Deciding on the correct type fire extinguisher can be a daunting task if one is not educated on the types available due to the number fire extinguisher types. Fire Extinguisher in Waterloo IA are grouped into several categories or classes depending on what material they are meant to be used on. Fire extinguishers also have a numeric rating associated with them.
Fire extinguishers are classified as A, B, C, D and F. Below is information on each:
• Class A – Class A fire extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials. These include materials such as cardboard, paper products, wood, and plastics. The numerical rating on this fire extinguisher identifies the amount of water it can hold and the amount of fire it is capable of extinguishing.
• Class B – Class B fire extinguishers are for fires involving oils, grease, kerosene and similar. The numerical rating on these fire extinguishers identifies the area of fire-involved space it can extinguish.
• Class C – Class C fire extinguishers are for fighting fires that are electrical based such as appliances, wiring and circuit breakers. These types of fire extinguishers do not have numerical ratings associated with them.
• Class D – Class D fire extinguishers are for fires resulting from combustible substances like potassium, sodium, etc. These types are mainly encountered in laboratory settings.
• Class F – Class F fire extinguishers are for fires caused by cooking grease and oil and deep fryers found mostly in commercial kitchens, restaurants, and food manufacturing facilities.
In addition, fire extinguishers from website also are categorized as to the extinguishing agent they use.For example, a water-based extinguisher or air-pressurized water extinguisher is suitable for class A fires only. If a Class A fire extinguisher were to be used on a Class C or Class D fire, it would only serve to make the fire increase in size. Water Fire Extinguisher in Waterloo IA contain water pressurized with oxygen, therefore, are dangerous if used for the wrong type of fire.
There are fire extinguishers that are suitable for use on multiple types of fires that fall into the Class A, B, and C categories. These are called dry chemical fire extinguishers and are generally charged with powder or foam, pressurized under nitrogen. The type BC fire extinguisher is filled with a potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate mixture. The BC type extinguishers leave behind a corrosive residue that must be cleaned up immediately.
