Fire extinguishers are some of the best and most effective tools amongst the many fire protection products out there. According to the National Fire Protection Association, they helped put out 80% of all fires in 2010 — a statistic that cannot be overlooked.
However, purchasing these pieces of fire protection equipment can be tricky, as different fire extinguishers are used for different types of fire. To help you make a smarter decision, here are the four most common fire extinquisher types as described by the fire protection handbook.
The “A” Extinguisher.
“A” fire extinguishers are used for ordinary combustibles. They’re most typically used to put out clothes, wood, rubber, plastics, and paper fires. If you’re purchasing one for your home, you might be best off with an “A” fire extinguisher.
The “B” Extinguisher.
“B” fire extinguishers are used to fight fires started by flammable liquids, like kitchen grease, oil, gasoline, and even some paints. If you’re worried about a fire in your kitchen, which is the place where most home fires start, then your best option would be a “B” extinguisher.
The “C” Extinguisher.
“C” fire extinguishers are used to put out electrical fires, which are fires that were started by faulty wiring, fuse boxes, or other energized electrical equipment. If you have an old house whose wiring is starting to get a little hairy, you may want to invest in one of these.
The “D” Extinguisher.
“D” fire extinguishers are commonly used in industrial setting, since they’re made to fight fires from combustible metals like sodium and magnesium. Most homeowners don’t have to worry about such fire hazards, so it’s unlikely that you’ll need one of these.
Keep these differences in mind as you purchase fire extinguishers for your home, otherwise you might find yourself with the wrong piece of equipment in the wrong situation. If you have any questions about the different types of fire extinguishers, feel free to ask in the comments. References.
