Fires pose a real threat to any property, residential or commercial. It is always advisable for property owners to be alive to the fact that a fire can happen at any time. This means that they should take care of risks that expose their property to fire and have fire extinguishers to mitigate the effects of a fire. Not all fire extinguishers out there can be used on all fires. For instance, an electrical fire extinguisher should attend to an electrical fire. That said, here is a rundown of some common types of fire extinguishers.
Water Extinguishers
Water fire extinguishers should only be used combustible carbon-based solids such as paper, wood, plastics, rubber, and textiles. Considering that water is used to put out the fire, these extinguishers are relatively affordable. These extinguishers can put out any fire by soaking the combustible material and the fire. The only downside with these extinguishers is that they cannot be used on electrical fires or oils.
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers
As the name suggests, these extinguishers contain pressurized carbon dioxide. CO2 extinguishers are suitable for fires involving flammable liquids such as paraffin, petrol, and diesel. They might also be used on electrical fires. These extinguishers work by displacing oxygen from the fire, thus stopping combustion. One downside with carbon dioxide extinguishers is that they do not offer post-fire security as fires can quickly re-ignite once the CO2 disperses into the atmosphere.
Dry Chemical Extinguishers
Dry chemical fire extinguishers are quite common owing to their ability to put out different types of fires. Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers use a dry chemical as the extinguishing agent. This chemical coats the combusting material with a thin film of dust, cutting out oxygen. Moreover, the chemical is specially formulated to interrupt the chemical reaction fueling the fires. Whether you are dealing with a fire on organic materials such as wood, flammable liquid, or electricity, this extinguisher should help.
Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher
Wet chemical fire extinguishers are designed for cooking oils and fats. These extinguishers are highly recommended for use in commercial kitchens where the likelihood of a fire involving oils and fats is high. These extinguishers are filled with potassium, which reacts with oil to form a fine mist as it cools the fire. While these extinguishers might be used on other fires, ensure that they are not used on fires involving electrical appliances.