Fire extinguisher: types, features, functions

A fire extinguisher is a device that helps put out a fire quickly, if the hearth is small. It sprays a substance that can smother the flames, either chemically or through compressed gas. What are the different types of fire extinguishers and how do they work?

Features of Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers put out a fire through various substances that eliminate conditions that promote combustion. They are not difficult to use. Features of fire extinguishers:

• Different types of these devices are designed to extinguish different materials and substances.
• They have different fillers depending on the type of fire and conditions of use.
• Portability. Fire extinguishers are usually compact and easy to carry, allowing them to be placed in convenient locations for quick access in case of fire.
• Effectiveness. A properly used fire extinguisher can quickly put out a small fire, preventing it from spreading and reducing damage.

However, it is important to remember that to use a fire extinguisher effectively, you need to know its type and how it works. It is also necessary to follow the instructions. This will help to extinguish the fire more quickly rather than making it worse.

Types of fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers of different classes are designed to extinguish different types of fires. They are used depending on the types of fires. The classification is as follows:

• Class A extinguishers are used to extinguish burning dense materials: wood, textiles, paper and plastics. They are filled with powder or water.
• Class B extinguishers extinguish the ignition of burning liquids such as oils, gasoline, kerosene and greasy wastes. They contain powder, foam, or carbon dioxide.
• Class C extinguishers extinguish burning gases: propane, methane, and acetylene. They are usually filled with powder or carbon dioxide.
• Class D extinguishers are needed to put out burning metals such as magnesium, titanium, and aluminum. They are filled with powder or special substances that can react with metals and smother their combustion.
• Class K extinguishers put out burning fats and oils. They are filled with foam or special chemicals.

If you choose the wrong type of extinguisher, you will not be able to put out the fire. And sometimes the burning on the contrary will intensify. Where there is a risk of ignition of different materials and substances it is necessary to keep the appropriate types of fire extinguishers ready.

Functions of fire extinguishers

Different types of fire extinguishers work differently, depending on their design and filler. This is important to know in order to use them properly. Here's how some of the most common types of fire extinguishers work:

• BC and ABC class powder extinguishers. When the extinguisher lever is pulled, compressed gas or internal pressure pushes powder through the nozzle. A cloud is formed that smothers the flames.
• CO2 carbon dioxide extinguishers. Pressing a lever or button pushes carbon dioxide out of a pressurized cylinder. It replaces the oxygen around the flame source and the fire cannot burn.
• Foam extinguishers. When a fire extinguisher is activated, compressed gas or air pushes foam out of the device. It isolates the flame from the air and slows combustion. The foam can create a protective layer on the surface of the burning material.

Each type of fire extinguisher is designed to eliminate certain classes of fires. Therefore, it is important to choose the right extinguisher for a particular situation. Then it will be effective.