how many types are there.
2006-09-07 23:22:38 · 6 answers · asked by lanz 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
funtction ----to put out fire
types----many
2006-09-07 23:28:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's a loaded question!
In short, a fire extinguisher is a portable device used to fight fires by removing at least one main component of the fire tetrahedron (the chemical process of sufficient quantities of heat, fuel, and oxygen to produce fire.) CO2, for example, extinguishes a fire by displacing the Oxygen.
There are quite a few types of units and quite a few agents.
Types of units - Stored Pressure (very common), Pump Operated, Cartridge operated, Skid Mounted Units, Wheeled units, and apparatus.
Types of extingiushing agents -
Water (Class A Fires)
Foam or AFFF (Class A & B Fires)
Carbon dioxide (Class B & C Fires)
Sodium bicarbonate (Class B & C Fires)
Potassium Bicarbontae aka Purple K (Class B & C Fires only, NOT class A, as someone else mentioned)
Monoammounium phospate (Class A, B, & C Fires)
Halogenated Agents like Halon 1211 (no longer mfg. new), FE-36 (Cleanguard), or Halotron - (usually Class B & C, some larger units will have a Class A rating)
Aqueous Solutions of Organic Salts (Class K)
Met-L-X, Lith-X, Sand (Class D)
(That's a quick sampling, although there are more!)
The classes of fire in North America are A, B, C, D, and K. However, the classes change in Europe. Someone else pointed out a nice link to the classes used in the UK, which are different. Since, I don't know where you are from, I went with the North American Standard which was established by the NFPA (The National Fire Protection Association.)
For more information on the classes of fire, types of extinguisher, proper use, etc. visit...
http://www.fireextinguisher.com
Fore more information from NFPA, check out thier site. NFPA 10 is the standard for portable fire extinguishers.
http://www.nfpa.org
Be careful what you quote from the answers given, including my own, back it up by visiting a reputable web site.
2006-09-09 10:41:21 · answer #2 · answered by todvango 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Single purpose and multi purpose. Single purpose is either going to be Class A (water extinguisher) or Class D (combustible metal extinguisher, specific to the metal). Multipurpose is going to be either BC, or ABC. Anything rated B is suitable for flammable liquid fires, and anything C is nonconductive, making it safe to use on electrical fires.
Any coefficient in next to the letter A, (Such as A2) indicates that it is the equivalent to 1 1/4 X the coefficient in gallons of water (in this case, 2 1/2). A coefficient next to the B (B10) means that it can put out a liquid fire that is 10 square feet or less.
The company Underwriters Laboratories (UL) classifies and approves fire extinguishers in their function and effectiveness.
2006-09-08 06:35:56 · answer #3 · answered by Dewhitewolf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several types. ABC, BC, D, K, Purple K, Halon, Halotron, Cleanguard.
ABC, BC, D, and Purple K's can all be dry chemical powder extinguishers.
A - wood, paper, normal trash
B - Flammable Liquids, Gasoline..etc
C - Electrical fires.
D - Metal Fires
K is a liquid extinguisher for grease fires in kitchens
Purple K is a dry chemical powser used as an ABC extinguishing agent, it's more effective but more expensive.
Halon, Halotron, and cleanguard are all liduid agents for use around electronics. They are mosly a BC extinguisher but the bigger sizes will extinguish an A type fire as well. They will not damage electronics and you don't have to clean them up. They evaporate.
Carbon Dioxide is used for BC only and mostly used in factories and food manuf because they dont' have to be cleaned up and they dont' contaminate foods.
Anything else you want to know just send me a message!
2006-09-08 06:34:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The basic function is as its name fire extinguisher. ( it will douse the fire) Basically 4 types are there. 1, water, 2 carbon di-oxide, 3. Powder, 4. Foam. The reasons for various types are because water cannot be used when electric fire occurs and only you have to douse with powder stuff etc. Similarly for petrol / oil fires carbon di-oxide is more preferred as oil floats in water and fire simply jumps up. for more details search in the net.
2006-09-08 06:36:07 · answer #5 · answered by ssmindia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Link to guide attached.
2006-09-08 06:29:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋