

The chemical extinguishing agent also creates a barrier between oxygen and fuel. Wet chemical extinguishers remove the fire’s heat. This suitability for the most common fire types makes these and other “Class ABC” fire extinguishers the go-to choice in homes or offices.Ī dry chemical ABC fire extinguisher. Dry Chemicalĭry chemical fire extinguishers use multipurpose agents that extinguish Class A, B, and C fires. Why? The water in these extinguishers can cause the flammable liquids in Class B fires to spread or increase the shock hazard in a Class C electrical fire. Water and foam extinguishers are used for Class A fires only. The foam also covers the fuel in a blanket that deprives the fire of oxygen. These extinguishers employ foam agents to remove the heat from the flames. CO2 fire extinguishers, like this 5-pound model from Buckeye, feature a large horn instead of a hose. Unlike water or some other extinguishing agents, CO2 does not conduct electricity, making it especially well-suited for electrical (Class C) fires.

They remove the oxygen from the fire triangle and infuse a cold discharge to cool the fire. There are at least eight types of fire extinguishers: Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Ĭarbon dioxide extinguishers are Class B and Class C fire extinguishers. Squeezing the fire extinguisher’s lever creates an opening that allows the compressed material to escape through a nozzle or short hose.īut beyond those mechanical similarities, fire extinguishers vary widely. The tank contains compressed gas, pressurized liquid, or a combination of the two with an added extinguishing agent. Most fire extinguishers operate in a fashion similar to an aerosol can. What are the types of fire extinguishers and their uses? Some can’t penetrate deeply enough to stop fires in ordinary combustibles, for example, while others can’t stop fires in flammable liquids-and can even spread the fire. But not all extinguishers are effective against the same fires. All fire extinguishers are similar in the sense that they deprive the fire of one or more of these elements. Others cool the burning material, removing heat. Some extinguishing agents smother the fire, depriving it of oxygen. Removing any one of these three elements stops the fire from burning. The “fire triangle” illustrates the elements needed for a fire to ignite. The tetrahedron adds one more element: chain reactions, which create a gaseous fuel that sustains fires. But while it’s the easiest to visualize, the fire triangle has been largely replaced by the fire tetrahedron. The relationship between these factors is often visualized as a “fire triangle” (pictured below). How does a fire extinguisher work and how should it be used?Ī fire stops burning when any one of these elements is removed. In some cases, a fire may belong to two, three, or even more of these classes-in the end, a fire’s class is determined by a mix of the fire’s fuel source and other special hazards that emerge as the material burns.
#CLASS C FIRE EXTINGUISHER FREE#
Need to shop for an extinguisher now? Feel free to click here to view our selection of fire extinguishers. Then, we provide an overview of fire extinguisher inspection and help you better understand the basics of purchasing an extinguisher to fit your building’s needs. In this article, we take a look at fire classifications and fire extinguisher classes, explaining which extinguishers are best suited to a particular type of fire. An extinguisher that doesn’t match the type of fire or doesn’t have enough power may do nothing at all-or make things even worse. But not all fires and their fuel sources are alike.
#CLASS C FIRE EXTINGUISHER PORTABLE#
Portable fire extinguishers defend homes, offices, and commercial buildings everywhere against fires. All portable fire extinguishers can stop small fires before they get out of hand, but each extinguisher is specifically suited to only some types of fires
