Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher can be a life-saver. But, as with all emergency equipment, it must be stocked and maintained properly to ensure it’s ready for use when needed.

When selecting a fire extinguisher, it’s important to know the types of fire it’s designed to tackle. As not all hand-held fire extinguishers are compatible with all classes of fire, choosing the right type for a given fire can be crucial. Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher can make a fire much worse, putting people at even greater risk of injury or death.

Traditionally, hand-held fire extinguishers were used to put out electrical and chemical fires. During the early years, carbon tetrachloride was commonly used, but this compound is dangerous to use and was banned in 1969. Later, liquid chlorobromomethane was introduced as a safer alternative. This chemical is less toxic and is still in use today as a foaming agent.

The newest type of fire extinguisher is the water mist unit. These extinguishers emit an ultra-fine mist of microscopic ‘dry’ demineralised water particles. They can be used to fight Class A, B, and C fires and are safe to handle. They are also suitable for use on electrical fires, up to 1,000 volts. These units can be purchased for around PS30 for a smaller model to PS85 for a complete system.

Foam fire extinguishers use a unique chemical called aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) or aqueous fluoroprotein firefighting agent to break the chain reaction of a fire. These models discharge the foam through an air-aspirating branchpipe nozzle or spray nozzle that can be activated by squeezing the lever. These are produced as both solid charge and pre-mix models, with the AFFF concentrate housed in an external cartridge and mixed at discharging time.

These are a great choice for protecting delicate electronic equipment, such as computer systems or printers. Carbon dioxide is non-conductive, meaning it passes through a fire to cool electronics and prevent damage. This is the only type of fire extinguisher that doesn’t leave a residue, and it’s often used in offices and computer rooms.

All fire extinguishers need to be inspected and serviced regularly. An internal examination is required once the discharge gauge reaches 25%, and an external examination must be done once every year. A certificate of inspection is issued when these tests are completed.

It’s important to always keep a fire extinguisher close at hand and have an escape route planned ahead of time. It’s also crucial to understand that even if a fire appears to be extinguished, you should alert everyone and evacuate. It’s also a good idea to call 911 from your mobile phone. This will allow firefighters to respond and verify that the fire is truly extinguished, as well as accomplish a fire report.