Fire Extinguishers
(6 Article in 6 versions)A fire extinguisher should always be available for operating materials, tools and other materials. The extinguishing agents are divided into classes A, B, C and D because there are different types of fire.
Safe fire protection with DENIOS fire extinguishers and extinguishing granules
Fire extinguisher obligation in trade and industry
Especially in the workplace, a fire can start quickly. If flammable hazardous substances are in the vicinity, noticeable damage can occur within minutes. Extinguishing blankets can be used quickly in an emergency to save people, but also cooking oil fires in large kitchens or in the home. A fire extinguisher should always be available for equipment, tools and other materials. If the workplace consists of several floors, at least one extinguisher must be provided on each floor. If the risk assessment determines that there is an increased risk of fire (e.g. when working with flammable substances), additional fire protection measures must be taken.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND EXTINGUISHING GRANULES: AN OVER-VIEW
Fire extinguishers and other extinguishing equipment that are in line with the prevailing European standards (EN) are designed to extinguish small to medium fires on commercial, industrial and residential sites. Operated by personnel who have undergone the required training, they should always be placed or mounted in the vicinity of potential sources of danger to keep re-sponse time to a minimum.
The DENIOS range comprises all types of optional and compulsory fire extin-guishers available – including water, foam, CO2, powder and wet chemical – and extinguishing granules. These extinguishers are durable and rechargeable and come with a warranty. All products are affordable and reflect the state of the art. DENIOS also provides fire extinguisher accessories, such as wall mounts, boxes, cabinets and protective cases, which can be viewed here.
Fire extinguisher or extinguishing agent: Which extinguisher is suitable?
Fire extinguishers and extinguishing agents must be suitable for extinguishing the materials or substances present in the company according to their assignment to one or more fire classes. These are in detail:
- Class A: Fires of solid substances, mainly organic in nature, which burn with the formation of embers, e.g. wood, paper, textiles, coal, car tyres.
- Class B: Fires of liquid substances or substances that become liquid, e.g. petrol, benzene, oils, fats, varnishes, tar, ether, alcohol, stearin, parafin
- Class C: fires of gases such as methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas, town gas
- Class D: Fires of metals e.g. aluminium, magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium and their alloys.
- Class F: Fires of cooking oils/fats (vegetable or animal oils and fats) in deep-frying and fat-baking equipment and other kitchen equipment and appliances
There is no ‘Class E’ type fire extinguisher. For electrical fires, an electrical spark is displayed on the relevant extinguisher. An electrical fire can be cov-ered by any of the classes A to F because it is the material which conveys the electricity (rather than the electricity itself), and it is therefore not as-signed its own specific category.
Practical accessories such as wall brackets, fire extinguisher cabinets or fire extinguisher bonnets make it easier for staff to handle fire extinguishing equipment.
EXTINGUISHING AGENTS: WHICH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS CONTAIN WHICH SUBSTANCE?
The five most common types of extinguishing agents are as follows:
Water fire extinguishers: red-coded extinguishers containing water used to tackle Class A fires, i.e. those caused by ignited wood, paper, solid plastics, textiles, coal, straw or rubber. They should not be used on burning fat, oil or electrical appliances.
Foam extinguishers: cream-coded extinguishers containing foam that smothers flames of Class B fires, i.e. those caused by ignited solids or liquids such as petrol, paint or turpentine. They can be used to tackle some electrical fires. They should not be used on burning fat or oil.
Dry powder extinguishers: blue-coded extinguishers are used to fight Class C fires, i.e. those caused by burning solids, liquids or gases. Certain powder extinguishers can also be used to tackle Class D fires caused by ignited combustible metals. They should not be used on cooking fires involving oil.
CO2 extinguishers: black-coded extinguishers containing pressurised carbon dioxide gas used on fires caused by burning liquids or electrical fires. They are not suitable for use on cooking fires involving oil, and can cause asphyxiation in confined spaces.
Wet chemical extinguishers: yellow-coded extinguishers containing a pressurised solution of alkali salts in water that are primarily used to tackle Class F fires, i.e. those involving cooking oil.
Practical accessories, such as wall mounts, fire extinguisher cabinets and protective covers, make it easier for users to handle fire-fighting equipment.
EXTINGUISHING GRANULES: PURPOSE
Fire-fighting granules are applied to small fires to smother flames and extin-guish the fire. Class A, B and F fires can all be tackled using these granules, depending on the granule material and overall extinguishing effect. Extin-guishing granules are comparatively simple to use, free of maintenance, non-perishable and acid and alkali-resistant. In addition, they have a low overall weight, making them easy to transport.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: THE BOTTOM LINE
Be prepared for any type of fire with fire extinguishers and extinguishing granules from DENIOS. Easy to mount in the proximity of hazardous areas with DENIOS’s robust range of cabinets, boxes and covers, these extinguishers make it easy to safeguard commercial, industrial and residential properties from damage or losses caused by fire – in line with local, national and Europe-wide regulations.