Which Fire Extinguisher Types To Use

FIRE EXTINGUISHER TYPES & USES
The first step is to look at what materials are present in the area to be protected from fire.
These can be divided into six categories of fire involving different substances:
Class A, combustible carbon-based solids e.g. paper, wood or textiles
Class B, flammable liquids e.g. paraffin, petrol, diesel or oil (but not cooking oil)
Class C, flammable gases, e.g. butane, propane or methane
Class D, burning metals, e.g. aluminium, lithium or magnesium
Fires caused by electrical equipment (indicated by an electric spark symbol and not the
letter E)
Class F, fats and cooking oils.
In the UK, portable fire extinguishers must conform to BS EN3 Standard, which specifies that
their body is coloured red. A small coloured band indicates the type of fire extinguisher – red
for water, white and red for water mist, cream for foam, blue for dry powder, yellow for wet
chemical, green for clean agent and black for CO2 extinguishers.
Which Fire Extinguisher Types to Use

Class A fires – water, water mist, foam, dry powder, wet chemical
Class B – water mist, foam, dry powder, CO2, some wet chemical
Class C – water mist, dry powder
Class D – specialist dry powder
Electrical – water mist, foam, CO2
Class F – water mist, wet chemical.
FIVE MAIN TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

 Water, water mist or water spray
 Foam
 Dry Powder – standard or specialist
 Carbon Dioxide (‘CO2’)
 Wet Chemical
Fire extinguisher types and uses

Water fire extinguishers
Water extinguishers are only suitable for Class A fires consisting of paper, wood, straw,
coal, rubber, solid plastics and soft furnishings. They are the simplest, most common, and
least expensive type of extinguisher. Some have an additive to make the water more
effective and reduce the required size and weight of the extinguisher – these are a little
more expensive.
Water extinguishers are the easiest to maintain variety and the least hazardous, since
they only contain water. They cool the fire by soaking it and the materials with water. This
extinguishes the flames, absorbing heat from burning objects.
They are often found in shops, offices, retail premises, schools, hotels, warehouses and
domestic premises. They may have spray or jet nozzles and are usually able to put out a
fire completely. A drawback is that they cannot be used on burning fat or oil (Class F),
burning metals (Class D), burning liquids (Class B) or electrical appliance fires.
Water mist extinguishers
The newest type of extinguisher. These very powerful, but smaller, devices exude an
ultra-fine mist of microscopic ‘dry’ demineralised water particles. They are safe and
effective to use on Class A, B, C and F fires, making it unnecessary to supply more than
one type of extinguisher in most premises. Some are also suitable for use on electrical
fires on equipment up to 1,000 Volts, such as computers and printers.
They work by cooling the fire and reducing the oxygen supply. These devices are likely to
replace wet chemical extinguishers for the extinction of deep fat fryer fires, and leave no
residue or collateral damage. Like water extinguishers, they are recyclable and do not
contain any chemicals. However, they cannot be used on Class D fires (metals).
Water mist extinguishers are more expensive than water extinguishers.
Water spray fire extinguishers
Available in three and six litres water spray fire extinguishers are suitable to fires involving
organic solid materials such as wood, cloth, paper, plastics or coal. Use on burning fat or
oil or on electrical appliances is a big no-no.
Use involves pointing the jet at the base of the flames and moving it constantly and
steadily across the fire until extinguished.
A jet nozzle is eschewed in favour of a spray nozzle, which creates a fine spray courtesy
of the higher pressure. Hitting a broader surface area this extracts heat more rapidly.
Surfactants can be added to help the water penetrate further into burning material.
Foam extinguishers
The foam smothers the fire in solids and liquids (Class A and B), but not in burning fats or
cooking oils (Class F). They can be used on some electrical fires if they have been tested
and if fired from 1 metre away. However, they leave a residue that has to be cleaned up,
and they are more expensive than water extinguishers.
Dry powder extinguishers
These are suitable for fighting burning solids, liquids and gases (Class A, B and C fires).
Specialist powder extinguishers are designed to tackle type D fires involving
combustible metals such as lithium, magnesium, or aluminium.
They work by the powder forming a crust which smothers the fire and stops it from
spreading.
Disadvantages are that the powder does not soak into materials and does not have an
effective cooling effect on the fire, which can result in the fire reigniting. The powder is
hazardous if inhaled, so they should be used in well-ventilated areas and are not suitable
for offices and domestic premises. The powder damages soft furnishings, machinery, etc,
and needs a lot of cleaning up after use. They cannot be used on chip pan fires (Class F).
They are generally inexpensive and powerful and come in 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9-kg sizes.
CO2 extinguishers
These contain only pressurised carbon dioxide gas and therefore leave no residue. They
are suitable for use on fires involving burning liquids (Class B), and electrical fires, such
as of large computer equipment, so are practical in offices. CO2 works by suffocating the
fire and does not cause damage to the electrical items or cause the system to short
circuit.
However, CO2 extinguishers get very cold during discharge, and those that are not fitted
with double-lined, frost-free swivel horns may cause fingers to freeze to the horn during
deployment. They can asphyxiate in confined spaces, and they are not suitable for deep
fat fryers, as the strong jet from the extinguisher can carry the burning fat out of the fryer.
Fires can quickly re-ignite once the CO2 has dissipated into the atmosphere, so they do
not offer post-fire security.
CO2 extinguishers are quite expensive, suitable for server rooms and factories.
Wet chemical extinguishers
These are the only extinguishers apart from water mist suitable for Class F fires (fats and
cooking oils) and are mainly used in kitchens with deep fat fryers. They can also be used
on Class A and some can be used on Class B fires. They consist of a pressurised solution
of alkali salts in water, which, when operated, creates a fine mist, cooling the flames and
preventing splashing.
Fire extinguisher use

Fire extinguishers should ideally only be used by someone who has been trained to do so – and
the following text does not count as training. Moreover, a fire extinguisher should only be activated
once the fire alarm has been triggered and you have identified a safe evacuation route. Evacuate
the building immediately if you still feel unsure about using a fire extinguisher or if doing so is
clearly the safest option.
Nevertheless, the following technique can serve as a refresher for those who have undertaken
training or if someone without training ever needs to use one in order to improve the chances that
everyone escapes unharmed.
The following four-step technique can be memorized more easily with the acronym PASS:
Pull: Pull the pin to break the tamper seal.
Aim: Aim low, pointing the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. (Do not touch the horn on a
CO2 extinguisher since it becomes very cold and can damage skin.
Squeeze: Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
Sweep: Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire – the fuel source – until the fire is
extinguished.
Fire blankets, hoses and buckets

These methods of fire extinction are useful additions to extinguishers.
Fire buckets can be used filled with water on Class A fires, or with sand to use as an absorbing
agent on spilled flammable liquids (Class B). They must not be used with water on burning fat or
oil or on electrical appliances. However, they’re sometimes left empty or misused and have a
limited effect as they can’t use on large fires.
Fire hoses let out water at high pressure. They can be effective on Class A fires, but are very
heavy
Fire blankets are effective in smothering small, contained fires in kitchens or boats, if a good seal
is made, and for wrapping round people whose clothing is on fire. Made of fibreglass, they can
withstand temperatures of up to 500° C and are compact and portable. They don’t need any
maintenance but can only be used once.
Automatic fire extinguishers

Automatic fire extinguishers are designed to combat fires in transport, such as in the
engine compartments of boats or large vehicles, or in industrial use, such as in generator
or computer rooms. Advantages include easy recharging and lack of constant monitoring,
and removal of the need for manual operation in unmanned areas.
These extinguishers are designed to spring into action when they detect heat. On the
downside, their placing is crucial, since they could be set off erroneously when the
ambient temperature reaches the trigger level.
Available as dry powder (blue) or clean, inert extinguishing gas, which replaces the now
illegal halon, banned in the UK because of its effect on the ozone layer (green), they
protect against Class A, B, C and electrical fires
Vehicle fire extinguishers
Generally containing dry powder for tackling Class A, B and C fires, their size should be
selected according to the size and type of vehicle. Their use is advisable, but is not a
legal requirement in ordinary cars.

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FIRE EXTINGUISHER TYPES & USES

Which Fire Extinguisher Types to Use

Class C – water mist, dry powder

Class D – specialist dry powder

Electrical – water mist, foam, CO2

Class F – water mist, wet chemical.

FIVE MAIN TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Fire extinguisher types and uses

Fire extinguisher use

Pull: Pull the pin to break the tamper seal.

Squeeze: Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.

Fire blankets, hoses and buckets

Automatic fire extinguishers

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