Types of Fire Extinguishers

Fires come in 6 different classes below is a list of types of fire and what class they come under.

• CLASS A - Fires caused by combustible materials such as rubber , plastic , wood and so forth.
• CLASS B- Fires caused by flammable liquids such as paint thinner , petrol , aerosol cans and so forth.
• CLASS C- Fires caused by flammable gasses such as ethane , ammonia , saline and so forth.
• CLASS D- Fires caused by combustible metals such as titanium , zirconium, titanium and so forth.
• CLASS F- Commonly known as chip fat fires caused by oil or fat.
• Electrical Fires- Caused by any sort of electrical equipment, once the electric appliance is removed the class of fire will change accordingly.

Foam Extinguisher

The label is always cream and it is a water based extinguisher mainly used for class A fires but can also be used for class B too. Mainly used on fires that are caused by organic materials. This extinguisher must NOT be used on kitchen fires, electrical fires or flammable metal fires.Schools, doctors, hospitals etc should always keep one of these extinguishers at hand by law. Most buildings and businesses require a foam extinguisher; they should be located near emergency exits of places identified as a fire risk A or B.

Water Extinguisher

The label is always red and will be found in most buildings commonly used on type A fires. It's vital to keep a foam or water extinguisher in most premises commonly used on organic materials such as cardboard, wood and paper. It should NOT be used on fires that involve electrical equipment, kitchen fires or flammable gas and liquids. Most commercial buildings require a water extinguisher such as hospitals, residential homes, schools offices and so forth. They must be placed near the emergency exits of anywhere that has been identified as a class A fire risk.

Dry Powder Extinguisher

The label is always blue for this type of extinguisher and is often identified as the ABC extinguisher as it can be used on A, B or C type fires. Avoid using them in small spaces as the powder can easily be breathed in and it’s super hard to clean up once used. Most commonly used for electrical fires it can also be used on organic materials and flammable materials. Only use this extinguisher on fires up to 1000V do not use it on fires above that voltage also do NOT use it on fires involving cooking oil.

Wet Chemical Extinguisher

The label for this extinguisher is always yellow and commonly used for type F fires. They can be used on type A fires but a foam or water extinguisher is usually close by. This extinguisher is commonly used for fires including cooking oil and fats. Usually found in restaurants, cafes and canteens they are placed closely to the identified risk.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher

The label for this extinguisher is always black and is the main fire extinguisher in call centers or workplaces that have a lot of computers or lots of server equipment, you can also use them on class B fires. They must always be kept as close to the identified fire risk as possible or near emergency exits.

Safety Net Scotland would like to remind everyone that it is law to keep fire extinguishers in the workplace and recommends keeping all staff up to date with fire safety training. Get in touch today to see how we can help you.