About fire extinguishers: why one extinguisher does not suit every situation?
About fire extinguishers: why one extinguisher does not suit every situation?
A fire extinguisher is a first response firefighting device. This means that it can be used by one person to extinguish a small fire before it spreads and becomes more dangerous.
However, a fire extinguisher is not simply “a red cylinder on the wall”. One extinguisher does not suit every location or every type of fire. A suitable fire extinguisher depends on where it is used, what materials may catch fire and what kind of conditions the extinguisher is placed in.
When choosing a fire extinguisher, the building area, purpose of use, environmental conditions, and the compatibility of combustible materials and extinguishing agents must be taken into account.
How does fire go out?
Fire needs three conditions:
combustible material + oxygen + heat
If at least one of these conditions is removed or sufficiently affected, combustion slows down or stops.
Fire can be extinguished in several ways:
by separating the combustible material from the flame;
by reducing access to oxygen;
by cooling the fire;
by interrupting the combustion reaction.
Different fire extinguishers work in different ways. Water cools, foam helps isolate the combustible material, powder interrupts the combustion reaction and carbon dioxide reduces the amount of oxygen around the fire.
That is why the best question is not: which fire extinguisher is the most universal?
A better question is: which fire extinguisher suits this specific location?
When the location, fire risk and environmental conditions are known, it is possible to choose an extinguisher that is actually suitable for the place where it will be installed.
Tondi Tulekaitse helps choose a suitable fire extinguisher for homes, offices, vehicles, kitchens, garages and business premises.