Which Fire Extinguisher Do You Need?

Every home needs at least one fire extinguisher, if not more, but which fire extinguisher should you choose? There are very different options depending on the type of fire you are likely to have.  



Types Of Fire

Fires are classified by letters, except E, which is Electrical. Let’s take a look at each type of fire and which fire extinguisher works best for it.

Class A

These are the most common types of fire. They include any fire that uses wood, paper, textiles, or other common, solid combustibles. These may occur in a residential building or a business. To fight a Class A fire, you can use water, or a foam fire extinguisher.

Class B

If the fire involves flammable liquids, it falls under this class. Flammable liquids include petrol and diesel, of course, but can also involve oil, alcohol, paint, and other liquids. A foam fire extinguisher is usually the best choice for these.

Class C

Fires involving gases that are flammable or combustible are under Class C. Propane, natural gas, and methane are all possibilities for this type of fire. The best option for this type of fire is a powder fire extinguisher, but this cannot be easily used in small spaces, so should be limited to larger spaces where you won’t risk inhalation.

Class D

In industrial buildings or factories, you may encounter a fire that involves a flammable metal. Magnesium is one of the more flammable metals, but there are others. These require speciality dry powder extinguishers.

Electrical

An electrical fire may happen anywhere you have electrical equipment and should be handled with care. Water can cause electrical shocks, as well as damage to the equipment on fire, so it’s important not to use this. A CO2 extinguisher will work best in this situation.

Class F

Most Class F fires happen in commercial kitchens and they involve high-temperature oils. They burn at very high heat and are extremely dangerous, so you need to be prepared. A wet chemical extinguisher is the best option for restaurants that will be dealing with potential Class F fires.

Fire extinguishers are colour coded with a band on the side to let you know which one is which. They are:

●     Red – Water

●     Cream – Foam

●     Black – CO2

●     Blue – Powder

●     Yellow – Wet Chemical

Choose the right fire extinguishers for the risks in your home or business and be sure to keep them maintained and checked to prevent an unpleasant surprise.

Need more information on fire safety and fire extinguishers? At Ace Fire and Security, we have what you need. Contact us today.