Understanding Fire Extinguisher Types and Uses
There are many fire extinguisher types since there are different kinds of flames. If you are tasked with combating fires at work, it’s essential that you understand the distinctions between the various extinguishers. In an emergency, the ability to rapidly determine which extinguisher is required might save lives.
In this post, we will discuss the many kinds of fire, the symbols used to identify them, and the various types and purposes of fire extinguishers in Dubai.
What Are the Various Types of Fires?
Depending on the materials used, fires must be tackled cautiously. Therefore, they have been divided into six distinct categories.
- Class A - Fires involving solid combustibles and dusts, such as wood, plastics, paper and cardboard, fabric and textiles, and dusts including grain dust and flour.
- Class B - Fires using flammable liquids, including gasoline, petroleum oil, paint, and diesel.
- Class C - Fires involving flammable gases, including propane, butane, and methane.
- Class D - Incendiaries involving flammable metals, including metal swarf, such as magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium, titanium, and aluminum.
- Electrical fires - Although it is not recognized as a distinct category of fire in Europe, you should also be aware of electrical fires that include live equipment and electrical sources. Consider it an informal Class E.
- Class F - Fires involving hot cooking oils and fats, including vegetable oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, corn oil, lard, and butter (typically those used for deep-fat fryers).
Fire Extinguisher in UAE
Fire extinguisher suppliers in the UAE provide a variety of services to ensure that businesses and homes are equipped with the necessary fire safety equipment. These services include:
- 1. Supply and installation of fire extinguishers: Fire extinguisher suppliers in the UAE provide a wide range of fire extinguishers such as water, foam, powder, and CO2 extinguishers. They also provide installation services to ensure that the fire extinguishers are properly placed and maintained.
- 2. Maintenance and inspection services: Fire extinguisher suppliers in the UAE also provide regular maintenance and inspection services to ensure that the fire extinguishers are in proper working condition and ready to use in case of an emergency.
- 3. Training and education services: Fire extinguisher suppliers in the UAE also provide training and education services to teach employees and residents how to properly use and maintain fire extinguishers in the UAE.
- 4. Customized solutions: Fire extinguisher suppliers in UAE also provide customized solutions for specific industries and businesses to ensure that their fire safety needs are met.
Overall, fire extinguisher suppliers in the UAE provide a wide range of services to ensure that businesses and homes are equipped with the necessary fire safety equipment and that they are properly maintained and ready to use in case of an emergency.
What Are the Different fire extinguisher types?
Five primary kinds of fire extinguisher types
- Water
- Powder
- Foam
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
- Wet chemical.
Each variety is distinguishable by its name, color, and occasionally its hose. Depending on their size, smaller foam or aqua water spray extinguishers may not have a flexible hose.
Let's examine below each form of fire extinguisher in Dubai, its functions, and its hazards.
Water Extinguishers
Standard water spray and dry water mist fire extinguishers in the UAE are the two primary kinds of water extinguishers.
● Standard water extinguishers
These will be solid red with the word’s "water" or "aqua spray" emblazoned across them in a white-bordered signal red strip. They are the standard design, dispensing water under high pressure to extinguish fires.
Water fire extinguishers in the UAE are only effective against class A fires, which include those involving wood, cardboard, paper, plastics,
textiles and other solid materials.
Caution: do not use water extinguishers on fat or oil fires or on electrical equipment.
Water extinguishers may have chemical additives that boost their efficacy by up to 300 percent. The chemicals eliminate the water's natural surface tension, allowing it to penetrate burning materials more efficiently.
● Dry water mist extinguisher
These fire extinguishers in the UAE are typically solid red and have the words "water mist" written inside a white rectangle.
Many dry water mist extinguishers can battle almost all forms of flames, even Class F fires, which are notoriously difficult to extinguish. The nozzle of the extinguisher transforms water into 'dry' small particles, which are subsequently sucked into the fire and simultaneously cool and smother it to put out the flames.
They are also excellent for firefighting because they provide a protective barrier between the user and the fire, which deflects part of the heat, and leave no residue that is difficult to remove.
Caution Dry water mist fire extinguishers in Dubai have been found to be effective at putting out class B (liquids) and C (gases) fires, even though they are not currently classified as such.
Other kinds of extinguishers are better suited for combating electrical fires, however dry mist extinguishers have often undergone dialectical testing, so if they are accidently used on electrical fires, they will not pose as much of a risk as standard water extinguisher.
Powder Fire Extinguishers
Powder extinguishers come in three varieties: ABC powder, M28 powder, and L2 powder.
● ABC powder extinguisher
These extinguishers will have 'powder' printed in white writing above a blue rectangle, with 'ABC powder' written beneath.
These are meant to tackle class A, B, and C fires involving solids, liquids, and gases, as their name indicates. The powder serves as a thermal blast that extinguishes the flames, preventing further combustion. They are ideal for extinguishing electrical fires due to their non-conductive nature. However, they do not readily permeate the equipment's gaps, thus the fire might potentially reignite.
Caution: do not use on residential chip or fat pan fires (class F).
The disadvantage of ABC powder fire extinguishers in the UAE is that they represent an inhalation hazard when utilized in tight places; thus, they should not be employed in such areas. In addition, they leave behind a residue that is difficult to remove and damages soft furniture, carpets, and electrical equipment. For this reason, it is recommended that you use a different kind of extinguisher for fires involving electronics, such as in a computer-filled workplace.
● M28 and L2 powder extinguishers
This kind of fire extinguishers in the UAE is distinguished by its distinctive hose, albeit 'powder' will also be printed in white inside a signal violet rectangle. They are often known as special powder. These should not be confused with ABC powder extinguishers, since they are not intended for A, B, or C fires. They will indicate whether they are M28 or L2 underneath the rectangle.
M28 and L2 are one-of-a-kind fire extinguishers in Dubai in that they are intended to combat Class D fires containing flammable
metals, such as swarf or powder, which are often generated in engineering companies. Metals consist of lithium, magnesium, sodium, and aluminum, among others.
The extinguisher is equipped with a low velocity applicator to guarantee that the M28 or L2 powder is applied softly and effectively to combusting metal and to avoid the spread of swarf. When sprayed, it produces an insulating "crust" on the metal. This keeps the fire from spreading to other combustible objects and smothers it to prevent oxygen from recombining with the metal.
L2 can be used on all forms of metal fires, however M28 cannot be utilized on lithium.
Caution: do not use on any other fire types, particularly electrical fires that are still burning. Additionally, keep in mind that water should not come into touch with hot metal.
Foam Fire Extinguishers
On the bodies of foam extinguishers, the word "foam" is printed inside a cream rectangle. They are mostly water-based, but include a foaming ingredient with quick flame extinguishing and blanketing properties. It extinguishes flames and traps vapors to prevent re-ignition.
They can combat both class A and class B flames.
The user may simply aim and spray while combating class A flames. However, they should not be sprayed directly into flammable liquids while fighting class B fires, which include flammable liquids. This might result in the fire being pushed and spreading to nearby regions. The most effective technique of application is to spray the foam close so it may accumulate and flow over the surface.
Caution: they should not be used on any other kind of fire, notably electrical fires or flames using chips or fat pans. Foam is less harmful than water if it is accidentally sprayed on live electrical equipment since many foam fire extinguishers in the UAE have undergone dielectric testing. However, they should not be used to battle electric fires since they were not built for that purpose.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguishers
The word 'carbon dioxide' or 'CO2' written in white on a black rectangle identifies these kinds of fire extinguishers in the UAE. In addition, they feature a unique sort of hose.
Class B and electrical fires are fought using carbon dioxide fire extinguishers in the UAE, which smother the flames by displacing oxygen from the air. In contrast to traditional extinguishers, they leave no residue and hence minimize equipment damage, making them ideal for offices and workshops where electrical fires may occur.
Caution: they must not be used on hot cooking oil and fat (class F) fires. The extinguisher's powerful jet would propel the flammable oils or fats and spread the fire to the surrounding area. Keep in mind that although carbon dioxide is excellent at smothering flames, the fire may rekindle if the source is not eliminated after the gas has dispersed.
Additionally, you cannot use a CO2 fire extinguisher in Dubai while holding the horn, base, or piping. During its emission, the gas becomes very cold, which might harm your hands.
Wet Chemical Extinguishers
These kinds of fire extinguishers near Dubai are distinguished by a yellow rectangle with the words "wet chemical" It also features a hose extension that can be held and directed, which is essential while combating kitchen fires.
Class F fires are those that wet chemical fire extinguishers in Dubai are meant to tackle. They are useful because they can extinguish very high-temperature flames, especially those involving frying oils and fats. They also discharge softly, preventing burning oils and fats from being pushed and splashed onto the user or surrounding environment.
The canister's chemicals extinguish the flames, cool the burning oil, and generate a soap-like solution that seals the surface and prevents the fire from reigniting.
Slow circular spraying is the most effective application technique. The user must dump the whole contents of the container onto the oils or fats. If not, the fire may rekindle.
Caution: wet chemical extinguishers are often not advised for liquid-based class B fires. Additionally, while they are capable of extinguishing class A flames, they are not as effective as other fire extinguishers in the UAE in doing so.
Fire extinguishers near Dubai are an essential component of fire protection measures, since they may assist put out minor flames. However, it is essential to keep in mind that there are several sorts of fires, and selecting the first fire extinguishers in Dubai you see without understanding whether it is the correct one might make the situation worse.