Fire Extinguisher Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Fire Science and Combustion Basics

Covers the fire tetrahedron, fuel types, and ignition principles. Provides the scientific basis for understanding why extinguishers work.

Lesson 2 • Fire Classification Systems

Defines Class A through Class K fire categories and their hazard characteristics. Connects classification to agent selection decisions made throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • History of Portable Fire Extinguishers

Traces extinguisher development from early soda-acid devices to modern designs. Contextualizes current technology within a historical engineering progression.

Lesson 1 • Wet Chemical and Class K Systems

Focuses on potassium-based wet chemical agents designed for cooking oil fires. Links agent chemistry to saponification and Class K suppression effectiveness.

Lesson 2 • Cartridge and Cylinder Operated Units

Covers cartridge-operated extinguishers, expellant gas cartridges, and actuation differences. Contrasts with stored-pressure design to reinforce component recognition.

Lesson 3 • Water and Foam-Based Agents

Details water, AFFF, and film-forming foam agents, their chemistry, and Class A and B applications. Introduces cooling and smothering suppression mechanisms.

Lesson 4 • Carbon Dioxide and Clean Agents

Covers CO2, halogenated, and inert gas clean agents, their suppression physics, and safe use environments. Addresses toxicity and environmental considerations.

Lesson 5 • Stored-Pressure Extinguisher Design

Examines stored-pressure units, their internal components, and operating principles. Establishes the baseline design model referenced in later inspection chapters.

Lesson 1 • Installation and Placement Requirements

Covers travel distance rules, mounting height limits, and hazard-based placement criteria. Directly supports the inspection and placement skills taught in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Inspection Frequency and Service Intervals

Defines required inspection, maintenance, and hydrostatic test intervals by extinguisher type. Provides the scheduling framework used throughout service operations.

Lesson 3 • National and Industry Standards Overview

Identifies the primary national standards bodies and their extinguisher-related publications. Establishes the authority hierarchy technicians must follow during service work.

Lesson 4 • Technician Certification Requirements

Outlines certification exam content, licensing authority types, and continuing education obligations. Prepares students for post-course credentialing steps.

Lesson 1 • Inspection Documentation and Tagging

Guides students through completing inspection tags, recording findings, and flagging deficiencies. Connects inspection outcomes to the documentation standards introduced earlier.

Lesson 2 • Pre-Inspection Safety Practices

Establishes personal protective equipment use and safe handling protocols before inspection begins. Prevents injury and equipment damage throughout the inspection process.

Lesson 3 • Pressure and Weight Verification

Covers gauge reading interpretation, pressure range acceptance criteria, and weight-check methods for CO2 units. Identifies units requiring immediate maintenance action.

Lesson 4 • Tamper Seal and Safety Pin Inspection

Explains tamper indicator integrity checks and safety pin condition assessment. Detects unauthorized discharge or tampering before units are returned to service.

Lesson 1 • Valve and Head Assembly Inspection

Details disassembly, cleaning, and inspection of valve bodies, stems, and seals. Identifies wear patterns and defects that require part replacement.

Lesson 2 • Hose, Nozzle, and Discharge Path Inspection

Covers inspection of hoses, nozzles, horns, and discharge tubes for blockage and deterioration. Ensures unobstructed agent flow during emergency discharge.

Lesson 3 • Maintenance Preparation and Workspace Setup

Covers tool selection, parts inventory, and safe depressurization before disassembly. Establishes disciplined work habits that prevent errors during maintenance.

Lesson 4 • Agent Condition and Quantity Verification

Teaches methods for verifying agent weight, volume, and condition for each agent type. Identifies degraded or contaminated agents requiring replacement before recharge.

Lesson 1 • Water and Foam Agent Recharge

Details recharge procedures for water, AFFF, and wet chemical extinguishers including fill levels and agent mixing. Ensures correct concentration for effective suppression.

Lesson 2 • CO2 Cylinder Recharge Procedures

Explains CO2 transfer from supply cylinders, fill weight calculation, and leak testing after recharge. Addresses high-pressure hazards specific to CO2 equipment.

Lesson 3 • Recharge Safety and Agent Handling

Establishes safe agent handling, storage, and dispensing practices before recharging begins. Prevents cross-contamination, overpressure, and personal injury during recharge.

Lesson 4 • Pressurization and Post-Recharge Verification

Covers nitrogen and dry air pressurization, gauge verification, and final leak checks for all types. Confirms units are fully operational before returning to service.

Lesson 1 • Hydrostatic Testing Principles

Explains the physics of hydrostatic pressure testing and why it detects cylinder fatigue and defects. Provides the theoretical foundation for all hands-on testing procedures.

Lesson 2 • Cylinder Condemnation Criteria

Defines visual and test-based rejection criteria including corrosion, dents, and excessive expansion. Ensures students remove unsafe cylinders from service without hesitation.

Lesson 3 • Test Equipment Setup and Calibration

Covers hydrostatic test pump assembly, gauge calibration, and water jacket preparation. Ensures accurate and repeatable test results across all cylinder types.

Lesson 4 • Hydrostatic Test Documentation

Explains required test records, cylinder marking, and report submission to regulatory authorities. Completes the compliance cycle for hydrostatic testing activities.

Lesson 1 • Quality Control and Self-Auditing

Introduces self-audit checklists, peer review practices, and error-correction protocols for field work. Ensures consistent service quality and reduces liability exposure.

Lesson 2 • Multi-Unit Service Workflow

Teaches systematic approaches to servicing large inventories efficiently without skipping steps. Applies inspection and maintenance skills to real-world volume service scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Service Call Planning and Preparation

Covers pre-visit inventory review, route planning, and vehicle stocking for efficient field service. Reduces downtime and ensures technicians arrive fully equipped for each job.

Lesson 4 • Service Closeout and Reporting

Covers final documentation, deficiency report submission, and customer sign-off procedures. Ensures every service call ends with complete and compliant records.