Know Your Fire Extinguisher Types

Fire extinguishers are specialized items of fire safety equipment, designed to tackle specific types of fire. Just as you wouldn't use a sledgehammer to hammer in a nail, it's important to use the right fire extinguisher to get the right result!

Fire Extinguishers and Fire Types

The various types of fire extinguishers have been created to tackle various classes of fires. Fires are grouped into classes according to the substances that are burning (the fire's fuel), from wood to inflammable metals. Once you know the fire type, you can use the right fire extinguisher on it.

Class A fires involve wood or paper, or plastics.

Class B fires involve liquid or solid fuels, including petrol, wax, or alcohols.

Class C fires involve flammable gases.

Class D fires involve flammable metals that might react with water, such as magnesium and potassium.

Class F fires involves cooking oils and fats.

There is no class for 'electrical' fires, since electricity itself is not a fuel for fire.)

Fire Classes and Fire Extinguisher Types

Every fire extinguisher is clearly marked, so you know which type to use in an emergency. Most fire extinguishers have red bodies red, with coloured bands at the top, the exception being the shiny chrome types, which have their information clearly printed in black instead.

Water fire extinguishers contain one of the most effective fire fighting agents known - water! Water extinguishers should be used in Class A fires, involving paper, wood, fabrics or non-foam furniture. Water extinguishers have a red top label.

Water additive fire extinguishers increase the effectiveness of water with chemicals, so are usually lighter than standard water extinguishers<./p>

Carbon dioxide, or CO2 fire extinguishers, are the best fire extinguishers for fires involving electrical equipment. The CO2 extinguisher is easy to spot, as it has a large black horn or hose and horn combination at the side, and a black label at the top.

Dry powder fire extinguishers are the perfect all-round fire extinguisher for both businesses and home, and can also be safely used on vehicle fires. Powder extinguishers have a blue label at the top.

Foam fire extinguishers contain AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam), which is highly effective in smothering flames and sealing in potentially harmful vapours. Foam fire extinguishers are ideal for either Class A or B fires, and have a cream label at the top.

Wet chemical extinguishers are specialist extinguishers designed for Class F fires involving fats and cooking oils. Every commercial kitchen with a fat fryer should have one of these clever and life-saving extinguishers. Wet chemical extinguishers have a yellow label.

Specialist Fire Extinguishers Special fire extinguishers are produced for tackling more unusual fires, and involve training in their correct use. These types of fire extinguishers include those made to extinguish Class D fires, involving metals.

Other situations require specialist extinguishers, such as aircraft and archive facilities. For example, there are non-magnetic extinguishers available for MRI scanner rooms, and FE-36 clean agent extinguishers for medical areas and data clean rooms.

Here at Easy Fire Safety, we offer top quality branded fire extinguishers (not cheap imports) at the best discount prices for fire extinguishers on the web.