Working out which fire extinguisher you should buy can be a little bit tricky. There are different types of fires and different types of fire extinguishers and the different types of fires require different fire extinguishers and some types of fire extinguishers should never be used on some types of fires!
Confused???
To try to simplify matters please take a look at the table below. It shows the 5 main Classes of Fire along with the suitable fire extinguishers for each type of fire. Click on the fire extinguisher links to learn more about them.
| Class | Fire Type | Material Examples | Suitable Fire Extinguishers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Ordinary Combustibles | Paper, Wood, Cloth, Cardboard, Plastics, Rubber | Water Water Mist Dry Chemical (if marked A) Chemical Foam (some) |
C02 fires are not great for Type A fires as they often do not displace enough oxygen to put the fire out leaving them at risk of re-ignition |
| B | Flammable Liquids and Gases | Gasoline, Kerosene, Grease, Oil, Spirits, Solvents, Some Paints | C02 Halon Dry Chemical Chemical Foam (some) |
Never use a water extinguisher on these types of fires as it could make the fore spread and the flames larger |
| C | Electrical Equipment | Appliances, Computers,Wiring, Fuse Boxes, Power Tools | C02 Halon Dry Chemical Water Mist |
Never use water as you put yourself at risk from electrical shock |
| D | Combustible Metals | Titanium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium | Dry Powder | Mainly for chemical laboratories |
| K | Kitchen Fires | Cooking fluids such as Oils and Fats | Dry Chemical | Required for restaurant kitchens – only to be used AFTER the activation of a built-in hood suppression system. |
If you are looking for a general multi-purpose fire extinguisher then you could just skip to our page on Dry Chemical multi-purpose ABC fire extinguishers. They are called ABC fire extinguishers as they can be used on fire types A, B and C – the typical types of fires found in normal offices and homes. They can, however, damage electrical equipment and so this is a risk that you will have to weigh up.