Definition : Portable devices designed to extinguish a fire, often in an emergency situation. These devices consist of a pressurized container of fire-suppressing material (e.g., dry chemical compounds, water, deionized water mist, carbon dioxide) that, when discharged, can extinguish a fire. Various types of portable fire extinguishers are used in healthcare facilities. They can be categorized by an accepted class rating based on the types of fires they are designed to extinguish (e.g., Class A, B, or C, and multiclass) or by the fire-suppressing material used to extinguish the fire (e.g., water, dry chemicals, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, foam, carbon dioxide). Various sizes of portable fire extinguishers are typically available (e.g., 2.5 lb [1.13 kg], 5 lb [2.27 kg], 10 lb [4.53 kg], 20 lb [9.07 kg]). Some portable fire extinguishers are designed for use in specific healthcare environments (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-compatible fire extinguishers, which are made of stainless steel and can be safely used in an MRI suite). The type of extinguisher used in a particular healthcare setting should be selected based on of the fire risks present in the area to be protected.

Related Terms : "Blankets, Fire" , "Cabinets, Storage, Fire Extinguisher"

Entry Terms : "Hydrochlorofluorcarbon Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Hydrochlorofluorocarbon" , "Water Mist Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Water Mist" , "Water Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Water" , "Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Carbon Dioxide" , "Foam Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Foam" , "Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Dry Powder" , "Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Dry Chemical" , "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-Compatible Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-Compatible" , "Multi-Class Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Multi-Class" , "Class C Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Class C" , "Class B Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Class B" , "Class A Fire Extinguishers" , "Fire Extinguishers, Class A"

UMDC code : 20888