Types of Fire Extinguisher

There are 4 main types of fire extinguishers used for fighting fire:
- Water
- Foam
- Carbon dioxide
- Powder.

Fire extinguishers used to be different colours but now, in a workplace, they must all be red. To tell them apart they all have a different coloured 'flash' on them.

Type of Extinguisher Colour of Flash
Water type : Red
Foam type : Cream
Carbon Dioxide type : Black
Powder type : Blue

Different types of fires require different types of extinguishers. For example, a grease fire and an electrical fire require the use of different extinguishing agents to be effective and safely put the fire out.
With so many fire extinguishers to choose from, selecting the proper one for your home can be a daunting task. Everyone should have at least one fire extinguisher at home, but it's just as important to ensure you have the proper type of fire extinguisher. Fire protection experts recommend one for the kitchen, the garage and workshop.

Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. The following is a quick guide to help choose the right type of extinguisher.

Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish.

Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish.

Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for class D fires only.

Fire Extinguisher

Fire is a basic necessity for survival, yet it is also the deadliest and unpredictable foe. Since the early 1800's man has looked for ways to protect home and hearth from fire related disasters and injury. It was at this time that the first fire extinguisher was patented, it was more of an explosive device that needed to be triggered by fuse to scatter the flame retarding liquid. The modern and portable ones we use was patented in 1818 to British Captain George William Manby. A fire has three elements: heat, oxygen and fuel. The heat starts it all bringing any material to the point of igniting, A fuel source supports the burning, while the oxygen sustains the fire for spreading and doing greats damage.

Since that time fire extinguishers are active safety devices that are required in the home, work place, restaurants mostly all places susceptible to fire. These are a person's first line of defense in containing fire. There are 4 types (classes) of fire extinguishers which are used for a particular type of fires. These are indicated on the cylinder as picture/labeling in the new generation extinguishers or as geometrical and letter designation in older cylinder versions.

Choosing a fire extinguishers according to its usage is best determined by the classifications.
Fire class 'A' is used for ordinary combustibles,
Fire class 'B' is used for flammable liquids and gas,
Fire class 'c' is for live electrical equipments,
Fire class 'd' is solely for combustible metals,
Fire class 'K' is for burning oils (ie. cooking oil).

Classification and fire extinguisher components are tested by Underwriter's Laboratories. This is the same body that does routine checks and evaluates a fire extinguisher according to it capability and potential ability to extinguish types of fire. Continuous checks and tests are done in UL laboratories to ensure the public' s safety and the authenticity of the extinguishers being used.

In determining such, the usage of a particular type of extinguisher is guaranteed to work. This also prevents the misuse and erroneous use of an extinguisher type which would only feed the fire.

Types Of Fire

Assigning a type or class to a fire extinguisher is based on the source of the fire. Since not all fires start from the same fuel source, Different materials or fuels create different fires and require different types of fire extingushing agents.
stopping it from spreading needs the right extinguisher for the fire. Matching both the extinguisher with the fire, one must honestly assess the fire hazards posed in the area you occupy. Having a fire extinguisher not matched with the fire type that may possibly happen in your environment is a waste of money and energy- that is if you get to try and arrest the blaze with the wrong apparatus.

There are four different types, or classes of fire.

Class A fires involve solid materials of an organic nature such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and plastics that do not melt.

Class B fires involves liquids. They include petrol, diesel, thinners, oils, paints, wax, cooking fat and plastics that melt.

Class C fires involve electricity.

Class D fires involve flammable metals such as magnesium, aluminium, titanium, sodium and potassium.

Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications.

The classification of fire is a guide on what kind of fire extinguisher is used in varying situations.
Some types of fire extinguishing agent can be use on more than one class of fire.
Others have warnings where it would be dangerous for the operator to use a particular fire extinguishing agent.
Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them.