Fact Sheet No. 1

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

All workplaces are legally required to have fire extinguishers installed and maintained. In this very popular factsheet we cover the theory of fire and help you to choose and using fire extinguishers.

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher Factsheet

  • The theory of fire
  • The classes of fire
  • How to choose the right extinguisher for the job
  • Why are all fire extinguishers now red?
  • Do we have to replace fire extinguishers in the old British Standard Colours?

Sample Extract

 

Excluding fire blankets, there are four different types of fire extinguishers in common use. Think carefully before tackling even the smallest of fires. Remember - safety first!

Water removes the heat from the fire triangle and is ideal for class A flammable solids, like wood, paper and fabrics. Beware, it conducts electricity and is dangerous to use on flammable liquids like petrol or solvents.

AFFF is a great multipurpose extinguisher ideal for class A flammable solids and especially effective on class B flammable liquid fires. It works by forming a special film layer over the top of burning liquid, removing the oxygen from the fire triangle and smothers the flames.

Dry powder works by removing the oxygen from the fire triangle and is safe to use on all common types of fires, including electrical. They can leave a lot of mess though, so are not ideal for us in confined areas.

Carbon Dioxide, or CO2 gas, is great because it’s totally clean and leaves no mess at all. It works by removing the oxygen from the fire and is suitable for class B, flammable liquid and electrical fires.

Wet Chemical is a special extinguisher is designed specifically for fires involving deep fat fryers.

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