Different Water Fire Extinguishers To Match Distinct Fire Classes

A fire extinguisher is a fire protection device use to control or put out small fires, frequently in emergency cases. It is not proposed for used in big and unmanageable fire that needs expertise of a fire department.

Typically, the hand-held fire extinguishers contain an agent to remove one or more of the elements that cause fire, commonly known as the fire triangle. Fuel, heat, and oxygen are the three sides of the fire triangle. The agent contained in fire extinguishers cools the fuel and serves as a barrier between the fuel and oxygen supply in the air.

Fire generally has four classes. Class A fire is cause by ordinary combustibles, Class B fire is cause by flammable liquids and flammable gases, Class C fire is cause by electrical equipments, and Class D fire is cause by combustible metals. Because of this, there are also different types of fire extinguishers that will best suit each class of fire with most appropriate extinguishing agents.

Water Fire Extinguishers are especially made to extinguish or control Class A fire. Ordinary combustible fires are cause when solid materials such as wood, paper, rubber, cloth, or plastic are heated and ignited. This class of fire is usually used in campfire or wood-burning stove. Using water is the simplest way to cool and extinguish solid burning fires.

There are two main types of Water Fire Extinguishers. First is the air-pressured fire extinguisher, which simply uses air pressure to spurt water. The second is the water mist spray fire extinguisher which sprays droplets or mists of pressurized nitrogen mixed with water. This type is less messy and is useful in small spaces.

It is very important to remember not to use Water Fire Extinguishers to extinguish flammable liquid fires. Water is extremely ineffective and will just spread the fire if you use it. Never use water as well to extinguish an electrical fire. Water is a good instrument to cause electrocution. Electrical equipment like computers should be unplugged before using water extinguisher on it.

A Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher has multi-purpose use and is commonly used in our homes. They can handle three classes of fires, combustible solid fires, combustible liquid fires, and electrical fires. The dry chemical extinguisher sprays powder of potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or mono-ammonium phosphate that blanket or coat the fuel with and inert solid to smother the fire.

A Halon Fire Extinguisher contains gas extinguishing agents that are often used for electrical equipment since they are electrically non-conducting and they leave no residue. It has limited range of four to six feet.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher is the most effective for burning liquids and electrical fires. Carbon dioxide or CO2 is stored as compressed liquid that expands when dispersed and cools the surrounding air. Since gas disperses quickly, this is effective only from three to eight feet. The liquid CO2 dissolves plainly into the atmosphere after extinguishing the fire.

Metal Extinguishers are for Class D fires with sodium chloride as their common extinguishing agent. There are varieties of other options depending on the metal type you are working with. If you are working in flammable metals, you must have an approved Class D unit that will match to your needs.

Make sure to have the right types of fire extinguisher that will suit your needs. It is better to control fire at its earliest stage to avoid further damage to our lives and properties.