Fire Extinguishers - The Definitive Handbook On Types And Uses

By: Paul Mancini Click author's name for more of his/her articles

No matter where you live or where you work, there is always the risk that a structural fire may break out. A handily positioned fire extinguisher might be your first line of defense, and may save a life and property. Fire extinguishers are mandatory at places where the incidence of fire is very high, notably places like service stations and restaurants.

Fire extinguishers come in a variety of sizes. There are the heavy duty types that you can find at places like large factories. These ones may require more than one person to carry them into position. Then you'll find the portable types that you find in small shops or homes.

There are four main 'classes' of extinguishers. They are classified based on the types of combustible fuels they are designed to extinguish. We have Class A fire extinguishers which are designed to extinguish fires made up of solid combustible materials. Next come the Class B extinguishers which are used to stop liquid fires. This class of extinguisher is designed for highly flammable liquids such as gasoline. Class C extinguishers are used for fires when there is energized electrical power involved. This kind of extinguisher will not conduct electricity back to the user and is safe to use if there is a suspicion that electricity may be present. The last class of fire extinguishers are the 'Class K' versions. These units can be utilized to put out cooking oil fires in restaurants.

In terms of how fire extinguishers operate, we have 2 major types of extinguishers. There is the stored pressure design, and the cartridge design. The stored pressure variation contains the substance that ultimately extinguishes the fire, along with a propellant of some kind stored directly inside the unit. As you press the trigger down, the extinguishing agent is propelled from the tank and a resulting foam gushes out from the nozzle to extinguish the fire. In the second design (the cartridge variant), there is no such pressure. Instead you have a tiny ancillary propellant cartridge that discharges into the cylinder when you press the extinguisher's trigger. This way, it becomes just like a stored pressure tank which then puts out the fire.

As a principle, you need to keep the extinguisher in a place that is simple to get to. It is most logical to store them near escape routes or close to entrances and exits. You should not locate them higher than a few feet off the ground, otherwise you will need some time to get it down. You might also consider storing them in places where they can be seen easily. It is not recommended to keep them inside cupboards or boxes. As a precaution make sure that you educate your staff about where the extinguishers are located and what they need to do in case of fire.

Fire extinguishers require ongoing maintenance. Usually they are serviced bi-annually by the manufacturer or by an agent thereof. Maintenance involves cleaning the equipment, inspecting for corrosion and refilling of the gas which may have gone stale. The technicians will also check out the discharge nozzle and handles to see if they are functioning properly.

Extinguishers are useful equipment. They protect your business, property and most importantly, human life against fire. A little investment in their purchase can save you from huge losses and inconvenience.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Paul is a publicist with over 12 years writing experience. Paul is currently employed as a columnist with fuzing.com, and is considered the company specialist on Fire Extinguishers and Portable Fire Extinguisher.