Can You Use Duraflame Logs in a Wood Burning Stove
There are different types of fire extinguishers because there are various types of fires. Each extinguisher is suitable for fighting certain types, and information technology's important for you lot to know the differences if it's your job to fight fires at piece of work. Being able to immediately distinguish which extinguisher you lot need in an emergency could brand a lifesaving deviation.
Throughout this article, we volition explain the different classes of fires, the symbols that place these, and the dissimilar types of extinguishers and their uses.
What Are the Different Classes of Fires?
Fires must be fought advisedly depending on the materials involved. That is why they have been classified in 6 dissimilar categories:
- Class A – Fires that involve solid flammables and dusts, such as wood, plastics, paper and cardboard, cloth and textiles, and dusts such as grain dust and flour.
- Class B – Fires that involve combustible liquids, such as gasoline, petroleum oil, paint, or diesel.
- Class C – Fires that involve flammable gases, such as propane, butane, or methyl hydride.
- Form D – Fires that involve flammable metals including metal swarf, such as magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium, titanium, or aluminium.
- Electrical fires. Although it is not recognised as a split class of fire in Europe, electric fires that involve live equipment and electrical sources are also a type you should deport in mind. Recollect of it equally an informal Class Eastward.
- Class F – Fires that involve hot cooking oils and fats, such as vegetable oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, maize oil, lard, or butter (typically those used for deep-fat fryers).
All extinguishers volition have one or more of the post-obit classes symbols, to signal which course of fire they are suitable for.
Each type of fire extinguisher contains different materials that brand them suitable for fighting certain types of fires, and is designed to safely and effectively discharge its contents. The correct one must be used for the right form of fire, otherwise they may prove ineffective or in fact worsen the situation.
For example, using a h2o extinguisher on an electrical fire or a carbon dioxide one on a called-for oil fire is extremely unsafe.
What Are the Dissimilar Types of Fire Extinguishers?
There are v main types of burn extinguishers:
- H2o.
- Powder.
- Foam.
- Carbon Dioxide (COii).
- Moisture chemical.
Each type is easily identifiable by their names, colours, and sometimes their hoses. Depending on their size, some may not come with a flexible hose, such every bit smaller cream or aqua water spray extinguishers.
Let'southward have a expect at each blazon of burn extinguisher, their uses, and their risks below.
1. Water Extinguishers
At that place are two chief types water extinguishers: standard h2o spray and dry water mist.
Standard h2o extinguishers
These will exist solid red and will take the word 'water' or 'aqua spray' printed across them in a indicate red band, often with a white border. They are your archetype model: they dispense h2o at a loftier pressure to extinguish flames.
Water extinguishers are only suitable for form A fires, which means they can fight fires that involve wood, cardboard, paper, plastics, cloth and textiles, and other solid materials.
Warning: do not use water extinguishers on burning fat and oil fires and electrical appliances.
Water extinguishers can sometimes contain chemical additives that improve their effectiveness by up to 300%. The chemicals remove the water's natural surface tension and so that information technology soaks into burning materials more than effectively when used.
Dry water mist extinguisher
These types of fire extinguishers will be solid reddish and volition commonly take the words 'h2o mist' printed within a white rectangle.
Dry h2o mist extinguishers are unique in that many of them can combat almost all types of fires, including class F fires that are usually difficult to set on. The extinguisher'south nozzle converts h2o into 'dry' microscopic particles, which are and so drawn into the fire and simultaneously cool and suffocate information technology to extinguish the flames.
They are also effective for fire-fighting because they form a safety barrier between the user and the fire – which repels some of the heat – and exercise not leave hard-to-clean residue backside.
Warning: Although they are not currently classified as suitable for fighting class B (liquids) and C (gases) fires, dry h2o mist extinguishers have been identified past fireservice.co.uk every bit effective against them.
Other types volition exist better suited for fighting electrical fires, but dry mist extinguishers have usually had dielectrical tests carried out on them, which means that if they are accidentally used on electrical fires, they will non pose every bit significant a hazard as normal water extinguishers.
ii. Powder Extinguishers
At that place are three types of powder extinguisher: ABC pulverisation, M28 powder, and L2 pulverisation.
ABC powder extinguisher
These types of extinguishers will say 'powder' in white text over a blue rectangle, and underneath the rectangle will exist written 'ABC powder'.
As their name suggests, these are designed to combat class A, B, and C fires – those involving solids, liquids, and gases. The pulverisation acts equally a thermal blast that cools the flames so burning cannot continue. Due to their not-conductive nature, they are also suitable for fighting electrical fires. Nevertheless, they do not effectively penetrate the spaces in equipment easily, then the fire could still re-ignite.
Warning: do non utilise on domestic chip or fat pan fires (class F).
The downside to ABC pulverisation extinguishers is that they pose a danger of inhalation when used in confined spaces, so they must non be used in them. They besides leave residue backside that is difficult to clean up and causes damage to soft furnishings, carpets, and electrical equipment. This is why it'south advised you lot use a different blazon of extinguisher for fires involving electronics, such as in an office with computers.
M28 and L2 powder extinguishers
These types of extinguishers are all-time identified by their unique hose, though they volition also say 'powder' in white text in a signal violet rectangle. They are often referred to as special powder. Exercise not confuse these with the ABC pulverisation extinguishers, as they are not designed for grade A, B, or C fires. They will state below the rectangle whether they are M28 or L2.
M28 and L2 are unique extinguishers in that they are designed for tackling Course D fires – those involving combustible metals including swarf or pulverization, which are often produced in engineering factories. Metals includes lithium, magnesium, sodium, or aluminium, for example.
The extinguisher has a low velocity applicator to ensure that the M28 or L2 pulverization is practical gently and efficiently to burning metal and to forbid the swarf from spreading. When sprayed, it forms a 'crust', which insulates the metal. This prevents the burn from spreading to other flammable materials and smothers the burn down to foreclose oxygen from reacting with the metal over again.
L2 is suitable for all types of metallic fires, whereas M28 cannot be used on lithium.
Warning: practice not utilize on any other fire type, especially live electrical fires. Also, bear in mind that water should not be immune to come in to contact with burning metal.
three. Foam Extinguishers
Foam extinguishers are identifiable past the word 'foam' printed within a cream rectangle on their bodies. They are primarily water based but contain a foaming amanuensis, which has rapid flame knock-down and a blanketing effect. It smothers the flames and seals vapours and so that re-ignition cannot occur.
They are suitable for fighting class A and B fires.
When used against class A fires, the user can only bespeak and spray. Nevertheless, when used against course B fires – those with flammable liquids – they should not be sprayed directly into the liquid. This could cause the fire to exist pushed and spread to surrounding areas. The best method of application is to spray the foam nearby so that it tin can build up and flow beyond it.
Warning: these should not exist used on any other burn down classes, especially electrical fires or bit or fatty pan fires. Many foam extinguishers volition take had dielectrical tests performed on them, so foam is less chancy than water if it is accidentally sprayed on live electrical equipment. Still, they should still not be used to fight electrical fires as they are not specifically designed for them.
4. Carbon Dioxide (COii) Extinguishers
These types of extinguishers can be identified by the text 'carbon dioxide' or 'CO2' printed in white on a black rectangle. They also have a distinct blazon of hose.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers are used for combating class B and electric fires – they suffocate the fire by displacing oxygen in the air. Considering they exercise not leave any substances behind and so minimise damage done to equipment, unlike other extinguishers, they are specially useful for offices and workshops where electric fires may occur.
Warning: they must non be used on hot cooking oil and fatty (form F) fires. The strong jet from the extinguisher would push the burning oils or fats and spread the burn to surrounding areas. Also bear in mind that while carbon dioxide is constructive at smothering fires, once the gas has floated abroad, the burn may reignite if the source has non been removed.
Furthermore: you lot must non hold the horn, base, or pipework on a CO2 extinguisher while operating information technology. The gas becomes extremely cold during its discharge and this could damage your hands.
v. Wet Chemic Extinguishers
These types of burn down extinguishers are identifiable by the words 'wet chemical' printed beyond a yellow rectangle. It likewise has an extended hose that you can hold and signal, which is useful when fighting fires on a kitchen top.
Wet chemical extinguishers are designed for combating fires that involve class F fires. They are effective considering they are capable of stopping fires that are of an extremely high temperature, especially cooking oils and fats. They also discharge gently, stopping the burning oils and fats from beingness pushed and splashing to surrounding areas or fifty-fifty the user.
The chemicals contained within the canister dispels the flames, cools the burning oil, and produces a soap-like solution that seals the surface and prevents re-ignition of the burn.
The all-time method of application is to spray in slow circular motions. The user should empty the entire contents onto the oils or fats. Otherwise, the burn may re-ignite.
Alarm: wet chemical extinguishers are commonly not recommended for class B fires – those involving liquids. Besides, although they are capable of combating class A fires, they are not as constructive as other extinguishers at doing and so.
Fire extinguishers are an important improver to fire condom measures, every bit they can help to stop small-scale fires. Merely it'due south important to retrieve that there are different types of fires, and choosing the outset extinguisher you spot without knowing if its the right one could make the situation worse.
The information throughout this article has provided some key guidance on the different types of extinguishers and their uses, but go on in mind that you also need practical training to acquire how to safely handle extinguishers.
Farther Resource:
- Fire Prophylactic Signs – A Guide to Safe Signage
- Fire Take a chance Assessment for the Hospitality Manufacture
- Fire Safety Quiz
- Burn Safety Awareness Preparation Course
Source: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/different-types-of-fire-extinguishers/
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