ST. JOHN OF BUUG FOUNDATION INC.

National Highway Poblacion, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay

FIRE SUPPRESION, CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHMENT,

AND EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
MODULE 2

Objectives

 Define fire suppression.

 Discuss the methods of fire extinguishment.
 Identify the different extinguishing agent

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The proper selection of an agent or method of control or extinguishment is the most important factor in
determining the degree of a success of a firefighting operation.

Fire Suppression – means slowing down the rate of burning, whereas, control means keeping the fire
from spreading or holding the fire to one area. Extinguishment is putting the fire completely out.

Four Methods of Fire Extinguishment and How it Works

Under the triangle -of-fire concept, there are three ways of suppressing, controlling and extinguishing a
fire, namely:

1.Cooling

Removing the heat is one of the most effective methods of fire extinction available, which is why
water is a popular extinguishing material. The fire will go out so long as the heat generated by the fire is
less than that which is absorbed by the water.

Remember: water is not an appropriate extinguishing material to use on electrical fires, as well as those
caused by cooking oils/fats or other flammable liquids.

2. Smothering
As the other key component present in the chemical reaction that causes combustion, removing
oxygen from the equation is the final way of extinguishing a fire. For example, smothering a frying pan
blaze with a fire blanket reduces the oxygen to below the 16% required to react, while covering a candle
with a glass will snuff it out in a vacuum.

3. Separation – the removal of the fuel, as in the example of turning off a valve in a gas line prevents the
fuel and oxygen from coming together. If the fuel is not available then heat, regardless of the temperature,
cannot affect the fuel. Therefore, there is n– o fire.

4. Chemical Chain Reaction - is a series of chemical reactions where the products of the reaction
contribute to the reactants of another reaction. This transformation of products to reactants
allows a reaction to continue with minimal or no outside influence. These chain reactions are
generally triggered by a single initial reaction where an unstable product from the first reaction
becomes the reactant. This process occurs until the system reaches some stable state. This
stable state often comes running out of fuel because the different chemicals are in their lowest
energy state (like hydrocarbons becoming water and CO2).

Extinguishing Agents

Fire Technology and Arson Investigation Module 2: Fire Suppression, Control,

Extinguishment and Extinguisher Agents
 The effectiveness of an extinguisher on a particular fire depends on the amount and type of agent
in the extinguisher. Different extinguishing agents can be used to put out a certain class of fire by one or
more methods.

1. Removing oxygen
2. Removing the fuel
3. Removing heat and
4. Interrupting the chemical chain reaction.

The following are the most common extinguishing agents, the class of fire are used, and the extinguishing
methods used:

1. Water – used only on Class A fires. Water is the most effective in cooling the burning
materials below its ignition temperature. It is the most commonly used agent in firefighting.

Ways or Method Extinguishes Fires

a. Cooling
b. Smothering
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – a number of its properties make CO2 a desirable extinguishing agent.
It is non-combustible and non- relative with most substances.CO2 provides its pressure for
discharge from storage cylinders or extinguishers. Being a gas, CO2 re-ignite from hot surfaces
or embers as the CO2 dissipates.

3. Dry chemical – the dry chemical extinguishing agents in use today are mixtures of powders
and various additives that improve the storage, flow, and water repellency of the powders.
Sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and mono ammonium phosphate are some of the
powders commonly used today. Dry chemical is stable at low temperatures, but it has an upper
storage temperature of 140F. At temperatures above 140 F some caking or sticking of the
powders occurs. These agents are said to be non -toxic, but in discharging large amounts they
may cause some breathing and visibility problems.

There are two types of Dry Chemical:

a. Ordinary and regular dry chemical- generally refer to those powders that are
intended for use on Class B or Class C fires.

b. Multi- purpose Dry chemic al – refers to powders listed for use on class A, B,
C fires.

4. Dry Powder – dry powders is generally term for agents used to extinguish combustible metal
fires. No one dry powder has been found to be effective on all types of combustible metals.

5. AFFF- Aqueous Film Forming Foam has replaced protein foam for all around firefighting
purposes. Protein base foam is now used primarily for runway foaming operations and for some
training purposes.

6. Halon (Halogenated Agents) these agents have been used for over 50 years. Continuous
research has brought these agents to the present high degree of effectiveness in interrupting the
chain reaction they posses along with a decrease in life safety hazard.

Fire Technology and Arson Investigation Module 2: Fire Suppression, Control,

Extinguishment and Extinguisher Agents
 ST. JOHN COLLEGE OF BUUG FOUNDATION
National Highway, Buug , Zamboanga Sibugay

COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
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Writing to Learn Worksheet 2

Name: ____________________________________________

Instructions: Answer the following questions.

After answering send it online to [email protected]

Activity 1
1. How do dry powder agents extinguish fires?

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2.What factor makes water such an excellent firefighting agent?

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3. What determines the amount of water needed to extinguish a fire?

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Fire Technology and Arson Investigation Module 2: Fire Suppression, Control,

Extinguishment and Extinguisher Agents
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4. Why is carbon dioxide so effective for use in extinguishing Class C fires?

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5. What sometimes causes fires to reignite when carbon dioxide is used in extinguishment?

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Fire Technology and Arson Investigation Module 2: Fire Suppression, Control,

Extinguishment and Extinguisher Agents