When it comes to buying fire extinguishers for your property or business you may be stuck in decision paralysis, given the large variety of different extinguishers available. At Maverick Fire and Safety, we aim to make this process as smooth as possible for our clients. Whether you need an explanation via email or call, or a hassle-free experience when buying products; Maverick is here to help. We sell all the fire extinguishers available, and will even deliver them to your location for installation. If this service interests you, give us a call at (832)653-2598. Now, in this blog we will go into detail on the different extinguishers available, their uses, while also discussing Texas State Fire Codes that may be applicable for your business.
Here are the different classes of fires with their description, this serves as a good aid in selecting a fire extinguisher.
|
Class Of Fire |
Description |
|
Class A Fires |
Fires in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics. |
|
Class B Fires |
Fires in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable grease. |
|
Class C Fires |
Fires that involve energized electrical equipment. |
|
Class D Fires |
Fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. |
|
Class K Fires |
Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats) |
Now that we have an understanding of the different classes of fire, we’ll explain which fire extinguishers are applicable for each circumstance.
|
Class of Fire |
Description |
Fire Extinguisher Class Used |
|
Class A |
Extinguishing ordinary combustibles by cooling the material below ignition temperature, soaking fibers to prevent reignition. |
ABC-rated extinguishers are required for Class A Fires. |
|
Class B |
Extinguishing flammable liquids, greases or gasses by removing the oxygen, preventing any vapors from reigniting and inhibits any chemical reaction. |
BC-rated extinguishers required for Class B Fires. |
|
Class C |
Extinguishes energized electrical equipment by utilizing an agent not capable of conducting electrical currents. |
BC-rated extinguishers are required to fight Class C Fires. |
|
Class D |
Fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. |
BC-rated are normally used for Class D fires as ABC-rated can harm sensitive equipment. |
|
Class K |
Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats) |
These extinguishers are used to fight Class A Fires. |
Now we are going to list how some extinguishers differ from using either CO2, wet chemicals, water, Halon, or Dry-chemicals.
|
Water Type |
Water is primarily filled in these extinguishers, however other additives may be added. A drawback of water-based extinguishers is that it is not suitable for cold environments, some water-based extinguishers can contain antifreeze to keep them operable. |
|
Film-Forming Foam Type |
AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) and FFFP (film-forming fluoroprotein) are rated for both Class A and Class B fires. These discharge either a foam material rather than liquid or powder. These are great to float on and secure a liquid surface. |
|
Carbon Dioxide Type |
CO2 extinguishers do not leave a residue after use. Listed for use on Class B and Class C fires. Typically used in food preparation areas, laboratories, and printing or duplicating areas. |
|
Halogenated Agent Type |
The bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) fire extinguishers are similar to CO2 and are suitable for cold weather installation while leaving no residue when in use. These are listed for Class A, Class B, and Class C fires. |
|
Dry Chemical Types |
Extinguishers using powder composed of small particulates. These include sodium bicarbonate base and potassium bicarbonate base. These have special treatments that ensure proper flow by providing resistance to packing and moisture absorption (caking.) Multi-purpose dry chemicals contain ammonium phosphate. Great dry chemical agent for Class B Fires, for Class A it smothers and isolates the fuel from air. |
|
Wet Chemical Types |
The liquid agent has a pH of 9.0 or less, for Class A fires it works as a coolant. Class K fires, a foam blanket forms to prevent reignition. |
|
Dry Powder Types |
These are recommended for Class D fires and have a specific technique from manufactures recommendation for use. These can be applied via extinguisher, or scooping and shoveling it onto a fire. |
Now that we have a better understanding of different Fires Classes, Fire Extinguishers, and the types of solvents used we will go into detail Fire Codes in Texas and requirements for Fire extinguishers.
Retail-Stores and Offices: Should have at least one ABC extinguisher every 3,000 sq ft, with an employee no more than 75 feet from an extinguisher.
Industrial Facilities: BC or CO2 extinguishers may be required in addition to ABC Extinguishers.
Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens: Must have Class K Fire Extinguishers specifically for grease fires, in addition to ABC or BC extinguishers
If you need assistance, give Maverick Fire and Safety a call at (832)653-2598 or fill out a contact us form.
