How to use a fire extinguisher
Portable fire extinguishers can be a very effective tools only if you read, understand, and follow all safety guidelines for their use. This article covers the typical use of a fire extinguisher and precautions prior to use.
Portable Fire Extinguisher (History)
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device to extinguish or control a fire, often in emergency situations. Typically a fire extinguisher consist of pressure vessel containing an agent that when discharged, can extinguish a fire.
Classes of Fire Extinguisher
Not all fires are the same. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the wrong class of fire, you can, in fact, make matters worse. To assist people quickly identify the right type of fire extinguisher, pictographs are used to represent different classes of fire. There are six different classes represented by the letters A, B, C, D, E and F.
Portable Fire Extinguisher Types
Portable fire extinguishers are generally provided as "first attack" units in fire fighting and should only be used in early stages of fire before it can spread and develop heat. There are five different types of extinguishers, and selection of extinguishers must be made with the class of fire in mind.
