Fire Extinguisher Class – Understanding Classes of Fire Extinguishers
In the United Kingdom, there are six distinct classes of fire extinguishers. Fire extinguisher classes are used to differentiate what type of fire each extinguisher is used for. These fire extinguisher classes are based on the classifications given to different types of fires. Extinguishers are also color coded.
This is done because no universal extinguishing agents are available. Some extinguisher classes can actually make a fire worse than it was to begin with. Each fire is classified under the British Standard EN-2 for extinguishing purposes.
Class A fires occur in solid materials that are usually organic in nature (materials that contain compounds of carbon) and will generally produce glowing embers. These materials include wood, textiles, curtains, furniture and plastics. Class A fires can be extinguished by using a water fire extinguisher, which is coloured red and will have an A classification. An appliance with a fire extinguisher class of A can only be used on Class A fires.
Signal Red coded extinguishers using water are the most common fire extinguishers. However, water cannot be used on all types of fires. This is because water is conductive. You are most likely to find these types of extinguishers in stockrooms, schools, offices, and in the home. These tend to be the most inexpensive of the appliances because of the fact that water is the only material that is used.
A Class A fire can also be extinguished with the use of a foam fire extinguisher, which is colour coded cream.
Cream coded appliances can also be used on Class B fires, which are fires involving flammable liquids. Foam appliances work by taming the flames in order to prevent re-flashes. On Class B ignitions, the foam floats on the flammable liquids, which are liquids such as petrol, oil, paints, and paint thinner. This fire extinguisher class isn’t recommended for use in the home, and is instead most likely found in garages, vehicles, workshops, and some factories.
To use a foam extinguisher, don’t aim the jet directly into the liquid. Instead, if the fire is in a container, point the jet at a surface near the burning liquid. Then allow the foam to build up across the liquid. The foam forms an extinguishing film on the surface of a burning liquid. On a solid combustible material the cooling action takes over a wider application than water does. Neither foam nor water can be used on chip pan fires or other classes of fires.
All types of extinguishers should be stored near fire exits, in shallow recesses away from the extremes of temperatures. They should also be mounted at an elevated height so that the handle is 1m from the floor for heavier units, 1.5 m from the floor for smaller, lighter units. They should also have a maximum of 30m traveling distance from fire to extinguisher.
There are six classes of fire extinguishers, and we just highlighted two. The other classes have different extinguisher classifications. Class A and class B are the two most common fires seen and the most common fire extinguishers, and knowing the proper extinguishers and the proper use of them can help save your life and your property.
About the Author
Read more about each different fire extinguisher class on the author’s website, which also includes a free guide on how to carry out your own fire risk assessment. K Garrow has managed large public buildings for the last twenty years and has extensive experience of workplace safety issues. His website offers free advice on a range of subjects, including fire extinguisher servicing.
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