Choosing Fire Extiguishers

 Choosing Fire Extinguishers
 Identify the type of materials in the area 
Class A:  | SOLIDS such as paper, wood, plastic etc |
Class B:  | FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS such as paraffin, petrol, oil etc |Class C:   | FLAMMABLE GASES such as propane, butane, methane etc |
Class D: | METALS such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium etc |
Class E: | Fires involving ELECTRICAL APPARATUS |
Class F: |Cooking OIL & FAT etc |
Types of fire extinguisher
 Water Fire Extinguishers:
The cheapest and most widely used fire extinguishers. Used for Class A fires. Not suitable for Class B (Liquid) fires,or where electricity is involved.
 Foam Fire Extinguishers:
More expensive than water, but more versatile. Used for Classes A & B fires. Foam spray extinguishers are not recommended for firesinvolving electricity, but are safer than water if inadvertently sprayed onto live electrical apparatus.
 Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers:
Often termed the ‘multi-purpose’ extinguisher, as it can be used onclasses A, B & C fires. Best for running liquid fires (Class B). Will efficiently extinguish Class C gas fires, BUT BEWARE, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO EXTINGUISH A GAS FIRE WITHOUT FIRST ISOLATING THEGAS SUPPLY.  Special powders are available for class D metal fires.
Warning: when used indoors, powder can obscure vision or damage goods and machinery. It is also very messy.
 CO2 Fire Extinguishers:Carbon Dioxide is ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B liquid fires, but has NO POST FIRE SECURITY and the fire could re-ignite.
Wet chemical Specialist extinguisher for class F fires.
For Metal Fires: A specialist fire extinguisher for use on Class D fires - metal fires such as sodium, lithium, manganese and aluminium when in the form of swarf orturnings.
Colour Coding
Prior to 1st Jan 1997, the code of practice for fire extinguishers in the UK was BS 5423, which advised the colour coding of fire extinguishers as follows:
Water - Red...