Thanks Kate

I am firmly in the escape use camp due to historical background where the early part of my career was in a highly flammable business where deploying a fire extinguisher had the potential to blow embers around the workplace starting remote fires. We had trained fire fighters who used hydrants and proper hoses to deal with any outbreak (we also had a drench rather than sprinkler system at site).

As you mentioned for hot works a fire watcher and extinguishers were deployed however as part of the permit all the normal flammables (primarily dust accumulations) were cleared from the area before any work was permitted to commence.

Another area where this escape mantra holds true is with vehicle engine fires - pop the bonnet with a 3Kg CO2 or powder extinguisher and you have breathed life in to the fire that destroys the vehicle and likely injures the responder. Watch any video of the professionals in action and the last thing they do is fully open the engine cover.

Thanks for the answers,

I see both sides definaly, have have an internal debate my self.

But this had cropped up when i was in a interview, i didnt get the job becasue they stated my facts were wrong, in the case of the fire extiguishers, which had me worried, i didnt have a chance to defend my opinion which in turn has lead me to seek some clarification.

the comment came about when i showed a video of a farm who had a light bulb eplode and cause a small fire, the guy who was on watch, put it out firstly with a fire extinguisher then by a drencher pumping a larger volume of water on the fire.

now for me in this sinario he was right to put out a small fire in an attempt to save the farm and lives of the cattle, however the interviewer said he should have only used that fire extinguisher to escape! (and let the fire spread and cattle would have been lost before the fire service got there, there were 2 cows stood next the fire)

Im glad to here that there is no "written Rule" about this, as for me it seems to be a situation based problem.

and  i now feel better about not haveing correct facts, as it would seem there isn't a clear wright or wrong answer.

so thanks

Edited by user 09 March 2018 10:17:50(UTC)  | Reason: change of wording

There are certainly contradictory advice and practices on this issue.

The usual mantra is that the extinguisher should only be used to aid escape, which is why they are usually placed near the exit, on the basis that the discharge from the extinguisher only lasts a few seconds, and is therefore not effective for most fires. Other advice over the years is that you should not tackle any fire bigger than a waste paper bin with an extinguisher, but since I've never actually experienced a waste paper bin fire I've never found this particularly useful.

For the carriage of dangerous goods, a minimum number and size of extinguisher are stipulated to be carried on the vehicle, which has always puzzled me, as I cannot imagine that they would be of any particular use on a cargo of flammable liquids or gas cylinders, and would it be advisable for the driver to attempt to deal with such a fire rather than getting clear and ensuring others are clear and letting the professionals deal with it. If they are to deal with engine fires, then comments made by someone else on this subject are pertinent.

I fail to see why one cannot be used in most 'office environments'.  In modern buildings one should be able to turn their back to a fire and escape through an alternative means. 

One attempt with an extinguisher should be an option if the party involves feels competent and the fire is small. If this fails then it is down to the FRS.

The unwritten rule is that a fire extinguisher should not be used as a means of escape.  That is why they should be positioned by exit doors.  If you need to rely on a fire extinguisher to escape, then you are in a lot of trouble.  They are there to try to stop small fires becoming large ones.  If that does not work then get out.

Originally Posted by: Hsquared14

I am firmly in the escape not fire fight camp.  Having experienced a waste paper basket fire (in the days when people were allowed to smoke in offices - I'm not a smoker by the way) by the time anyone noticed the fire it was too big to put out with an extinguisher.  That in a nutshell is the problem "by the time you spot it you can't put it out with an extinguisher".  In my case a resourceful office manager put the fire out by sacrificing her coat which she dropped over the bin.  That I see as an argument for providing fire blankets not fire extinguishers, fire blankets are more effective in containerised fires. 

As I see it asking someone to fight a fire you know they can't beat is asking them to take too big a risk so my motto is "Get Out and Stay Out". 

should you not have made the case for a more situational fire safety scheme. i understand you are in the dont do anything catagory. except you example shows that the fire was put out by some one who placed a coat aka a blanket over the fire putting it out! if lead by your example then the fire should have been left.

in my original question I stated that in the inital stages if you had the training and means you should put it out, but once it has become estasblished that is a whole differnt ball game and the fire service sould deal with it.

im with you on the fire blankets they definatly have there place. But my problem was with fire on a agriculutral site which would have required something more substantial than a fire blanket, and there was more at risk than just some office furniture.

surley a more flexiable siutational veiw should be taken.

surely if you have a good Health and Safety officer, there will be a risk assessment in place which will take in account the types of fires that could possibly happen so there should be a fire extinguisher present which will be able to take on that fire, takeing choice out of the equasion.

and last time i checked i believe st johns ambulance had a calculator

https://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-training-courses/health-and-safety-courses/fire-marshal.aspx

its a ruff guide can't vouch if its reliable though

And i am with you on the lives in normal OHS (not Agriculural, mainly because theres more factors involved) i would much prefer the employees to get out.

In any case where you don't know which extinguisher to use, you should just get out!  By the time you have found out, the fire will have become well established and beyond being put out by a portable extinguisher.