Six Things You Can Do to Avoid Using the Wrong Fire Extinguisher

The red fire extinguisher is so familiar in everyday life that we barely notice it. It is usually a grudge purchase as insurance against something we hope will never happen. Your fire extinguisher might never be needed. But if an extinguisher is needed, the user must be able to rely on it to work properly the first time. There may be no second chance.   

1. Learn the five different types of fires:  
   1. Class A: Freely burning fires fuelled by ordinary combustible materials e.g. cloth, wood and paper.  
   2. Class B: Fires fuelled by flammable liquids such as oils, spirits, petrol and greases.  
   3. Class C: Fires fuelled by flammable gases such as propane and butane.  
   4. Electrical fires  
   5. Class F: Deep fat fires  
2. Make sure your extinguisher bears the European Standard EN 3 approval number and CE mark and the manufacturer's licence number: In most European countries it is illegal to sell fire extinguishers until they have been independently tested and certified against European standard EN 3.  But in the , this is not the case.  The best advice for the consumer is to go to a reputable supplier for advice and to ensure that your fire protection equipment meets these quality standards.  The most important aspect of EN 3 is quality assurance.  To gain accreditation, extinguishers must pass the most rigorous of tests.  
3. Choose the right fire extinguisher for your needs:  Having decided that quality is not an option, but a must, the next job is to ensure that you use the appropriate type of portable extinguisher on the right type of fire at issue.  Tackling a fire with the wrong type of extinguisher can be ineffective and dangerous.   
   1. Water (colour coded red) for use in Class A fires.  It is highly dangerous if used on live electrical equipment.  
   2. New 'Water with additives' extinguishers (also colour coded red and for use on Class A fires).  These offer a much greater fire fighting capacity than traditional water extinguishers.  Although not generally suitable for live electrical equipment, if accidentally used, the risk of electrical shock is substantially reduced.  
   3. Spray Foam AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam - colour-coded cream), for Classes A and B fires.  Not generally suitable for live electrical equipment.  
   4. Carbon Dioxide (C02-colour-coded black) is suitable for use on live electrical equipment as it is a nonconductive agent.  It is recommended that the power supply should be disconnected as a safety precaution, wherever it is possible.  CO2 can be dangerous if used in a confined space, as it can asphyxiate.  These extinguishers can also cause freeze burns if the nozzle comes into contact with skin.  
   5. Dry Powder (colour-coded blue) is a highly versatile fire fighting medium for Classes A, B and C fires, as well as for live electrical hazards.  It is also effective for vehicle fires and suitable for most fire risks.  Re-ignition can occur, as it does not readily penetrate the inside of electrical equipment.   
   6. Wet Chemical (colour-coded canary yellow) for Class F (deep fat) fires, provides a two-pronged fire fighting effect.  It knocks out the flames in seconds, and then caps oil with a soapy crust, which prevents re-ignition.  
4. Get it regularly serviced:  The new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order makes it a legal requirement for business owners to get this done.  You must be able to prove that your fire protection equipment has been serviced by a competent person.  A well established reputable fire protection company can do this for you.  You can also phone your local fire office for advice.     
5. Make sure your fire extinguisher is easily accessible:  The extinguisher must also be correctly positioned i.e. it must be conspicuous and readily accessible. Normally, at least one unit should be near the room exit.   
6. Practice discharging your Fire Extinguisher before you need to:  When your extinguisher is being installed or serviced, make sure you have the opportunity to practice discharging it.  The first time the vast majority of people will use a fire extinguisher will be when a real fire starts.  That is the WRONG time to practice.  You must have an opportunity to practice beforehand.  A reputable fire protection company will let you do this during servicing or they will carry a spare extinguisher in their vans for that purpose. 

    

If you are unsure which equipment you should install, call a reputable Fire Security company to carry out a Risk Audit for you.  A small number of quality companies will do this for free as a community service.

 At Southern Fire we supply and install a wide range of fire safety products such as Kidde fire extinguishers, Gloria fire extinguishers, and many others.