Posts Tagged ‘fire extinguishers’

Tips On How To Find The Best Fire Extinguishers

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Usually everyone sees fire extinguishers at some point in their life. Although most have this exposure, this does not mean that they know how to use it. Many of those who know what a fire extinguisher is, has no clue how they are supposed to use it, nor do they understand the type they should buy. Knowing this kind of information can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Knowing this kind of information will help a person to buy the right type for their home or business, so here is the information that will help with such buying decisions. Anytime a fire arises, the extinguisher used must be the right one. This is the reason that it is important that people understand the different coding on the extinguishers which is used for helping people to identify the different types of fire it will work on.

Every extinguisher has different codes on them, which identify the kind of fire in which they are equipped for and it is important that the person ensure that they use the one that is meant for the kind of fire in which they encounter. Class A fires are more commonly encountered through everyday life. For types of fires that are caused by things like paper and wood, water based fire extinguishers work well.

Generally, the most common type of fire which people encounter are Class A fires, which mostly involve things that are dry combustibles. Many times, this entails things such as wood and paper. Often, most of these have water and pressurized gas, which is enough for a fire of this type that is small. Water based fire extinguishers are not something that people should use on electrical or grease fires.

The best kinds of fires to use them on are ones that are small. As for fires that are caused by liquids, the best type to use on those are the Class B type. With some of the extinguishers of this type they have carbon monoxide in them. This is something that works great to keep the fire from spreading.

In addition, they are something which can also be used on electrical fires. The same does not apply however, when you use a Class B type of fire extinguisher on a fire that is the class A type. One thing that people have to be careful with however with these kinds of fire extinguisher is how they have dry ice in them and is not something people want on their skin.

Generally, Class C extinguishers use either a dry chemical powder or other things that are of a chemical based carbon dioxide. The reason that this kind of chemical is used has to do with the way that it does not conduct electricity as other kinds of chemicals do. If you are going to have to worry about fires that would be caused by something such as magnesium or sodium, then you would want to get a class D extinguisher.

Whenever people decide to buy fire extinguishers, one of the biggest things to consider is the ease of use. Another thing to consider is buying one that has multi purposes, such as one rated for A-B-C fires.

Major damage can happen to property when you don’t have a fire extinguisher. Putting fire extinguishers in places like your car and kitchen can allow you to put out a fire before it gets out of control.

Fire Extinguishers To Protect Your Home Or Business

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

When shopping for fire extinguishers, you may find that there are many available today. Choosing the right extinguisher can sometimes be overwhelming. There should be at least one extinguisher in every home. In addition, you should have the right kind of extinguisher in your home. Yow will need at least one extinguisher in the kitchen as well as one in the garage and the workshop.

You will find the fire extinguishers are labeled with both a number and letter. The letter designates what kind of fire the extinguisher works on and the number indicates the size of fire the extinguisher can control. The larger numbers mean that the extinguisher can put out a larger fire.

The class A fire extinguisher is designed to put out fires in ordinary materials such as paper, cardboard or wood. Additionally, these extinguishers will work with most plastic. The number on the extinguisher indicates the amount of water inside as well as the amount of fire which it will extinguish.

A class B fire is one that involves a flammable liquid. These fires may be fueled by substances that include gasoline, oil, kerosene and grease. Class B fire extinguishers have a numerical rating that gives the area in feet that it can put out.

For an electrical fire, choose a class C fire extinguisher. They are ideal for fires in appliances, wiring or circuit breakers where water cannot be used. Dry foam extinguishers leave a sticky residue that may ruin computers.

Class D extinguishers are normally only found in chemical laboratories. They are designed to stop fires of combustible metals, including potassium, sodium, titanium and magnesium. They are for use on fires in this class only and not for other fires.

Some extinguishers are rated as class ABC. These multipurpose extinguishers are best for the home.

In many older buildings you may find a large silver fire extinguisher. These extinguishers are filled with water and compressed air. They are only for a type A fire and must not be used on electrical or grease fires. While it is dangerous to use this type extinguisher on the wrong fire, it is very effective at putting out fires from paper or wood and does not leave the mess of a dry chemical extinguisher.

The dry chemical extinguishers have powder or foam that is effective at stopping a fire, however the residue that is left must be cleaned immediately since it is very corrosive. In situations involving fire, however, it is better to stop the fire and have to do some clean up work than let the fire go uncontrolled.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers do not leave a sticky or corrosive residue, however, the residue is often necessary to keep the fire from reigniting. This is especially true with a class A fire.

While there are many types of fire extinguishers, these are the most common. Be sure that you choose the correct fire extinguishers for your home. In addition, be sure that you know how to use the extinguisher and spend the time to train family members in the correct use before a fire extinguisher is needed. Correct use may save your home and all its contents.

There are many different types of fire extinguishers available on the market currently. Picking the correct fire extinguisher can be a rather difficult task.

The Safety Of Keeping Fire Extinguishers In Your Possession

Friday, January 8th, 2010

If there is a fire in your house that is containable you will want to have a means to put it out. You will need a fire extinguisher to use and is good to have one on every level of your house for every just in case scenario. Many homes can be saved each year by simply having fire extinguishers in your home. It is better to be safe than sorry and have protection in your home that save your house and your life.

But how do you know what type of fire extinguisher to get. Are they all the same? In actuality no they are not. There are different types of fire extinguishers for different types of fires and they are classified by what type of fire they put out. They are labeled is class types from A to D. They also have different corresponding shapes as well to describe what type of fires they extinguish.

Class A: Is an extinguisher that will put out fires that are from wood and paper. They are good to have on hand and will be an asset to most house fires, with exception to the kitchen. The rating on the extinguisher label will tell you the degree of fire that is will put out and how much water it holds.

Class B: Is an extinguisher used for chemicals such as oil, gas and other types of liquids. It is good to have a class B extinguisher in your kitchen or nearby that can be grabbed easily. The rating on the extinguisher is for the square feet of the range the device can extinguish.

Class C: This type of extinguisher is good for fires the come from electrical situations. Most times this type of extinguisher is not needed in the home unless you have a special hobby or you have an older home whose wiring may not be as good as it should be.

There are also multi class extinguishers that you can purchase as well. These are the best types to buy for the home as they can be used on many different types of fires. You can find A-B, B-C or A-B-C class combinations. In the home you should have at least an A-B Class of extinguisher to put out not only regular fires but grease fires in the kitchen as well.

If you do not know how to use a fire extinguisher it is smart to learn and not wait until you actually need to use one. The easiest way to remember how to use one is to remember the work ‘PASS’. It is an acronym for pull, aim, squeeze and sweep. You will pull the pin at the top of the device that is the safety of the extinguisher. Then you will aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. You will then stand away from the fire and squeeze the trigger and then sweep from side to side until the fire is out.

Fire extinguishers are not expensive but worth every penny to protect your home and your loved ones in it. You can find them at many stores that sell other home products. You need to also remember to get one for every floor of your home.

Practice safety by getting your home equipped with fire extinguishers. A fire extinguisher will help you out when faced with a dangerous situation. Be safe and get one now!

Protect You Family With C02 Fire Extinguishers

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

If you have never given thought to owning a fire extinguisher, now is the time to think about that. I am going to show you exactly why you need several C02 fire extinguishers and what fires they douses and how to actually use this type of extinguisher. We will also go over two classes of fire extinguishers.

C02 otherwise known as carbon dioxide is the ingredient in the extinguisher that puts out certain types of fires. Inside the extinguisher tank is pressurized air that pushes the C02 out and onto the fire. You will need more than one extinguisher in your home. Ideally you will need at least 4 if you have a large home.

There are a variety of classes of fire extinguishers available to the public. Today we are talking about the classes A and B. Class A will snuff out fires that have wood, cloth, and paper. Class B will snuff out fires that are grease, liquids and gases. As you are shopping for any kind of extinguisher please read the label to make sure it will take care of Class A and B fires.

All homeowners should have a C02 fire extinguisher in their homes. These are popular because they fight several types of fires, whether it be wood, fabric or grease, it will put the fire out. Most fires start in kitchens and usually when you are cooking with grease. Always have an extinguisher in your kitchen in a place where you can easily reach it when you need it.

If your home or business catches on fire the first thing you should do is grab a fire extinguisher and run to where the fire is located and put the fire out if you can… If you are lucky to get to the fire shortly after it starts then you may save part of your home, and be able to fix the damage. If the smoke or flames are out of control, then you must leave the building or your home.

Let us go over how to use and operate the C02 fire extinguisher. To start with you will notice a pin that goes through the handle, go ahead and pull that pin out. You will now notice that the handle can be pulled and will set off the C02 chemical. Pull the handle to expel the C02, point the hose toward the outside and then toward the middle of the fire, and keep the extinguisher handle pulled toward you so that you get a steady stream, the fire will be out within moments.

Now that you have been schooled on the C02 fire extinguishers it is up to you to decide if this is right for you and your home. This is a wonderful safety tool that is moderately priced so that you could purchase one or more according to your needs and the size of your home. Remember it is your home and family that you are protecting, that is worth the weight in gold.

Jason Williams is an expert in fire alarms. If you want further information about CO2 fire extinguishers or are looking for a trusted security company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk

C02 Extinguishers – Have One In The House In The Event Of A Fire

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Fire acts very much like a living organism. It basically devours everything in front of it if it is not stopped. Perhaps you have seen or read about major forest fires that have destroyed hundreds and possibly of thousands of acres. Then you understand the concept that a fire is a monster that devours everything in its path unless it is contained. C02 extinguishers are a common way to kill a fire.

An out of control fire, any fire that is not being continued in a pit or fireplace, will act unpredictably. To stop this ravaging beast you need to cuts its oxygen supply. Fires live on oxygen like all other living things and can only be stopped by cutting off the oxygen it is getting.

Suffocating a fire involves removing the oxygen from the air it exists in. C02 extinguishers are intended to suffocate certain types of fires. C02 extinguishers contain carbon Dioxide; this gas is heavier than oxygen and takes it out of the air. By removing the oxygen the fire is living on these extinguishers suffocate the fire.

Fire falls into several classifications. These classifications are all grouped by letters. Class A fires are those that are made from standard combustible products such as paper or wood. Class B fires are the result of bringing flammable liquids such as gasoline. Class C fires are electrical fires. These are most often caused by faulty wiring that causes a spark. C02 extinguishers are used for class B and Class C fires.

Class A fires such as paper and wood can be put out by being smothered by water. Water will not suffocate Class B and Class C fires. In fact it will do just the opposite. It will fuel the fire. As the saying goes water and gasoline don’t mix and you should never put water on a gasoline fire. Many fires that burn in a home are Class B and Class C fires. For this reason it is important to always have a c02 extinguisher in your home.

The c02 inside of extinguishers is in a liquid form but when it mixes with air it transforms into a snow like substance that foams out of the extinguisher. This foam it what you see used most often to put out household fires that are caused by electricity or flammable gas.

To operate a cO2 extinguisher you will need to aim the extinguisher toward the fire then pull the plug in the handle. This plug is a safety device so the extinguisher will not go inadvertently. Once the pin has been pulled you need to squeeze the trigger (lever) to release the gas. You should point the extinguisher toward the bottom of the fire, and then spray in a side to side motion. As you put out the fire aim the extinguisher at the far edges of the fire and spray until the fire is completely put out.

Another use of a c02 extinguisher is chill beer. This is the fastest way to chill warm beer. Aim the extinguisher at the beer bottles inside of a bucket or cooler and let it rip. Naturally you will want to rinse the bottles off before opening them.

Jason Williams is an expert in fire alarms. If you would like further information about CO2 extinguishers or are searching for a reputable security company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk

Parts And Contents In A C02 Extinguisher

Friday, December 18th, 2009

When working towards fire protection for any building it is good to use a C02 extinguisher. This extinguisher that works with carbon dioxide can be used for handling emergencies. There are some important things to be aware of with any of these extinguishers.

It helps to see the carbon dioxide material that is used for an extinguisher. This C02 works as a cold liquid that can create dry ice when it is sprayed onto something. This works to help with getting oxygen into a flame. This works to help with canceling out a fire and to keep it from starting up again.

A typical C02 extinguisher will weigh about ten pounds in most cases. Some can weigh thirty pounds in many cases. As a result it will help to watch how the extinguisher is being handled by a user. It will need to be properly propped up along one’s body when it is handled. It will need to be well handled too because it can push backwards from the pressure created when used.

A proper trajectory should also work when handling this option. A ninety degree angle will be needed for getting this to work. When this angle is used the extinguisher can be properly handled for putting out fires. The nozzle should never be touched though. This is due to the incredibly cold and harmful temperatures of the C02 materials.

It will help when using a C02 extinguisher to see what class it works in. Different extinguishers work with different classes for certain handling materials. Class A works with fires on solid items while Class B is for flammable gas fires. Class C extinguishers are used with electrical equipment fires. Class D extinguishers work for combustible metals and Class E works with kitchen fires.

Not all fires should be handled with a C02 extinguisher. Smaller fires that can be easily handled shortly after they start should be handled. If the fire is very large and cannot be handled by an extinguisher a fire department should be called. Be sure to watch for this when getting fires handled.

It is great to see these things when working with a C02 extinguisher. It can use carbon dioxide for handling small fires. A number of fires can be controlled through many classes. Always check out the class before using it to see if it can work on a particular fire though. Extinguishers will not work with larger fires either.

Jason Williams is an expert in home alarm systems. If you want more information about CO2 extinguisher or are looking for a reputable security company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk