The importance of using the right fire extinguisher

Posted by Johny Dean on January 23rd, 2013

Fire extinguishers are a necessity for your safety at home and at work and if safety is important to you, you should purchase extinguishers of the finest quality that meet your requirements. These devices should be strategically placed in key locations, so that they can be reached easily. We should underline the fact that a fire extinguisher provides defense against fire and having such a device at your facility can make a huge difference between a small inconvenience and a life-changing event. If you are in the market for such a device, the first thing you should do is become familiar with your options! To begin with, using the wrong fire extinguisher can make things much worse than you expected and, for this reason, it is recommended to do some research and planning before buying and placing these devices at your premises. Not all fires are the same and it comes as no surprise that different fires require different types of extinguishers. When shopping for such devices, you will have to decide between the following: water and foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, wet chemical, clean agent, dry powder, water mist and cartridge operated dry chemical. As far as water and foam fire extinguishers are concerned, we should mention that they are recommended to be used on class A fires on combustibles like wood, paper, cloth, trash and plastics. Moving on, carbon dioxide devices are meant to remove the heat with a cold discharge and they can be used on class B and C fires. Dry chemical devices deal with the chemical reaction of a fire and it is highly popular these days because it can be used on class A, B and C fires. Keep in mind that using the right extinguisher is crucial, for using the wrong device can re-ignite a fire. Next, the wet chemical fire extinguishers are designed for class K fires such as cooking oils, animal fat, greases, vegetable fat and they are a real necessity for those who activate in the commercial cooking industry. Clean agent devices stop the chemical reaction of a fire, being recommended for class B and C fires while dry powder is effective only on class D fires and more exactly, on combustible metal fires only. Next, there is clean agent which is great for class A fires and cartridge operated dry chemical. As you can see, shopping for the adequate fire extinguisher requires some basic knowledge on the available types and the more you know about these devices, the easier it will be for you to make a purchase. Professionals in this field will recommended a device that is suitable for what you need and they will advise you on the size of the device. All in all, a fire protection system can save you from numerous unpleasant events and it is better to be safe than sorry. Online you will come across professional suppliers who are looking forward to design, inspect or service a state-of-the-art fire protection system! Do you need a fire extinguisher but you have no idea what to start with? If this is the case, you will be pleased to discover that online you will find all the answers you need in order to make the best purchase as far as fire extinguishers are concerned!