It’s a fairly obvious fact that fire extinguisher must be in every home. And it’s would be better if not even one. Of course, it’s important to know how to choose a fire extinguisher. So follow these simple tips to select the right one!
Types of Fire Extinguishers
There are five types of fire extinguishers:
Type A extinguishers – Cope well with extinguishing cloth, wood, or paper.
Type B extinguishers – Intended to snuff out flammable liquids (gasoline, oil).
Type C extinguishers – Suitable for electrical appliances under voltage.
Type D extinguishers – For extinguishing flammable metals (used mainly in factories).
Type K extinguishers – Can be used on vegetable and animal oils.
For home, you can choose a multi-purpose (A, B, C) extinguisher (for combustible gases and extinguish electrical appliances).
In the house, it’s better to have at least two options: carbon dioxide (CO2) and powder.
A carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are perfect for electronic devices as they are able to extinguish the fire without de-energizing the device. It is safe if to air the house after extinguishing (if not, it may lead to unconsciousness) because it doesn’t contain any hazardous chemicals, but it can’t snuff out the smoldering materials.
A powder fire extinguisher is perfect for smoldering materials like carpets, furniture, textile, wood, etc. A portion of powder ejected under high pressure isolates the source of fire with a non-combustible substance, but after that extinguished items will be almost impossible to clean or repair. Powder fire extinguishers create an aerosol powder cloud that isn’t harmless for breathing, but it reduces visibility almost to zero, indoors or outdoors.
How to use it?
Always remember the acronym PASS:
Pull the pin.
Aim to the source of fire
Squeeze the trigger
Sweep from side-to-side.
What size extinguisher is suitable for home?
The fire extinguisher weight is an important factor if you choose it for home. A ten-pound extinguisher can cope well with fast-spreading fire, so it is good to have it in your garage. A five-pound extinguisher can take place in your kitchen. It recommended storing it nearby pantry or cupboard, as most home fires start from the kitchen. If you’ve already chosen the best home fire extinguisher for you, just keep in mind that firefighters recommend having at least two fire extinguishers in your home. The weight of the extinguishing substance is usually written in the index of the designation of the extinguisher.
Hope now you know how to choose a fire extinguisher for home. When you have chosen the right one, install and keep it remembering that your life may depend on it one day.