Fire extinguishers play a vital role in workplace safety and security. This device comes under the category of Fire Protection Safety Equipment. It is mainly used for protecting workers that are closely working with fire hazards or accidents. This equipment is commonly used for controlling the fire outbreak in an emergency situation. Various standard fire extinguisher models are ABC Dry Powder, CO2 based extinguisher, clean agent, mechanical foam, portable type, trolley mounted, water-based and water mist.
Different Classes - Fire Extinguishers:
Class A – It is used for fire caused by combustible carbon-based solids like paper, wood, and textiles.
Class B – It is applicable for flammable liquids and gases like petrol, diesel, oil, paint or propane.
Class C – It is ideal for fire caused by flammable gases like butane, propane or methane.
Class D – This extinguisher is suitable for combustible metals like aluminum, magnesium, lithium or potassium.
Class E – It is used for fire caused by electrical equipment like motors, transformers, etc.
Class F – It is suited for fire caused by fats, cooking oil etc.
List of Fire Extinguisher types and uses:
ABC Dry Powder – It is mainly used on class A, class B and class C fires. The element is generally the mix of monoammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate. This fire extinguisher is applicable for fire areas like petrol burning, warehouses, gas stations, construction sites and electrical equipment rooms.
Carbon Dioxide Based – It is filled with non-flammable carbon dioxide gas under high pressure. This fire extinguisher co2 is commonly used in labs, mechanical rooms, kitchens or flammable liquid storage areas.
Clean Agent – It is a clean, residue-free and environment friendly equipment suitable for industrial areas having electronics like computers, machines, etc. A clean agent extinguisher usually uses inert gas or chemical that is stored in a container and dispersed in the air when the fire is detected. This type of extinguisher is applicable at museums, libraries, telecom centers and server rooms.
Mechanical Foam – It is useful for fires like oil, petroleum, solvents, grease, paints, etc. The extinguisher removes the fire using the blanketing and cooling effect. The device is equipped with a specialized cap and works using controlled mechanism.
Modular Automatic – It uses sprinkler technology to extinguish the fire outbreak. The extinguisher comes with a gas-tight nozzle system. The nozzle gets activated when the surrounding environment crosses the threshold temperature range. The modular automatic extinguisher is mainly used for vehicle engines, computer areas, server rooms, electrical panels, etc.
Trolley Mounted – The fire extinguishers with larger capacity are usually the trolley mounted types. The equipment is trolley mounted and easy to move as they are heavy. This type of extinguisher is suited for fighting the fire of petrol, oil, paint, chemicals, etc.
Water-Based/Water Mist – It discharges clean and deionized water through a nozzle spray outlet. This mist layer is non-conductive and non-toxic and thus extinguishes the fire without damaging the surrounding space.
How to Use and Choose the Right Fire Extinguisher:
Working Principle – The fire outbreak combines light, heat, flames and smoke. A fire extinguisher is designed to remove the fire by cooling the fuel source, separating the oxygen from fuel or stopping the chemical reaction. The 4 standard steps to use the fire extinguisher are -
- Pull the pin at the nozzle of the equipment
- Aim at the base of fire
- Squeeze or press the operating handle
- Sweep or move the device from side to side
Choosing the right fire extinguisher – It is essential to choose the right type of fire extinguisher based on the type of fire you want to extinguish. The wrong extinguisher can prove dangerous while fighting a particular class of fire and rating. Let's find this classification of device based on the type of fire -
- Water-based extinguisher is suitable for a Class A fire that involves solid combustibles.
- Foam based extinguisher is applicable for class A and B fires.
- CO2 based extinguisher is used for fires caused by electrical apparatus.
- Dry powder extinguisher is used on class A, B, C and electrical fires.
- Wet chemical based extinguisher is used for removing fire due to cooking fats and oil elements. It is mostly used in restaurants and kitchen areas.
Conclusion:
A fire extinguisher is the first aid response to a fire outbreak and can prevent dreadful damage to the property and lives. Thus, it is crucial to know all fire extinguisher types and classes. You can buy high-quality fire extinguishers online by clicking here.