Does your Office have the right type of Fire extinguisher? - By: Felicity Lightbody

Almost everyone has some knowledge as to what measures should be taken for fire safety in his or her home. Many families have designated an escape route or routes in the event that a fire was to break out. They have at least one fire extinguisher in the house and each wall is mounted with a smoke detector. However, a private residence isn't the only place where a person should be fire safety savvy. It is also important that one be prepared for a fire emergency at their place of work as well. Large companies are required to set up an escape plan for their employees and conduct fire drills on a routine basis. Businesses are also equipped with smoke alarms and are marked with several "Exit" routes to make avoiding the dangers of a fire easier. There are also fire extinguishers designated at certain areas within the buildings but would you or a co-worker know what type fire extinguisher to use on which kind of fire?

The answer to this question should be something that you consider very carefully. In each situation the cause of a fire can be different, therefore it is crucial that you are certain of what type of fire extinguisher to use. In the case of an office building you are usually dealing with a call centre or bank where there are many people working in one isolated area. Keeping this in mind there are several options that can be used. A "Class C" fire extinguisher is a dry chemical-based extinguisher that is used for putting out fires involving electrical equipment and wiring. However, they do leave a chemical residue behind that can be unsafe for the office equipment.

The preferred type of fire extinguisher used in office buildings is a CO2, or Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher. Since this is a non-flammable agent, it can be used on both Class B and C fires without damaging the equipment that it covers. For safety's sake, when handling a CO2 fire extinguisher, employees must remember that it is a highly pressurised device and it can shoot out fragments of dry ice when it is released, so make certain that no one else is standing in the way of the extinguisher's throwing range when it is in use. Another handy item to have in a place of employment or a home for that matter is a carbon monoxide detector. There are many model types to choose from but be sure that the device meets all safety inspection requirements of any health and safety related organizations.

Lastly, there are some businesses that use an ABC Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher. These are powder extinguishers that use a dry chemical called monoammonium phosphate. The powder does leave a sticky residue behind that can be damaging to office equipment, which is probably why more offices use the CO2 extinguisher instead. On the other hand, the carbon dioxide based fire extinguisher doesn't put out as many different types of fire as does the multi-purpose.

About the Author

Felicity is a intermittent journalist, writing infrequent pieces in the UK about business security and safety matters. For discounted foam fire extinguisher as well as fire alarm systems, rafiki fire alarms and addressable fire alarm system then please visit our site, Discount Fire Supplies

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Felicity-Lightbody/39388

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