Fire Extinguisher

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

One important step that a property owner can take to protect their investment is to choose and install the right fire extinguisher for their particular location. While it is commonly known that extinguishers come with rating numbers that indicate the amount of fire they are able to fight, it is not commonly known that there are specific extinguishers that must be used in different settings and scenarios.

The Kitchen Extinguisher

Most kitchen fires are caused during the course of regular cooking routines. Due to this fact, many kitchen fires include grease, oil and gas (used to fuel older model ranges).
Not every fire extinguisher on the market can properly battle flames infused with these substances and it is therefore imperative to select an extinguisher that is designed to fight kitchen fires.

The best fire extinguisher to use in the kitchen is a Class B extinguisher that has a high enough numerical rating to effectively protect the whole of your cooking area.

The Circuit Breaker Extinguisher

If you have a place on your property that houses a significant amount of wiring, such as a circuit breaker box or a room with a large number of electrical outlets, you will need to purchase an extinguisher that emits a non-conductive extinguishing agent. This will ensure that the fire is quenched instead of further activated by insufficient dousing agents.

A Class C fire extinguisher is the best choice for protecting rooms that pose an electrical fire threat.

The Office Extinguisher

In a typical home or work office, common materials such as paper, plastic, cardboard and lumber can be found. Unlike fires caused by chemical or electrical accidents, most office fires can be quenched using a water-based fire extinguisher. Again, it is imperative that you choose an extinguisher with a high enough numerical rating to fight the highest level of fire that you can anticipate occurring in your office setting.

A Class A extinguisher will work best in your home or work office.

The Laboratory Extinguisher

While not every home or office has a chemical laboratory in it, those that do include one need to invest in a special extinguisher type that is designed specifically to put out chemical agents. These extinguishers bear no numerical ratings and they are purposed for chemical fires only.

A Class D extinguisher should be used in laboratory settings.

Maintenance

It is imperative that you choose the right type of extinguisher for each of the different settings within your home or office property. In addition, it is important to make sure that your extinguishers are all well maintained and kept in accessible locations.

The pressure gauge on your extinguisher should always indicate that the contents are under the correct amount of pressure. Too much or too little pressure can render your extinguisher ineffective in the event of a fire and can cause a great deal of damage to your property and the people that you are responsible to protect. Make sure that the pressure gauge on each of your extinguishers is centered in the green portion of the readout. If this is not the case, replace your extinguisher or have it serviced immediately.