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Different Types of Fire Extinguishers
ABC fire extinguishers use a chemical called monoammonium phosphate to put out most common fires that occur in homes and offices.
How ABC Fire Extinguishers Work
Class A –The chemical in ABC fire extinguishers melts at about 350F, blanketing Class A fires (normal combustibles like wood and paper) and smothering them. This makes them highly effective against ordinary fires caused by burning wood, paper, plastic, etc.
Class B – ABC fire extinguishers put out Class B fires (flammable liquids)by breaking up the chain reaction involved in the fire. With an ABC fire extinguisher, there is very little risk of spreading the fire around – this makes them quite safe to use.
Class C – ABC fire extinguishers are electrically non-conductive, making them safe for Class C fires (electrical).
Using ABC Fire Extinguishers
ABC fire extinguishers must be cleaned up immediately after the affected area has been declared safe by the fire department. Monoammonium phosphate is a yellow powder that leaves a sticky, corrosive residue that can be damaging to computers and other electrical appliances.
ABC fire extinguishers are the most common type of fire extinguishers, suitable for most standard environments, including but not limited to:
- Homes
- Office buildings
- Retail stores
For more information about the types of fire extinguishers you need in your building, or to purchase ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers, call Fire Service Center today!
Monoammonium phosphate – also called ABC or multi-purpose fire extinguishers, monoammonium phosphate extinguishers are capable of extinguishing Class A, B, and C fires.
Sodium bicarbonate – one of the most common dry chemical fire extinguishing materials, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) can be used on class B and C fires and was the first dry chemical agent ever developed. The way sodium bicarbonate works is by heating up and releasing a cloud of carbon dioxide that smothers the fire, depriving it of oxygen and breaking the chemical reaction required for the fire to sustain itself. It is not suitable for Class A fires because it does not reduce heat from the fire, meaning it does not prevent burning materials from reflashing.
Potassium bicarbonate(Purple-K) – Purple-K is used to put out Class B and C fires. With twice the extinguishing effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate, Purple-K is preferred by the oil and gas industry and is the only dry chemical agent certified for use in ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting).
Purple-K fire extinguishers contain a fluidized, siliconized potassium bicarbonate dry chemical that is highly effective at putting out Class B fires (flammable liquid fires). Purple-K is also electrically non-conductive, so it’s safe for use against Class C (electrical) fires.
Purple-K fire extinguishers are commonly used in the oil, gas, chemical, and utility industries, as well as in oil refineries, airport ramps, service stations, military facilities, naval warships, power plants, and other places where flammable liquids are handled and stored. Purple-K is often paired with foam in twin agent systems and is sometimes found fitted to airport fire suppression systems.
Purple-K is used in small handheld or larger wheeled extinguishers as well as mobile and stationary units, including fixed-nozzle piping systems.
Purple-K is a highly effective fire suppression material, but it can be very difficult to clean up, especially when it gets wet. In addition, it should never be mixed with phosphate-based fire suppression agents such as ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers, as these will react together and ruin the efficiency of the Purple-K
Purple-K Fire Extinguishers in Northern Nevada and Northern California
If you operate an oil refinery, airport, service station, military facility, power plant, or any other location that stores and handles flammable liquids and want to install Purple-K fire extinguishers to keep your facility safe, call Fire Service Center today. We can install your new fire extinguishers and provide Purple-K fire extinguisher maintenance in Northern Nevada and Northern California. To install Purple-K fire extinguishers, call Fire Service Center today.
Almost all fires are small in their early stage and can be put out quickly if the proper fire extinguisher is available, and the person discovering the fire has been trained to use the extinguisher.
Most people are familiar with “ABC” extinguishers. These extinguishers have proven to be very effective in extinguishing the fires that they are designed for, that is class A, B, and C fires. However, they are not designed to be used for class K kitchen fires.
Class K fires most often occur where cooking media (fats, greases, and oils) are used. These are most often found in commercial cooking operations.
Class K Extinguishers work on the principle of saponification. Saponification takes place when alkaline mixtures such as potassium acetate, potassium citrate, or potassium carbonate are applied to burning cooking oil of fat. The alkaline mixture combined with the fatty acid create a soapy foam layer on the surface which holds in the vapors and steam and extinguishes the fire.
Recent changes to commercial cooking operations have presented major challenges to dry chemical fire extinguishers and systems. Changes in frying oils from animal fats to vegetable oils have reduced the ability of dry chemicals to extinguish many kitchen fires.
Since vegetable oils have lower fatty acid content, many vegetable oils will prevent the “foam blanket” from developing completely. This inhibits the extinguishing agent by allowing vapors and steam to release.
In addition, newer efficient fryers retain heat much longer than in the past. Vegetable oils have a much higher auto-ignition temperature than animal fats. Therefore, dry chemical agents have trouble preventing a reflash from occurring and cannot pass the current test standards for fryers because of the retained heat. Heat breaks down the weaker foam layer created, making it necessary to cool the oils in addition to the foam layer.
To address these issues, wet chemical agents were introduced and are now required in all new Type I hood fixed fire suppression systems. (ANSUL systems for example). These agents are alkaline by nature and are the only extinguishing agents listed for suppression of fires in commercial cooking because of their ability
If you have a restaurant or kitchen in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Tahoe, Elko, Winnemucca, Susanville, Mammoth Lakes, or surrounding areas, call Fire Service Center today for a free quote.
Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers store carbon dioxide as a pressurized liquid. When the extinguisher is activated, it quickly evaporates into a gas and blankets the fire with a white cloud of “snow” that smothers the fire and cuts off the oxygen. The biggest advantage of CO2 fire extinguishers is they don’t leave behind any damaging residue, which is important if you’re looking for a fire extinguisher to protect sensitive equipment.
CO2 fire extinguishers are most effective on Class B (liquid) fires, and are electrically non-conductive, making them safe for use on Class C (electrical) fires as well. Common places where carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are used include:
- Food preparation areas
- Laboratories
- Printing or duplicating areas
Fire Service Center, INC stocks new and used CO2 extinguishers to protect your sensitive equipment.
For years, people used Halon 1211 fire extinguishers to protect sensitive processes, data, and equipment – anything that could have been further damaged by water or corrosive dry chemicals. Unfortunately, over the last decade or so Halon has been found to damage the ozone layer, and as of 1994 new production of Halon has been outlawed. While this is good news for the environment, it’s bad news for companies who need fire protection but can’t afford to rely on fire extinguishers that use water or corrosive chemicals! Fortunately, a variety of clean agent fire extinguishers have been introduced to fill the void left by the halted production of Halon.
Like CO2, clean agent fire extinguishers store their extinguishant in pressurized liquid form, which quickly expands and evaporates when it hits the air. Clean agent extinguishers are effective on Class A, B, and C fires and are electrically nonconductive. Clean agent extinguishers put out a fire by cooling and smothering it, but aren’t so cold that they’ll damage electronics. These extinguishers are EPA-approved and have no ozone depletion potential. Some common places where clean agent fire extinguishers are used include:
- Computer Server Rooms
- Security Surveillance Rooms
- Car Engine Protection
- Telephone Rooms and Switchboards
- Other areas with sensitive and high-value electronics and machinery