If there is a fire in the lab room, you might need to use a fire extinguisher. Remember, it is more important that you get to safety than it is to put the fire out. If you do decide that it is feasible, you must know where they are, what types they are, and how to use them.
There are three fire extinguishers in each lab, two at the front of the lab on the same wall as the blackboard and one on the wall next to the main hood in the back of the lab:
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| one of the two on the front lab wall . . . | ||||
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| . . . and one on the back wall by the hood. | ||||
Each of these fire extinguishers is safe for use on chemical fires, since the only fire extinguishers in the labs are "Dry Chemical" or "CO2". In almost all cases, the best choice is a CO2 extinguisher, since it does not leave a residue on the equipment when the fire is out. But do not hesitate: grab the closest fire extinguisher in an emergency. Never use a water fire extinguisher in the organic chemistry labs (there is one in the hallway for fireman use only).
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| This picture illustrates the 3 different fire extinguishers found in the teaching labs. The 2 on the left are dry chemical; the one on the right is a CO2 extinguisher. The CO2 one has a large nozzle and is usually the best choice in the case of a chemical fire. | ||||
To use a fire extinguisher, pull the pin, point the nozzle at the base of the fire, and hold down the trigger, covering the fire with a sweeping motion.
Detailed web pages on fire safety in the chemistry lab and the use of fire extinguishers are available on the following web sites:
