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Posts Tagged ‘Types Of Fires’

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.

While there is a similar approach to the basic operation of most fire extinguishers, there are some important distinctions in terms of the different types of fires that certain extinguishers are designed to combat.

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.

A fire extinguisher is an active fire fighting device used to extinguish or control small fires. It is a crucial fire safety equipment in any home and comes in various sizes. Fire extinguishers are labeled according to the kind of fire they put out. Make sure you buy the extinguisher, which fits the type of fire.

It is a good idea for every home to have one or more fire extinguishers within easy reach. When the fire alarm goes off, quick action may avoid a small, contained fire from becoming a large destructive one. The best variety of fire extinguisher for home use is one that is comparatively small (for easier use) and contains a fire extinguishing chemical that can be used on the largest variety of fire types (grease, wood, textiles, etc.).

One of the primary concerns of a person is to keep the family safe. Probably the most basic way to prevent fires spreading is to install a residential fire alarm system. Fire extinguishers serve as a first line of defense against the fire before the fire brigade reaches your house in case of a fire. It is recommended to have at least two fire extinguishers in your house.

There are different types of fire extinguishers for different kinds of fires. Having a basic idea of types of fires and fire extinguishers can help to stop fires and can save lives.

The four main classifications of fire extinguishers are: Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D. Each class corresponds to the type of fire the extinguisher is designed for and the type of extinguishing agents used. Different extinguishers come in the form of water, foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide, and wet chemical.

Budget-Fire can offer you servicing at very competitive prices. To guide you through purchasing the correct fire extinguishers, please visit our fire extinguisher website http://www.budget-fire.co.uk.