Fire Extinguisher Types

Any business or institution that operates inside a building is required by law to carry out fire risk assessments. It is important as a director of a firm to know the regulations inside out to cover yourself in the event of a fire and minimise the risk of harm or damage should one occur. If there is a risk of fire in the building then fire fighting equipment needs to be installed. There are many types of fire extinguishers, each specifically designed for fighting different fires. In order to maximise their effectiveness it is therefore essential you purchase the correct type of extinguisher for the potential hazards in the building.

Firstly, you need to identify the dominant material in the room or corridor you are placing the extinguisher before getting in touch with the fire extinguisher suppliers. There are six classes of fire, each requiring a slightly different type of extinguisher.

Class	Material
A	Solids such as wood, plastic and paper
B	Flammable Liquids such as oil, petrol and paraffin
C	Flammable gasses such as methane and butane
D	Metals such as magnesium and aluminium
E	Electrical equipment
F	Cooking oil and fat

The simplest and cheapest extinguisher uses just water and is only suitable for fighting class A fires. It is very important these types of fire extinguisher are not used on electrical fires.

Foam fire extinguishers are a little more expensive than their water based counterparts but with this extra cost comes versatility. Foam extinguishers can be used on Class B and A type fires and aren’t as dangerous if sprayed onto electrical fires. Be warned, they should still never be used to fight fires where electrical equipment is involved.

Dry powder extinguishers are by far the most versatile type as they can be used on Class A, B and C fires. They are best suited for fighting Class B fires but are extremely effective at fighting fires involved gases and solids. Specially designed powder can be bought to effectively fight class D fires. Unfortunately, due to the nature of dry powder fire extinguishers, using them can be very messy. In some cases, the powder may damage machines and equipment.

For electrical fires CO2 extinguishers are the best bet. They can also fight other types of fires although do not prevent a fire from reigniting as the other types of extinguisher do.

Finally, there are specialist chemical fire extinguishers designed to fight fires involved hot oil or fat. These are most suitable for restaurant kitchens where such hazards occur.

Fire extinguisher suppliers will stock all these types of fire extinguisher and will be able to offer advice if you are still unclear as to which type you should install. Thinking carefully now will ultimately save you in the long term; it could even save a life.