The most common types of fire extinguishers are:
Class A Fire Extinguisher: These are
designed for fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth,
and plastics. They typically use water or dry chemical agents to cool and
extinguish the fire.
Class B Fire Extinguisher: These are used
for fires involving flammable liquids like gasoline, oil, grease, and some
chemicals. They typically use foam, carbon dioxide (CO2), or dry chemical
agents to smother the fire.
Class C Fire Extinguisher: These are
suitable for fires involving electrical equipment such as wiring, motors, and
appliances. They use non-conductive agents like CO2 or dry chemical agents to
suppress the fire without conducting electricity.
Class D Fire Extinguisher: These are
designed for fires involving combustible metals like magnesium, sodium,
potassium, and titanium. They use specialty dry powders to starve the fire of
oxygen and cool it down.
Class K Fire Extinguisher: These are specifically
designed for fires involving cooking oils and fats commonly found in commercial
kitchens. They use a wet chemical agent to saponify and cool the hot oils,
creating a barrier to prevent re-ignition.
Multi-Class Fire Extinguisher: Some
fire extinguishers are designed to tackle multiple classes of fires, such as
ABC or BC extinguishers. They contain a combination of dry chemical agents to
combat Class A, Class B, and sometimes Class C fires.
