What is the best type of fire extinguisher to have? Four main classes exist of fire extinguishers. They are each designed to fight specific kinds of fires. The ability to recognize these four classes of extinguishers and understand their specific applications will help you choose the appropriate fire extinguisher whether it is for your home or workplace. The ABCDs and Ds of Fire Extinguishers will be discussed in this article. It is important that you are able to make the right decisions when it comes to your fire safety gear. If you want to learn more about what are the nz fire extinguisher band colours?, please visit this page.
Class A Fire Extinguishers-Ordinary Combustibles
You can use Class A extinguishers for ordinary combustibles (such as wood and paper) or plastics. These fires are commonly found in both homes and offices.
The extinguishing agents in Class A Extinguishers are typically water or monoammonium-phosphate. Water extinguishers reduce heat by cooling down the fire. The monoammonium chloride disrupts the chemistry of fire.
Extinguishers class B for Gases or Liquids Flammables
These extinguishers can be used in fires which are fuelled by flammable liquids (oil, gasoline), grease and gasses such as propane. The fires spread quickly if the fire is not extinguished immediately.
What They Do: Extinguishers in the Class B category often use dry chemicals such as sodium or potassium bicarbonate. These agents stop the burning process by forming a barrier that separates oxygen from the fuel.
Extinguishers for Class C fires – electrical Fires
The Class C extinguishers can be used to put out fires caused by electrical appliances, such as motors, electrical panels and appliances. This fire involves energized electric circuits. Specialized extinguishers are needed to prevent an electrical shock.
The Class C Extinguishers work by containing dry chemical agents, similar to Class B extinguishers. These agents work to suppress the fire, by interfering in the chemical reactions required for combustion.
Class D Fire Extinguishers – Metal Fires:
The Class D extinguisher is designed to fight fires caused by combustible metallic materials like magnesium, titanium and sodium. The fires that cause these are not common but they can be very dangerous if you don’t handle them correctly.
What They Do: The powdered agents in Class D extinguishers, such sodium chloride and graphite for example, absorb the heat from the fire, smothering it by blocking the oxygen. This type of extinguisher is specialized for use on fires that are metal.
Multipurpose ABC Fire Extinguishers:
ABC Multipurpose Fire Extinguishers Are Commonly Used in Many Settings. These extinguishers will handle fires with ordinary combustibles in Class A, liquids and gasses that are flammable in Class B and electrical flames in class C. This is because these extinguishers have a large range of uses and can deal with a number of types.
The Right Fire Extinguisher to Buy
It’s important to select the best fire extinguisher possible for your specific environment. Think about the risks of fire and your specific space. Be sure to make extinguishers easily accessible so that they can be used by everyone. Inspect the extinguishers regularly to make sure they’re in good working condition.
It is important to understand the uses of each class (Class B, Class C, and Class D) in order to ensure effective fire safety. You can protect property and lives by selecting the best type of fire extinguisher.