooking operations. Some may also be used on Class A
fires in commercial kitchens

Clean Agent
Halogenated or Clean Agent extinguishers include the
halon agents as well as the newer and less ozone
depleting halocarbon agents. They extinguish the fire by
interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.

Clean agent extinguishers are primarily for Class B & C

fires. Some larger clean agent extinguishers can be
used on Class A, B, and C fires.

Dry Powder
Dry Powder extinguishers are similar to dry chemical
except that they extinguish the fire by separating
the fuel from the oxygen element or by removing
the heat element of the fire triangle.

However, dry powder extinguishers are for Class D or

combustible metal fires, only. They are ineffective on all
other classes of fires.

Water Mist
Water Mist extinguishers are a recent development that
extinguish the fire by taking away the heat element of
the fire triangle. They are an alternative to the clean
agent extinguishers where contamination is a concern.

Water mist extinguishers are primarily for Class A fires,

although they are safe for use on Class C fires as well.

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 Cartridge Operated Dry Chemical
Cartridge Operated Dry Chemical fire extinguishers
extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical
reaction of the fire triangle.

Like the stored pressure dry chemical extinguishers, the

multipurpose dry chemical is effective on Class A, B,
and C fires. This agent also works by creating a barrier
between the oxygen element and the fuel element on
Class A fires.

Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B & C fires only. It is

important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of
fuel! Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to re-
ignite after apparently being extinguished successfully.

2) Classes of Fire Extinguish

Class Name of
Type of Fire / Fuel
Icon Class

Solid Combustibles
Class A Fires
Fires involving solid combustible materials such as wood,
textiles, straw, paper, coal etc.

Flammable Liquids

Class B Fires Fires caused by combustion of liquids or materials that

liquify such as petrol, oils, fats, paints, tar, ether, alcohol,
stearin and paraffin.

Flammable Gases
Class C Fires Fires caused by combustion of gases such as methane,
propane, hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas and city gas

Flammable Metals

Fires involving combustible metals such as magnesium,

Class D Fires aluminium, lithium, sodium, potassium and their alloys.
Combustible metal fires are unique industrial hazards
which require special fire extinguishers.

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 Combustible Cooking Media

Fires involving particularly hot or deep oil and grease

fires, such as deep fat fryers in commercial kitchens or
overheated oil pan fires in homes. Normal water-based
extinguishers with large droplets would cause an
Class F Fires ‘explosion’ of steam and carry burning oils and fats from
the container. Equally, a CO2 extinguisher’s jet would
carry burning oil out of the container and also would have
insufficient cooling effect to stop re-ignition. Wet
chemical extinguishers, on the other hand, lay a cooling
foam layer on top of the burning fat/oil and react with the
liquid, stopping air supply to the fire.

Electrical Appliances
Electrical Fires involving electrical appliances such as computers,
Fires
electrical heaters, stereos, fuse boxes etc.

3) Procedure
The mnemonic PASS is suggested by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
to help people remember the steps for using a fire extinguisher. It stands for:

1. Pull the pin. (Do this with the nozzle pointing away from you.)
2. Aim low (at the base of the fire).
3. Squeeze the trigger with a slow, even motion.
4. Sweep the nozzle side to side across the area.

However, you should never try to fight a large blaze yourself, and you should assure
everyone’s safety as a first step. Be sure to call the fire department as quickly as
possible, even before attempting to fight the fire. For more information and
clarification of any questions, contact your local fire department.
-

B) Firefighting Equipment and Facilities Floor Plan Illustrate

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 1. Floor Plan for the Fire Equipment.

a) Location
- BKBA 4th Floor

b) Fire Equipment
 Heat Detector

A heat detector is a fine alarm device designed to respond when the convected the
thermal energy of a fire increase the temperature of a heat sensitive element. The
thermal mass and conductivity of the element regulate the rate flow of heat into the
element. All heat detectors have this thermal lay. Heat detectors have two main
classifications of operations “rate of rise and fixed temperature”. The heat detector is
used to help in the reduction of damaged property. It is triggered when temperature
increase.

 Fire Hose Reel Drum

A Fire hose is a high pressure hose that carries water or other fire retardant (such as
foam) to a fire to extinguish it. Outdoors, it attaches either to a fire engine or a fire
hydrant. Indoors, it can permanently attach to building’s standpipe or plumbing
system.

 Breaking Glass

Breaking glass (which draw its name from breaking the glass to pull a fire alarm)
refers to a quick means for a person who does not have the privileges to certain
information to gain access when necessary. It is an active fire protection device,
usually wall mounted, that when activated, initiates an alarm on a fire alarm system.

 Fire Alarm Bell

A fire alarm is an electronic sounder or a bell. The sounder makes a loud high pitched
sound to alert people that there is the fire in the building. The sounders can be
programmed to sound different tones.

 Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection devise used to extinguish or control

small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-
control fire, such as one which reached the ceiling, endanger the user or otherwise
requires the expertise of a fire department. Typically, a fire extinguisher consist of a
hand held cylindrical pressure vessel containing agent which can be discharged to
extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufacture with non-cylindrical pressure vessel
also exist, but are less common.

c) Appendices

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 Example of Fire Equipment at 4th Floor of BKBA

Discussion :

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 Based on our observation from the fourth floor of BKBA Block, we think that if there is a fire
burning, the fire alarm system is able to alert people in the building since there is enough
amount of heat and smoke detector inside the building. Fire extinguisher is one of equipment
for the first action if fire happened. Identification of location for fire extinguisher must be
done to ensure that the safety of the building in safe condition. Based on our observation for
4th Floor Block BKBA, some of fire extinguisher were not been located at the box prepared.
This were not good for the safety of the building because if there fire happened. The fire
alarm system can be set off automatically by smoke detectors, heat detectors or manually.
These sensors are set to detect certain levels of heat or smoke that could be an indication of
fire. In fire alarm system, things that must be included is break glass to ring the bell, the bell
itself to aware people that there is an emergency happened, smoke detector to detect presence
of smoke, and also heat detector to detect presence of heat.

Conclusion :

In conclusion, everyone should know about the safety system around us and we also should
know how it functions to ensure our own safety. In this block, we think that we have enough
time to run to a safe place as the fire alarm system is enough while the fire is not spreading
yet.

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