20/07/2025
There are **five main types of fire extinguishers**, each designed to combat different kinds of fires. Using the correct type is crucial for safety and effectiveness.
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# # # 🔥 **1. Water Fire Extinguishers (Class A Fires)**
* **Color Code:** **Red**
* **Used For:** Fires involving ordinary combustibles like **wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and plastics**.
* **Not Suitable For:** Electrical fires, flammable liquids, or metal fires.
* **Working Principle:** Cools burning materials below their ignition point.
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# # # 🔥 **2. Foam Fire Extinguishers (Class A & B Fires)**
* **Color Code:** **Cream**
* **Used For:**
* Class A: Solid combustibles
* Class B: Flammable liquids like petrol, diesel, paints
* **Not Suitable For:** Live electrical equipment
* **Working Principle:** Forms a blanket to cut off oxygen and cools the fire.
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# # # âš¡ **3. COâ‚‚ (Carbon Dioxide) Fire Extinguishers (Class B & Electrical Fires)**
* **Color Code:** **Black**
* **Used For:** Flammable liquids and **electrical fires**
* **Not Suitable For:** Class A fires (it may not prevent re-ignition)
* **Working Principle:** Displaces oxygen and cools electrical components.
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# # # 💨 **4. Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers (ABC or Multi-Purpose)**
* **Color Code:** **Blue**
* **Used For:**
* Class A: Solids
* Class B: Liquids
* Class C: Gases (LPG, propane, methane)
* **Can Be Used On:** Electrical fires as well.
* **Working Principle:** Coats the fire with a layer of powder to interrupt the chemical reaction.
> 🔸 **Specialist Dry Powder** (for metal fires – Class D) is available for industrial use.
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# # # 💧 **5. Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers (Class F Fires)**
* **Color Code:** **Yellow**
* **Used For:** Cooking oil and fat fires (Class F), especially in **commercial kitchens**.
* **Also Works On:** Class A fires
* **Working Principle:** Cools and reacts chemically to form a soapy layer to seal the surface.
