Fire extinguishers are organized into five classes. Class a fires are the first class of fire that need to be addressed. It is extremely important to identify which type of dry chemical. Fire extinguisher safety training this training program was established to create a broader awareness for the safety of the university of northern iowa students, faculty and staff and their environment. A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Youve got to choose the right fire extinguisher for the job. Extinguishers are labeled to correspond to the classes of fires they are designed to fight. Use the right type of extinguisher for fighting the fire. C includes fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Fire is a rapid chemical reaction of oxidant with fuel. Newer fire extinguishers use a picturelabeling system to designate which types of fires they are to be used on so users can quickly identify the classes of fire on which the extinguisher. Types of fires many fires are small at origin and may be extinguished by the use of portable fire extinguishers. Class a fires are defined as ordinary combustibles. An abc extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating that it may be used on class a, b and c fires. The classification of fires given here is based on the type of material being consumed. Understanding this will allow you to correctly use the right fire extinguisher. Fire class of extinguisher extinguisher fire it limitations type extinguishes comments dry chemical a, b, c generally good for use in roofing. The 5 classes of fires and which extinguisher to use. In this fire extinguisher guide we will discuss common fire extinguisher types and uses. Knowing the classes of fire will help you choose the appropriate extinguisher.
B includes flammable and combustible liquids, and flammable gasses. The class of a fire is determined by the type of fuel that is burning, and how these fire are tackled varies depending on its class. As part of your fire safety requirements, all workshop staff should be trained in the correct use of all types of fire extinguisher, and be aware of the different fire extinguisher colours, so they can quickly access the right extinguisher in the event of a fire. Abcs of portable fire extinguishers a fire extinguisher is a storage container for an extinguishing agent such as water or chemicals. Types of fire are separated into different classes based on the fuel source involved. The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher, and the letter indicates the type of fire it will extinguish. 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. All you ever wanted to know about fire extinguishers.
The fire must be discovered in its incipient stage for the extinguisher to be effective. Class d firesare fires in combustible metals such as potassium, sodium, aluminum and magnesium. Per nfpa 10, burning may be classified into one or more of the following fire classes and your fire protection specialist will select the right fire extinguisher size and agent for the hazard. You dont want to mistakenly use a bc extinguisher on a class a fire, thinking that it was an abc extinguisher. Also the type of fires it is appropriate and safe to use on. Fire classes type water afff foam abc powder c0 2 wet.
Also, on a class a fire it creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen. What fire extinguisher types do i need for a car repair. Designed to stop fires involving clothing, wood, rubber, plastics, and paper. It is designed to put out a small firenot a big one. When buying fire extinguishers for your business, its important to buy the right type of fire extinguisher for your needs. Types of fire extinguishers extinguishers are classified by a letter and number symbol. British and us classification of fire and extinguishers. An abc powder fire extinguisher has numerous advantages as it is.
Fire extinguisher types and fire classes in australia. You should have the right types of fire extinguisher for your house or business premises, or you may not meet current regulations the various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of fuel these are called classes of fire. Launch your free online fire extinguisher training now. A comprehensive database of more than 16 fire extinguisher quizzes online, test your knowledge with fire extinguisher quiz questions. Extinguisher advice fire extinguisher help and information. We then provide a detailed explanation of each type of fire extinguisher below. Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material. Operation of a foam extinguisher differs depending on which type of fire it is being used for. These types are fires use commonly flammable material as their fuel source. Water and foam based extinguishers should not be used on fires involving an electrical. Class b extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline and oil. However, they must be of the correct type for the particular fire, and they must be used correctly. The european standard bs en3 specifies that all fire extinguisher bodies are to be coloured red regardless of the contents of the extinguisher.
Fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, paint, diesel fuel or solvents fire extinguishers back. If you were to use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you may or may not be able to control or even extinguish the fire. It is vital that you use a fire extinguisher classified for the type of fire you are dealing with. Its very important to understand the four different fire or fuel source classifications. Class k fires are fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal fats and vegetable fats. Certain types of extinguishers may be used on more than just class a, such as the multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher, while others are only ever classified as a, such as the water extinguisher. Unless you know what is burning, you wont know what type of fire extinguisher to use. It is important to know the capabilities of the units that you have in your facility before a fire starts. Remember they have limited capacity and will typically work for about 10 30 seconds depending on size, so use wisely. Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher can put yourself in danger or make the fire worse.
If the fire has spread beyond the early stages, it is time to evacuate the building. The following table provides information regarding the type of fire and which fire extinguisher should be used. May 12, 2017 the image above shows a fire extinguisher that can put out types a, b, and c fires. Types of fire extinguishers and their uses cscs health. To activate, must first open nitrogen cylinder on back to pressurize body. Below is an overview of each type of fire extinguisher including its. The proper type of extinguisher for each class of fire will give the best control of the situation and avoid compounding the problem. This is produced as a guide, always check manufacturers recommendations for use and suitability. No single extinguisher can be used to tackle every fire, and because each type of fire extinguisher has different classes of fire.
There are various different types of fire extinguishers ranging from water to wet chemicals. An extinguisher is labeled according to whether the fire on which it is to be used occurs in wood or cloth, flammable liquids, electrical, or metal sources. Each class of fire is designated by a letter andor a symbol. People also talk about fire extinguisher types in terms of the material that comes out of the extinguisher to put the fire out for example, water, carbon dioxide, powder, etc. There are basically four different types or classes of fire extinguishers, each of which extinguishes specific types of fire. Choosing the right fire extinguisher marsden fire safety. How to use a portable fire extinguisher brought to you by. There are multiple types of fire extinguishers, which are classified to stop the spread of a specific types of fires. Use this guide to determine which class of fire extinguisher you should purchase to keep your home or workplace safe.
Be sure that the fire extinguisher is large enough to put out the fire because many portable types will discharge completely within a matter of seconds. There are 5 main fire extinguisher types in australia water, foam, dry powder, co2 and wet chemical. Dec 28, 2015 british and us classification of fire and extinguishers. A includes flammable solids, from paper to wood to plastic. Other types of extinguishers work only on a certain class of fire. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire, you can, in fact, make matters worse. Different facilities will require specific extinguishers based on the types of combustible materials present. Selection of fire extinguishers there are a number of types of portable fire. Each type of fire extinguisher is colour coded according to the type of extinguishing media it contains. Others have warnings where it would be dangerous for the operator to use a particular fire extinguisher agent. Types of fire extinguishers different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different types of fire.
The three most common types of fire extinguishers are. Classes of fires and extinguishers not all fires are the same. Two courses introducing the types of fire extinguishers, classes of fire and fire triangle. The wet chemical extinguisher is a specialized type. Every fire extinguisher is rated for the types of fires its effective in putting out. There are several different classifications of fires based primarily on the fuel source.
There various classes to fires from a to f each which their own properties. Check the chart below to match extinguishers to a particular class of fire. Fire extinguisher training st marys, fetcham, fire extinguisher training. Below is a summary of the classes of fire, and a quick reference chart showing which types of extinguisher should be used on each. Fire extinguishers help to put out fires by either by applying an agent that cools the burning fuel, or displaces the surrounding oxygen, depending on the type of fire extinguisher that you use. Fire extinguishers are labeled with standard symbols identifying the types of fires they can fight. Only use a fire extinguisher when the fire is in its early stages you dont know what is burning. Some extinguishers are classified for only one type of fire, others may be classified for multiple types of fires.
Types of fire extinguishers and their applications kinetix. Lets take a moment to go over some of these extinguishers and what type of fires they put out. Know what to do if you find a fire be able to correctly and safely select and use a fire extinguisher. The agent works by interrupting the chemical chain reaction. The five classifications of fires are class a, class b, class c, class d, and class k. Each type of fire extinguisher has the capability to extinguish one or several types of fires.
The following table illustrates the types of extinguishers, fire classes for which each is used and the limitations of each extinguisher. Types of fire extinguisher in australia all you need to. Activate the buildings fire alarm system or call 911 to notify emergency services. Fire extinguishers are clearly marked with the classes of fires they will extinguish safely. This leads to some fire extinguishers to be suitable for certain types of fires that may occur. 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. All extinguishers now have a 5% area of the label that is colour coded which denotes its contents see colour coded bands below. There are different fire classes, each one relating to the type of combustible materials that are involved in the fire. Though all fires have the potential to endanger lives and destroy businesses, it is important to recognise the differences between the various types, known as fire classes. The wrong type of extinguisher can be dangerous or life threatening. This is essentially the common accidental fire encountered across several different industries.
Choosing fire extinguisher types for the relevant class of fire could literally be the difference between life and death. Our online fire extinguisher trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top fire extinguisher quizzes. There are now five classifications of fire, which are based on the type of fuel involved. Classes of fire types of fire are separated into different classes based on the fuel source involved. Identified by a cream label, these types of extinguisher should only be used on class a and b and electrical fires if the extinguisher has been tested to 35kv dielectric test but never on a chip pan or fat fire.
You must be able to use the extinguisher in the correct manner and should be trained before attempting to put out fires. Caidas osha en espanol osha fall spanish osha training in spanish 978. Wood, fabric, paper, trash,and plastics are common sources of class a fires. Each rating denotes the type of fire the extinguisher can be effectively used against. Fire extinguisher safety tips what are extinguisher ratings and classifications. Read about fire extinguishers classes, types and use to learn all about the right type of extinguisher to us in any situation.
Fire basics fire extinguisher overview types of fire extinguishers following the. Some type of fire extinguishing agents can be used on more than one class of fire. Class a extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper class b extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline and oil. Fire extinguishers meeting the current british standards 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 contents. After you have viewed all of the pages, you will be asked to take a post test. Fires are classified by the types of materials that are burning. Represent the types of fire or class, for which the extinguisher has been approved for.
Pdf guide to fire classes elite fire protection ltd. Fire extinguisher guide total fire safety fire safety. Retraining retraining shall reestablish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures, as necessary. Create a picture in your mind that will reflect the instructions on the extinguisher. Fire extinguishers read the instructions on your extinguisher for proper use. It is not intended for use on an outofcontrol fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user i. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are designed for which types of fuels. Todays most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on class a, b and c fires. Complete the simple form below to immediately launch your complimentary online training course now. Others have warnings where it would be dangerous for the operator to use on a particular fire extinguishing agent. Your local amerex fire equipment distributor is professionally equipped to help you evaluate and implement these recommendations. Understanding classes, ratings and uses is the first step in selecting the best fire extinguisher for your. Apr 29, 2016 there are actually many different types of fire extinguishers you can have in your business. Some types of fire extinguishing agents can be used on more than one class of fire.
For example the number in front of the a classification is the rating and indicates how much water the extinguisher is equivalent to, and. This type of fire burns with an ember, leaves an ash, and is best. The extinguisher must be easily accessible and in good working order. Understanding the classifications of fires is part of determining a fire extinguishers application. The classification of fire depends mainly upon the fuel involved.
A common type is the abc extinguisher, which is for use in fighting class a, b, and c fires. The successful use of a fire extinguisher depends on the following conditions. Each type of fire extinguisher is suitable for different types of burning media and will have a fire rating based on the volume of fire that they are capable of extinguishing. Put fire extinguishers close to where they might be needed. Extinguishes by cooling burning material below the ignition point. Class a extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper. Class k fires are fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal and vegetable fats.
Page 3 of 3 general fire principles of a fire extinguisher. Each class of materials is given a letter rating and will have one or more particular fire extinguisher containing the appropriate type of agent to extinguish the flames. Fire extinguishers are available in different types, with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on. Download free mep calculation excel sheets, autocad drawings, and training courses for hvac, firefighting, plumbing and electrical systems design. Class a fire extinguishers are used for ordinary combustibles, such as paper, wood, cloth, and some types of plastic.
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