Fire Extinguisher
Each type of fire extinguisher contains different materials that make them suitable for fighting certain types of fires, and is designed to safely and effectively discharge its contents. The correct one must be used for the right class of fire, otherwise they may prove ineffective or in fact worsen the situation.
For example, using a water extinguisher on an electrical fire or a carbon dioxide one on a burning oil fire is extremely dangerous.
What Are the Different Types of Fire Extinguishers?
There are five main types of fire extinguishers:
- Water
- Powder
- Foam
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Wet chemical
Each type is easily identifiable by their names, colours, and sometimes their hoses. Depending on their size, some may not come with a flexible hose, such as smaller foam or aqua water spray extinguishers.