You must be knowledgeable about the many different extinguisher types that can be found. The unit\’s type has an impact on its proper use and servicing as well. Fire extinguishers utilize different methods for getting the agent to the fire. Furthermore, different agents are used that fight a variety of fire classes. In order to distinguish between types of fire extinguishers, each is color coded with the chemical it contains and the type of fire for which it should be used.

To insure proper servicing of your fire extinguisher and to insure you choose the right one for the needs you have, you should know a little about the different types available. There are two main types of extinguishers you can find, the stored pressure and the cartridge powered. In stored-pressure devices, the expellant and extinguishing solution are stored in one holding chamber. The most common type of fire extinguisher works with stored pressure. A number of propellants is engaged based on the extinguishing agent being employed.

In extinguishers using a dry chemical substance, nitrogen is often used. As a rule, extinguishers are either water or foam type but both use air. Cartridge controlled extinguishers hold the expellant gas in a single cartridge. Stored pressure units are used more often than cartridge controlled ones. They\’re used in places where more use will be gotten out of them like in production facilities.

The main benefit of the fire extinguisher is that they are easy and fast to re-charge. This allows a person to use the unit, get it recharged and then return to the fire without much delay. Powder-based extinguishers succeed by separating the fire triangle\’s parts. The prevention of the chemical reaction between heat, fuel and oxygen is the process that extinguishes the fire. Foam – foam based agents are used to extinguish fuel fires by creating a blanket of foam on top of the fuel, keeping oxygen away from the fire.

Foam is different than powder because foam lets you put out fires with no flashback risk. Water Extinguishers – the way these air-pressurized water extinguishers work is that they transfer heat away from burning substances, thereby cooling those substances. Water offers the advantages of safety, affordability and ease of cleanup. The many kinds of fire extinguishers outlined earlier are also able to be categorized as rolling or handheld models. It is usually easier to find the smaller types that can be operated manually.

Wheeled fire extinguisher models are invariably found and used at airport runways, building sites, and even marinas and/or docks. Because there are many types of devices, think carefully before selecting one and when servicing it. There are many low-cost fire extinguishers out there, but the important thing is to be sure you have the right type, and know how to use it correctly. Always remember that fire extinguishers don\’t save lives – it\’s we, the people who use them, who actually save lives, and so, for this very reason, learning how to distinguish between different types of fire extinguishers is essential, but knowing when (and how) to use a particular kind is even better.

Felicia Jenkins is a writer for FPO.

Felicia Jenkins is a writer for http://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/fire-extinguishers/ FPO.

Author Bio: Felicia Jenkins is a writer for FPO.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home, fire safety, home safety, home security