Fire extinguishers can be filled with powder, water additive, foam, or carbon dioxide. The extinguisher’s nozzle converts water into ‘dry’ microscopic particles, which are then drawn into the fire and simultaneously cool and suffocate it to extinguish the flames. They also have a distinct type of hose. The strong jet from the extinguisher would push the burning oils or fats and spread the fire to surrounding areas. There are different ‘classes’ of fire, for which each extinguisher is designed to tackle. Because they do not leave any substances behind and so minimise damage done to equipment, unlike other extinguishers, they are particularly useful for offices and workshops where electrical fires may occur. In addition, it may be that the presence of a fire extinguisher is made compulsory by the insurance company or any national compliance authority or body. Warning: do not use water extinguishers on burning fat and oil fires and electrical appliances. There are a range of different fire extinguishing agents that are designed to smother different classes of fire. When sprayed, it forms a ‘crust’, which insulates the metal. These types of fire extinguishers will be solid red and will have the words ‘water mist’ printed within a white rectangle. There are different types of fire extinguishers because there are various types of fires. Most foam extinguishers will have had dielectrical tests performed on them, so foam is less hazardous than water if it is accidentally sprayed on live electrical equipment. Wet chemical extinguishers are designed for combating fires that involve class F fires. When used against class A fires, the user can simply point and spray. Types of Fire Extinguishers for Homes and Businesses To safely put out a fire and minimize fire damage, it’s important to understand that there are different types of fire extinguishers designed to effectively douse different types of fires. Being able to immediately distinguish which extinguisher you need in an emergency apart could make a lifesaving difference. Per NFPA 10, burning may be classified into one or more of the following fire classes and your fire protection specialist will select the right fire extinguisher size and agent for the hazard. Each extinguisher is suitable for fighting certain types, and it’s important for you to know the differences if its your job to fight fires at work. The wrong type of extinguisher could cause electrical shock, explosion, or spread the fire. M28 and L2 are unique extinguishers in that they are designed for tackling Class D fires – those involving combustible metals including swarf or powder, which are often produced in engineering factories. Class K fires are naturally of concern in the food service and restaurant industry. Class A fires are defined as ordinary combustibles. Types of Fire Extinguishers Class A. Water extinguishers are not safe on electrical risks or flammable liquids such as cooking oils, petroleum, and petroleum products. Other types will be better suited for fighting electrical fires, but dry mist extinguishers have usually had dielectrical tests carried out on them which means that if they are accidentally used on electrical fires, they will not pose as significant a hazard as normal water extinguishers. When choosing a fire extinguisher, be sure to pick one that will fight the fires that are most likely to develop in your business or home. This absorbs the heat the fire requires to burn and smothers it as well. Below are details on the various classes of fire. This is why it’s advised you use a different type of extinguisher for workplaces with electronics, such as an office with computers. The first category consists of fires caused by combustible materials such as flammable solids like wood, fabric, and paper. Fire extinguishers are an integral part of the fire safety … Let’s take a look! Fire Safety – What Are the Five Types of Fire Extinguishers? Liz has written a variety of articles, ranging from fire safety, through food hygiene and anti-bribery, to dignity in care. Combustible materials include paper, wood, cardboard, plastics, and fabric. Before attempting to operate any fire extinguisher, know which type of extinguisher to use. However, be aware that combustible metals are used as part of production and other industry processes, and you need to be certain of what materials you are using for day-to-day operations. Greases, cooking oils, vegetable fat, and animal fat are all fuel sources found in Class K fires. This could cause the fire to be pushed and spread to surrounding areas. Warning: do not use on domestic chip or fat pan fires (class F). Broadly speaking, there are 5 types of fire extinguishers, namely: Water based; Foam based; Powder based; CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) based; Wet Chemical based; Each type of fire extinguisher fights against different types of fire, as illustrated in the diagram below. These types of fire extinguishers are identifiable by the words ‘wet chemical’ printed across a yellow rectangle. Fire extinguishers are specialized pieces of equipment that are designed to put out fires of different classes. As their name suggests, these are designed to combat class A, B, and C fires – those involving solids, liquids, and gases. Also, although they are capable of combating class A fires, they are not as effective as other extinguishers at doing so. L2 is suitable for all types of metal fires, whereas M28 cannot be used on lithium (need a way to remember that? If one or more of these things are absent, a fire will not start. Different Types of Fire Extinguisher. Electrical fires are common in industries that deal with energy or make use of heavy electrically-powered equipment. Fumes from CO2 extinguishers can asphyxiate if used in confined spaces: ventilate the area as soon as the fire has been controlled. 97. The various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of fuel – these are called ‘classes’ of fire. What are the classes of Fire. A Class K fire is defined as a cooking fire involving combustion from liquids used in food preparation. These types are fires use commonly flammable material as their fuel source. Fire Hoses. Fire extinguishers are no different. Fire extinguisher ratings are based on the five classes of fires. Fire extinguishers are available in different types with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on. When it comes to the types of fire extinguishers, there are five main types including wet chemical, CO2, dry powder, foam and water. They also discharge gently, stopping the burning oils and fats from being pushed and splashing to surrounding areas or even the user. You should have the right types of fire extinguisher for your premises. All extinguishers will have one or more of the following classes symbols, to indicate which they are suitable for. That means the fire extinguishers removes 1+ of these criteria. Otherwise, the fire may re-ignite. Wet Chemical Extinguishers. Throughout this article, we will explain the different classes of fires, the symbols that identify these, and the different types of extinguishers and their uses. Types of Fires. Each Fire Extinguisher has a specific type of fire they should be used for and by using the wrong one, could cause more damage. To ensure you’re adequately protected, and you meet current fire safety regulations, you need to have the right types of fire extinguisher for your business premises. The five types of extinguishers are: Class A -- flammable solids. Mental Health Myths vs Facts: What are the Realities? There are five main types of fire extinguishers: Each type is easily identifiable by their names, colours, and sometimes their hoses. Fire extinguishers are classified as types A, ABC, BC or K. It is important to use the right type of extinguisher on the specific class of fire to avoid personal injury or damage to property. Fire extinguishers are one of the most commonly used fire safety devices out there, so they’ll be a familiar sight. Smothering these types of fires to remove oxygen is a common solution as are chemical reactions that produce similar effects. The common fire extinguisher is one of the most well known and widely used safety tools. A fire extinguisher can certainly be a life-saving device in specific circumstances, yet did you understand there are various kinds of fire extinguishers for various kinds of fires? Types of fire extinguishers and their suitability. a) Class A Fires. Due to their non-conductive nature, they are also suitable for fighting electrical fires. Warning: they must not be used on hot cooking oil and fat (class F) fires. It smothers the flames and seals vapours so that re-ignition cannot occur. It’s easy to differentiate between different types of fire extinguishers NZ thanks to … When you run a business, you are responsible for the safety of your employees and guests. Trash fires are one such example. However, electrical fires can occur on smaller scales in all businesses (i.e. Warning: these should not be used on any other fire classes, especially electrical fires or chip or fat pan fires. Powder extinguishers work to coat the fuel source and smother the fire. 1330 Progress Drive These types of extinguishers will say ‘powder’ in white text over a blue rectangle, and underneath the rectangle will be written ‘ABC powder’. Fire extinguishers are an important addition to fire safety measures, as they can help to stop small fires. Fax: 540 636-4455. Metals includes lithium, magnesium, sodium, or aluminium, for example. The need for different types of fire extinguisher arises from the different types of fuel that may start a fire. The fire extinguishers in New Zealand are a little different from the ones you find in other countries. b) Class B Fires . Fires must be fought carefully depending on the materials involved. The Class B fire is defined as one that uses a flammable liquid or gas as its fuel base. Phone: 540 636-4444, TOLL FREE Fax: 800 822-5001 Dry water mist extinguishers are unique in that they can combat almost all types of fires, including class F fires that are usually difficult to attack. Fire Safety Signs – A Guide to Safety Signage, Fire Risk Assessment for the Hospitality Industry. Examples of such combustible metals include titanium, magnesium, aluminum, and potassium. Class B fires are a common hazard in industries dealing with fuels, lubricants, and certain types of paint. However, they should still not be used to fight electric fires. When buying fire extinguishers for your business, it’s important to buy the right type of fire extinguisher for your needs. The five most commonly used fire extinguishers are water, foam, powder, the carbon dioxide, and the wet chemical.There are also more specialized fire extinguishers including the Halon, clean agent extinguishers FE-36 and the powder fire extinguishers such as the class D fire extinguishers for metal fire … : Pull the Pin at the top of the extinguisher. Class… You may believe that you are prepared if you have a fire extinguisher on site, but you may not be as prepared as you think. ABC dry powder is also acceptable to use on flammable gases. Today's most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires. M. Lopez-June 9, 2020. The information throughout this article has provided some key guidance on the different types of extinguishers and their uses, but keep in mind that you also need practical training to learn how to safely handle extinguishers. Use this acronym as a quick reference P.A.S.S. Electrical fires are often fueled by motors, appliances, and electronic transformers. The best method of application is to spray the foam nearby so that it can build up and flow across it. Types of Portable Fire Extinguisher. Furthermore: you must not hold the horn, base, or pipework on a C02 extinguisher while operating it. Let’s take a look at each type of fire extinguisher, their uses, and their risks below. They will state below the rectangle whether they are M28 or L2. Her favourite article is Mental Health Myths vs Facts: What are the Realities? These materials make up most of the materials in a home, which is why these can these are very common in homes. There 5 different type of fire extinguishers - not including fire blankets. Note that there are also other metals with combustive properties you may encounter. Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle. It also has an extended hose that you can hold and point, which is useful when fighting fires on a kitchen top. Foam extinguishers are identifiable by the word ‘foam’ printed within a cream rectangle on their bodies. These fire extinguishers are used for fires involving any combustible materials. Technically a type of liquid fire, Class K fires are distinct enough to warrant their own classification. Dry chemical extinguishers, … Paper and wood are examples. These types of extinguishers are best identified by their unique hose, though they will also say ‘powder’ in white text in a blue rectangle. They remove either the air, fuel or heat (or all) component in the fire. These types of extinguishers can be identified by the text ‘carbon dioxide’ or ‘CO2‘ printed in white on a black rectangle. You should have the right types of fire extinguisher for your premises, or you may not meet current regulations. Different Types of Fire Extinguisher. For each class of fire, the fuel, heat source and chain reaction varies, which is why there must be different types of fire extinguishers depending on the class of fire. This type of fire might be started by old wiring in walls, frayed electrical cords, worn-out breaker boxes, or faulty appliances. Dry Powder extinguishers are also known as ABC extinguishers because they can be used on fire types A, B and C. Specialist ABC extinguishers can also be used on flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium. There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. Water extinguishers are used for Class A fires only. an overloaded surge protector or bad wiring) and should be taken seriously. This is essentially the common accidental fire encountered across several different industries. Water extinguishers can sometimes contain chemical additives that improve their effectiveness by up to 300%. Although there are many different types of fire extinguishers, all of them operate in a similar manner. It’s important to be aware of the different kinds of extinguishers and which fires they are best suited for. To extinguish such fires you cut the power off and use non-conductive chemicals to extinguish the fire. The short answer is that is depends upon the type of fire you are dealing with, or to put it more correctly the class of fire. TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND THEIR USES . Cooking fires are fueled by a wide range of liquid cooking materials. Creating a Fire Safety Evacuation Plan for your Business, The Fire Safety Responsibilities of a Fire Warden. A large part of safety is being prepared for accidents and emergencies such as a fire. There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. Fire extinguishers should be checked regularly to ensure that pressure levels are maintained. One question we are often asked during fire safety training is “What are the different types of fire extinguishers used for?” In this article, we answer this question and also explain what the different classes of fire are. 0. Electrical fires are very common in both homes and industrial settings. There are a variety of the fire extinguishers you can utilize to enhance your fire safety. Once you are aware of what types of fires your business may encounter, you can buy the proper extinguisher for protecting against them. This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and you need to ensure that the fire does not start up again. Wood, fabric, paper, trash ,and plastics are common sources of Class A fires. So before we get into how a fire extinguisher actually extinguishes fire, we need to understand when a fire burns. The various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of fuel – these are called ‘classes’ of fire. Several types of fire extinguishers are available to fight different types of fires. It is very important to have the right tool for a job. There are 5 main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. It also has an extended hose that you can hold and point, which is useful when fighting fires on a kitchen top. The fire … They are usually red and can be 5 to 20 pounds in weight. For instance, while a class A fire can be safely extinguished with water, a class C fire cannot, as water would conduct the … The extinguisher has a low velocity applicator to ensure that the M28 or L2 powder is applied gently and efficiently to burning metal and to prevent the swarf from spreading. Do you have the right fire extinguishers for your unique risks? There are 5 kinds of fire extinguishers. The pin releases a locking mechanism and will allow you to discharge the extinguisher. The best method of application is to spray in slow circular motions. 5 Types of Fire Extinguishers. In other words, they are a multi purpose fire extinguisher. The downside to ABC powder extinguishers is that they pose a danger of inhalation when used in close spaces. © 2019 High Speed Training Ltd. All rights reserved. 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