Fire Extinguisher Types and What they are used for - By: Felicity Lightbody

Fire extinguishers are a necessary part of any safety system in a public location. While commercial fire alarm systems are an integral component, fire extinguisher can provide an immediate response to a small fire, before it gets out of control.

There are several different types of fire extinguishers for commercial use available in the UK. Water fire extinguishers are useful in putting out paper, wood, cloth and some plastic materials. Water extinguishers cannot be used on burning oil or fat, or on electrical fires. All fires are classified according to the type of material burning. The classes are:

Class A - Paper, wood and other organic materials.
Class B - Flammable liquids such as oil, grease and petrol.
Class C - Flammable gas.
Class D - Flammable metals.
Class E - Electrical fires.
Class F - Cooking oils and fat.

Each type of fire extinguisher is colour coded based on the type of fire they can extinguish. Some extinguishers cover multiple classes of fires, while other are specialised units meant only for one type of fire.

The colour coding system is as follows:

Red coloured extinguishers are Water Extinguishers.

Red extinguishers with a Cream coloured panel or band are Foam Extinguishers.

Red extinguishers with a French Blue coloured panel or band are Dry Powdered Extinguishers or Specialised Powder Extinguishers.

Red extinguishers with a Black coloured extinguisher are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguishers.

Red Extinguishers with a Canary Yellow Panel or Band are Wet Chemical Extinguishers.

Green signifies a Halon Extinguisher, which is no longer permissible by law.

Water Extinguishers are limited to class A fires such as wood, paper, or cloth. Never discharge a Water Extinguisher into electrical equipment or flammable liquids fire.

Spray Foam extinguishers are for class A and B fires such as oil, grease and petrol. They are for a limited number of flammable liquids and should not be used without consulting the manufacturer's guidelines. They are not to be used on cooking oil. Specialized Foam is available for alcohol fires.

ABC Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers are for class A, B and C fires. They have multiple materials they can extinguish. In addition to paper, wood and cloth, they can also extinguish fires containing plastic, oils, grease, paint, petrol and flammable gas fires.

Special Dry Powder Extinguishers are for class D fires. They are meant for flammable metals such as magnesium.

CO2s (Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher) are for class B and electrical fires. They put out liquid fires such as oil, grease, fat, paint and petrol and electrical fires. The powder is non-conductive to reduce the risk of electrocution.

Wet Chemical Extinguishers are for class A and class F fires. In addition to combustibles such as paper and wood, they are the only type of extinguisher to be used on cooking oil and fat fires.

Halon Fire Extinguishers are no longer permitted in the UK.

Fire Blankets are for Class B fires and work by cutting off oxygen to the fire. Blankets can also be used to put out clothing fires and chip and fat pan fires.

About the Author

Felicity is a part-time author, writing intermittent pieces in the UK about business security and safety matters. For water fire extinguishers as well as fire protection systems, fire blankets and fire alarm systems then please visit our site, Fire Alarm Supplies

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

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