Types of fire extinguishers and the best for you!

There are 5 main types of Fire Extinguishers but not all would be recommended for your particular use.

To understand what Fire extinguishers best suit your use, you need to understand the classes of Fire.

 

Class A

Normal/Ordinary Combustibles (Wood, Paper, and Textiles)

Class B

Flammable Liquids (Petrol, Turpentine, and Paints)

Class C

Flammable Gases (Hydrogen, LPG, Butane, or Methane)

Class D

Flammable Metals (Magnesium, Aluminum, or Potassium)

Class E

Live Electrical Equipment

Class F

Cooking Oils and Fats (etc., deep fryer, chip fire)

 

Knowing the above classifications, you can assess your risks and the type of Fire Extinguisher that best suits your safety fire requirement.

 

Water-Fire Extinguisher – Class A fires only

Dry Chemical Powder Fire Extinguisher – Class A, B, E fires

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher – Class B + E fires (very limited Class A use)

Foam Fire Extinguisher – Class B + A fires

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher – Class F fires (limited Class A use)

 

Please note that no 1 type of extinguisher works effectively and safely on all classes of fire.

Hands-on fire protection can assist you with appropriate Fire Extinguishers for your needs.