Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The potential for fire extinguishers to suppress fires varies by unit capacity. Safety guidance in the United States indicates that the occupant should consider the capacity of the extinguisher when deciding to use it with a fire. The present study investigated whether individuals are indeed aware of this connection between the capacity of fire extinguishers and the intensity of fires the unit can extinguish. Across four experiments, participants located within the US were presented with a fire extinguisher of a different capacity (smaller, medium, larger) and judged whether the extinguisher could suppress a developing room fire that increased in intensity (data collected 2023 through 2024). The fire intensity at which they stopped attempting to use the extinguisher (threshold) was calculated. No significant differences in threshold were observed between capacities when suppression information about the single extinguisher at hand was presented. This included when information was provided about the amount of agent, the distance and duration of discharge, and with the water equivalent the extinguisher was rated. However, when trained on the differences in suppression performance between extinguishers, thresholds did vary by capacity. We discuss how providing information about variations in suppression capacity may be necessary to highlight such extinguisher differences.
Source: Safety
Authors: Justin W Bonny, Micah Russell
Institution: Morgan State University
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W4411429163