Fire extinguisher types and uses

What is fire extinguisher?

Fire extinguishers are safety tools in homes, workplaces, and other establishments. They provide quick defense against fires. Accessing a fire extinguisher can help prevent small fires from turning into dangerous blazes. This can not only save the lives of people but it protects the property from any damage. Fire extinguishers are made to be easy to use in case of emergencies. People can use these safety tools without much training, which reduces the response time. Having fire extinguishers available in and around properties can promote a sense of security among people. Fire extinguishers are to be used to put out fires, but did you know that there are different types of extinguishers available? Each extinguisher is designed for a specific purpose and also types of fire. Keep reading this blog where we will discuss what are the 5 types of fire extinguishers and also the various classes of fire.

What are the various classes of fire

If you are aware of the types of fire and fire extinguisher, you can effectively manage fire emergencies. In fire extinguishers, there are several classes, each of them are made for specific types of fires, which are color-coded and labeled to identify them. Let's examine each of them individually:

1. Class A fires: For wood and paper, which are easily combustible. It uses water or foam to reduce flames.
2. Class B fires: For flammable liquids like paint, oil, and petroleum. These extinguishers have dry chemicals or foam.
3. Class C fires: For propane, methane, and other gasses like butane.
4. Class D fires: For metals that are combustible, like magnesium, aluminium, and lithium. They have dry powder agents to put out the flames, which does not cause a dangerous reaction.
5. Class F fires: For kitchen fires that happen due to cooking oils and fats. They have a wet chemical agent that cools down the fire and prevents re-ignition.
6. There are fire extinguishers that can be used for electrical fires (They have an electric spark symbol and are not graded by the letter E) They use carbon dioxide to prevent electrical shock while putting out fires.

Picture of different classes of fire extinguishers

Types of fire extinguishers

1. Water, Water Mist, Water Spray fire extinguishers

Overview: These fire extinguishers are commonly used for fires that are caused by igniting coal, rubber, wood, paper, plastic, etc. It is very easy to use and maintain because they only contain water. They also come in different types, like water spray, water mist, etc which are more efficient to use.

Label: Bright red-colored label.

Used for: Combustible types of fire that happens due to burning coal, fabrics, cardboard, furniture, papers, and rubber.

Don’t use it for: Fire from burning electrical appliances, oils, metals, and fats.

How it works: This extinguisher uses water to cool the burning object, which slows down the flames by reducing the oxygen supply. It sprays water from the spray nozzle to cover the entire area of the fire.

Where can it be used: Hospitals, apartments, schools, workplaces, and warehouses.

2. Dry Powder fire extinguishers

Overview: This is called an ABC fire extinguisher, which is effective for a wide range of fires, especially flammable gases, liquids, and electrical fires. It uses a powder to reduce the flame and cuts off the oxygen supply, which prevents the fire from spreading.

Label: Blue colored label.

Used for: Class A combustible materials like wood, paper, or coal, class B fires of petrol or diesel, and C fires like butane or propane.

Don’t use it for: Cooking oil fires because it may cause a splash of burning oil.

How it works: These dry powder fire extinguishers use a powder to create a coat of the burning material. This creates a barrier that stops the fire by reducing oxygen. This eases the chemical reaction and extinguishes the flames.

Where can it be used: Manufacturing factories, construction sites, garages, and areas with flammable gas or liquids.

3. Foam fire extinguishers

Overview: This is one of the fire extinguisher types that uses foam for fires like flammable liquids and combustible materials. The foam creates a blanket on the fire and cools the burning materials. This makes the fire extinguishers a good choice for liquid-based fire emergencies.

Label: Cream colored label

Used for: It can be used for class A and B fires like flammable petrol, wood, paints, coal, etc, as well as fires of combustible materials like paper and wood.

Don’t use it for: Electrical fires because the foam can lead to electric shocks. Avoid using this fire extinguisher on metal fires and cooking oil fires.

How it works: The foam from the fire extinguisher spreads over the burning material and creates a layer of foam that cuts off the fire's oxygen supply. This prevents fires by cooling the material and bringing the fire under control.

Where can it be used: Petrol/diesel stations, mechanic garages, warehouses that store flammable liquids, and other areas where there is a risk of flammable liquid fires.

4. Wet Chemical fire extinguishers

Overview: A wet chemical fire extinguisher is specially made for Class F fires which involves cooking oils and fats. They are very effective in large kitchens and food establishments like restaurants, etc, where the risk of oil-based fires is very high.

Label: Yellow colored label.

Used for: Mainly for Class F fires that can be caused by cooking oils or fats. This fire extinguisher is also suitable for Class A fires from the ignition of wood, rubber, paper, etc.

Don’t use it for: Electrical fires from appliances and also fires that are caused by flammable liquids or gases. This is because the chemicals may not work effectively and might spread the flames.

How it works: The extinguisher releases a wet chemical that reacts with the burning oil to create a soapy layer, which acts as a barrier that keeps the oil cool by preventing oxygen and re-ignition.

Where can it be used: Restaurants, catering services, commercial kitchens, and units that process foods.

5. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers

Overview: CO2 fire extinguishers are also called electrical fire extinguisher because it is suitable for preventing electrical fires. They do not conduct electricity and don’t leave any foam or water substance in the electrical appliances. They release CO2 gas, which replaces oxygen and reduces the fire quickly.

Label: Black colored label.

Used for: It is mainly used for electrical fires from servers and other electrical devices. They can also be used for Class B fires, flammable liquids like petrol.

Don’t use it for: Fires that are caused by metals or cooking oils and fats. This is because CO2 is not effective for these combustible materials and can cause splashes of fire.

How it works: When it is used, the CO2 is quickly released in a gas form to cover the fire by displacing oxygen. This cools down the flames immediately and prevents the re-ignition of fire.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the classes of fire, types of fire extinguishers, and their uses is important for quick fire management. Each type of fire extinguisher is designed for specific fire classes (A, B, C, D, F, and electrical fires). This provides safety for different fire emergencies, whether it's electrical fires, flammable liquids, or combustible materials.