Extinguishers
British Standard - 5306
Having the correct extinguisher for the potential classification of fire is essential. Not only to put the fire out but keep the user safe. Having the wrong type in a certain area can not only cause avoidable damage to property but cause serious injury to yourself or those around you.
The table below identifies the different types of fire and their source of combustion.
Water
Red Band
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Best For
Fires involving organic solid materials such as wood, cloth, paper, plastics, coal etc.
How to Use
Point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Ensure that all areas of the fire are out.
How it Works
Water has a great cooling effect on the fuel’s surface and thereby reduces the pyrolysis rate of the fuel.
Danger
Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances.
Foam
Cream Band
Best For
Fires involving solids and burning liquids, such as paint and petrol but not suitable for chip or fat pan fires. Safe on fires caused by electricity if tested to 35kV (dielectric test) and a 1m safety distance is adhered to.
How to Use
For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Ensure that all areas of the fire are out. For fires involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid. Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid. Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.
How it Works
They are mainly water based, with a foaming agent so that the foam can float on top of the burning liquid and break the interaction between the flames and the fuel surface.
Danger
Do not use on chip or fat pan fires.
C02
Black Band
Best For
Live electrical equipment, although it allows re-ignition of hot plastics. Now mainly used on computer servers, although care has to be taken in small server rooms as CO2 gas is poisonous at 4% and can kill at just 8% concentration.
How to Use
The discharge horn should be directed at the base of the flames and the jet kept moving across the area of the fire. Note: CO2 extinguishers only provide 6 to 10 seconds of fire fighting.
How it Works
Carbon dioxide extinguishers work by suffocating the fire. C02 displaces oxygen in the air. However, once discharged, the CO2 will dissipate quickly and allow access for oxygen again, which can re-ignite the fire.
Danger
Do not use on chip or fat pan fires, as it can carry burning fat out of the container. C02's do not cool the fire very well and you need to ensure that the fire does not start up again. Fumes from CO2 extinguishers can asphyxiate if used in confined spaces. A relatively small increase in CO2 levels can overcome and potentially kill a user. Be careful not to hold the horn while using as the hand holding the horn can otherwise be frozen to the horn, as the gas gets very cold during the discharge.
Powder
Blue Band
Best For
Can be used on fires involving organic solids, liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol, etc and also be used on gas fires.
How to Use
Point the jet or discharge horn at the base of the flames and, with a rapid sweeping motion, drive the fire towards the far edge until all the flames are out. If the extinguisher has a hand control, wait until the air clears and if you can still see the flames, attack the fire again.
How it Works
Similarly to almost all extinguishing agents the powder acts as a thermal ballast making the flames too cool for the chemical reactions to continue. Some powders also provide a minor chemical inhibition, although this effect is relatively weak. These powders thus provide rapid knockdown of flame fronts, but may not keep the fire suppressed.
Danger
Do not use on domestic chip or fat pan fires. There is also danger of inhalation if powder extinguishers are used within buildings. Due to this, and the potential for powder to impair vision, powder extinguishers are no longer recommended for use within enclosed spaces.
Wet Chemical
Yellow Band
Best For
Wet chemical fire extinguishers are ideal for Class F fires, involving cooking oils and fats, such as lard, olive oil, sunflower oil, maize oil and butter.
How to Use
Apply the wet chemical using the extended applicator in slow circular movements, which gives a gentle, yet highly effective application. Apply the fine spray onto the burning fat until the surface of the burning cooking oil changes into a soapy like substance which prevents re-ignition. The gentle application helps to prevent burning oil splashing out of the container. Make sure that you empty the entire content of the wet chemical extinguisher onto the oil/fat, as the fire can re-ignite otherwise.
How it Works
Most class F extinguishers contain a solution of potassium acetate, sometimes with some potassium citrate or potassium bicarbonate. The extinguishers spray the agent out as a fine mist. The mist acts to cool the flame front, while the potassium salts saponify the surface of the burning cooking oil, producing a layer of foam over the surface. This solution thus provides a similar blanketing effect to a foam extinguisher, but with a greater cooling effect. The saponification only works on animal fats and vegetable oils, so most class F extinguishers cannot be used for class B fires. The misting also helps to prevent splashing the blazing oil.
Danger
Check manufacturer’s instructions for suitability of use. These extinguishers are usually not recommended for class B fires such as petrol, although Gloria has produced a 3 ltr wet chemical extinguisher with B rating.
Lith-Ex
Green Band
Best For
Ideal for battery fires containing lithium ion, such as portable appliances like mobile phones, laptops etc.
How to Use
The fire extinguisher contains AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion) compound and water, which is applied as a fine mist to extinguish lithium fires. The 6 Ltr Lithium Battery Fire Extinguisher works by extinguishing the flames, cooling the excessive heat, and preventing the product from re-igniting, a particular problem with these fires.
How it Works
As these fires require a special cooling agent to remove heat from the batteries, the lithium-ion battery fire extinguisher is manufactured in a unique way. They are manufactured as a water type extinguisher with F-500 encapsulator agent. This agent, when mixed with water, cools the ignited battery
Danger
Do not use on chip or fat pan fires.
Fire Blanket
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Best For
Small pan fires where oil or fat has caught fire and clothing fires.
How to Use
Place carefully over the fire. Keep your hands shielded from the fire. Do not waft the fire towards you.
How it Works
Smothers the fire and prevents oxygen getting to the fire.
Fire blankets are made of fire resistant materials. They are useful for smothering small pan fires or for wrapping round a person whose clothing is on fire. Fire blankets conforming to British Standard BS EN 1869 : 1997 are suitable for use in the home. BS 7944 : 1999 is the specification for specialist heavy duty industrial use.
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Danger
If the blanket does not completely cover the fire, it will not be able to extinguish the fire.
While kitemarked fire blankets have been successfully tested on deep fat fryers, modern frying fats are difficult to extinguish with a fire blanket. We therefore recommend wet chemicals for deep fat fryers.
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Fire blankets should be disposed of after use or if they become excessively dirty.
