There are several different types of fire extinguishers, and knowing the different types can be extremely important, as they’re designed to combat entirely different kinds of fires. Before buying a fire extinguisher and during any sort of fire preparation, look on the extinguisher for a class rating, which will let you know what the extinguisher’s designed for.
Class A fire extinguishers are very common, and they’re used to put out very simple fires. A Class A fire extinguisher would be a good choice for eliminating a paper fire or a wood fire, for instance. These extinguishers can vary greatly in size, but it’s usually easy to tell how much fluid is contained inside by check the outer label.
The second class of fire extinguishers is Class B. These units extinguish flammable liquids. They’re common in gas stations, as it’s important to use a special tool for gasoline fires to avoid spreading the fire. Class B fire extinguishers also vary in size, although their labels don’t list the amount of liquid contained in the unit, but rather the number of square feet that the unit is designed to extinguish.
Class C fire extinguishers are non-conductive, and they’re designed for use with electrical fires. They’re better for this purpose, because other fire extinguishers could potentially endanger their users or other people in the room. They’re less common than either class A or class B extinguishers.
Finally, Class D fire extinguishers are made to extinguish flammable metals. They’re usually designed for a specific type of metal, not all flammable metals, so it’s especially important to read the label when using a Class D fire extinguisher.
While a fire extinguisher from Class B, C, or D may work on a Class A fire, it’s best to use an extinguisher specifically suited for the fire that’s being extinguished. Read the instructions of your extinguisher carefully long before you actually need to use it, and you’ll be much safer and better prepared in the event of an unexpected fire. Be sure to regularly check the expiration date of every fire extinguisher in your building, and quickly replace any out-of-date units with brand new ones of the proper classification.
You should also only use a fire extinguisher as part of an overall fire preparation plan, and an extinguisher by itself–or even several extinguishers–will not be sufficient in combating a major fire.
