Fire/Smoke

There are 6 classes of fires:

Class A: SOLIDS such as paper, wood, plastic

(water)

Class B: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS such as paraffin, petrol, oil

(dry powder, CO2 / halon, foam)

Class C: FLAMMABLE GASES such as propane, butane, methane

(dry powder)

Class D: METALS such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium

(CO2 / halon, dry powder)

Class E: Fires involving ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

(CO2 / halon, dry powder)

Class F: Cooking OIL & FAT etc.

(wet chemical)
 Fire/Smoke
WATER Fire Extinguishers:

- OK for for Class A fires.

- NOT OK for Class B (Liquid) fires, or where electricity is involved.

FOAM Fire Extinguishers:

- OK for Classes A &B fires.

- NOT OK for fires involving electricity, but safer than water if
inadvertently used on electrical fire.

DRY POWDER Fire Extinguishers:

- OK for classes A, B &C fires. Best for liquid fires (Class B).
- Also suitable for class D metal fires.
- when used indoors, powder can obscure vision or damage systems
- very messy.

C02 1HALON Fire Extinguishers:

- OK for class A (limited), B fires - ideal for electrical and liquid fires.
- has NO POST FIRE SECURITY and the fire could re-ignite if not
cooled down by other means.

WET CHEMICAL Fire Extinguishers:

- OK for class F fires.