Fire Extinguishers
Classes of Fire Extinguishers
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Class A
Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials, such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Extinguishers with an A rating are designed to extinguish fires involving these ordinary combustible materials. detectors are installed in all rooms as well.
Class B
Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, oil-based paints, lacquers. Therefore, extinguishers with a B rating are designed to extinguish fires involving flammable and combustible liquids.
Class C
Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment. Extinguishers with a C rating are designed for use with fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Class D
Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, and sodium. Extinguishers with a D rating are designed to extinguish fires involving combustible metals.
Class K
Class K fires involve vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Extinguishers with a K rating are designed to extinguish fires involving vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats utilized in commercial cooking appliances.
Extinguishers on Campus
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ABC Extinguishers
An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type. These extinguishers are the most common fire extinguisher on campus, and are either 5lb or 10lb sizes.
CO2 Extinguishers
A C02 fire extinguisher’s suppressing agent allows combatting class B (flammable liquid fires) & C (energised electrical fires). These extinguishers are more commonly found in areas with electronics such as server rooms and computer labs. Because it is a gas, it has little to no cleanup and will not cause damage to the equipment. It is safe for use on fires involvingenergised electrical equipment
Class D Extinguishers
Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in our chemical or metallurigcal laboratories. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multipurpose rating - they are designed for class D fires only.
Class K Extinguishers
A Class K fire is fueled by flammable cooking liquids, such as cooking oil, and animal or vegetable-based greases. These liquids, when brought up to high temperatures, become volatile and can easily ignite. Due to their high flammability, they also spread rapidly. Class K fire extinguishers are found in the kitchens on campus such as the EPNG, Union East, and Health Sciences building.
P.A.S.S
In the event of a fire, we are all confronted with the decision of whether to fight the flames with an extinguisher or evacuate the building immediately. This is probably the most important decision you will face when a fire breaks out. If you are not trained in portable extinguisher use, the answer is easy: you should evacuate, and never attempt to fight a fire if you do not have extinguisher training.
Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing; everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called; and the room is not filled with smoke.
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS