Fire extinguishers are an important part of fire protection in any building. They provide immediate protection against fire and give you the opportunity to eliminate a fire threat before it gets out of control.
You may have thought that all fires were the same and can be combated with a standard fire extinguisher. However, there are actually several classifications of fire, which means different fire extinguisher types are needed.
A fire risk assessment (FRA) is able to identify the type of fire risk present in a building. This is a service that NW Fire Solutions can offer to you and your business, or residential premises. As well as providing FRAs, we can also offer expert fire awareness training and a fire marshal courses for your staff.
This way, in the event of a fire, your employees are aware of the risks and know how to respond effectively and safely. The knowledge you gain from the training is essential for knowing which fire extinguisher classification to use and to select when buying online.
Classes of fire
In total, there are six classes of fire, and they are:
- Class A (solids)
- Class B (liquids)
- Class C (gases)
- Class D (metals)
- Class R (electrical)
- Class F (cooking fats & oil)
Each type of fire requires different fire extinguisher classes in order to eliminate them. A dry powder extinguisher, for example, can be used on classes A, B, C, D, and E, while a fire blanket would be required to combat a class F fire.
Here is a complete breakdown of which fire extinguisher types can be used with the different classifications of fire.
Class A
The appropriate fire extinguisher classifications used to tackle a class A fire include dry powder, water, foam and wet chemical extinguishers.
Class B
Class B fires are fuelled by flammable liquids, so the appropriate fire extinguisher types to combat them include CO2 gas, foam and dry powder extinguishers.
Class C
Flammable gases fuel a class C fire, so the best option for fighting them would be a dry powder extinguisher.
Class D
You should use L2 or M28 dry powder extinguishers when tackling a class D fire, which is fuelled by metals like titanium, aluminium or magnesium.
Class E
Electrical fires can be quite common and you should combat these types of fires with CO2 gas or a dry powder extinguisher for your best chance of eliminating the blaze.
Class F
Finally, a class F fire, which is fuelled by oils or cooking fats can be covered with a fire blanket. However, if you’re using a fire extinguisher, a wet chemical extinguisher is your best chance of beating the fire.
Fire extinguisher training at NW Fire Solutions
At NW Fire Solutions, we provide an exceptional fire extinguisher training service. If you require this, or any other assistance, contact us today using the contact form on our website, call us on 0151 665 0124, or email us at info@nwfiresolutions.co.uk.