It’s important to consider the cause of a fire before using a fire extinguisher. There are several different classes of both fires and fire extinguishers. Knowing the difference between these classes will help increase safety in both your home and place of business.
Read on if you’re interested in learning more about the different classes of fire extinguishers so you know which kind you need for your property.
Classes of fires
Before learning the different types of fire extinguishers, it’s best to have a good understanding of the different types of fires. Common combustibles, including wood and paper, cause Class A fires. Class A fires are fairly common, and you can put them out with water if there’s not a fire extinguisher nearby.
Fires produced by flammable liquids, such as petroleum or kerosene, are known as Class B fires. These types of fires sometimes occur in industries using fuels and certain types of paint. You can extinguish these fires by smothering them.
Class C fires are also known as electrical fires. Electric transformers, home appliances and faulty outlets can all cause Class C fires. To avoid these types of fires, it’s important to take care of any bad wiring and invest in top-quality surge protectors.
The fuel source of a Class D fire is combustible metal, examples of which include magnesium, aluminum, titanium and potassium. Avoid using water to extinguish Class D fires, as this may only make things worse.
The last type of fire is a Class K fire, which often occurs during food preparation. Combustible cooking materials, like cooking oils and vegetable fat, can cause Class K fires. It’s especially important to have a working fire extinguisher in a kitchen environment to prevent Class K fires from getting out of control.
Classes of fire extinguishers
Now that you know the different classes of fires, it’s time to learn which fire extinguishers to use on them. The main types of fire extinguishers include A, A-B-C, B-C and K. The most common type of fire extinguisher is A-B-C. It’s a dry chemical extinguisher that sprays a fine powder. As their name suggests, you can use these extinguishers on Class A, B and C fires.
Type A fire extinguishers use pressurized water to extinguish a fire. You should only use them on Class A fires. Using a Type A fire extinguisher on Class B or C fires could make them spread.
Type B-C fire extinguishers are another type of dry chemical extinguisher. These extinguishers usually use potassium or sodium bicarbonate to extinguish fires.
All professional kitchens should include a Type K fire extinguisher, which releases a foam-forming agent to extinguish fires caused by grease and cooking oils.
Only buy top-quality fire extinguishers
To properly protect your home or place of business, it’s important to invest in the right type of fire extinguisher. At Raider Fire Protection, we offer fair prices on many different classes of fire extinguishers. Come discuss your needs with one of our experts today. We look forward to assisting you!