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. What are some examples of incorrect uses of a fire. Before attempting to operate any fire extinguisher, know which type of extinguisher to use. Portable fire extinguisher fire equipment manufacturers association. There are many types of fire extinguishers, some more common than others. On the basis of the type of fuel, fires are classified. Several types of fire extinguishers are available to fight different types of fires. Fire extinguisher guide fire extinguishers are there only to fight small fires. This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen.
Know what to do if you find a fire be able to correctly and safely select. In this article we will provide you information on the different types of fire extinguishers available and when to use them. 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. 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. Use class bs on fires involving gases and flammable liquids. Fire extinguisher types of fire extinguishers chemistry. Fire extinguishers are an integral part of the fire safety provisions for any building and it is important to ensure that the correct type of fire extinguisher is. Types of extinguishers cont waterfoam works by cooling the fire and coating the fuel. Different types of fire extinguisher fire extinguishers are available in different types with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on.
Fire extinguishers have a coloured band to denote their contents. Fire is a rapid chemical reaction of oxidant with fuel. However, they must be of the correct type for the particular fire, and they must be used correctly. A video by fire and safety centre showcasing the different types of fire extinguisher and their uses. You dont want to mistakenly use a bc extinguisher on a class a fire, thinking that it was an abc extinguisher. A short help guide showing how to use co2 fire extinguishers on the different types of fires they are suitable for. Class a extinguishers provide for heatabsorbing effects of water types or certain dry chemical types. 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.
For use with ordinary materials like cloth, wood and paper. You must be able to use the extinguisher in the correct manner and should be trained before attempting to put out fires. Jun 20, 2012 a video by fire and safety centre showcasing the different types of fire extinguisher and their uses. Can cause shock hazard on class c fires can cause liquids in class b fires to spread effective on class a fires. Fires are classified by the types of materials that are burning. Wormald offers a range of portable fire extinguishers to suit all types and classes of fires. 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. Choosing the right fire extinguisher marsden fire safety. Know what to do if you find a fire be able to correctly and safely select and use a. Use the fire extinguisher only if you have attended practical. Our online fire extinguisher trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top fire extinguisher quizzes. Different extinguisher types have to be applied differently. Most people dont realize that there is more than one type of fire extinguisher and each type has a specific purpose for keeping people and property safe.
Fire extinguisher training yale emergency management. There are five primary types of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires. Know your situation, whats burning and make sure you. For example, a simple water extinguisher might have a label like the one below, indicating that it should. Fire extinguishers types and uses c2e answers to fire extinguisherstypes and uses quiz 1. Dry chemical abc fire extinguishers abc fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder. Fire extinguishers your online fire extinguishers store. Now that you have a basic understanding of the various types of fire and why different extinguishers are necessary, 6 main types of fire extinguishers and their uses will be discussed. Fire is the rapid oxidation of any combustible material.
The agent works by interrupting the chemical chain reaction. The successful use of a fire extinguisher depends on the. Fire is a rapid chemical reaction of oxidant with fuel accompanied by the release of energy, indicated by. Todays most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on class a, b and c fires. Check the chart below to match extinguishers to a particular class of fire. Knowing the types of fire extinguishers and how to use them effectively can mean the difference between preventing a small fire from spreading and allowing a fire to perpetuate causing terrible destruction or even death. A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Also, on a class a fire it creates a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen.
Make sure everyone knows about the fire and try to get everyone in the area to safety. Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to re. There are different kinds of fires because different fuels create different fires, which need different types of fire extinguishers. How to use fire extinguishers extinguisher advice fire. For example, in the case of electrical fires and fire produced by inflammable substances. There are basically four different types or classes of fire extinguishers, each of which extinguishes specific types of fire. We cannot use water fire extinguishers in all the cases to control fire. Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust.
Removing any of these elements will extinguish the fire. For a fire to happen, the following elements are essential oxidiser to sustain combustion. Most people dont realize that there is more than one type of fire extinguisher and each type has a specific purpose for keeping people and property safe the first thing people should know when it comes to proper fire extinguisher use is that there are different types of fires, and not every extinguisher. This separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air. Water and foam carbon dioxide dry chemical wet chemical clean agent dry powder water mist cartidge operated dry chemical. All you ever wanted to know about fire extinguishers. Within a building there are normally multiple types of fire risks which are created by the varying hazards found in todays modern environment. Large range of extinguishers suitable for all fire classes, foam extinguishers, mobile extinguishers and more. Use class as on fires involving paper, trash, or other ordinary combustibles. Fire extinguishers, co2, water, powder, wet chemical.
Class b fire extinguishers are appropriate for flammable liquid and gas fires, including oil. Apart from the type of fires they dissolve, fire extinguishers are also numerically rated for the size of the fire they can control. Most people couldnt tell you the six different types of portable fire extinguishers, let alone what each is primarily used for. There are several different classifications of fires based primarily on the fuel source.
Fire extinguishers are an integral part of the fire safety provisions for any building and it is important to ensure that the correct type of fire extinguisher is installed and maintained. Nfpa educational messages desk reference these messages provide fire and life safety educators with accurate and consistent language for use when offering safety information to the public. How to use a fire extinguisher know how to use a fire extinguisher before you are in a situation where you have to use it. Types of extinguishers dry chemicalfire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction in the fire. There are four elements that must be present for a fire to exist. Additional resources for choosing and using fire extinguishers. No one likes to think about the possibility of a fire starting at their office, but its important to be prepared for that possibility. Abc extinguishers are red, they range in size from 5 to 20 lbs. Here are some good examples of things you should and shouldnt do when using a fire extinguisher do. Some also have a numerical rating to indicate the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. These extinguishers are very effective at putting out fire. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire. A comprehensive database of more than 16 fire extinguisher quizzes online, test your knowledge with fire extinguisher quiz questions. Foam extinguishers create a foam barrier preventing the fuel from coming in contact with oxygen.
This rich history has, however, resulted in very efficient extinguishers that can be used by anyone, anywhere. Get your free extinguisher types poster download here. There are real life consequences to not having the right type of fire extinguisher in the area the fire extinguisher is designated for use. When it comes to fire safety, making sure your home or workplace is prepared with the right type of fire extinguisher is a big deal. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of. It is important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of fuel. Extinguishers are available in individual classifications and combinations.
Fires involving wood or cloth, flammable liquids, electrical current or a combination of those will each react differently to. 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. These are commonly identified by the letter a in a triangle. In a previous fireline blog post, we discussed the class types of fires. How to use fire extinguishers within a building there are normally multiple types of fire risks which are created by the varying hazards found in todays modern environment. The first thing people should know when it comes to proper fire extinguisher use is that there are different types of fires, and not every extinguisher works for each one. Most fire extinguishers will have a pictograph label telling you which classifications offire the extinguisher is designed to fight. To provide an overview of fire extinguisher use and maintenance. A potential fire can often be controlled before it really takes hold, if the right fire equipment is close at hand.
In addition to that, multipurpose fire extinguishers are also prevalent, such as those labeled abc multipurpose or bc standard, which can be used on two or more types of fires. This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the fuel element on class a fires. Not all fires are the same, and they are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. The 9 types of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Extinguishers are labeled to correspond to the classes of fires they are designed to fight. The greatest portion of this powder is composed of monoammonium phosphate. Mar 01, 2012 in a previous fireline blog post, we discussed the class types of fires. Its a great precaution to take and, for smaller or containable fires, extinguishers can help to put them out or to mitigate a.
Fire extinguishers are available in different types with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on. Fire extinguishers fire extinguishers when used properly. Fire extinguisher types, their colours and applications. Todays most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on class a, b, and c fires.
It is extremely important to identify which types of dry chemical extinguishers are located in your area. Here we offer a guide describing how to use the various extinguishers. Fire extinguishers are labeled according to the type of fire on which they may be used. In such cases, we generally use a sodaacid fire extinguisher or a co 2 fire extinguisher which cuts off the supply of oxygen to extinguish the fire.
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. Fire extinguishers are available in different types, with each one having specific fire classes that they are suitable for use on. It is important to ensure that the correct type of fire extinguishers are available throughout the different locations of a building and that all potential fire risks have. This results in a chemical chain reaction which starts a fire. Understanding how to use a fire extinguisher is an important part of staying safe. For more information on fire extinguishers, visit our f. Abc fire extinguishers are filled with a fine yellow powder.