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In our efforts to find a lasting solutions to fire hazards, which has led to lost of lives and properties in our society, we discovered that different types of fire extinguishers are designed to fight different types of fire. Fire may comes from ordinary combustibles materials like paper, woods etc , flammable liquid e.g gaseoline, electrical sources and wet and dry chemicals.
WealthCoach Academy would like to discuss the three most common types of fire extinguishers, their safety measures and their usefulness. Stay somewhere cool to enjoy this article.
The three most common types of fire extinguishers are:
Water is one of the most commonly used extinguishing agents for type A fires. You can recognize an APW by its large silver container. They are filled with about two-thirds of the way with ordinary water, then pressurized with air. In some cases, detergents are added to the water to produce a foam. They stand about two to three feet tall and weigh approximately 25 pounds when full.
APWs extinguish fire by cooling the surface of the fuel to remove the "heat" element of the fire triangle.
Uses of Air-pressurized Water Extinguishers (APW)
APWs are designed to quench wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and certain plastics fires only.
Safety Measures For Air-pressurized Water Extinguishers (APW)
This type of extinguisher is filled with Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a non-flammable gas under extreme pressure. These extinguishers put out fires by displacing oxygen, or taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. Because of its high pressure, when you use this extinguisher pieces of dry ice shoot from the horn, which also has a cooling effect on the fire.
You can recognize this type of extinguisher by its hard horn and absent pressure gauge.
CO2 cylinders are red and range in size from five to 100 pounds or larger.
Uses of CO2 or Dry Chemical - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
CO2 is not recommended for Ordinary Combustibles fires such as paper, wood etc because they may continue to smolder and re-ignite after the CO2 dissipates.
Never use CO2 extinguishers in a confined space while people are present without proper respiratory protection.
Where could CO2 or Dry Chemical - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers be found?
Carbon dioxide extinguishers will frequently be found in industrial vehicles, mechanical rooms, offices, computer labs, and flammable liquid storage areas.
Multi-purpose - Dry Chemical Extinguishers
Dry chemical extinguishers put out fires by coating the fuel with a thin layer of fire retardant powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction, which makes these extinguishers extremely effective.
Dry chemical extinguishers are usually rated for flammable and electrical fires and may be marked multiple purpose for use in flammable, electrical and ordinary combustible fires. They contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant.
ABC fire extinguishers are red in color, and range in size from five pounds to 20 pounds.
Uses of Dry Chemical Extinguisher
Where could Dry Chemical Extinguisher be found?
These extinguishers will be found in a variety of locations including: public hallways, laboratories, mechanical rooms, break rooms, chemical storage areas, offices, commercial vehicles, and other areas with flammable liquids.
Dry and Wet Chemical Extinguishers for Kitchen Fires
Due to the higher heating rates of vegetable oils in commercial cooking appliances NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers, now includes a Class K rating for kitchen fires extinguishers which are now required to be installed in all applicable restaurant kitchens. Once a fire starts in a deep fryer, it cannot always be extinguished by traditional range hoods or flammable extinguishers.
Safety Measures for Dry and Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
Where Could Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers be found?
These extinguishers will be found in commercial cooking operations such as restaurants, cafeterias, and other locations where food would be served
Market price
It's varies but around 7k above
WealthCoach Academy would like to discuss the three most common types of fire extinguishers, their safety measures and their usefulness. Stay somewhere cool to enjoy this article.
The three most common types of fire extinguishers are:
- Air pressurized water,
- CO2(carbon dioxide), and
- Dry and Wet Chemical
Water is one of the most commonly used extinguishing agents for type A fires. You can recognize an APW by its large silver container. They are filled with about two-thirds of the way with ordinary water, then pressurized with air. In some cases, detergents are added to the water to produce a foam. They stand about two to three feet tall and weigh approximately 25 pounds when full.
APWs extinguish fire by cooling the surface of the fuel to remove the "heat" element of the fire triangle.
Uses of Air-pressurized Water Extinguishers (APW)
APWs are designed to quench wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and certain plastics fires only.
Safety Measures For Air-pressurized Water Extinguishers (APW)
- Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fires. Water is extremely ineffective at extinguishing this type of fire and may make matters worse by the spreading the fire.
- Never use water to extinguish an electrical fire. Water is a good conductor and may lead to electrocution if used to extinguish an electrical fire. Electrical equipment must be unplugged and/or de-energized before using a water extinguisher on an electrical fire.
This type of extinguisher is filled with Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a non-flammable gas under extreme pressure. These extinguishers put out fires by displacing oxygen, or taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. Because of its high pressure, when you use this extinguisher pieces of dry ice shoot from the horn, which also has a cooling effect on the fire.
You can recognize this type of extinguisher by its hard horn and absent pressure gauge.
CO2 cylinders are red and range in size from five to 100 pounds or larger.
Uses of CO2 or Dry Chemical - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
- CO2 extinguishers are designed for flammable liquid e.g Fires in oils, gasoline, some paints, lacquers, grease, solvents and other flammable liquid sources Only
- Electrical e.g Fires in wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical equipment, computers and other electrical sources only
CO2 is not recommended for Ordinary Combustibles fires such as paper, wood etc because they may continue to smolder and re-ignite after the CO2 dissipates.
Never use CO2 extinguishers in a confined space while people are present without proper respiratory protection.
Where could CO2 or Dry Chemical - Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers be found?
Carbon dioxide extinguishers will frequently be found in industrial vehicles, mechanical rooms, offices, computer labs, and flammable liquid storage areas.
Multi-purpose - Dry Chemical Extinguishers
Dry chemical extinguishers put out fires by coating the fuel with a thin layer of fire retardant powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction, which makes these extinguishers extremely effective.
Dry chemical extinguishers are usually rated for flammable and electrical fires and may be marked multiple purpose for use in flammable, electrical and ordinary combustible fires. They contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant.
ABC fire extinguishers are red in color, and range in size from five pounds to 20 pounds.
Uses of Dry Chemical Extinguisher
- They are designed for
- Ordinary Combustibles e.g Fires in paper, cloth, wood, rubber, and many plastics require a water extinguisher
- Flammable liquid e.g Fires in oils, gasoline, some paints, lacquers, grease, solvents and other flammable liquid sources only
- Electrical e.g Fires in wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical equipment, computers and other electrical sources only
Where could Dry Chemical Extinguisher be found?
These extinguishers will be found in a variety of locations including: public hallways, laboratories, mechanical rooms, break rooms, chemical storage areas, offices, commercial vehicles, and other areas with flammable liquids.
Dry and Wet Chemical Extinguishers for Kitchen Fires
Due to the higher heating rates of vegetable oils in commercial cooking appliances NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers, now includes a Class K rating for kitchen fires extinguishers which are now required to be installed in all applicable restaurant kitchens. Once a fire starts in a deep fryer, it cannot always be extinguished by traditional range hoods or flammable extinguishers.
Safety Measures for Dry and Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
- Do not attempt to use a Ordinary extinguisher containing water or CO2 on a deep fat fryer fire. An explosive type reaction may result.
- Place a placard near the Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguisher which states: "In case of appliance fire, use this extinguisher only after the fixed fire suppression system has been actuated". Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are only intended to be used after the activation of a built-in hood suppression system. If no commercial cooking system hood and fire suppression system exists, Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are not required.
- Extinguishing agents in many Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are electrically conductive and should only be used after electrical power to the kitchen appliance has been shut off. Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers use a variety of agents. Potassium bicarbonate is used in some Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers, and there are also wet chemical extinguishers which spray a fine mist.
- Travel distance to a Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguisher shall not exceed 30 feet.
- Install a 2-A water-type extinguisher or 6L wet chemical fire extinguisher for solid fuel cooking appliances with fire boxes.
- Inspect, test and maintain Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers yearly.
Where Could Dry and Wet Chemical fire extinguishers be found?
These extinguishers will be found in commercial cooking operations such as restaurants, cafeterias, and other locations where food would be served
Market price
It's varies but around 7k above