Fire Extinguisher Types, Fire Extinguisher Cabinet
Knowing the right type of fire extinguisher type to use in the event of a fire could just save your life or the lives of those around you. However, choosing the right type of fire extinguisher can be a confusing task because of the many fire extinguisher types available. It is important to use the correct fire extinguisher for the type of fire being fought.
Depending on where you are in the world, there are different classifications of fire.
In the United States there are 5 classifications of fire. The first is a class ‘A’ fire that is any fire involving ordinary combustibles such as wood. The next is a class ‘B’ fire that involves flammable liquids or gaseous fuels. Then there is a class ‘C’ fire, which is fire involving electrical equipment. Next is a class ‘D’ fire involving combustible metals such as sodium, titanium and magnesium. The final class is a class ‘K’ fire that involves cooking oil or fat.
The UK and Australia have a slightly different classification for the types of fire. Although similar, there are some slight differences. There are 6 classifications for the UK and for Australia and they are as follows. The first is a class ‘A’ fire that is any fire involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and trash. The next is a class ‘B’ fire that involves flammable liquids such as oil, paint, gasoline, grease and tar. Then there is a class ‘C’ fire, which is a fire involving flammable gas such as LPG, Natural Gas or Acetylene. Next is a class ‘D’ fire involving combustible metals such as magnesium, potassium and metal shavings. Then there is a class ‘E’ fire which needs electricity to fuel the fire such as wiring, damaged appliances, circuit breakers and fuse boxes. Once the electrical supply has been disconnected, the fire changes to the class of fuel it is burning. The final class is a class ‘F’ fire that involves cooking oil or fat.
There are different types of extinguishers for each of these different types of fire. When considering which fire extinguisher to purchase, it’s essential to know the different types of fire extinguishers available. However, the most common and recommended extinguishers for the homeowner would be an ABC-rated fire extinguisher.
There are also generally four fire Extinguisher agents usually available on the market today for the householder. These are dry, halon, water, and carbon dioxide. All of these will work well with any of the fires generally likely to occur around the home. However, in the case of a chip or fat pan fire, a fire blanket would be recommended. By using a fire blanket, you would prevent the burning fat from splashing out of the pan and catching the surrounding areas, causing a wider fire hazard.
In the case of an office or factory environment, fire extinguisher types normally include dry chemical, foam, water, a clean agent gas, or carbon dioxide.
In a modern office environment, it is not always possible to see items just 1 metre above floor level, so additional fire extinguisher ID signs that point to the nearest fire extinguisher stand and identify different fire extinguisher types can be real time-savers in a small fire situation. Extinguishers should be installed in plain view, above the reach of children, near escape routes, and away from stoves and heating appliances.
Depending on the particular type of hazard, the relevant extinguisher type should be located in close proximity to the specific hazard they are meant to protect.
All types fire extinguishers are designed to be user friendly as well as effective, including squeeze grip operation, controllable discharge, colour coded block to help operators identify the fire extinguisher type, clear screen printed instructions. Anyone who might be expected to use a fire extinguisher should be familiar with the letter or picture symbols identifying the types of fire on which it may be used. Staff fire safety courses range from basic fire safety awareness, fire warden/marshall, fire extinguisher types and uses are readily available and any member of staff expected to handle a fire extinguisher should receive a staff safety course of some type.
In summary, before purchasing a fire extinguisher, you should be very clear on the environment that it is intended to be used in so that you can make sure you purchase the correct type and you should ensure that anyone who may be intended to use it has the proper knowledge to be able to do so safely.
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