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Each extinguisher has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more is its extinguishing power. This rating is expressed as a number from 1 to 40 for class A; 1 to 640 for class B; the "C" on the label indicates that the unit is tested on electrical fires. Extinguishers for Class D must match the type of metal that is burning
Fire extinguishers can be further typified as dry chemical, carbon dioxide, class D, clean agent, water mist, water and foam stored pressure and class K wet chemical.
In choosing the right type of equipment, it is imperative to familiarize yourself about extinguishing agents. Each class of fire is best fought by a distinctive flame quelling agent. There is a color coded box on your unit which identifies which class or classes it can be used and the kind of agent it contains.
Water type are equipments only suitable for Cass A. This class of fire, sometimes called ordinary combustible fires, is solid burning like those ignited by items made of wood, paper, rubber, cloth or plastics. These are things you store in your home and office. They provide the fuel for a Class A fire. There are two types of water fire extinguishers, the air pressured and the water mist spray extinguisher. Water remains a very effective extinguishing agent and should only be utilized where they work best. This type comes in water or water with additive types in 6L up to 9L. There are also models made of stainless steel.
The restored pressure type puts out fire by a cooling, soaking stream of water between 40-60 feet. The extended discharge time is 40-60 seconds. In areas of freezing temperatures, an anti-freeze charge is added.
Foam types are designed to fight fires that are ignited by combustible liquids like kerosene, gasoline, oil or grease. These extinguishers put out flames by spraying a dry chemical powder or foam with a nitrogen propellant. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. They are used for classes A and B fires.
Dry Powder are multi-purpose extinguishers. They are suited for classes A, B and C fires. Special powders are used for Class D fires. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers are ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus. Wet chemical fire extinguishers are used for Class F fires. A specialist fire extinguisher is used for metal fires.
There is also a colour coding for different types of fire extinguishers as follows: for water, color is red; for foam, it is cream; for dry powder, color is blue; and for carbon dioxide (CO2) it is black. New fire extinguishers are required to conform to BS EN 3 that the entire body of the extinguisher be colored red. A zone of colour of up to 5% of the external area can identify the contents using the old coding.
When used properly, these different types of fire extinguishers are the best and most cost effective defenses to protect property damage and save lives.There are many types of fire extinguishers to fight different classes of fire. Fires are classified into various classes. Class A for combustible solids; Class B for Flammable liquids; Class C for flammable gases such as propane, butane, methane, etc.; Class D for metals such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, etc.; Class E for fires involving electrical apparatus and Class F for cooking oil and fat, etc.
Each extinguisher has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more is its fire fighting power. This rating is expressed as a number from 1 to 40 for class A fires; 1 to 640 for class B fires; the "C" on the label indicates that the unit is tested on electrical fires. Extinguishers for Class D must match the type of metal that is burning
Fire extinguishers can be further typified as dry chemical fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, class D fire extinguishers, clean agent fire extinguishers, water mist fire extinguishers, water and foam stored pressure fire extinguishers and class K wet chemical fire extinguishers.
In choosing the right type of fire extinguisher, it is imperative to familiarize yourself about extinguishing agents. Each class of fire is best fought by a distinctive flame quelling agent. There is a color coded box on your fire extinguisher which identifies which class or classes of fire it can be used and the kind of fire extinguishing agent it contains.
Water fire extinguishers are equipments only suitable for Cass A fires. This class of fire, sometimes called ordinary combustible fires, is solid burning fire like those caused by heated and ignited by items made of wood, paper, rubber, cloth or plastics. These are things you store in your home and office. They provide the fuel for a Class A fire. There are two types of water fire extinguishers, the air pressured and the water mist spray extinguisher. Water remains a very effective fire extinguishing agent and should only be utilized where they work best. This type of fire extinguisher comes in water or water with additive types in 6L up to 9L. There are also models made of stainless steel.
The restored pressure type puts out fire by a cooling, soaking stream of water between 40-60 feet. The extended discharge time is 40-60 seconds. In areas of freezing temperatures, an anti-freeze charge is added.
Foam fire extinguishers are designed to fight fires that are ignited by combustible liquids like kerosene, gasoline, oil or grease. These extinguishers put out flames by spraying a dry chemical powder or foam with a nitrogen propellant. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. They are used for classes A and B fires.
Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers are multi-purpose extinguishers. They are suited for classes A, B and C fires. Special powders are used for Class D fires. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers are ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus. Wet chemical fire extinguishers are used for Class F fires. A specialist fire extinguisher is used for metal fires.
There is also a colour coding for different types of fire extinguishers as follows: for water, color is red; for foam, it is cream; for dry powder, color is blue; and for carbon dioxide (CO2) it is black. New fire extinguishers are required to conform to BS EN 3 that the entire body of the extinguisher be colored red. A zone of colour of up to 5% of the external area can identify the contents using the old coding.
When used properly, these different types of fire extinguishers are the best and most cost effective defenses to protect property damage and save lives.
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