Did you know? Not all flames are the same…
Many people are unaware that there are different types of fire extinguishers suitable for different fuel sources or different types of fire. A fire occurring in a kitchen will be quite different to one in an office.
What happens if you use the wrong fire extinguisher?
By using the wrong fire extinguisher, you can potentially feed the fire and cause the fire to spread further in your property. For example, water extinguishers should NEVER be used on electrical fires as water conducts electricity, which can electrocute the operator. Additionally, water extinguishers sprayed on burning gases, petroleum and other flammable gases will only spread the flame, causing further damage.
The different types of fire extinguishers include:
- Water extinguishers
- Wet chemical extinguishers
- Powder extinguishers
- Foam extinguishers
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers
- Vaporising liquid extinguishers
- Fire blanket
As you can see, there are quite a few types of fire extinguishers out there and it can be confusing to know which fire extinguisher best suits your business.
For instance, if you own a restaurant the best fire extinguishers will be a fire blanket and a wet chemical extinguisher as they are best suited for flames caused by cooking oils and fat. However, if you are in an office environment, your best choices will include water, wet chemical, foam and vaporising liquid extinguishers.
To make things simpler, we have created a fire extinguisher chart to explain which agent you should choose to best suit your business. See below.
Even with our handy chart, we understand that it can be difficult to determine which fire extinguisher you need – whether you need one or multiple types. Therefore, we are providing you with a free inspection and quote so that we can do all the hard work for you.
To ensure the safety of your staff, choose the correct fire agent and put out the right type of flame.
Simply call us on 1300 556 651 for your free inspection.