A Few Basic Things To Know About Fire Extinguishers! !
By: Fire Extinguishers
Tags: Fire, Protection

Nowadays, fire extinguishers are a very normal sight in any commercial or residential building. Though fire extinguishers are important fire safety devices, very few of us know exactly how to use them. Even the different purposes for which they are used and different types of fire extinguishers are known to very fewer people. Different situations can occur in a building due to which a fire accident may break out, and hence, it is very important that we know some basic facts about this crucial device that is so commonly used and seen around us.

So, to begin with, let’s check out ways by which you can select the right type of fire extinguisher for your use.

Choosing the right type of fire extinguisher

Fire is divided into different classes namely A, B, C, D, and F depending on its source as well as intensity. Fire extinguishers are basically chosen based on the type of fire that has taken place.

Below we’ve provided a few basic details on each class of fire:

Class A:

Class A extinguishers are mainly for stopping fire caught on some common materials including wood, paper, cardboard, and so on. There is a numerical value on this type of fire extinguishers that indicates how much liquid they can hold and how much fire they can extinguish.

Class B:

Class B type of fire extinguisher is used on fire that is caused by kerosene, oil, grease, etc. There is a number mentioned on these extinguishers that represents the total area of fire space that they can extinguisher.

Class C:

Class C extinguishers mainly control the fire that is caused due to wiring, electrical appliances, circuit breakers, etc.

Class D:

Class D fire extinguishers are used to control the fire that is caused by combustible elements like magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc. These types of fire extinguishers are mainly used in chemical laboratories.

Class F:

Class F extinguishers are used for fire caused by deep fryers and cooking oil mainly used in kitchens and food manufacturing places.

Where to put a fire extinguisher?

Fire extinguishers are generally placed according to the type of fire that has occurred in the area, and how soon it can create damage. For instance, in the case of class A type of fire the fire extinguisher should be placed in a place that is not more than 75 feet away from the person. On the other hand, in the class B type of fire, the extinguisher should not be more than 50 feet away.

How to maintain fire extinguishers?

There are different ways by which you can maintain a fire extinguisher:

- First of all, the extinguisher installed on your premises should be tested and inspected by professionals at the time of its purchase.

- It should also be ensured that the device is placed appropriately and at the required distance.

- The inspection and testing of extinguishers should be done every month.

- For fire extinguishers that are refillable, first, they should be properly emptied and refilled carefully every six years.

Besides all this and more than anything else, each and every individual living in the building should make sure they read the important instructions and know the correct ways to use a fire extinguisher.