Know the Classes of Fire So You Can Pick the Right Extinguisher
Owning business premises means being entirely responsible for the safety of the building as well as the people inside it. Since fire is one of the most destructive risks that could be posed to your property, it is prudent to ensure that you have an adequate number of fire extinguishers on the premises. Nevertheless, an assumption people make is that they can pick the first extinguisher they come across, and it would be up to the task. In reality, the most common extinguishers found in the market are those that extinguish Class A fires, which are caused by ordinary combustibles such as paper, timber, plastics and fabric. You need to determine what other fires your property would be at risk of to discern which extinguishers would be most suitable. Read on to know the classes of fire so you can pick the right fire extinguisher.
Class B fires
These types of fires occur when flammable liquids combust. The most common things that will cause this class of fire include petroleum, gasoline and kerosene. It should also be noted that gases like propane and butane are covered under this category, as they qualify as a fuel source that would facilitate a Class B fire. Therefore, Class B fire extinguishers would be essential in industries that deal with paints, lubricants, fuels and other combustibles that contain the aforementioned compounds.
Class C fires
These types of fires are also typically referred to as electric fires. They are fires that have their fuel source originating from electrically powered equipment or electrical components. Thus, Class C fires are typically associated with items such as transformers, appliances, motors and more. Since most business will use electricity in one capacity or another, it is advisable to always have Class C fire extinguishers on your property just in case there is an electrical surge. Bear in mind that you should cut off the source of power, by perhaps switching off the mains, before attempting to put out an electrical fire.
Class D fires
Class D fires are characterised as those that are caused by combustible metals. The metals that are commonly associated with this classification of fire include potassium, titanium, aluminium and magnesium, although other types of metallic substances also have combustible properties. Usually, it is work environments such as laboratories that are considered to be at risk of a Class D fire. Nonetheless, Class D fires can also occur in both production and manufacturing processes that utilise metal fabrication.