A fire extinguisher can unquestionably be a life threatening tool in certain situations, but did you know there are various kinds of fire extinguishers for various kinds of fires? Planning beforehand and carrying out a fire extinguisher within an area of your home where it is likely to be utilized is a great idea, all it takes is a little education and preparation ahead and you should be ready if anything is to happen later on.
There are five kinds of fire extinguishers.
Class A
This extinguisher puts out flames using normal combustible materials like cloth, rubber, paper, wood and many plastics. This would be a great kind of extinguisher to have in many rooms of your house, as it can help put out several different kinds of fires.
Class B
- This extinguisher should be used on fires involving flammable liquids. Grease, gas and oil-based paints are all flammable liquids this extinguisher would function on. This type of extinguisher would work well in a garage, kitchen or artwork studio.
Class C
This extinguisher is good for fires involving appliances, tools or other electronic equipment that could be energized or plugged in to an outlet. This type of extinguisher would be good in a garage, workroom, kitchen or anywhere electronics are being greatly used.
Class D
This extinguisher is designed to use on specific flammable metals, commonly in factories that operate with metals. This isn't typically a residential kind of extinguisher, they're more inclined to be found in the factories where these specific metals are used.
Class K
This extinguisher is used on fires that involve animal oils, vegetable oils or fats in cooking appliances. Typically stocked in commercial-grade kitchens such as restaurants, caterers and cafeterias, these extinguishers have been finding their way into residential flats lately.
Multi-Use
There are also multi-purpose fire extinguishers available on the market which have tags with over one of those courses listed above that will work for multiple circumstances and fires.
When confronted with a scenario where you might need to use a fire extinguisher, there are a number of things to think about before actually using the extinguisher. Portable fire extinguishers designed for use in the home are great for containing small fires immediately. But you must remember these extinguishers are modest and cannot fight large fires independently. If you believe a fire is too large for your own instincts, or if the fire may spread quickly be sure you call 911 until you attempt to extinguish the flame by yourself.
Maintenance
Should you maintain fire extinguishers in your house, you will need to make sure they are properly maintained so they will work correctly when called upon for usage. Some things to keep in mind include keeping the extinguisher in an area where it will most likely be required if anything were to occur. Make sure the extinguisher is not blocked by other things that would limit access during an emergency.
Keep the pressure on your own extinguisher at the recommended level. Check the judge suggesting where the strain is. Make certain all areas of the extinguisher are operable and not damaged or restricted. Check extinguishers once a month and then shake them to maintain the chemicals from settling.
Usage
When it comes time to really use the extinguisher, there's a fairly simple acronym to remember how to use it properly: PASS. Here's how it breaks down:
P: Pull the pin on the top of the fire extinguisher. This trap releases a lock which allows you to discharge the extinguisher.
A: Aim at the bottom of the flame rather than the flames, or surface of this fire. To be able to extinguish a fire you must extinguish the source or the fuel in the base of the fire.
S: Squeeze the lever slowly. This releases the extinguishing agent in a continuous stream until the lever is released along with the discharge will cease.
S: Sweep from side to side, move the flame extinguisher at a back and forth sweeping motion until the fire is completely extinguished. Make certain you're a few feet away from the actual fire, and you are able to start moving towards it once the fire starts to lessen.