How to Choose Which Fire Extinguisher to Use .......
A fire extinguisher is a device
that can be used to control and extinguish a fire mostly in an emergency
situation. They are mostly hand held and can be used by one person although
there are some which are cart-mounted or wheeled. It is very dangerous to
attempt to use a na inferno that is already out of control. There are so many
types in the market to choose from and in many cases, buyers and users have a
daunting task selecting which one to buy or use. It is very important to have
the right apparatus in the right place, whether at home or at the workplace.
They are divided into 4 different categories, based on different types or
classes of fires.
Class A - These are from ordinary
combustible materials such as paper, wood, textiles, plastic and other trash.
Class B - These are from flammable
liquids such as paraffin, petrol, oil and other flammable liquids.
Class C - These are from burning
flammable gases such as propane, butane, methane and others.
Class D - These are from burning
metals such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium, etc.
Class E - These are from energized
or live electrical equipment.
Class F - These are from cooking
oil and fat.
Having described the different
classes, it would be easy to describe the apparatus to use for each category.
The following is a quick guide to use when buying, installing or using a fire
extinguisher. Note that some them can be used for more than one class.
These are the cheapest in the
market and are most widely used. They are suitable for class A. They are not
recommended for Class B because the stream of water can scatter the flames and
spread the fire. They are also not suitable for where electrical equipment
fires.
Foam
These are best suited for Class A
and B. They are also not recommended for electrical fires.
Dry Powder
These are also referred to as
'multi purpose' because they can be used for Class B, C and D. However, they
are best suited for running liquid fires. They can be very messy due to the
powder used.
These are ideal for energized
electrical equipment but can also be used on class B.
These are ideal for class F.
These apparatus should only be
used by someone who has been fully trained. Wrong use of any of them can lead
to serious injury or spread of fire.
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