Fire Extinguishers
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguisher: Water Type
Water naturally, extinguishes fire. Such a Fire Extinguisher contains water under pressure. Water can be used only against Type A fires.
Fire Extinguisher: Dry Chemical Type
Dry Chemical Type of Fire Extinguishers can be used in a variety of fire types. Hence they are commonly known as “Multi-purpose Fire Extinguishers.” They can be used in Type A, type B and Type C fires. This is the most popular Fire Extinguisher and is commonly seen in offices, hospitals or homes etc.
Fire Extinguisher: Co2 Type or Co2 Extinguishing System
Such a Fire Extinguisher is used in Type A and type B fires. This is a clean type of Fire Extinguisher, this is because it leaves no residue behind. Hence, such a Fire Extinguisher is used in Server rooms or in Art Galleries.
Fire Extinguisher: Foam Type
Such a Fire Extinguisher is used in Type A and type B fires. After the trigger is pressed, the foam is released from the Fire Extinguisher. The foam floats on the flammable liquid and isolate them from oxygen. However, they leave a residue, which has to be cleaned up.
Fire Extinguisher: Wet Chemical Type
These are generally seen on professional kitchens. They work by forming a mist over the fire, which isolates the Oxygen.
A Fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire brigade.
Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common.
There are a variety of fires. Each fire type, cannot treated the same way that, is why we have to use different Fire Extinguishers for different fires. For example, a water type Fire Extinguisher cannot be used for an electrical fire. Fire Extinguishers work on the principle that by isolating Oxygen from, the fuel and ignition; the Fire Triangle is effectively broken. Hence, the fire stops immediately. However, Fire Extinguishers are supposed to be used for small fire or fire in an infant stage. For large fires, Fire Extinguishers they might not be useful. So in a sense, you can call Fire Extinguishers as Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems, useful for fires in their infant stage. But the detection will, remain manual or visual; as seen by the person near the fire.
There are two main types of fire extinguishers:
- Stored-pressure.
- Cartridge-operated.
In stored pressure units, the expellant is stored in the same chamber as the firefighting agent itself. Depending on the agent used, different propellants are used. With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used; water and foam extinguishers typically use air. Stored pressure fire extinguishers are the most common type. Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. This type is not as common, used primarily in areas such as industrial facilities, where they receive higher-than-average use. They have the advantage of simple and prompt recharge, allowing an operator to discharge the extinguisher, recharge it, and return to the fire in a reasonable amount of time.
How to operate Fire Extinguishers?
One can best, operate a Fire Extinguishers, by using the PASS principle:
1) P: PULL the pin form the handle.
2) A: AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire.
3) S: SQUEEZE the handle, and don’t let go.
4) S: SWEEP the nozzle from side to side.