Fire Saftey

Last Updated on Sunday, 11 December 2011 17:16 Written by Board Member Sunday, 11 December 2011 17:11

You are strongly encourages you to keep at least one, and preferably several, fire extinguishers in your home. Fire extinguishers reduce the potential for damage, which keeps your condominium insurance premiums down. Several types are available, and each has a specific use.

How Many Extinguishers Do I Need?

Common household fire extinguishers are only intended to snuff out small fires before they become serious. Keep as many as necessary to grab quickly before a fire gets out of control. For starters, you should probably have one in the kitchen and one in the garage.

What Type of Extinguisher Do I Need?

The kind of fire extinguisher you should use depends on what’s burning. Different types of extinguishers are available for different types of fires, and each is prominently labeled with an alpha designation:

Class A fires: paper, wood, cardboard. If household items like cardboard, fabric, or wood (a sofa, for example) are on fire, water will do the best job of putting it out. This is a class A fire, and extinguishers containing water are labeled with an “A.” Water is useful only on class A fires and can be dangerous on other types of fires. For example, water spreads grease fires and conducts electricity in an electrical fire. NEVER pour water on a grease or electrical fire.

Class B fires: gasoline, kerosene, grease, oil, and other combustible liquids. This type of fire is common in the garage or kitchen, and you should use an extinguisher labeled B or BC. Most contain dry chemicals similar to bicarbonate of soda (a great all-purpose kitchen fire extinguisher) in a pressurized foam base. Baking soda is a good household ingredient that you can use on small fires of this type when an extinguisher is unavailable. When it encounters the heat of a flame or acidic solution, the baking soda decomposes partly to carbon dioxide and smothers the flame.

Class C fires: electrical equipment. Bicarbonate type (BC) extinguishers are also useful for electrical fires. But don’t confuse electrical with electronic fires. You probably don’t want chemical foam on your computer or entertainment components. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are also labeled BC, and these are probably better for extinguishing fires on or near electronic or other delicate equipment.

What Does the Number Mean?

Along with the alpha designations listed in the last newsletter, fire extinguishers also have a number. This indicates how much fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher numbers put out bigger fires. However, bigger isn’t always better. Large extinguishers are more difficult to handle and can be used by only one person at a time. If you feel you need added coverage, stock several smaller extinguishers rather than just one large one.

The All-Purpose Problem

Fire extinguishers labeled ABC will handle all classes of fire, and they would seem to eliminate the question, “What type do I need?” But all-purpose extinguishers have some disadvantages. They’re usually large and hard to handle, they contain chemicals that can corrode aluminum and damage electrical systems, and they leave a messy yellow residue.

You may read more about fire extinguishers and use by visiting www.fire-extinguisher101.com. There you will find just about everything you ever wanted to know about fire extinguishers and how to use them.