Tech Files
Avoiding the Diskette Inferno:
Computers and Fire Extinguishers
Nothing quite ruins a perfectly lovely day as much as that sudden pop! and the screen goes blank... the smell of ozone... and sudden shouts of Noooooooooo!!!! My PC's on fire. Somebody get some... What? Where's the fire extinguisher? The what? Oh, we don't have one!
Everyone should immediately recognize a fire extinguisher—they have a distinctive appearance. Usually, but not always, they are a red cylinder with a slender hose or nozzle extending from the top of the canister.
Photo snagged from Henk
Muller's site. UNIX is everywhere!
Many people keep small fire extinguishers in their cars, boats, homes, and workplaces. Larger extinguishers should be stationed inside garages and work areas, always within easy access.
It is simply not enough to have a fire extinguisher within handy reach in case of an emergency. PC techs need to understand how to use a fire extinguisher properly and what type of fire extinguisher to use if a fire does occur. A fire extinguisher is much like a computer—it is useless unless you know how to operate it properly and when it is appropriate to do so (and when not to, as well).
A good lesson to remember is that fire extinguishers are not designed to fight a large or spreading fire. Even in the cases of small fires, they may or may not be effective, depending on the cause of the fire and the type of extinguisher you have on hand.
Types of Extinguishers
Fires can start in a lot of different ways—a carelessly ignored cigarette left burning, food burning on the stove, a pile of oily rags ignite in the garage. For this reason, there are several different types of fire extinguishers and you need to know the difference between them.
Fires involving wood or cloth, flammable liquids, or electricity are very different processes and therefore, different extinguishers must be used on them. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a fire can, in some cases, even cause the fire to spread farther and faster.
[Ed.: Which brings to mind the ultimate party trick for pyros. Start a small grease fire in the kitchen, but make sure you've planted the wrong type of fire extinguisher in an obvious spot. Everything in place? Then panic—run around squealing, "Oh no! A fire!" Some brave soul will boldly leap to the rescue, grab the fire extinguisher, and boom! Seriously spreading fire. Excellent!]
[Writer: Gakk!! In response to my editor's comment, I cannot encourage this type of reckless behavior! This type of trick is certainly fun for a while, until someone burns down your house. See my point?]
The standard for designating the different types of fire extinguishers is simple. The letters "A, B, C, D" are used to designate the four types of fires which might be encountered in the real world. In recent times, fire extinguishers are also labeled with pictograms of the materials on which they can be used. The list below briefly summarizes the four types of fires and the extinguishers which should be used to put them out.
Type A
This type of take-charge, aggressive... (oops, wrong Type A!) extinguisher is used for ordinary combustibles such as cloth, wood, rubber, and many types of plastic. These fires usually leave ashes after they burn.
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| Think of Type A extinguishers for Ashes. |
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Type B
This type of extinguisher is used for fires involving flammable liquids, such as oil, gasoline, diesel, paints, lacquers, grease, and solvents.
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| Think of Type B extinguishers for Barrels (as flammable liquids often come in barrels.) |
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Type C
This type of extinguisher is used for fires resulting from electrical sources, such as faulty wiring, fuse boxes, energized (electrified) equipment, and other sources of electricity.
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| Think of Type C extinguishers for Currents or Computers. |
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The best fire extinguisher for computer equipment is Type C.
Remember, computers use electrical current to operate.
Type D
This type of extinguisher is used only for "metal" fires with fuel sources such as magnesium, titanium, and sodium. These types of fires are rare in the home but can occur in laboratory or industrial settings. Any fire of this type is extremely dangerous, as these materials burn at much higher temperatures than normal combustibles.
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| Think of TYPE D extinguishers for Do Not Get Involved! |
Warning!!!
Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a fire can make a fire even worse, causing it to spread faster and farther.
Using a Fire Extinguisher
To recall how to use a fire extinguisher properly, remember the word "P-A-S-S."
- Pull the pin at the top of the cylinder. Some units require
the releasing of a lock latch or pressing a puncture lever.
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the handle on the extinguisher, causing it to discharge.
- Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire with the extinguisher until it goes out.
After the fire is out, shut off the extinguisher but be sure to watch carefully in case the fire ignites once again. Always contact your local Fire Department whenever there is a fire, even a small one.
For more information concerning fire extinguishers, please visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration web site at www.osha.gov.
- Lloyd Jeffries