What are the different types of fire extinguishers for?

Answer 1

There are different fire extinguishers for different types of fires.

Fires are classified according to the material that is burning, often using A, B, C, D, and K classifications. These are fully described elsewhere, but basically refer to

• A - "ordinary combustibles",
• B - "flammable liquids and gases",
• C - "energized electrical",
• D - "combustible metals", and
• K - "cooking oils and fats".

Some fire extinguishers will work on A, B and C, or just one or two of those. Those for D and K are usually selected especially for the particular hazard.

Answer 2

Class A-normal burnables ie. paper, wood grass

Class B-Combustible liquids, fuels, oils

Class C-Electrical..fuse panels, wires electrical drvices

Class D-Metals

Class K- cooking oils and fats

Answer 3

Different types of extinguishers are used depending on what type of material is burning. Class A extinguishers are usually just water which works on wood and paper type materials but would make a flammable liquids fire worse. Class B would be used on flammable liquids and class C is used for energized electrical equipment. Class D is a special type used for burning metals like aluminum. Various chemicals and agents are used but the most common is A:B:C dry chemical which has most uses.

Answer 4

I can only think of three types, but I'm no fire science guy. There is the CO2 extinguisher, the chemical foam extinguisher, and the chemical powder extinguisher. They ALL work on exactly the same principals. Fire must have three things to exist: Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat. Knock out any one of those things, and fire cannot burn. CO2, foam, and powder all displace oxygen and absorb heat.

Answer 5

Water fire extinguishers are for fires involving paper, wood or plastic type materials. Foam fire extinguishers are for fires involving flammable liquids like petrol or paraffin. Dry poweder extinguishers are to be used on flammable gases such as butane.