Whether you happen to be a homeowner, business owner, building manager or all of the above, knowing which type of fire extinguisher you need is essential. In fact, knowing what types of fires are most common in your dwelling will make all the difference when it comes to the fire safety of your home or business. More often than not, people will just assume that any fire extinguisher they pull out will work on any fire. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Specific types of fires require certain fire extinguishers. And there are certain fire extinguishers that can leave a powder mess behind and damage super sensitive equipment. Here are all the important things you need to consider when it comes to finding the right fire extinguisher for your needs.
Fire Categories
Fires are broken down into categories. They are classified by classes: A, B, C, D, and K. In fact, these classes are all determined by the various materials that are involved in the actual fire itself. Class A fires will involve the basic combustibles like wood and paper. The typical class B fire will involve any flammable liquids including gas or oil. Class C fires typically involve energized electricity like a fire involving a surge protector or the like. Class D fires are those that involve combustible metal fires, as in aluminum. And then class K fires are those involving cooking oils and typically the most common reason for fires in restaurants and other commercial buildings.
Determining The Type Of Fire Extinguisher You Need
In order to determine the exact type of fire extinguisher you need, you will obviously need to access the actual situation- the fire itself. In fact, when it comes to homes and offices, and ABC fire extinguisher is traditionally the most common and will work to protect against those common fires seen in the home and office. However, if you are responsible for a big cooking space that uses a ton of cooking oil, you’ll really want to have at least one K-Class fire extinguisher along with a proper fire suppression system.