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As a business owner, it is crucial that you understand the different types, usage, and placement of fire extinguishers as part of your commercial fire alarm system.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets strict guidelines and standards for portable fire extinguishers regarding placement, testing, maintenance, installation, and inspections which can be found NFPA 10.
Class A Fire Extinguishers
Class A extinguishers are suited to safely put out fires of ordinary combustible materials like cloth, rubber, paper, wood, and some plastics. Along with the fire rating, extinguishers come in different sizes. Class A extinguisher sizes range from 1-A to 40-A and are classified based on how many wood panels stacked together it can safely extinguish. The varying sizes of the wood and the number of panels extinguished are what differentiate its classification. For example, a 3-A fire extinguisher must extinguish 144 pieces of 1.5” x 1.5” x 29” wood to earn that rating.
Class B Fire Extinguishers
Class B-rated extinguishers are used on fires that contain flammable gases and liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, oil-based paint, etc. These extinguishers also have a number assigned to them to prove they can extinguish certain types of heptane fires. Heptane is the main component in gasoline, so a fire extinguisher with a 10-B rating must be able to put out a fire of 31 gallons of heptane in a 25 ft² pan.
Class C Fire Extinguishers
Fires that involve electrical equipment use Class C fire extinguishers. However, these extinguishers also come with a rating of Class A or B. The C rating on fire extinguishers is to validate there is no electrical current that flows through them when they are discharged, meaning you won’t be shocked upon use.
Class D Fire Extinguishers
For fires that contain combustible metals like lithium, potassium, magnesium, or sodium, you would use a Class D extinguisher. There are no numbers associated with this type of extinguisher because they are only classified and rated on the amount of agent it contains and the process needed to control a fire.
Class K Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers with a K rating are used on fires involving appliances used for cooking, such as oils and fats, like a deep fryer. There are also no numbers associated with this class of fire extinguishers because they are tested based on a one-size fire source. To test this type of extinguisher, a fire is set on a deep-fat fryer. A Class K extinguisher must safely put out the fire without reignition or splashing the oil.
Some fire extinguishers come with a combination rating, such as ABC, which tells you it is safe to use on Class A, B, and C fires. It is important to note that fire extinguishers come with a tag, which means it has been thoroughly inspected and is ready for use. If a fire extinguisher is not tagged, federal mandates require it to be inspected and tagged before use.
Fire Extinguisher Services, System Design, and Inspections
High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, is a leader in commercial fire and life safety systems serving the Chicagoland area. Our experienced team of fire safety specialists and engineers work with you to outfit your commercial building with an integrated fire safety system, including the type and placement of the fire extinguishers best suited for your business. We offer fire extinguisher services, including annual inspections and 6-year service inspections for all types of fire extinguishers.
HRSS provides integrated fire and life safety solutions to the Chicagoland area and employs a team of highly trained and certified fire safety technicians and engineers. We offer complete fire safety system design, including the correct placement of all detection equipment, fire suppression systems, and the right type of fire extinguishers. Contact us to ensure your business has the right type of extinguisher in the right place to prevent a small fire from turning into a catastrophic blaze.