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.
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1. ABC POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER
An ABC powder fire extinguisher has numerous advantages as it is a multi-purpose extinguisher and is, therefore, one of the most common extinguishers to have on hand.
A powder extinguisher sprays a very fine chemical powder composed most commonly of monoammonium phosphate. This acts to blanket the fire and suffocates it.
Powder extinguishers are effective for class A, B, and C fires, since it is not an electrical conductor and since it can effectively break the chain reaction in a liquid or gas fire, something a water extinguisher cannot do.
2. CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher (CO2) is one of the cleanest types of extinguishers to use as it leaves no residue and requires no cleanup.
The CO2 extinguisher does exactly that – extinguishes CO2. By doing so, it removes oxygen from the fire, effectively suffocating it of oxygen. It is perfect for use on class B fires that involve flammable liquids and on electrical fires.
3. WET CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER
The wet chemical extinguisher is a specialized type primarily focused on class K fires, those involving cooking media such as animal and vegetable fats or oils.
These extinguishers contain a solution composed of potassium that effectively launches a two-pronged assault on fires.
First, the liquid mist it sprays acts to cool the fire. Second, due to the chemical reaction of the solution with the cooking medium, a thick soap-like substance forms, sealing the surface of the liquid to prevent re-ignition.
The wet chemical extinguisher, then, is ideal for a kitchen setting and class K fires. However, it can also be effective for class A fires where a material such as wood or paper has caught fire.
TO BE CONTINUED…