When protecting your home or office from fires, there is no more ubiquitous and simple tool than a fire extinguisher. We all know those typically red metal cylinders with a black nozzle.
However, despite knowing what they are, a large majority of people don’t know how to use one and have never trained how to do it. On the one hand, that may sound good, because these people have never had to face a raging fire. On the other hand, that is a bit disturbing, since they may need to use a fire extinguisher one day, and without any experience and knowledge, it may be dangerous.
Fire Extinguishers Expire
Compressed in the metallic body of the fire extinguisher is a chemical agent which is used to put out the fire. However, these chemicals are not stabile forever, and they won’t be effective forever. That’s why it is important to have the extinguisher inspected by a qualified company, like http://www.redtruckfire.com/services.html. Each fire extinguisher has the expiration date printed on it, so check that occasionally and schedule a maintenance if there’s a need.
The Fire Triangle
When trying to explain the way fires work, experts use a visual aid of a ‘fire triangle’. Namely, every fire consists of three elements which depend on one another. The first thing you need is the fuel which will burn to feed the fire. The second side of the triangle is the oxygen, which is absolutely indispensable for the fire to burn. Finally, the third part of this triangle is the heat which is produced by the fire.
The key to fighting a fire is removing just one of these sides, and the whole thing will collapse. Different kinds of extinguishers attempt to obstruct different parts of the fire triangle, depending on what is safer for that type of fire.
Different Kinds of Fires Require Different Kinds of Extinguishers
Fires are classified according to the source of the flames. There are generally 5 accepted classes of fires. Class A are regular fires caused by solid fuels like wood, paper, cloth, and plastics. Class B fires are caused by liquid or gaseous flammable matters like gasoline, oil, paint, propane and similar substances. Class C are electrical fires, whereas Class D are metals which combust in open air, like potassium and magnesium. Finally, there are class K fires which are kitchen fires caused by cooking oil.
Fire extinguishers use various chemical substances to put out a fire, but you have to be careful to use the right fire extinguisher to put out the right kind of fire. Otherwise, you risk only exacerbating the problem, like using a water-based fire extinguisher to put out an electrical fire.
Fire Extinguisher Types
Water or foam extinguishers are the simplest fire extinguishers and they operate by removing the heat from the fire. These extinguishers are, however, only suitable for putting out solid fuel fires.
Carbon Dioxide extinguishers attempt to remove both the oxygen and the heat from a fire, so they are a bit more versatile than the foam ones. However, they should still only be used for Class B and C fires, because they can actually cause explosions or fire expansion with other kinds of fuels.
Dry chemical extinguishers are the most common type of fire extinguishers and they can be used to put out most common fire classes – A, B, and C. The chemicals in the container serve to remove the heat and create an obstacle between oxygen and the fuel, essentially starving the fire.
Dry Powder extinguishers are used to put out burning metals, or Class D fires. The chemicals in these extinguishers remove the heat from the equation since it is the safest course of action with burning metals.
Wet Chemicals extinguishers are good for removing the heat from the fire, as well as creating a barrier between the oxygen and the fuel. This prevents the fire from re-igniting, so these extinguishers are suitable for kitchen fires.
As you can see, there’s more to fire extinguisher than is originally evident. However, with a bit of knowledge and training, you can master their use.
To contact Red Truck Fire & Safety Co.
5555 Santa Fe St M, San Diego, CA 92109, United States
800-973-3878
