When most people think of fire prevention, the first thing that comes to their mind is a fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher is used to extinguish a fire. Many worksites and public buildings have fire extinguishers at exits and doors to prevent fires. They are placed in a prominent and easily accessible place. Red is the color of all fire extinguishers. They are quite alike. But, let's take a closer look. Did you know that nozzles can even have different shapes? Do you know why fire extinguishers are marked with different colors?
But why do we have so many different categories of fire extinguishers? Because there are different classes of fire. The type of fire generally depends on the atmosphere and objects involved in the fire. Some fires may involve edible fats, others may involve combustibles or gases, and others may ignite solids such as apparel or paper. And because all of these fires burn in different ways, they need different types of extinguishers to control and extinguish them.
Fire Extinguisher Types
Water fire extinguishers
The use of water hearth extinguishers is barely suggested for category A fires like upholstery, straw, rubber, coal, and hard plastics. These fire extinguishers are a bit costlier. Water hearth extinguishers contain solely liquid, so they are the most hassle-free to preserve and the least dangerous. They douse the fire with water and similar substances. It extinguishes the flame by usurping heat from the burned objects.
They are commonly found in retailers, offices, industrial institutions, schools, hotels, warehouses, and houses. The drawback is that it cannot be used in fires of fat or oil (Class F), metal (Class D), liquids (Class B), or electrical instruments.
Dry powder extinguishers
Blowing agents release solids and liquids (Class A and B) but do not burn fats or oils (Class F). If tested and started from a distance of 1 m, it can be used to extinguish some electric fires but leaves a residue that needs to be cleaned and is more expensive than a water fire extinguisher.
They are appropriate for dousing solids, liquids, and gases (fire categories A, B, and C). Dry powder hearth extinguishers are specifically created to extinguish category D fires involving combustible metals. Powder forms a crust that extinguishes the flame and prevents its unfolding. The drawback is that the powder doesn't penetrate the fabric and doesn't effectively cool the hearth, resulting in re-ignition. The powder is incredibly dangerous if indrawn; thus, it ought to be employed in a well-ventilated space and isn't appropriate for offices and confined areas. It can't be used with wood stoves (Type F). They're usually cheap and sturdy and are available in sizes one, 2, 4, 6, and 9 kg.
CO2 extinguishers
They contain solely CO2 gas and leave no residue. They are appropriate for fires involving liquid (Class B) and electrical fires, like mainframe instruments and area units exposed in offices. However, dioxide extinguishers are extremely cold once discharged, and people that don't seem to be equipped with double-layer rotating, non-freezing equipment will cause fingers to freeze throughout the use. This will cause suffocation in confined areas and doesn't seem appropriate for deep fireplaces, as sturdy sparks from hearth extinguishers will force burning fat out of the equipment. Fires will quickly flare up more once the dioxide has dissipated into the atmosphere so that they don't seem to be post-fire safe. Dioxide hearth extinguishers are not that expensive to be bought.
Wet chemical extinguishers
Extinguishers containing non-water mist agents are used primarily in homes with ovens to extinguish fires in categories F and A. Fires of any category A can usually be handled with these products, and a few are often used on fires of any category B. They contain a controlled flow of base-forming salts in water that, once applied, creates a flash.
Fire Classifications
- Class A classified fires normally involve flammable materials like timber, apparel, upholstery, and plastic.
- Class B classified fires involve combustible liquids like oil and their byproducts.
- Class C classified fires involve the operation of electrical appliances like motors, computers, and more.
- Class D classified fires involve flammable metals like metallic elements.
- Class F or K classified fires involve oils like edible oils or fats. Though generally categorized as category B fires, the Fire and Safety Department of America considers edible oil fires a separate class, normally mentioned as category F or K.
Conclusion
Some fire extinguisher types can extinguish fires of many categories. It's not uncommon for some people to see fire extinguishers of A, B, and C types. This shows that they can extinguish all kinds of common home fires. Having the right extinguisher for fire prevention is very important. Fire prevention is no different. Knowing the types of fire extinguishers gives you confidence that you are purchasing effective protective equipment in the event of an accident or emergency.
Knowing fire extinguisher types can prevent small accidents from turning into major disasters. Whether it's a steaming pot or an iron attached to the edge of a curtain, small sparks are not uncommon in modern homes. A fire extinguisher can help prevent fires if used with the right type, in the right place, and at the right time. The problem is that many of us don't understand when and how to use a fire extinguisher if we have one.
