Water and electricity generally do not mix very well. Impurities in ordinary tap water help make it a good conductor of electricity. Using a water fire extinguisher on an electrical fire will almost always present a major shock hazard and should never be considered. That being said there is a "special" type of water fire extinguisher that can be used on electrical fires, but it uses purified distilled water and a special nozzle that disperses the water in tiny beads. To be safe, unless you know what type of extinguisher you have and what it is used for, it is best to evacuate the area and call the fire department.
it makes big sparks
If the energized sources has not been turned off, "tripped", or disengaged. The combustable material that is on fire will be energized causing the water that comes is contact to be energized as well.
If you use a water extinguisher on an electrical fire you will more than likely be electrocuted. Fire fighters use a certain spray pattern if they have to use water on an electrical fire so that they electricity does not travel up the water stream to shock the person on the nozzle, anyone else touching the hose, or anyone touching the fire engine.
water is a natural conductor of electricity, so if it does put out the fire (shortly) if it water spreads while the electricity is still running through it, you've basicly made yourself a moving death threat.
No, water should not be used on an energized electrical fire.
If the electricity cannot be switched off, use a dry chemical, or a clean agent extinguisher (i.e., in Class C) on an electrical fire.
Do not use a Class A fire extinguisher, but a Class A:B:C or B:C will work fine.
the person using water fire extinguisher can get a electrical shock
There is a very high probability that you would be electrocuted and die.
NO! Water extinguishers are a Class A- you need an extinguisher with a C class.
You would not want to use a pressure water extinguisher on any electrical fire due to the possibility of electricity being conducted through the water and injuring someone. A CO2, dry chemical or "clean agent" (e.g., "Halogenated") extinguisher would be a better choice for an electrical fire, knowing that dry chemical powder will make quite a mess.
Assuming the fire is caused by an electrical problem, you would need a class c extinguisher.
There are several categories of fire extinguishers. It depends on where the extinguisher is likely to be used and on what type of fire is to be expected. For example: a soda and water extinguisher is commonly used for general type fires. But, due to the risk of being electrocuted, a soda and water extinguisher would be dangerous to use round high voltage electrical equipment - so a carbon dioxide extinguisher would be used instead. On oil fires, a foam extinguisher would be best, as a soda water extinguisher would simply spread the area of the oil fire, and even increase the intensity of the flames, while the foam would smother the flames, cutting off the oxygen to feed the fire.
please answer
The extinguisher that has only a green triangle on it would be a really BAD choice because it probably contains water for putting out Class A fires of ordinary combustibles. An electrical fire (Class C) is signified by the letter C in a blue circle. Or, you can turn off the electricity and use any extinguisher appropriate for the type of fire that was started by the electricity's heat.
you should use dry powder extinguisher
A classroom would generally contain only "ordinary combustibles", so a type A fire extinguisher would be appropriate. In a chemistry laboratory, cooking class, automobile engines, electrical or welding class, different rules would dictate the type, placement and number of required fire extinguishers, typically Type ABC (multi-class).
You get wet, waste the extinguisher and still have a fire! But, seriously: if you were to use a water extinguisher on a grease fire, the hot and flaming grease would simply spread (grease floating on the water) and you may have a larger fire than if you had done nothing. Also, if you were to use water on an electrical fire, you could (in theory) be electrocuted when the current travels through the conductive water stream and through the body of the person holding the extinguisher. Putting water on a Class D (metal) fire would almost certainly cause a shower of sparks if not also an explosion as the heat of the fire turns the water (H2O) into an oxidizer, further exciting the fire.
red = water and is used for wood paper textiles and solid material fires. DO not use on liquid elictrical or metal fires. blue = powder and is used for liquid and electrical fires. DO not use on metal fires. yellow = foam and is used for liquid fires. DO not use on electrical or metal fires black = carbon dioxide (CO) and is used for liquid and electrical fires DO not use on metal fires. halon can be used on all fires as well as dry chemical
It depends: a fire that is paper, furniture, would use a soda water to extinguish the flames. Petrol or ignited solvents is best extinguishes using dry powder, or foam. A soda water extinguisher would simply spread the flames and make it far worse. In a boat, a foam extinguisher is best. A carbon dioxide extinguisher is best in a room of computers, other electrical devices or where you don't want too much damage to equipment or papers.
A water fire extinguisher (called a "Class A"extinguisher) is only useful on fires involving wood, paper, cardboard, and most plastics. An extinguisher labelled "Class B" is for fires involving flammable liquids, and "Class C" is for electrical equipment fires.
Trick question, if the fire extinguisher is full of water, such as a Class 2A. However, a fire extinguisher is designed to put out a small fire quicker than anyone can respond with a hose and a water supply. Unfortunately, many fires react violently when water is applied to them, so a different type of fire extinguisher must be used.