It turns out that the use of a #fireextinguisher or Portable Fire Extinguisher (APAR) must match the fire class type! Quoted from https://damkar.bandaacehkota.go.id/. let’s learn the differences so you don’t pick the wrong extinguisher for your space.
We need to understand the fire classes or the causes of fire so that the type of fire extinguisher used will be effective in controlling it. Below is an illustration of the Fire Classes:
Class A Fire
Class A fire is caused by solid non-metal materials such as paper, plastic, fabric, wood, rubber, and others. The suitable types of fire extinguishers to extinguish Class A fires are water-type extinguishers, foam-type extinguishers, and dry powder extinguishers.
Class A fires can be difficult to extinguish, depending on the fuel source. Rubber tires are much more difficult to put out compared to paper. However, a Dry Powder fire extinguisher or a Foam fire extinguisher will be able to extinguish such fires.
Class B Fire
Class B fire is caused by flammable liquids such as fuel (gasoline, diesel, oil), alcohol, paint, solvent, methanol, and others. The suitable types of fire extinguishers to extinguish Class B fires are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers, Foam extinguishers, and Dry Powder extinguishers.
Both Dry Powder extinguishers and Foam extinguishers are capable of extinguishing such fires. Dry Powder has better fire-extinguishing ability, while Foam can prevent re-ignition. At gas stations, Dry Powder extinguishers are often the best choice.
Class C Fire
Class C fire is caused by high-voltage electrical installations. The suitable types of fire extinguishers to extinguish Class C fires are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers and Dry Powder extinguishers.
It is highly recommended that electrical fires be extinguished by first shutting off the power source. The remaining fire is usually classified as either Class A or Class B. Dry Powder is naturally a non-conductive substance and will be effective in extinguishing fires caused by electricity.
Class D Fire
Class D fire is caused by flammable metals such as sodium, magnesium, aluminum, lithium, and potassium. This type of fire requires a special fire extinguisher to put it out.
Most importantly, all Class D metal fires are considered special hazards. Operators attempting to extinguish a Class D fire must be specifically trained to do so. These fires are very challenging, even for professional firefighters. Class D fire extinguishers may only be able to put out certain types of metal fires but may not be effective for others. Usually, firefighters handling Class D fires will suppress the fire by depriving it of oxygen through sealing or smothering methods.
Class F Fire
Class F fire is caused by cooking oils (vegetable oils, animal oils) or fats that are usually used in kitchens. The types of fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing Class F fires are Foam extinguishers and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers.
Class F fire can be considered as part of Class B fire. The main difference here is that the flammable liquid is used for cooking and has been heated to its ignition point. While Dry Powder extinguishers can easily extinguish Class B fires, it is different with Class F fires. Due to the high temperatures, the flammable liquid can reignite automatically. Use Wet Chemical extinguishers to cool the flammable liquid and create a barrier to separate oxygen from the fuel.
From the explanation of Fire Classification and Types of Fire Extinguishers, LSA hopes that you can understand the functions of fire extinguishers according to your needs as an effort to extinguish fires more effectively.
