Different Fire Extinguishers of electric circuits:

There are different causes of fires. Many fires happen in cooking areas where a pot is left on a
lighted stove or grease gets so hot that it ignites. Some fires occur in rubbish areas where the
smallest spark can catch on the debris and fire spreads. Other fires may happen from chemicals
that combust.

One of the most unpredictable and widely overlooked fires is electrical. Because virtually every
room in a building has some form of electricity, an electrical fire can happen anywhere

Some of the incidents with electrical fires include:

 An older appliance that malfunctions and begins to spark or catches fire

 Electrical outlets that are overloaded and ignite
 Circuit breakers or electrical boxes that are improperly installed or not maintained
 Cords that have frayed or become worn over time
 Loose connections that can spark and ignite
 Lights or appliances that become hot and ignite nearby flammable items
 Lightning or an electrical storm can cause a surge that starts flames
 Moisture seeps into a wall outlet, causing a short that sparks a fire

To avoid electrical fires in your home or business you should follow these tips:

 Have your location inspected by a certified electrician or a fire safety specialist

 Remove and replace malfunctioning appliances immediately
 Clear areas where electrical heat could ignite any nearby flammable materials
 Have electrical cords tested and tagged according to Australian Standards for safety

Even with the best prevention, electrical fires can still occur. A lightning strike or an unexpected
spark can ignite into flames very quickly. It is best to have a fire extinguisher on hand in order to
respond to a fire as fast as possible. While it may not be practical to have an extinguisher in
every room, consider placing the extinguishers in a central location that can be easily and safely
reached. A fire safety professional can help you determine the ideal locations to install
extinguishers for your home or your business location.

Not all fire extinguishers are designed for an electrical fire, however. An electrical fire requires a
certain type of extinguisher because fires started from electricity can easily reignite or become
worse if doused with water or other liquid extinguishers. Instead, look for a fire extinguisher that
is specifically designed to attack electrical fires.

A Co2 fire extinguisher can work well in defeating an electrical fire. The carbon dioxide in the
extinguisher will rob the air around the fire from oxygen, making it almost impossible to ignite
again. This allows enough time for the electrical current to be cut off and the fire is extinguished.
Some specialised rooms will have automated Co2 extinguishers to start as soon as a fire or
smoke is detected. Most of these are installed with an alarm, because humans must vacate the
room or they too will be deprived of oxygen and have a risk of suffocation. Hand-held Co2
extinguishers can be very useful for fires caused by electricity when they are used by properly
trained personnel.

To make sure your location is protected from the dangers of electrical fires, contact the
professionals at Fire Safe Services. With years of experience in fire safety products and training,
Fire Safe Services can make sure you select the best fire extinguisher for your location and make
sure personnel are trained on using these life saving devices. Before a surprise electrical fire
strikes your home or business, consider installation of a quality fire extinguisher that is
specifically designed to fight electrical fires and keep your property safe from damage, and
family or employees safe from injury.

When it comes to fire safety, making sure your home or workplace is prepared with the right
type of fire extinguisher is a big deal. It’s a great precaution to take and, for smaller or
containable fires, extinguishers can help to put them out or to mitigate a more serious situation
until the fire department arrives. Of course, if the fire is significant, your priority should be to
evacuate your home or office immediately and wait for firefighters outside.

Types of Fires:

The Fire Tetrahedron lays out the four components required for a fire to start – heat, fuel,
oxygen, and chemical reaction – and fire extinguishers are designed to put out a fire by removing
one or more of these elements.

Before we get to the different types of fire extinguishers, it’s important to understand the
different types of fires that these extinguishers are designed to fight. There are five different
categories:

 Class A – a fire started with normal combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth
 Class B – a fire started with flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as gasoline and
paints
 Class C – a fire started by energized electrical equipment such as a short circuit in power
transmission cables
 Class D – a fire started by flammable metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium
 Class K – kitchen fires
Types of Fire Extinguishers:

Many homes and offices will either use general-purpose or kitchen extinguishers, but other
environments, like laboratories or warehouses, might need more specific extinguishers.

Water & Foam

The water component of this extinguisher removes the heat of the fire, while the foam
component removes the oxygen.

Works For: Class A fires only

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide replaces the fire’s oxygen and, as the gas is contained under pressure it creates a
cold discharge upon release, which removes the heat of the fire too.

Works For: Class B and C fires

Dry Chemical

This extinguisher removes the chemical reaction of a fire, and is the most used of all fire
extinguishers because of its versatility across multiple classes.

Works For: Class A, B and C fires (multi-purpose); Class B and C (ordinary)

 Wet Chemical

This extinguisher removes heat and creates a barrier between oxygen and fuel so a fire cannot be
re-ignited. The chemical is sprayed as a mist, cooling the fire’s heat and creating a blanket effect
over the fuel.

Works For: Class K fires (particularly good for fires started by oils or fats)

Clean Agent

Also called Halogenated extinguishers, these include halon agents and new, less ozone depleting
halocarbon agents, which extinguish a fire by interrupting its chemical reaction.

Works For: Class B and C fires

Dry Powder

This works similarly to the dry chemical extinguisher as the powder separates the fuel from
oxygen or removes the heat, but this extinguisher is only used to fight combustible metal fires.

Works For: Class D fires

 Water Mist

This extinguisher takes away the heat of the fire only.

Works For: Class A and C fires

Cartridge Operated Dry Chemical

This extinguisher interrupts the chemical reaction of the fire, and creates a barrier between the
oxygen and the fuel and, like the dry chemical extinguishers, works well on a variety of fire
types.

Works For: Class A, B and C fires

It’s important to use the right extinguisher for the type of fuel – using the incorrect one can allow
a fire to re-ignite, even when it seems to have been put out successfully. We’ve put together a
simple chart to help you choose the right extinguisher for your fire needs