Know about the Five Types of Fire Extinguishers
Last Updated on October 16, 2024
Every business area or commercial space is required to have fire extinguishers to make it easier to immediately put out a fire and prevent it from causing injury or damage. Before you install or buy them in your workplace or facility, it is important to know the correct type of fire extinguisher for your application. There are actually five types, designed for different purposes. They are meant to suppress specific types of fires
Class A
Class A fire extinguishers can be used for Class A fires, which are ordinary combustible fires, particularly those that started from paper or wood. Some have clean agents while others use water or mist.
Class B
Class B fires are fires that are caused by gasoline, grease, oil, and other flammable liquids, and Class B fire extinguishers are designed to suppress them. These fire extinguishers use C02 or clean agents to remove the oxygen from the fire. The best thing about them is that they don’t leave residue after putting out the fire.
Class C
Electrically energised fires are considered Class C fires. This is when Class C fire extinguishers come in. They use another kind of clean agent that effectively suffocates the fire without adding any conductive materials to the flames.
Class D
If you are using combustible metals like magnesium and titanium, then you need to install Class D fire extinguishers in your facility. This extinguisher contains a dry powder agent that does not react with the burning magnesium or titanium. It suppresses the fire by smothering it and absorbing the heat.
Class K
For restaurants and other businesses with kitchens, Class K fire extinguishers are the best. Kitchen fires fueled by cooking fat, grease, and oil can be suppressed by employing a wet chemical agent composed of potassium.
