Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. The following is a quick guide to help choose the right type of extinguisher.

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Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (green triangle) * Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (red square) * Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive. Geometric symbol (blue circle) * Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for class D fires only. Geometric symbol (Yellow Decagon) * Class K fire extinguishers are for fires that involve cooking oils, trans-fats, or fats in cooking appliances and are typically found in restaurant and cafeteria kitchens. Geometric symbol (black hexagon) |
Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them.
Here are the most common types of fire extinguishers: | * Water extinguishers or APW extinguishers (air-pressurized water) are suitable for class A fires only. Never use a water extinguisher on grease fires, electrical fires or class D fires - the flames will spread and make the fire bigger! Water extinguishers are filled with water and are typically pressurized with air. Again - water extinguishers can be very dangerous in the wrong type of situation. Only fight the fire if you're certain it contains ordinary combustible materials only. * Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are suitable for a combination of class A, B and C fires. These are filled with foam or powder and pressurized with nitrogen. * BC - This is the regular type of dry chemical extinguisher. It is filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. The BC variety leaves a mildly corrosive residue which must be cleaned immediately to prevent any damage to materials. * ABC - This is the multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher. The ABC type is filled with mono ammonium phosphate, a yellow powder that leaves a sticky residue that may be damaging to electrical appliances such as a computer |
Dry chemical extinguishers have an advantage over CO2 extinguishers since they leave a non-flammable substance on the extinguished material, reducing the likelihood of re-ignition.

* Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are used for class B and C fires. CO2 extinguishers contain carbon dioxide, a non-flammable gas, and are highly pressurized. The pressure is so great that it is not uncommon for bits of dry ice to shoot out the nozzle. They don't work very well on class A fires because they may not be able to displace enough oxygen to put the fire out, causing it to re-ignite.
CO2 extinguishers have an advantage over dry chemical extinguishers since they don't leave a harmful residue - a good choice for an electrical fire on a computer or other favorite electronic device such as a stereo or TV.

It is vital to know what type of extinguisher you are using. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for the wrong type of fire can be life-threatening. |

Choosing the proper type of fire extinguisher is an important issue. Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher can be dangerous; in some cases, it can encourage a fire to spread!
When choosing a fire extinguisher, consider the room for which you are purchasing it. In a kitchen, for example, a grease fire from cooking is likely to occur. Therefore, you would not want a water-based extinguisher, which would worsen the fire but a dry chemical extinguisher with ABC ratings.
If you have a room with delicate materials you wish to protect such as electronics, you may wish to opt for a CO2 extinguisher which won't leave a harmful residue.
Essentially, consider two things:
1) the material you wish to protect, and
2) the type of extinguishing agent that will be most effective at suppressing the possible type of fire caused by these materials.
Car Fire Extinguisher - As an essential part of every vehicle safety kit, a car fire extinguisher is a specialty product designed to do a specific job. Although your vehicle is assembled with optimum safety in mind, many of its components are potential fire hazards. Should you encounter a sudden and dangerous fire situation, having a fire extinguisher on hand will allow you to fight the blaze and deter excessive vehicle damage.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
There are many carbon monoxide detectors to choose from. The American Lung Association recommends that you consider the following when choosing a carbon monoxide detector for your home: * Look for products recognized by reputable health and safety organizations. * Check that the product is listed under the Underwriter's Laboratories Amended Standard UL 2034, effective October 1, 1995. * Weigh the benefits of plug-in technology versus models powered by batteries that run out of power and need replacing. * Choose a device that can be immediately reset and self-tested to ensure proper functioning. * Select a detector that offers a complete five-year warranty on the sensor.
Smoke and Fire Alarms
Any type of alarm in your home will better your chances of surviving a fire than no alarm at all.
Consider the following when choosing a smoke or fire alarm:
When purchasing a smoke alarm, ensure yourself that it has been tested to the CAN/ULC S531-M standard by an approved testing agency.
There are two types of smoke alarms for home use. One type is called an Ionization alarm because it monitors "ions", electrically charged particles. Smoke particles entering the sensing chamber change the electrical balance of the air. The alarm is triggered when the change in electrical balance reaches a preset level.
The other type is called a photoelectric alarm because its sensing chamber uses a beam of light and a light sensor. Smoke particles entering the chamber change the amount of light that reaches the light sensor. The alarm is triggered when the smoke density reaches a preset level. Both types of smoke alarms are acceptable and perform effectively provided they are installed and maintained correctly.

What do the A B C ratings mean on Fire Extinguishers?

“A” TRASH–WOOD–PAPER
Fire extinguishers with a Class A rating are effective against fires involving paper, wood, textiles, and plastics. The primary chemical used to fight these fires is mono ammonium phosphate, because of its ability to smother fires in these types of materials.

“B” LIQUIDS
Fire extinguishers with a Class B rating are effective against flammable liquid fires. These can be fires where cooking liquids, oil, gasoline, kerosene, or paint have become ignited. Two commonly used chemicals are effective in fighting these types of fires. Mono ammonium phosphate effectively smothers the fire, while sodium bicarbonate induces a chemical reaction which extinguishes the fire. “C” ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Fire extinguishers with a Class C rating are suitable for fires in “live” electrical equipment. Both mono ammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate are commonly used to fight this type of fire because of their nonconductive properties.

Fire Extinguisher Ratings
Fire extinguishers are classified by fire type. The A, B, C rating system defines the kinds of burning materials each fire extinguisher is designed to fight. The number in front of the A, B, or C indicates the rating size of fire the unit can extinguish.

To achieve a Class “A” rating, the extinguisher must be capable of putting out the wood crib, wood panel and excelsior (shredded paper) tests. Ratings are based on the size of the material that can be repeatedly extinguished.

Rating | Wood Crib
(inches) | Wood Panel
(Feet) | Excelsior
(lbs) | 1-A | 20 x 20 x 20 | 8 x 8 | 6 | 2-A | 25 x 26 x 26 | 10 x 10 | 12 | 3-A | 30 x 30 x 30 | 12 x 12 | 18 | 4-A | 33 x 30 x 30 | 14 x 14 | 24 | 6-A | 38x 38 x 38 | 17 x 17 | 36 | 10-A | 48 x 48 x 48 | 17 x 17 | 36 |

To achieve a class “B” rating, the extinguisher must repeatedly put out a flaming liquid fire. Ratings are based on the size of the fire. Rating | Pan Size
(sq ft) | Gallons of
Heptane | 1-B | 2.5 | 3.25 | 2-B | 5.0 | 6.25 | 5-B | 12.5 | 15.5 | 10-B | 25.0 | 31.0 | 20-B | 50.0 | 65.0 | 30-B | 75.0 | 95.0 | 40-B | 100.0 | 125.0 |

To achieve the Class “C” rating the extinguisher and contents must pass certain electrical conductivity measurements in accordance with UL711 and UL299.

It's easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you can remember the acronym PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim,Squeeze, and Sweep.

| Pull the pin.
This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher. | | Aim at the base of the fire.
If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the temptation), the extinguishing agent will fly right through and do no good. You want to hit the fuel. | | Squeeze the top handle or lever.
This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent in the extinguisher. | | Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away, then move forward. Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-ignites.THANK YOU, QUESTIONS??? |