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Posts Tagged ‘Fire Extinguishers’

Not everyone going in and out of your place of business would be familiar with escape routes or fire extinguisher locations. After all, your customers and clients did not go there thinking that, “Hey, a fire might occur in this place today, I better check out where the nearest fire exit is!” Your employees who have been working for you for quite some time now may know where these things are; but you can bet that in times of an emergency, when most people are likely to panic, they would probably forget about where the fire exit or the fire extinguisher is. For this reason, it is only right that you install fire safety signs, which are truly crucial for fire emergencies.

Safety signs should be made of photoluminscent materials that can be seen even during low light conditions. These signs indicate locations of emergency exits, fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers and the fire hose, stairs, exit routes, hazards, and so on. Extinguisher signs are some of the most important signs that you should have in your business area. In the event of a fire, people’s first reaction would be to decide whether to fight or flee. If you have trained employees to use extinguishers, they will need to be able to locate these tools as fast as possible. An extinguisher sign would make it easier for them to do just that.

Additionally, fire extinguisher signs such as the fire extinguisher chart clearly delineate the different types of extinguishers as well as the classes of fire they are suitable to tackle. The different types of extinguishers include water, foam, powder, CO2 and wet chemical. Water is for class A fires. Foam can tackle class B, or those that involve flammable liquids. Multi-purpose powder fights off class A, B and C. Class C result from flammable gases. C02 is the only one safe to use for electrical fires. Lastly, wet chemical is for grease or cooking oil fires that are typically found in kitchens.

Other types of fire extinguishers signs are those that specify the kind of extinguisher and what class of fire it is designed to fight off. For example, above a water extinguisher, you could install a water extinguisher sign that clearly states that the specified extinguisher is to be used for class A, or those that involve paper, wood, and cloth. This sign should also spell out that said extinguisher should not be used for electrical, grease, and flammable liquid and gas fires.

Fire extinguisher signs surely are vital tools that are especially useful during emergencies. These fire safety signs, which every business area should be equipped with, are widely available in the online market. Just be sure that you find a reputable online store that has proven track record and good customer feedback and reviews. Before buying from just any store, read terms and conditions, study policies on shipping, and inspect product descriptions carefully

Water is one of the most efficient fire extinguisher types. They should only be used on Class A fires including Paper, wood, fabrics, furniture, etc.

A water fire extinguisher is solid red in colour with a hose and nozzle attached, so you can direct a stream of water at the bottom of the fire. As water conducts electricity, water fire extinguishers shouldn’t be used near exposed to live electricity cables. Water extinguishers are best kept alongside a CO2 extinguisher so the risk of electrical fires is covered in your building. Water extinguishers work by extinguishing the flames and soaking (cooling) the materials in the fire.

As with water, AFFF foam works on Class A fires but can also extinguish class B / flammable liquid fires. When sprayed onto a fire, AFFF foam extinguishes and smothers the flames, then seals in any dangerous vapours under the surface of foam. Foam also penetrates porous materials and cools the fire as the water in the foam evaporates. As the foam extinguisher is non-conductive and tested to the BS EN3 35,000V dielectric test, they may be used near but not on live electrical equipment. Foam fire extinguishers can be distinguished by their cream colour coded panel.

Carbon dioxide or Co2 fire extinguishers are safe to use on electrical fires. The Co2 gas is non-conductive and does not leave a residue behind that will effect the future performance of electrical equipment unlike foam or powder extinguishers. These fire extinguisher types are also effective on Class B fires (flammable liquids). Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are distinguished by a black panel on the extinguisher body and by their horn which is to be pointed at the fire but not held in case of a freeze burn. Some newer co2 fire extinguisher types have frost free horns as an added safety feature. The most frequent extinguisher mix for efficient fire fighting is a water or foam alongside a CO2 extinguisher.

Dry powder fire extinguishers are the most flexible fire extinguisher types and are able to extinguish Flammable solids, liquids, gasses and electrical fires. These are often recommended for use on vehicles and in the home, but although they are multi purpose, powder fire extinguishers are not recommended for use in enclosed spaces, or on sensitive electrical equipment if other more suitable types of extinguisher are available. Powder fire extinguishers can be distinguished by their blue panel, and work by smothering the fire and preventing re-ignition

Wet chemical fire extinguishers have been designed specifically for extinguishing deep fat cooking fires. (Class F fires). Before the creation of wet chemical extinguishers, most industrial kitchens had foam or powder extinguishers, however normal fire extinguisher types such as these can aggravate a cooking fat fire as they cannot lower the temperature of oil risking re-ignition, and can make hot oil splash up on contact with the extinguishing agent.

When operated, a wet chemical extinguisher cools the flames and fat, and smothers the hot fat to prevent re-ignition. A wet chemical fire extinguisher has a yellow panel on its body and a long lance used to safely distribute the extinguishing agent at a distance. This specialist fire extinguisher is not intended for use on electrical equipment, but has passed the BSi 35kv conductivity test in case inadvertently used.

The right bucket for the right type of fire – this is the rule when it comes to selecting an extinguisher. Contrary to what most people may be aware of, not all fires can be nor should be put out using water or water based fire extinguishers. The powder fire extinguisher is an extremely versatile device for putting out at least three classes or types of fires A, B & C. Class A would be fires caught on fabric, paper and wood. Class B are flammable fluids such as alcohol and Class C would be electrical equipment. If you think any one of these three would be something you need to watch out for, then this bucket may be for you!

There are a few common things that you cant use ths extinguisher for such as cooking oil fire, which rarely happens in the household. (This needs a wet chemical fire extinguisher). For your business if it isn’t a restaurant, then the powder fire extinguisher takes out a good number of fires around you. Whether it be your desk or desktop that is caught on fire, this one can take it out safety and effectively. This is why this type of fire extinguisher is ideal for meeting the Fire Risk Assessment standards under the Fire Safety Order (2005). A versatile fire safety device indeed.

In using this type of extinguisher, make sure that you follow the safety and operating instructions to the letter. It helps of course to consult with your local fire marshall and make you, your family and office members undergo the fire training. Fortunately enough, this type of extinguisher is only mildly corrosive to our skin and household objects unlike the output of the co2 fire extinguisher and the wet chemical fire extinguisher which can cause quite a bit of harm when you make contact with its contents.

As per instructions, it is safe to use on Classes A, B & C. For Class A & B, simply pull the pin, aim and shoot. Stand a few meters away and watch the powder take out the flame. For Class C which is electrical fire, make sure that you aim at a fire without a live current. If possible, shut down the electricity first before spraying to prevent reignition. Even so, watch the site where the fire started and be wary of it going live again – as fires may reignite due to its high temperatures. DO NOT use for restaurant cooking oil fires – as the high temperatures will outdo the output of the powder fire extinguisher. If you own a restaurant, you are probably required to have a wet chemical extinguisher for this purpose.

Remember to use the right bucket for the right kind of fire. Get educated on the different classes of fires and get to know them a bit more in detail. In this sense, it is helpful to consult with your local fire station and / or a reputable fire safety equipment dealer. This way, you will be able to know which equipments will work best for you.

Safety and awareness always go hand in hand to warn, protect, and prevent against a potential danger or harm. However, some people do not recognize that fire safety signs are essential in saving one’s life.

Fire extinguishers are widely used in different buildings and workplaces. As required by local ordinances, laws, or regulations, they must be placed in different areas and corners of the building for fire protection and safety purposes. Nevertheless, since they are not used regularly, their locations are likely ignored and forgotten.

This is why it is necessary to display proper fire extinguisher signs. These safety signs help employees and occupants locate the extinguishers in times of fire emergencies. One thing for sure, these signs are the best way to ensure that the fire extinguishers are found promptly and used precisely.

But because fire extinguishers have different types and classifications, it is best to get you familiar with each through different signs and symbols. There are actually a number of these signs that you can use for your home, office, or building.

1. Fire extinguisher chart- This signage usually uses graphical symbols. This chart will provide information for both staff and the public regarding classes of fire and extinguisher types. Some manufacturers even include dates of production and expiration.

2. Extinguisher pocket guide- This pocket guide usually appears in charts and are excellent forms to supplement fire trainings especially for new employees and staff. The signage serves the purpose of orienting the public regarding the types and the colors of fire extinguishers. Check marks, on the other hand, are used to identify specific usage of each type.

3. Water extinguisher sign- The signage is marked with the word “water” to specify clearly the location and type of the extinguisher. It also identifies Class A or ordinary combustible materials as the most suitable for this type

4. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher sign- This does not only mark the specified location and type of the extinguisher but also present a graphical symbol for different classes of fire.

5. Foam extinguisher sign- This sign also illustrates the type of extinguisher and the classes it is most suitable for and not. This is necessary to prevent the public and staff from using the wrong extinguisher for the wrong type of fire.

6. ABC powder extinguisher sign- The signage gives illustration that this specific type of extinguisher is suitable with many classes of fire such as “A” or combustible materials, “B” or flammable materials, and “C” or flammable gases. It also provides a graphic symbol, stating clearly that this type is also safe for electrical equipment.
There are many other different types of fire extinguisher signs; sizes and appearance vary from the cheapest to the most expensive ones. Although the quality sometimes affects certain situations, what is important is that the signs remain visible and readable at all times.

Safety signs can give you presence of mind. They give proper information and details regarding the function and the usage of equipment such as fire extinguishers in times of disturbing calamities and emergencies. Nevertheless, building administrators must always ensure that the equipment pieces are also properly working, to avoid greater risks.

All fire extinguishers are required to be supplied with some basic operating instructions already on them.

Fire extinguisher ratings are designed to indicate the type of fires they should be used on, and to give an indication of how effective they will be. Each fire extinguisher rating in expressed as a series of numbers and letters which indicate the classes of fire they can be used on the size of fire they are suitable for.

Different types of fires are classified by different letters, and fire extinguishers ratings may show several letters because they can be used on more than one type of fire. In terms of the size of fires the extinguisher can be used on, the number gives an indication of this, and generally speaking, the larger the number, the larger the fire that the appliance can deal with.

The numerical part of the fire extinguisher ratings relate directly to tests carried out to measure their effectiveness. A wooden crib test is one test that is used to measure how large a fire an appliance can deal with. A rating of 13A, for example, indicates that the extinguisher was able to put out 1.3m of the fire. The number on a fire extinguisher rating is therefore a very accurate indication of what each extinguisher can cope with.

As another example of the numerical rating, the test for measuring the effectiveness of extinguishers for use on flammable liquids refers to the approximate area of fire in square feet that it is able to extinguish. The specific tests vary with the different fire types, but the basic system of accurately measuring the extinguisher’s effectiveness is the same.

It would seem obvious to think that the number on a fire extinguisher would increase with the size of it. This is generally true, but size is not the only factor that effects the number in the fire extinguisher rating. With water extinguishers, additives are often mixed with the water to increase their effectiveness, therefore you could have two appliances which are the same size, but which have different numerical ratings, because one is more effective than the other.

Fire Classifications – The UK and US Differences

As already mentioned, the letters used in fire extinguisher ratings refer to the classes of fire that they can be safely used on. We therefore need to look at these fire classifications first, before looking at the actual ratings for the various types of appliance.

The classifications for the UK and US are similar, but there are some differences, so I will show both. Europe and Australasia also use the same classification system as the UK. The following are the main classifications of fires, with US classes shown in brackets:

Class A (also Class A in US)

Any fire involving solid materials such as wood, card, paper, fabric, etc.

Class B (also Class B in US)

Class B fires involve flammable liquids including kerosene, oils, petrol, paints, diesel, etc.

Class C (comes under Class B in US)

A separate classification except in US, this category is for flammable gases, including butane, methane, etc.

Class D (also Class D in US)

The D Classification is for combustible metals or alloys, such as potassium, magnesium or titanium.

Electrical (Class C in US)

Electrical fires are sometimes known as Class E in the UK, but this is an error as there is no separate classification for electrical fires in the UK.

Class F (Class K in US)

Specifically relates to fires involving deep fat fryers (fats and oils).

Fire Extinguisher Ratings:

The following information shows the classes of fires covered by the different ypes of appliance:

Main fire extinguisher ratings shown refer to UK, with US ratings in brackets.

Water Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A (class A in US)

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: Electrical, A, B and C (A, B and C in US)

Dry Powder Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A, B, C and Electrical (A, B and C in US)

Wet Chemical Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A, F

Foam Extinguishers:

Classes of fire: A and B (A and B in US)

Fire Extinguisher Ratings – Conclusions

Understanding fire classes and extinguisher ratings is important in order to be sure of using the correct type of appliance on any fire in your workplace. It can be very dangerous to use the wrong type of appliance on some fires, one of the most obvious examples being the use of water on an electrical fire. For this reason proper staff training is important for any staff who are required to use fire fighting equipment.