It's a good idea to have a charged fire extinguisher in an easily accessible part of your workshop. Keep in mind the following safety tips too--so you'll never have to use the extinguisher: - Dispose of sawdust at least once a day. It's important to keep the shavings in an airtight container because they're extremely flammable.
- Rinse and hang rags outside to dry after using them to apply solvents, finishes and other chemicals. Materials soaked with such chemicals may spontaneously combust if piled together.
- Store volatile chemicals such as paint thinner in a fireproof locked metal cabinet.
- When working with a torch, place a metal plate at least 1/8" thick between the torch and any combustible surface (figure A).
- Place fire extinguishers at every exit (figure B). Fire extinguishers come in different kinds, each of which is able to extinguish specific kinds of fires. Type A fires involve natural combustibles such as wood, trash and paper. Type B fires involve liquids or grease. Type C fires are electrical fires. The sticker on an extinguisher indicates whether it can handle one, two or all three kinds of fires (figure C ).
To put out a fire, remember the acronym PASS: - Pull: Pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher's operating lever (figure D).
- Aim: Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze: Squeeze the extinguisher's trigger.
- Sweep: Sweep the extinguisher from side to side, across the base of the fire (figure E).
RESOURCES :
Acme Fire
Acme Fire Equipment
Vancouver, BC BC V5R 5L3
Canada
Phone: 604-437-8555
Fax: 604-437-1301
First Alert
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