| The fire extinguisher is a legally required piece of | | | | fires. Flammable liquids present a unique challenge |
| equipment in all businesses. In the legal sense it is | | | | to fire fighters as they can spread rapidly. |
| the responsibility of the business owner to ensure | | | | Examples of these liquids include petrol, frying oil, |
| that a suitable number of fire extinguishers are on | | | | and certain flammable chemicals. |
| the premises. This equipment is vitally important | | | | Class C extinguishers can be used on fires that |
| as should a fire a break out, it gives staff | | | | may affect electrical components and wiring. It is |
| members the opportunity to fight the fire, or at | | | | important to utilise this type of extinguisher as |
| least battle their way out of a blaze. The use of | | | | utilising the wrong type can spread the fire rapidly |
| fire extinguishers however can be problematic; | | | | and in effect worsen the blaze. |
| with such a large variety of extinguishers out | | | | Class D is the final classification and refers to |
| there, knowing which to use for a particular type | | | | specialist fires that involve chemicals. Normally this |
| of fire can be difficult, hence training is an | | | | type of equipment will contain a material that has |
| advisable course of action should the correct | | | | been specially selected for the purpose of |
| equipment be utilised. | | | | extinguishing a certain chemical fire. Legally it is a |
| Fundamentally there are four different types of | | | | necessity to have this type of equipment should a |
| fire extinguisher available today; knowing exactly | | | | blaze occur on a premises containing these |
| which will be suitable for different forms of fire | | | | specialist materials. |
| requires training and understanding. As a business | | | | Thankfully training will ensure that staff members |
| owner, it is a moral responsibility to ensure that | | | | are able to recognise what type of blaze is |
| staff members are given adequate knowledge to | | | | occurring and hence select the right equipment for |
| understand the different uses of each. Legislation | | | | the purpose. Once again, business owners have a |
| demands that depending upon the business | | | | responsibility to ensure staff have had adequate |
| operation; premises have a suitable number of | | | | training to perform this role. |
| extinguishers on the premises to cope with the | | | | These different types of extinguisher contain |
| effects of a blaze. In most cases the equipment | | | | different materials that are suitable for the |
| is labelled using a simple symbolic system made | | | | different classes of fire. Of these materials water |
| up of shapes and colours. In most cases letters | | | | is the most widespread although dry chemical |
| are also used to label extinguishers, the use of | | | | extinguishers and halon varieties are extensively |
| the equipment depends upon the combination of | | | | used; as is carbon dioxide as it acts to starve the |
| shape, colour and lettering. | | | | blaze of oxygen, a vital component in the spread |
| Extinguisher classification normally falls into four | | | | of flames. |
| distinct categories; these are known as classes | | | | Hopefully this information has given business |
| A.B. C and D; thankfully training enables staff | | | | owners some idea of the importance of training |
| members to understand the uses of each class; | | | | staff to recognise the different types of fire and |
| here is an outlay of each: | | | | how to select the right equipment for the job. In |
| Class A extinguishers are suitable for use on fires | | | | addition however training should also give |
| fuelled by normal combustibles. Normal | | | | inductees the knowledge and experience of how |
| combustibles are generally materials like paper, | | | | to handle and use extinguishers to their greatest |
| wood and soft furnishings; all of these materials | | | | effect. Adequate training may not only save |
| are prevalent in many business premises. | | | | money should a blaze break out, more |
| Class B extinguishers are suitable for use on liquid | | | | importantly it could save lives. |
