PART 1 - How to use a Fire Extinguisher?

4/30/2021 (Permalink)

Learn classifications. Then teach employees and family members how to utilize these important tools. It may save your life or theirs, one day.

Fire extinguishers can save lives and prevent the total destruction of properties. When a fire begins, how quickly it will spread depends on surrounding building and content materials. Everything can happen so fast that in that exact moment, it may be difficult to think clearly, let alone decide how to best react to the situation.

Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher now can be of great value. Understanding how to douse flames based on the type of fire is the first step.

UNDERSTAND FIRE CLASSIFICATIONS AND EXTINGUISHER TYPES

Fire extinguishers are graded based on materials or fire types. Class A, B, & C, etc, or labeled for multi-purpose uses. Ex: B-C. 

A, B, and C types are typically found in homes. You will want to know details such as an ordinary type A intended for cloth, paper, and wood, will not be used the same as a class B fire started by a flammable oil nor a class C fire of an electrical appliance, for examples. You will want to look at which types are accessible in your home.

At your place of business… you may often find Class A, B, or C as well or multi-purpose ones. If your place of business is located in a factory, you may even have a Class D type extinguisher intended for flammable metals.

Restaurants and other commercial kitchens may have Class K in the event of a grease fire, or dry powdery substances can be used like baking flour, but as we all learned in school, never add water to these types of flames.

(To be continued...)