Safety experts reveal how to pick the right fire extinguisher type for your home

Fire extinguishers are absolutely essential to help you protect your property from preventable damage, but do you know how to pick the right extinguisher for your home?

In the event of an emergency, the correct fire extinguisher type, used properly, could be the deciding factor between a whole-house blaze, and a small fire that's quickly and easily brought under control.

With five kinds of fire extinguishers to choose from, and multiple fire classes to understand, our fire safety experts are here to detail how to pick an extinguisher to help you deal with common fire risks should they happen.

What kinds of fire extinguisher types are there?

Whether you love burning the best candles, or are a bit of a klutz in the kitchen, every home should have fire extinguishers. It only takes one slip-up, and a few seconds for a blaze to begin and quickly take hold.

Forrest Webber, owner of Fireplace Distributor, explains that the five main fire extinguisher types:

• Water extinguishers: Great for fires involving paper, wood, straw, coal, rubber, plastics, and soft furniture. They spray water from a nozzle to cover larger areas. They are simple, common, and affordable. Some have an additive to make them more effective and lighter, but these cost a bit more. These can be used on class A fires only (more on the fire class types later). Water extinguishers are available at Amazon.
• Dry powder extinguishers: Used for fires involving solids, liquids, and gases. Special powder extinguishers with metals like lithium, magnesium, or aluminum are made for Type D fires. The powder forms a crust that smothers the fire and stops it from spreading. These are the most versatile extinguishers and can be used for class A, B, C, and D fires. Dry powder extinguishers are also available at Amazon

These extinguishers are less common in residential properties, but are common in commercial spaces:

• Foam fire extinguishers: These put fires in solids and liquids but are unsafe for cooking oils or fats. They are often used for fires involving petrol, paint, or turpentine. Some can be used on electrical fires if tested and used from one meter away. They leave a mess to clean up and cost more than water extinguishers. These are only for use on class A and B fires.
• Carbon dioxide extinguishers: Practical in offices because they are used on fires involving burning liquids and electrical fires, such as large computer equipment. They only contain pressurized carbon dioxide gas, which leaves no residue. Carbon Dioxide does not harm electrical devices or lead to system short-circuiting; it works by suffocating the fire. They are only for use on class B and E fires.
• Wet chemical extinguishers: Specifically designed for kitchen fires involving cooking oils and fats. They spray a fine mist that reacts with the oils to create a barrier, cooling and extinguishing the fire. These extinguishers are essential for deep-fat fryers and similar equipment. These are for use on class A and F fires only.

The fire classes and why they matter

Which fire extinguisher you use largely depends on the type of fire you need to put out. Fires are broken down into six different ‘classes’, which dictate the smothering method you use. Picking the wrong type of extinguisher could make the fire worse, Daniel Cabrera, founder and CEO of Fire Damage House Buyer explains.

He says, ‘The wrong class of extinguisher being used can actually increase the size of a fire. Using a Class A water-based extinguisher on a grease or electrical fire spreads the fire or creates shock hazards. Knowing what type of extinguisher to use will ensure that any fire gets put out effectively and safely.’

Usually, an extinguisher will tell you which type of fire they are safe for use on by displaying a large lettering system. The fire classes are as follows:

• Class A: Fires on organic materials such as paper or coal.
• Class B: Flammable liquids such as petrol or paint
• Class C: Flammable gasses, such as on gas stoves, gas heaters, etc.
• Class D: Flammable metals, such as lithium and magnesium, usually found in batteries (Items like phones or e-bikes and scooters)
• Class E: Electrical equipment such as computers, TVs, and consoles
• Class K (Class F outside of the USA): Cooking oils, such as fat, vegetable, olive, and seed oils, etc.

Where to place extinguishers in your home

It is all well and good to own fire extinguishers, but if they are not easy and quick to access when you need them, they are pretty useless.

Daniel Cabrera continues, ‘In kitchens, mount an extinguisher away from the stove, but still accessible. In bedrooms, locate extinguishers near exits or centrally for easy access. In garages and workshops, mount an extinguisher near the entrance or near a workbench area. Finally, in basement/utility rooms, locate near electrical panels or equipment.’

Forrest Webber adds, ‘We don't know when and where fires will occur. To be prepared, it is best to have an extinguisher on every level or floor. I recommend installing multipurpose fire extinguishers (ABC-rated) to handle fires that involve ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment.’

Maintaining fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are not something you can buy and forget about. They should be included in your home maintenance schedule.

Forrest Webber says, ‘Disposable extinguishers need to be replaced every 12 years from the manufacture date, while rechargeable extinguishers (with maintenance) can last longer. They will need hydro-static testing every six years and a full replacement every 12 years if issues are detected.

‘For water, foam, and dry powder extinguishers, test by discharge and refilling or replacement every five years. Finally, for carbon dioxide extinguishers, due to high pressure, they require hydro-static testing and internal inspection every 10 years.’

FAQs

Can an ABC fire extinguisher be used in the kitchen?

An ABC fire extinguisher can be used in the kitchen, as it is safe for use on fires caused by flammable liquids, electrical fires, and combustible materials such as wood and paper.

However, it is important to note that they are often not suited to dealing with fires caused by cooking oils and fats (such as deep fat fryers). In these cases, you will need a Class K fire extinguisher, available at Amazon, (or class F outside of the USA).

What to use if you do not have a fire extinguisher?

Tackling a household fire without a fire extinguisher can be risky. For very small fires, you may be able to snuff them out with a thick, heavy layer of baking soda. This is ideal for a small pan fire in a pinch, rather than using water which would worsen the issue. You can also use fire blankets, available at Walmart, which are designed with very thick, flame-resistant material, to smother flames and starve them of oxygen.

If a fire starts to get out of hand, you should always call the fire service and evacuate the home immediately.

Fires don’t just start in the kitchen. Anything from electrical faults, to storms and unattended candles can pose a common fire risk. That is why it is so important to have your HVAC systems serviced by a professional regularly and ensure your attic is safe so leaks do not spark an electrical fire, among other key precautions.