Despite the vast improvements in fire safety codes and procedures in recent decades, fires still manage to devastate homes and businesses on a regular basis. Fires cause millions of dollars of property damage and cost thousands of lives every year. A good fire extinguisher is crucial to have on hand in your home or in your place of work, as it will give you a much higher chance of saving yourself, your loved ones, and your property from getting harmed by fire. However, there are different kinds of fire extinguishers, and knowing which kind is right for the job is extremely important.
Different Fires Require Different Methods
Though fire may all look the same, the fact of the matter is that not every material will burn in the same way. Generally speaking, fires are classified into several different types, based on the type of material that is burning: class A fires, which include combustible materials like wood, paper, trash, plastics, and fabric; class B fires, which include flammable liquids like gasoline or propane; class C fires, which include electrical equipment; class D fires, which include metals like potassium, sodium, aluminum, and magnesium; and class K fires, which include cooking oils. Each type of material will burn differently, and will require a different type of extinguishing agent to deal with most efficiently.
The Wrong Extinguisher Can Make Things Worse
If you have an electrical fire, it’s extremely important that you not use a water or foam based extinguisher, as this can lead to an even more dangerous shock hazard. Likewise, carbon dioxide extinguishers won't work on wood or fabric, and using one would only waste time and allow the fire to spread further.
At Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service, we take fire safety seriously. That’s why we offer a full range of fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems ready to protect your home or business from the effects of a dangerous fire. Contact us today for a free site analysis!
Fire safety is of the utmost importance in the workplace. Quickly knowing a fire is present in the building is vital to ensuring the health and safety of everyone in your office. Choosing a suitable fire alarm system can be...
A fire safety plan can be defined a formal document that contains details of the procedures that should be followed in case there is a fire. Ideally, the fire safety plan should suit the resources of a given building. A fire safety plan does not...
A fire extinguisher is one of the most important safety devices any home can have. Nevertheless, the average person seems to have no clue about how and when they need to be serviced. That said, the following is a closer look at the shelf life of...
All residential and commercial buildings should have measures of protection in place against smoke and fire. One example of an excellent preventative measure is installing a fire sprinkler system. However, many people struggle to choose a fire...
To avoid hazardous accidents caused due to fire, your home alarm system should work fine. The key is to check the fire alarm system as per the expert recommendation to keep it functioning properly and to see if there is a need of a battery...
Never underestimate the importance of performing regular fire drills in the home, workplace, or school. Always remember that when a real fire happens, the time to react can be measured in seconds! Performing regular fire drills are essential for...
While a fire can start anywhere at any time, below is a list of the top four most common causes of fires. This information may even help you to prevent starting a fire.
1. In the United States, the most common type of fire starts in the...
Thousands of fires occur every year and sometimes they are fatal. Fires are serious whether they are major or minor. When a fire occurs, a lot of damage can take place. Read on for five simple safety tips you can follow to keep you,...
Before the Fire Starts
Preventing a grease fire is far more easy than starting one. If you are cooking with grease or oil, always maintain supervision of the liquid. Watch for warning signs like a change in smell or visible smoke vapors; Turn...
When you’re working in the fast-paced atmosphere of a modern office, it’s easy to let something like fire safety slip through the cracks. After all, why would you waste time thinking about something that has such a small likelihood...
Owners of large, commercial buildings have many concerns related to general and preventative maintenance, rent, insurance, and more. One of the biggest causes of concern for owners of large buildings is possible fire damage. Without adequate...
Owners of residential buildings need to take several precautionary steps in order to ensure the safety of the residents, especially when it comes to fire safety. Fires can start quickly, and for that reason, it is important to have a...
Red and ready, or past its prime? Most of us buy a fire extinguisher with the best intentions—to be prepared for the unthinkable. But then, life gets busy, and that red canister tucked away in the corner fades away from our minds. We hope...
If you own a business, you should take the time to examine your fire prevention plans and policies that you have in place. If you do not have a commercial fire extinguisher system, or if your system is outdated, it may be time to consider buying...
It is very important to have health and safety take priority in the workplace. Most deaths and injuries from fires are the result of people not knowing the proper fire safety and exit strategies to follow. It is up to every employer to...
An automatic fire suppression system can not only control a fire in a building, but it can also extinguish fires well before the fire department can arrive on scene. It does this without the need for any human intervention. Automatic fire...
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), there are approximately 3,350 office fires per year in the United States. The 3,350 annual office fires result in approximately 112 million in property damage to business...
Electrical fires can happen very quickly, but at times, there are some warning signs that should be heeded. Electrical fires can happen as a result of faulty wiring and by overloading circuits. Electrical fires can also happen as a...
A fire extinguisher is something that we see all the time. They’re prominently displayed in every public building, as well as most houses and apartments. In fact, we’re so used to seeing them that we don’t usually notice when one is in the...
All commercial property owners are required to undergo an annual fire safety inspection in order to assess and diminish the potential for life threatening hazards in buildings.
The best way to ensure that you pass your inspection from...
Whether you pay close attention or not, you’ve probably seen fire sprinklers in most of the commercial buildings you’ve entered. Mounted on the ceiling, they are designed to drench an area with water to put off a fire before it spreads....
Restaurants present a considerable fire risk, with open flames, hot equipment, electrical appliances, and oil all coming together in a small, hectic environment. Fire can be devastating to a business, leading to lost revenue, permanent damage...
A well functioning fire alarm system is essential to the safety of your family, employees, or tenants. Having well-functioning fire alarm system and fire protection equipment is not only common sense—it’s a legal requirement in...
Have you ever dumped water on a kitchen fire only to see the flames grow even larger? This is because water actually causes flames from oil, fat, and grease to spread and grow. Since all fires are not created equally, there are a...
You probably don’t think much about your fire extinguisher until you really need it — and that’s the worst time to discover that it no longer functions. In most commercial and public facilities, the law requires that you have yearly...
When receiving an inspection of your kitchen fire suppression system, there are a few things you should know to ensure the safety of your property, employees and yourself. The following questions can assist restaurant owners in assessing the...
We've added great new features and updated our content to bring you the most up to date information about our company. Check back often for updates.
