The importance of using the right fire extinguisher cannot be overstated. The wrong type of extinguisher for the job can do more harm than good, and put lives, property, and the environment at risk. There are several different types to choose from: water-based fire extinguishers which cool by absorbing heat or flooding an area with liquid; foam-based extinguishers that suffocate fires by cutting off oxygen supply; carbon dioxide (CO2) based extinguishers which use a stream or cloud to smother flames as they burn; powdery substances such as dry chemicals which absorb heat and react chemically with fuel vapor to cut off its source of oxygen.
The type of fire extinguisher needed depends on the material that is burning, its location in a building, and how quickly it needs to be put out. There are many different types for various kinds of fires: wood; paper; electricity; liquid (such as cooking oil); metal smelting; or natural gas – just to name a few! The most important thing when using an extinguisher is safety. Trainer-qualified staff should ensure employees know what they’re doing before going into action because lives can depend on their expertise. if you do not use the correct fire extinguisher for the type of fire you are dealing with, it will only serve to make things worse!
A Brief History: Fire extinguishers have been around since at least 1723 and were initially made from leather bags filled with water. In 1818 a man called George Manby patented an “Incendiary Apparatus” which used sulphuric acid to stop fires; in 1874 James Braidwood invented the first British-made hand-held metal canister that could be carried by one person and was capable of containing pressurized carbon tetrachloride vapor. Modern-day models contain foam or chemicals like dry chemical powder substances such as potassium bicarbonate (AKA ABC) for use on electrical fires or another sub type of powder-like sodium bicarbonate for use on flammable liquid fires.
The Importance: Failing to match the right fire extinguisher type with the type of fire you are dealing with will only serve to make things worse! If a person uses water from their garden hose to put out an electrical fire, they’ll be using up all their available water supply then have nothing left when it comes time to fight another blaze later on. Conversely, if someone were fighting a chemical-fueled flame and filled their canister without realizing it was designed for different types of material they could end up adding fuel onto what is already there or making matters even more volatile by releasing pressurized chemicals into the air which would certainly worsen any risk of the fire spreading.
The right fire extinguisher type: Failing to match the right fire extinguisher type with the type of fire you are dealing with will only serve to make things worse! If a person uses water from their garden hose to put out an electrical fire, they’ll be using up all their available water supply then have nothing left when it comes time to fight another blaze later on. Conversely, if someone were fighting a chemical-fueled flame and filled their canister without realizing it was designed for different types of material they could end up adding fuel onto what is already there or making matters even more volatile by releasing pressurized chemicals into the air which would certainly worsen any risk of the fire spreading.
Residential fires in particular call for the fire extinguisher to be pressurized, and the best models for this will have an “A” rating. It is important that you also check if it has a wide enough nozzle that can reach into tight spaces when needed or if it contains carbon dioxide gas because CO² particles are heavier than air and so work better in smoke-filled environments.
On type with the fire, you are dealing with will only serve to make things worse! If someone uses water from their garden hose to put out an electrical fire, they’ll use up all of their available water supply then not have anything left when it comes time to fight another blaze later on. Conversely, if someone were fighting a chemical-fueled flame and filled their canister without realizing it was designed to make it safer for water to extinguish flames, it will only serve to make things worse.
I hope I have given you enough information about fire extinguishers so that you can choose the one which is right for your needs and how much risk you are willing to take with fires in your home or workplace. If there’s anything else you would like me to cover let me know!
-Amber Smith (Fire Extinguisher Expert)
The importance of using the right fire extinguisher: Fire extinguishers play a very important role in first aid fire-fighting. They can mean the difference between a small localized incident that is quickly put out, or the fire and rescue service arriving to find a raging inferno that is putting lives at risk.
-Amber Smith (Fire Extinguisher Expert)
The importance of using the right fire extinguishers: Fire extinguishers play a very important role in first aid fire-fighting. They can mean the difference between a small localized incident that is quickly put out, or the fire and rescue service arriving to find a raging inferno that is putting lives at risk. -Amber Smith (Fire Extinguisher Expert)
For water to extinguish flames, it will only serve to make things worse.: for water to extinguish flames, it will only serve to make things worse.
Car fire extinguishers are usually dry powder as these work on fire of different class so if you are unsure use a dry powder extinguisher