Use this guide to determine which class of fire extinguisher you should purchase to keep your home or workplace safe. Class "K" fires, or kitchen-based fires, are often overlooked but account for the majority of fires that ravage our homes and lives. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire, where it is hottest and where the combustion is situated. Home | We Do Not Sell Your Personal Information. The two are not the same, and only dry powder should be used to extinguish a metal fire. The wet chemical extinguisher can discharge for up to forty seconds at a maximum effective range of ten to twenty feet. That's why it's absolutely paramount to stay on top of your fire preparedness, even if you haven't had a traumatic experience to motivate you. Class A fires are fires that are fueled by common combustible materials such as wood, paper, plastic, cloth and rubber. The extinguisher also needs a clearly visible pressure gauge and approved mounting bracket to be compliant. The point is to remember that metals that burn are not class A,B, or C so an ABC extinguisher will not work on them. Remember, it should be located in an area that is readily accessible in case of fire. Therefore, a Class D fire extinguisher is not to be used to fight a lithium-ion battery fire. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for the wrong class of fire. The A, B, C rating system defines the kinds of burning materials each fire extinguisher is designed to fight. Class "C" fires are comprised of active electrical devices, fuse boxes, wiring, computers, and electrical sources. One of the first steps in fire preparedness is verifying that you are in possession of the appropriate fire extinguishers. To achieve a class “B” rating, the extinguisher must repeatedly put out a flaming liquid fire. Well, for starters, most of us haven't yet experienced the devastating effects of a fire firsthand and thus can't connect to the experience. and have a discharge time between eight and thirty seconds. The extinguisher is readily available for immediate use (is near by) and is in good working order which is fully charged. This particular type of extinguisher smothers fires by cooling the burning material below the ignition point. … Since stairways are the primary escape route in multiple story buildings(elevators should NEVER be used in fire emergencies), they should not be used for any kind of storage. What Type of Fire Extinguisher Should Be Used on an Oil or Grease Fire?. Fire Extinguisher Recommendations; Fire Extinguisher Use . Class A fires can be suppressed using several substances including water, foam and dry chemicals. Descriptions of fire extinguisher ratings, classes, and functions. Unlike the CO2 extinguisher, it has a pressure gauge to allow you to check the capacity visually rather than by weight. Those fires are classified as "K" fires which we’ll cover below. It's effective range is between five to twenty feet and smothers the burning materials by separating the fuel from oxygen in the air. In order to achieve an "A" rating, extinguishers must pass a series of tests that correspond to the aforementioned materials; the wood panel test, the wood crib test, and the shredded paper test. Extinguishers that can be used: Foam, CO2 Gas, ABC Dry powder. Another helpful tip, when fig. An ABC extinguisher uses dry chemicals to suppress fires. This list of fire extinguishers will help you prepare for the worst case scenario on the best of days. Now that you've armed yourself with knowledge, go arm yourself with the proper extinguisher types to beat the heat. Class D fire extinguishers, which contain dry powder, are intended for combustible metal fires only. Fire Extinguisher Classes/Ratings. They can be heavier (up to one hundred lbs.) Class A fires are comprised of paper, wood, cloth, or other common trash. ABC fire extinguisher is a dry chemical extinguishing agent used on class A, class B, and class C fires. Yes, an energized electrical fire is Class C, so an ABC or BC fire extinguisher may be used safely. ABC dry chemical is inappropriate for chlorine or oxidizer fires. The foam extinguishers should be used on paper, wood, cloth, or plastic fires, as well as flammable liquids like paraffin, petrol and oil. The extinguisher is suitable for the fire hazard being protected. The following symbols and/or letters should be visible on the fire extinguisher label. The ABC fire extinguisher contains dry chemical, usually a mixture of monoammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, the former being the active one. Electrical fire may be fought in the same way as an ordinary combustible fire, but water, foam, and other conductive agents are not to be used. Use the correct fire extinguisher type to fight the fire. They indicate which type of fire the extinguisher should be used on. Take this invaluable tip from the pros: never turn your back on an open flame. They're optimally deployed against "B" and "C" fires and significantly vary in their sizes and discharge time. Fire extinguishers are an invaluable tool to help fight smaller fires or to protect evacuation routes in the event of a larger one. To achieve the Class “C” rating the extinguisher and contents must pass certain electrical conductivity measurements in accordance with UL711 and UL299. Why do we neglect something as important as fire preparedness? Weight; The idea is to get a car fire extinguisher that is commensurate to the size and dimensions of your car. “A” TRASH–WOOD–PAPER. Extinguishers that have attained "A" ratings but lack "B", "C", or “K” ratings are limited to ordinary combustible fires and should not be used to fight liquid based fired, energized electrical fires, or kitchen based fires. Description: Powder fire extinguishers are red with a blue panel, are either ABC or BC rated. The numbers preceding the letters "A" or "B" indicate how effective the fire extinguisher is at extinguishing that particular type of fire. when the worst case-scenarios are so blatantly obvious. The jack-of-all-trades of fire protection, the Multipurpose Dry Chemical extinguisher is lighter and more versatile than the previous two types. Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which classifications of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight. CO2 extinguishers also require a less rigorous clean up than other extinguishers, making them a more attractive option when dealing with expensive equipment. But why? Pressurized water extinguishers are only fit to battle "A" fires. Water should be used in that case. The coffee table, couch, desk, bookshelf and books on the shelf will all be Class A combustible materials. Fire extinguishers with a Class A rating are effective against fires involving paper, wood, textiles, and plastics. The resulting chemical reaction can cause an explosion or a breakdown of the chemicals releasing toxic gases. Fire Extinguisher Guide to help you choose the right fire extinguisher for your home, office, or vehicle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. What are the different types of fire extinguishers and what are they used for? Monoammonium phosphate effectively smothers the fire, while sodium bicarbonate induces a chemical reaction which extinguishes the fire. These dry powder extinguishers should not be confused with those that contain dry chemical agents. To achieve a Class “A” rating, the extinguisher must be capable of putting out the wood crib, wood panel and excelsior (shredded paper) tests. Without all three, it will die. Both monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate are commonly used to fight this type of fire because of their nonconductive properties. Ratings are based on the size of the material that can be repeatedly extinguished. So, where to start? The number in front of the A, B, or C indicates the rating size of fire the unit can extinguish. Contact Us | If your cubicle catches flame because your computer spontaneously combusts, that's considered a "C" fire. Fire extinguishers with a Class C rating are suitable for fires in “live” electrical equipment. Each rating denotes the type of fire the extinguisher can be effectively used against. Class B fires become increasingly problematic, dangerous, and stubborn because they're formed from liquids and gasses that can be tough to exterminate. Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, and paper. Always use the right extinguisher for the right fire. Class C. Class C fires burn flammable gases. A Class D fire extinguisher is used on combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, sodium, etc., which require an extinguishing medium that does not react with the burning metal. Remember, if you feel that you cannot safely extinguish the fire using the portable extinguisher available and if you have not already done so, pull the fire alarm, evacuate the area, and then call the fire department. Couple their prevalence with their ferocity and you get a recipe for disaster. Changing the batteries in your fire alarm panel, locating the optimal evacuation route in your building, and ensuring you have the proper fire extinguishers in the most advantageous spots all trickle to the bottom of our never-ending to-do lists. When you look around your living room, most objects in the room will fit into this category. The primary chemical used to fight these fires is monoammonium phosphate, because of its ability to smother fires in these types of materials. Unlock the fire extinguisher by pulling the pin or disengaging the safety mechanism. How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher Guide - Fire Extinguisher Guide for classes, UL ratings, and types of Fires. Ratings are based on the size of the fire. The importance of fire safety is oftentimes overlooked in favor of other everyday concerns. It's all too easy to leave your stove unattended to go multitask around the rest of the house or to leave the oven blaring as you slip out for an errand. Privacy Statement| Best Use: Dry powder fire extinguishers are safe to be used on fires involving electrical equipment (remember to look for the electrical safety pictogram.) A 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher, for example, can be used on Class A, B, and C fires. If you are not sure which is the right extinguisher to purchase, you can contact fire experts or fire extinguisher suppliers. Water Mist: The water mist extinguisher is a newer development and unlike a standard water-based extinguisher, can extinguish electrical hazards without the risk of electrical shock. BRK Brands, Inc. is a subsidiary of Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: NWL). Cookie Policy | These may include lithium or magnesium. Anything else is fair game. Using a water-based fire extinguisher for a kitchen fire may further escalate the hazard. A fire extinguisher, in general, is an active fire fortification device that is used to extinguish or regulate small fires. Understanding your ABCs isn't reserved for mastering the english language, its a quintessential aspect of safely squelching fires of all shapes and sizes. ©2020  BRK Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Powder should not be used indoors unless necessary to cover a specific fire risk with it being potentially suffocating and harmful to users in … CO2: A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher works on a Class B fire by expelling CO2 to suffocate the fire, removing the oxygen necessary to keep it burning.It also helps with removing the heat, as the discharge is very cold. A UL 5-B fire extinguisher (or greater) is an extinguisher that is capable of putting out 5 square feet of Class B (liquid) fires. The only time that a portable extinguisher should be used to fight a fire is when: Person should be familiar with the use of a fire extinguisher. Not all fire safety devices are the same, but the best fire extinguisher should be easy to use. Extinguishers that have attained "A" ratings but lack "B", "C", or “K” ratings are limited to ordinary combustible fires and should not be used to fight liquid based fired, energized electrical fires, or kitchen based fires. Knowing how to use one in an emergency is critical. They're extremely difficult to douse because they combine electrified elements with dangerous liquids and gasses. Fire Extinguisher Suitable for use in Warehouses . Before fighting a class "C" fire, ALWAYS de-energize the associated circuit and proceed with extreme caution. And how can we knowingly look passed these life-saving safety measures when the worst case-scenarios are so blatantly obvious? Emergency Action Leaders should be assigned specific duties, such as verifying that all workers/students/faculty/staff have evacuated. Since lithium-ion batteries aren’t made with metallic lithium, a Class D dry powder extinguisher would not … Pictures shown on the extinguisher in blue represent the type of fire on which an extinguisher is to be used. Fire extinguishers with a Class A rating are effective against fires involving paper, wood, textiles, and plastics. Two commonly used chemicals are effective in fighting these types of fires. 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