Make sure you get this right!
Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher can make the situation worse.
Fire extinguishers come in different shapes and sizes for different intended uses and for specific environments.
The most important thing is the “intended use” of the fire extinguisher. Fires can be massively different based on the fuel that is allowing the fire to continue burning. This is why it is important to know which type of fire extinguisher to use in different situations.
Each type of fire extinguisher has a different use. That is why it is important for you to know which type of fire extinguisher to use in different situations.
Let’s have a look at the main fire extinguishers.
Click on each below to see each type explained…
Water Mist Extinguishers
These are also known as ‘dry water mist extinguishers’. They discharge a jet of mist which wets and cools the surface of a burning item. The fine mist partly evaporates close the burning surface and as it massively expands, the resulting steam expels oxygen from the area. This starves a fire of oxygen.
The water droplets are very light so they do not sink below the surface of hot burning liquids. This means they avoid the explosive reaction of ordinary water extinguishers used on burning oil or fat. Water mist can therefore be used on fat fires.
Some water extinguishers, contain only de-ionised water which cannot conduct electricity and can therefore be used on electrical items in homes and offices (up to 1000 Volt at a safety distance of 1m).
What fire extinguishers are available to you?
When you are next moving around your work environment, check what types of fire extinguisher are available. Make a note to yourself what you can and cannot use them for. Look at the labels. They will explain what they are suitable for. If you feel a specific type is missing, talk to your manager or health and safety representative.
Expand the sections below to see an explanation of each fire extinguisher, what it is used for and what it must not be used for…
Well done if you got it right.
It is a lot to remember. We will repeat the correct uses to see if we can help you and have another option for you to test your memory.
CO2
USE ON – Liquid and electrical fires
DO NOT USE ON – Metal fires
WATER
USE ON – Paper, wood, textiles and solid materials fires.
DO NOT USE ON – liquid, electrical or metal fires
DRY POWDER
USE ON – Liquid, electrical, wood, paper and textile fires
DO NOT USE ON – Metal fires
WET CHEMICAL
USE ON – Fires involving cooking oils and fats
DO NOT USE ON – Flammable liquids such as petrol or diesel
FOAM
USE ON – Liquid, paper, wood and textile fires
DO NOT USE ON – Electrical and metal fires
WATER MIST
USE ON – Most fires
DO NOT USE ON – Fires involving combustible materials.
If you have not quite yet remembered each one, you can repeat the drag and drop exercise above as many times as you want to before moving on to the next lesson.
Well done if you have now got them all right!
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