Firefighting Equipment: Extinguishers, Hoses, Nozzles, Couplings and Breathing Apparatus
Equipment questions test identification, limits and pre-use checks - not just the colour of the extinguisher.
Extinguishers
- Water (Class A), foam (A and B), CO2 (B and electrical), dry powder (ABC or BC), wet chemical (F). Colour codes: red, cream, black, blue, yellow.
- Monthly visual checks, annual service by a competent person, pressure test intervals per the manufacturer and flag administration.
- Ratings such as 13A/113B state the test-fire size, not the cylinder volume.
Hoses, nozzles and couplings
- Hose sections of 10 m (15 m in machinery spaces), 50 mm or 65 mm bore, marked with the test date and pressure tested at least annually.
- Combination jet/spray nozzles give a jet for reach and a spray for cooling; common nozzle sizes are 12, 16 and 19 mm.
- Couplings: Storz, John Morris (instantaneous), Nakajima. The international shore connection is 178 mm outside diameter, 64 mm bore, 132 mm bolt circle, four 19 mm holes, 16 mm thick, supplied with bolts, nuts, washers and a gasket.
Breathing apparatus
A 6-litre cylinder at 200 bar holds 1,200 litres of free air; at a nominal 40 litres per minute that is 30 minutes, but work and stress multiply consumption. The whistle sounds around 50–55 bar. Positive pressure, fit-tested facepiece, no beards.
Worked example
A team enters with a 6 L/200 bar set: 1,200 litres free air. At 60 litres per minute under working stress that is 20 minutes; reserving one third for withdrawal gives a 13-minute working limit, so the entry controller calls a half-cylinder check at about 10 minutes and orders the team out at 13.
Traps
- Water on a Class B or live electrical fire.
- Assuming CO2 cools the fuel - it does not, so re-ignition is likely.
- Not checking the hose washer or coupling before running out.