FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Due Date: February 16, 2007Teacher: Mr. FowlerClass: 8-2

Purpose:

• To find out how effective a fire extinguisher is in putting out a fire if the person has not received any training in the proper use of fire extinguishers as compared to extinguishing a fire after receiving fire extinguisher training.

Hypothesis:

• Participants will be able to extinguish fires more effectively after receiving instruction on the proper use of fire extinguishers.

Materials• Dry Chemical Extinguisher• CO2 Extinguisher• H2O Extinguisher• Fire Boots• Firefighting Long Coats• Firefighting Gloves• Firefighting Helmet • Nomax Balaclava Hood• Nomax Coveralls• Fuels (Gas and Diesel)

• Matches• Pencil• Paper• Metal Pans• Ignition Fire Pot• Fire Wand• Five Participants• Fire Extinguisher Instruction as

per Instructor (Greg Lawlor)

Method:1. Gather materials.2. Have all participants dress in protective clothing.3. Instructor prepared the pans and light fires outdoors. 4. Have participant select fire extinguisher and attempt to put out fire.5. Record results.6. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 until all participants have made an attempt.7. Instructor to give brief presentation on the proper use of fire extinguishers8. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 until all participants have made an attempt.

Variables

• Manipulated: Participants.• Responding: The amount of time to extinguish the fire.• Controlled: 1. The types of fire extinguishers. 2. Time that the participants were given to

extinguish the fire.

RESULTS

Participant #1

Participant #2

Participant #3

Participant #4

Participant #5

Fire

#1

Fire

#2

Fire

#1

Fire

#2

Fire

#1

Fire

#2

Fire

#1

Fire

#2

Fire

#1

Fire

#2

Untrained Time

(seconds)

12 13 Fire

Not

Out

Fire

Not

Out

Fire

Not

Out

Fire

Not

Out

12 18 57 33

Trained

Time

(seconds)

34 26 57 42 52 40 20 27 12 10

Results (Continued)

The participants all chose an appropriate fire extinguisher except participant #6, who tried two different extinguishers before being successful. Even though proper extinguishers were used in the first attempt, not all participants were successful in extinguishing the fires.

After the participants received a brief presentation by the fire instructor, all participants were successful in extinguishing the fire and all participants chose the proper fire extinguisher.

Analysis:Time to Extinguish Fires

0 20 40 60 80

Participant #1

Participant #2

Participant #3

Participant #4

Participant #5

Fire 2-training

Fire 1-training

Fire 2-no training

Fire 1-no training

H2O Fire Extinguisher

Ignition Fire Pot

Fire Out!

Conclusion:

• When a person receives instruction they are more likely to extinguish a fire and to be safe while doing so. Therefore, this confirmed that my hypothesis was correct.

Sources of Error:1. Size of fire.2. Type of fire.3. Type of extinguisher chosen.4. Participant’s fear of fire.5. Participant’s previous exposure to extinguishers.6. Participant’s age.7. Amount of extinguisher inside of cylinder.8. Speed of the wind.

Ways to Improve1. Participants not have any previous exposure to fire

extinguisher training.

2. Have only one type of fire extinguisher available.

3. Make sure all extinguishers are full.

4. Allow participant to attempt to extinguish fires until extinguisher is empty.

5. Have different types of fires for participant’s to extinguish.