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Non combustible materials are used in dry chemical fire extinguishers which gives them an advantage over the c02 extinguishers. The garage, workshop and kitchen should have an extinguisher available for each of them as recommended by fire protection authorities. With the wide selection of extinguishers on the market, buying the correct one can be discouraging but is vital.

Non combustible materials are used in dry chemical fire extinguishers which gives them an advantage over the c02 extinguishers. The garage, workshop and kitchen should have an extinguisher available for each of them as recommended by fire protection authorities. With the wide selection of extinguishers on the market, buying the correct one can be discouraging but is vital.

Fire extinguishers are broken up into four different types. To know how much fire an extinguisher can handle, number ratings are used. The higher the rating, the more it can handle. A list to help you select the right extinguisher for your needs is below.

Class A fire extinguishers are for flammable items like some plastics, cardboard, wood and paper. The amount of water contained in the extinguisher, and the amount of fire it can handle, is indicated by the number.

Kerosene, gasoline, oil and grease need a class B extinguisher. To know how much square footage can be controlled with this extinguisher, pay attention to the rating on the canister.

For electrical fires such as appliances, outlets, circuit breakers or wiring, class C extinguishers are needed. DO NOT attempt to use water for these fires due to the risk of electrical shock. Class C extinguishers do not have a number rating because the substance used in them is non conductive.

Titanium, magnesium, sodium and potassium require class D fire extinguishers. This type is most commonly used in chemical labs and does not have a rating. They are also not suited for multiple purposes.

Multiple rating fire extinguishers are recommended due to the fact that some fires involve a combination of materials. Choose one that is rated for several uses such as ABC.

The most common types of extinguishers are:

For fires involving normal flammable items, use a water extinguisher, otherwise known as an APW. These are suited for class A fires and are pressurized by water. Using this class of extinguisher on grease or electrical fires will cause the fire to spread.

Dry element extinguishers are obtainable in several arrays. These extinguishers, suited for class A, B and C fires, are under pressure from nitrogen that is a powder or foam.

BC extinguishers use a dry compound of either sodium or potassium bicarbonate. After using this extinguisher, to prevent damage to items, clean up has to be done immediately as it is corrosive.

For a multiple purpose extinguisher, select an ABC. A yellow powder with a sticky residue known as monoammonium phosphate is used. Damage to electrical appliances can occur with these extinguishers.

CO2, also known as carbon dioxide, extinguishers are meant for class B and C fires. A non flammable gas known as carbon dioxide is used. It is not uncommon to see dry ice come out of the nozzle because of the amount of pressure. These are not suggested for A fires. It is possible that enough oxygen may not be displaced to put the fire out, which can result in the fire reigniting.

Good for using on electrical fires, c02 extinguishers do not leave destructive residue on material, which is an added benefit over the other extinguishers.

Choosing the wrong type of extinguisher can result in life threatening situations.

These are only the common types of fire extinguishers. There are many others to choose from. Base your selection on the classification and the extinguisher's compatibility with the items you wish to protect.