Fire Safety Fire Extinguisher Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often must portable fire extinguishers in a New York City building be inspected by a licensed contractor?
- Every 3 years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
- Every 6 months
Correct answer: Annually
NYC Fire Code requires that portable fire extinguishers receive a maintenance inspection by a licensed contractor at least once per year.
Question 2: What should a fireguard do if a fire extinguisher is found to have a broken or missing seal?
- Use it immediately to test it
- Report it as defective and remove it from service (Correct answer)
- Replace the seal and return it to service
- Ignore it if the gauge reads full
Correct answer: Report it as defective and remove it from service
A broken or missing tamper seal indicates the extinguisher may have been used or tampered with and must be taken out of service and reported.
Question 3: What does it mean when a fire extinguisher's pressure gauge needle is in the red zone marked 'Recharge'?
- The extinguisher is fully charged
- The extinguisher needs to be recharged (Correct answer)
- The extinguisher is overcharged
- The gauge is broken
Correct answer: The extinguisher needs to be recharged
A needle in the red recharge zone means the extinguisher has lost pressure and must be recharged before it will function properly.
Question 4: Which extinguisher type leaves no residue and is preferred for protecting sensitive electronic equipment?
- Dry powder
- Water mist
- CO2 (carbon dioxide) (Correct answer)
- AFFF foam
Correct answer: CO2 (carbon dioxide)
CO2 extinguishers discharge gas that leaves no residue, making them ideal for protecting computers and sensitive electronic equipment.
Question 5: When using a CO2 extinguisher indoors, what safety hazard must the operator be aware of?
- The CO2 can ignite nearby materials
- CO2 displaces oxygen and can cause asphyxiation in confined spaces (Correct answer)
- CO2 corrodes metal surfaces
- CO2 creates a slipping hazard on floors
Correct answer: CO2 displaces oxygen and can cause asphyxiation in confined spaces
Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen in the air, which can create a suffocation risk for anyone in a small, enclosed space during discharge.
Question 6: A Class K fire extinguisher is specifically designed for use in which environment?
- Server rooms
- Commercial cooking kitchens (Correct answer)
- Vehicle garages
- Chemical laboratories
Correct answer: Commercial cooking kitchens
Class K extinguishers are designed for fires involving cooking oils and fats in commercial kitchen equipment such as deep fryers.
Fire Safety Fire Extinguisher Operations 2
How often must portable fire extinguishers in a New York City building be inspected by a licensed contractor?