As part of handling fire safety in your home, you need to learn that not all fires are the same. Different classes of fire exist including; Class A which are fires started with normal combustibles like cloth, wood, and paper, Class B which are fires started with combustible and flammable liquids and gases such as paints and gasoline, Class C with fires generated by energised electrical equipment like short circuit in most power transmission cables, and Class D which are fires from flammable metals like potassium, sodium, and lithium. Sodium and lithium metals produce fire when they are ignited. The different fuels that create different classes of fires require different types of fire extinguishers to put out them out. Check out the various kinds of extinguishers and how you can use them in cases of fire.
Foam and Water Extinguishers
These extinguishers are designed to eliminate fires by allowing water to put out the heat component while the foam separates oxygen from the fire. Scientifically, oxygen is a component that promotes combustion. Therefore, separating oxygen reduces the fire gradually to the point where the gas has been completely removed. Water types of extinguishers are only used on Class A fires. Discharge from the extinguisher could promote spreading of the flammable gas or liquid if they are used on Class B fires. On the other hand, it could cause a shock hazard if used on Class C fires.
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
Carbon dioxide type of extinguishers removes oxygen gas from a fire to stop it. They also remove the heat component from a fire with a cold discharge. These types of extinguishers should only apply on Class B and C fires. They are not quite effective on Class A fires.
Chemical Extinguishers (Dry)
These types of fire extinguishers put out fire primarily by affecting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle. The most commonly used types of fire extinguishers today are the multipurpose dry chemical that apply for class A,B, and C fires. The agent works by creating a barrier between the fuel element causing fire and oxygen gas which is a promoter of combustion.
Wet Chemical Extinguishers
They are classified as Class K extinguishers and remove fire caused by fuels such as animal fat, vegetable fat, greases, and cooking oil. Wet chemical extinguishers are a must-have especially if you are in the commercial cooking industry. Some of these extinguishers can apply on Class A fires.
Other types of extinguishers include clean agent that act on Class B and C fires, dry powder which deals with Class D fires, water mist which acts on Class C fires, and cartridge operated dry chemical extinguishers that deal with Class A fires.
