The Different Types of Fire Extinguishers 

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

How To Use a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers are an important tool for any household or office. They can help stop small fires from getting bigger and save you money on repairs. But did you know that there are different types of fire extinguishers for different types of fires?

Fire Extinguisher Ratings and Classes

The fire extinguisher ratings and classes are the most important when it comes to choosing the right type of fire extinguisher. A common misconception is that as long as you have a fire extinguisher, you’re good to go. This isn’t true! There are many different types of fire: electrical fires, chemical fires, paper fires…and so on. Therefore, there are different classes of fire extinguishers that can handle these different types of fires.

A rating is a measure of how effective a certain type of extinguishing agent will be at putting out specific types of fires (paper versus electrical). 

Class A Fire Extinguishers

A class A fire extinguisher is used to extinguish fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth. It is commonly found in homes, offices, and other commercial buildings. This type of fire extinguisher is the most common type found in businesses across the country. Class A fire extinguishers are rated for use on class A fires only so if there is a risk of something else catching on fire in addition to the "ordinary combustibles" such as gasoline, you'll need another type of fire extinguisher or even multiple types!

Class B Fire Extinguishers

Class B extinguishers are the most common type of fire extinguisher, and they’re used to put out fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, paint thinner, and cooking oils.

Class B fire extinguishers must have a minimum rating of 2A:10BC. If your fire is too large for a Class B extinguisher to handle, it is important to call 911 or your local fire department right away so they can help you control the flames before they spread further.

Class C Fire Extinguishers

Class C fire extinguishers are designed for electrical fires. These should be used on fires that are not burning but have the potential to start burning. They should also be used on fires involving combustible metals such as magnesium. Class C fire extinguishers should also be used on fires involving flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline or diesel fuel.

Class D Fire extinguishers

Class D fire extinguishers are used to fight fires involving magnesium, potassium, sodium, lithium, and their alloys. You may also use it for fires involving titanium and its alloys. These kinds of materials will burn very easily, and they can be hard to extinguish. They can catch on fire if they are exposed to heat or sparks.

Most fires in homes can be extinguished by using a fire extinguisher.

Most fires in homes can be extinguished by using a fire extinguisher. Knowing which type of fire extinguisher to use, will allow using the correct one for each situation.

• If you have a small fire and can see it, you need an ABC-class fire extinguisher. These are the least expensive and most common types of extinguishers that are found in many homes, offices, and factories. They’re also the ones that have little plastic handles on top with a pull pin inside them so all you must do is pull out the pin, aim at your target (the base flare) and squeeze until no more gas comes out – then throw it away!
• The second type is rated as BCF (Blue Canister Fire Extinguisher) because they contain carbon dioxide instead of water like an ABC model does; this means they are generally easier to use since there’s no mess created by spraying water everywhere around where they were used on purpose…but they still work just fine against Class B fires such as grease or oil-based fires too!

As you can see, there are many types of fire extinguishers. Each type is used for different types of fires and needs to be handled properly. Make sure the extinguisher you use is rated for your type of fire (Class A-D). If possible, keep a CO2 or Halon extinguisher in your home because they are effective against class B, C and D fires. If not available, then use ABC powder instead as they will still work on these types of fires.