F-02 Fire Extinguisher Use and Classification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How frequently must portable fire extinguishers in a place of assembly receive a visual inspection?
- Annually
- Quarterly
- Monthly (Correct answer)
- Weekly
Correct answer: Monthly
FDNY and NFPA 10 require monthly visual inspections of portable fire extinguishers to confirm they are charged, accessible, and undamaged.
Question 2: When using a fire extinguisher, at what part of the fire should you aim the discharge nozzle?
- The top of the flames
- The middle of the flames
- The base of the fire (Correct answer)
- The surrounding walls to cool the area
Correct answer: The base of the fire
Aiming at the base of the fire attacks the fuel source and is the most effective way to extinguish the fire rather than spraying the flames themselves.
Question 3: A fire extinguisher's pressure gauge needle is in the red zone below the green area. What action should the fireguard take?
- Continue using it — it still has some charge
- Shake it to redistribute the agent
- Tag it out of service and report it for recharging (Correct answer)
- Only use it for small fires
Correct answer: Tag it out of service and report it for recharging
A gauge reading in the red undercharge zone means the extinguisher lacks sufficient pressure to operate effectively and must be removed from service and recharged immediately.
Question 4: According to NFPA 10, who is authorized to perform the annual maintenance inspection of portable fire extinguishers?
- Any building employee who has read the manual
- A licensed or trained fire extinguisher service technician (Correct answer)
- The building's head fireguard
- The building owner or manager
Correct answer: A licensed or trained fire extinguisher service technician
Annual maintenance must be performed by a trained and licensed fire extinguisher service technician who can verify internal components, pressure, and agent condition.
Question 5: A fire extinguisher has been partially discharged during a drill. What must happen next?
- It can remain in service — it still has agent left
- It must be recharged or replaced before being returned to service (Correct answer)
- It should be stored in a utility closet until the next inspection
- It only needs a new tag attached
Correct answer: It must be recharged or replaced before being returned to service
Any extinguisher that has been used or partially discharged must be recharged or replaced immediately, as a partial charge may be insufficient to fight an actual fire.
Question 6: At what maximum height above the floor should the carrying handle of a portable fire extinguisher weighing more than 40 lbs be mounted?
- 5 feet (Correct answer)
- 3.5 feet
- 6 feet
- 4 feet
Correct answer: 5 feet
NFPA 10 requires that heavier extinguishers (over 40 lbs) have their carrying handle mounted no higher than 3.5 feet, while lighter units can be mounted up to 5 feet — the 5-foot rule applies to lighter units.
Question 7: What is the correct sweeping motion a fireguard should use when discharging a fire extinguisher?
- Up and down vertically across the fire
- In a circular pattern around the fire
- Side to side at the base of the fire (Correct answer)
- Rapid short bursts directly at the flames
Correct answer: Side to side at the base of the fire
Sweeping side to side at the base of the fire ensures the entire fuel surface area is covered with the extinguishing agent for maximum effectiveness.
F-02 Fire Extinguisher Use and Classification 2
How frequently must portable fire extinguishers in a place of assembly receive a visual inspection?