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Types of fire & extinguishers
Fires can only be tackled safely if the right equipment is used. Using an incorrect extinguisher on a fire can spread the fire or even cause an explosion. Contact Assured for more information on fire extinguisher safety and training. Below is a list of the types of fires you may encounter and which extinguishers are the correct ones to use.Fires can only be tackled safely if the right equipment is used. Using an incorrect extinguisher on a fire can spread the fire or even cause an explosion. Contact Assured for more information on fire extinguisher safety and training. Below is a list of the types of fires you may encounter and which extinguishers are the correct ones to use.
Class A Fire
Flammable solid fires such as paper, wood, cloth, textiles, straw, solid fuels such as coal
Types of extinguisher - Foam, Water, Powder
Class B Fire
Flammable liquids such as petrol, fats, oil
Types of extinguisher - Foam, powder
Class C
Flammable gases such as methane, propane, natural gas
Types of extinguisher - Powder
Class D Fires
Flammable metals such as magnesium
Types of extinguisher - Special metal extinguishers
Class F Fires
Flammable cooking oils such as sunflower oil, animal fats, olive oil
Types of fire extinguisher - Wet Chemical
Electrical fires
For electrical fires such as computers, extension sockets, televisions, fuse boards
Types of extinguisher - Co2
Overview of fire extinguishers
| Water | Class A | |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | Class A and Class B | |
| Powder | Class A, B & C | |
| Special Metal | Class D | |
| Wet Chemical | Class F | |
| Co2 | Electrical |
Which fire extinguishers are right for my premises?
The type of fire extinguishers you require will depend on what type of premises you have and what type of work takes place there. Below are some common premises and types of fires which could potentially strike...
Premises such as offices and warehouses
The majority of premises will require a water or foam extinguisher as Class A and Class B fire risks are in most buildings. These fire extinguishers should be coupled with a special risk fire extinguisher such as CO2 for electrical fires. Most offices and warehouses have kitchens or canteens and these should have a powder fire extinguisher and fire blanket installed to combat Class C fires. All fire equipment should be installed in the correct positions to cover the appropriate area and fitted by a fire safety expert.
Premises such as factories, schools, chemical plants and petrol stations
For premises that have different fire risks like chemicals, metals, flammable gas and oils then additional extinguishers are required. Foam, water and CO2 are required plus additional and larger extinguishers are also necessary for these buildings. Large kitchens for example will require larger powder extinguishers and wet chemical extinguishers as a minimum.
In all circumstances we highly recommend you contact our fire safety experts to determine your requirements.
