British standard 5306 contains formulae for calculating the number of class a extinguishers as follows. A common type is the abc extinguisher, which is for use in fighting class a, b, and c fires. Types of extinguishers cont dry chemical dry chemical is the most widely used type of fire extinguisher and is also recognized as a multipurpose abc fire extinguisher. Educate on the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance. Lets take a moment to go over some of these extinguishers and what type of fires they put out.
It is essential that you are familiar which fire extinguisher is suitable for each class of fire. Current fire extinguisher colour codes uk previous fire. Water based extinguishers are ideal for schools, small offices, stockrooms etc. Each type of fire extinguisher is colour coded according to the type of extinguishing media it contains. There are different fire classes, each one relating to the type of combustible materials that are involved in the fire. Unless you know what is burning, you wont know what type of fire extinguisher to use. Fire extinguishers are rated on their ability to extinguish test fires. Bii extinguishers are uscg approved and meet the need for a type b, size 2 uscg approved fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers meeting bs en3 should have a red body ral 3000 and an agent specific colour band covering between 510% of the surface relating to the extinguishers contents. They also give peace of mind to homeowners that their family and friends are safer for being prepared in the case of a fire. Fire extinguishers are available in different types with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on. Bii fire extinguishers marine fire extinguishers uscg.
There are 5 main fire extinguisher types water, foam, dry powder, co2 and wet chemical. A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Current fire extinguisher colour codes uk fire extinguishers meeting bs en3 are manufactured with a red body and have a band of a second colour covering between 510% of the surface relating to the extinguisher s contents. In addition to labels indicating what fire types they should be used on, fire extinguishers also carry a rating of the size of fire the extinguisher should be able to extinguish. The afff fire extinguisher pronounced a triple f is suitable for use on class a and b fires. Put fire extinguishers close to where they might be needed. In the instance of a fire emergency, the last thing you want to be doing is reading the side of an extinguisher trying to figure out if you can use it to fight the flames.
Fire extinguishers are designed to tackle specific fire types, and particular fire sizes. As you can see, there are 5 different types of fire extinguisher, but there are a few different versions of the dry powder and the water extinguishers. Fire extinguisher classes the fire classification system is designed to categorise fires into groups based on the type of fuel involved. Different types of fire extinguisher explained march 14th, 20. Point the jet or discharge horn at the base of the flames and, with a rapid sweeping motion, drive the fire. Water extinguishers should only be used on class a fires combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, trash, and also plastics. Ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, etc. At london fire and safe, all our teams have the correct authority, training and approval to ensure that your. Whilst there are 5 main types of fire extinguisher, there are different versions of both the water and dry powder extinguishers, meaning there are a total of 8 fire extinguisher types to choose from. You dont want to mistakenly use a bc extinguisher on a class a fire, thinking that it was an abc extinguisher. Product title kidde proline pro 5 mp fire extinguisher, 3 a, 40 b.
For example, standard water extinguishers should not be used on electricity. In the uk fire extinguishers are a legal requirement for all commercial buildings. To deal with the multitude of different fire classes, a range of fire extinguishers have been developed. Carbon dioxide extinguisher works on classes b and c and works by suffocating the fire. Extinguishers are available in individual classifications and combinations. Fire extinguisher selection chart australian standard 2444 post 1999 type of extinguisher class type of fire water foam wet chemical co2 dry chemical vaporising liquid a ordinary combustibles wood, paper etc 3 yes most suitable 3 yes 3 yes 3 yes not very suitable 3 yes be powders not suitable 3 yes b flammable liquids 2 no 3 yes special foam. Fumes toxic if inhaled halon is no longer manufactured halon a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment. Each different type of extinguisher agent has a corresponding colour making identification easier for the user. Other types of extinguisher you may need depending on your premises are. One such is our jalite aaa fire extinguisher chart. Below is an overview of each extinguisher agent and its corresponding colour.
Although many people look for only class a, b, or c fire extinguishers, there is an extinguisher that does the job of all three of. There are several different classifications of fires based primarily on the fuel source. There is no one extinguisher type which works on all classes of fire. Only use a fire extinguisher when the fire is in its early stages you dont know what is burning. Types of fire extinguishers nz new zealand fire extinguisher types differ from those found around the world.
Types of extinguishers it is never easy to choose from the different types of fire extinguishers so we have produced a chart to help you decide which ones are good for which fire risks. It is very important to understand the appropriate type of fire extinguisher to be used. Fire extinguisher colour codes uk fire extinguishers meeting bs en3 are manufactured with a red body and have a band of a second colour covering between 510% of the surface relating to the extinguishers contents. Fire extinguishers classes, colour coding, rating, location and. Water mist dry water mist dry powder multipurpose dry powder special powders foam afff. Fire extinguishers can be very useful tools for bringing fire under control in its early stages, but it is very important to make sure you use the correct type.
Utilizing these fire extinguisher types on class b flammable liquid or gas or paint, the discharge could help spread the flammable liquid or. The agent works by interrupting the chemical chain reaction. When buying fire extinguishers for your business, its important to buy the right type of fire extinguisher for your needs. The number after the b, for example a b1 or b2 extinguisher, indicates the capacity of the extinguisher. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you might make matters worse.
Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material. An effective fire extinguisher chart aims to provide facts regarding the different types of fire extinguishers. The various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of fuel. An abc extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating that it may be used on class a, b and c fires.
The type of extinguisher is identified by a colour coding as indicated. Fire extinguisher training yale emergency management. A class abc fire extinguisher, which can handle all fires, is therefore the most recommended class of. Fire extinguishers meeting bs en3 should have a red body ral 3000 and an agent specific colour band covering between 510% of the surface relating to the extinguisher s contents. Its recommended that you inspect your extinguisher annually, looking for cracks or corrosion. Fire extinguisher types we explain the different types of.
Check the chart below to match extinguishers to a particular class of fire. Knowing the different fire extinguisher types is vital to using the correct one for the different type of fire. Belvue business centre, belvue road, northolt, middlesex, ub5 5qq. Class a extinguishers should be located in areas where paper, wood, and other ordinary combusti bles are used. It is not intended for use on an outofcontrol fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user i. Its simple to identify the type of fire extinguisher by the band of colour marked around the top of the cylinder. Dry powder fire extinguishers have a blue identification. Its important to note that you can also get fire extinguishers that put out multiple types of fires.
Every fire extinguisher is rated for the types of fires its effective in putting out. For larger fires, get out of the area and call for help. Fires are classified by the types of materials that are burning. There are five different fire fuel classifications types.
Halon 1211 818 seconds discharge time range 916 ft. Fire extinguishers can be very useful tools for bringing fire under control in its early stages, but it. There are six different classes of fire and several different types of fire extinguishers. Several types of fire extinguishers are available to fight different types of fires. The fire must be discovered in its incipient stage for the extinguisher to be effective.
This is the primary maintenance cost for these devices. This figure is given in relation to the size of test fires. This means that in addition to being able to tackle combustible organic materials such as paper, card, wood and textiles, it is also able to tackle fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol or oils. Other types of extinguishers work only on a certain class of fire. Before discussing the different types of fire extinguisher, it is important to understand that all checks and advice needs to be given by persons authorised to do so. So to get safe against major fire it essential to keep portable fire extinguisher where the fire risk remains such as the office, kitchen and the vehicle. Each type of fire extinguisher has a corresponding colour, to allow easier identification for the user. There are different types of fire extinguishers for fighting various classes of fire. Extinguisher advice fire extinguisher help and information. Each fire class is represented by a letter of the alphabet with the exception of electrical which are simply referred to as electrical fires and an icon. The most common types of fire extinguishers are classified by agent.
Types of fire extinguishers and their uses cscs health. Apr 29, 2016 there are actually many different types of fire extinguishers you can have in your business. The extinguisher must be the right type for the fire. Fire extinguisher types we explain the different types. An abc extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating that it.
Also, on a class a fire it creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen. These types of fire extinguisher eliminate a fire by allowing water to take away the heat component of fire. All the information you need on different types of fire extinguishers, the. Extinguishers should only be used in cases where a fire is small enough to be manageable and as long as you have a clear means of escape open to you should the extinguisher be unable to quench the fire. Fire extinguisher types fire extinguishers are portable and designed to help prevent small fires from spreading into uncontrollable fires. Before you need to use a fire extinguisher read the label to make sure you fully understand the type of fire extinguisher it is and for which types of fires it is appropriate and safe to use on. Made of high quality rigid plastic this fire extinguisher chart is photoluminescent, featuring hitech coating so that it is visible even in the dark. The successful use of a fire extinguisher depends on the following conditions. Some also have a numerical rating to indicate the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. However, foam and dry water mist extinguishers, though water based, can be. Water fire extinguishers have a class a rating and are suitable for fighting fires involving solid combustibles such as wood, paper and textiles. Extinguishers are labeled to correspond to the classes of fires they are designed to fight. Types of fire extinguishers and their uses cscs health and.
Please click on the type of extinguisher, this will display more information about that extinguisher type. Due to their electric conductivity, however, these extinguishers are not suited for b and c fires. Only use a portable fire extinguisher on a small fire. Fire extinguisher types explained city fire protection. A class abc fire extinguisher, which can handle all fires, is therefore the most recommended class of extinguisher. You should have the right types of fire extinguisher for your premises, or you may not meet current regulations. To deal with class af fires there are 5 types of fire extinguisher, with a band of secondary colour covering between 510% of the surface to mark the contents and type of extinguisher. There are actually many different types of fire extinguishers you can have in your business. Class a fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or. Just click the links or images to see the various sizes and prices for each type.
Water red dry powder blue afff foam cream wet chemical yellow as you can see, there are 5 different types of fire extinguisher, but there are a few different versions of the dry powder and the water extinguishers. Fire extinguishers are divided into four classifications, according to the type of fire they are designed to eliminate. Ideal for use on class a fires, usually available in 6 litre or 9 litre sizes. Fire extinguisher types fire extinguisher sales in brisbane. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire, you can, in fact, make matters worse. You must be able to use the extinguisher in the correct manner and should be trained before attempting to put out fires. There are different types of fire extinguisher to be used on different types of fire.
Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism. However, they must be of the correct type for the particular fire, and they must be used correctly. The extinguisher must be easily accessible and in good working order. The wrong type of extinguisher can be dangerous or life threatening. Carbon dioxide co 2 a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment a trash wood paper b liquids grease c electrical equipment fire extinguisher types cont.
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