what types of fire extinguishers are there and what are there uses?

Answer 1

Well... since I don't feel like typing a book today, let me refer to you a most excellent site on the subject...

http://www.fireextinguisher.com/

It has all the different types of portable units, their agents, information on the classes of fire. Very well done!

Answer 2

Different types include:
Water,
Carbon dioxide (fire needs O2 to keep going),
foam,
powder,
halon
and wet chemical.

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control a fire, often in emergency situations.

Answer 3

I typed "Fire extinguishers" into yahoo search. You could have done that, did you know you can find out all sorts of information on the internet if you type a key word into the search toolbar. Or, couldn`t you be bothered ?.

Answer 4

Water, Dry Chemical, CO2 and Foam are the main types of portable extinguishers.

Dry chemical and CO2 are best for use on electrical fires as they are electrically non-conductive and do not harm equipment (although dry chem involves a clean up afterwards)

Foam is good for kitchen fires i.e deep fat fryers as it covers the fire to starve it of oxygen and the foam helps cool the fire below the point of autoignition

Water mostly for general use i.e paper, fabrics etc.

Answer 5

Is this enough?

A portable fire extinguisher is one of the best, and cost-effective defences against property damage from a fire. When used properly, portable fire extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out small fire or containing one until the fire department arrives

Fire Protection:
Protection of Personnel and Equipment is of prime importance in all industrial environments. For this purpose, various fire appliances and extinguishing equipment are installed in all plant areas.

Hand Portable, Dry-Chemical Type:
A special dry chemical - ' Purple ' K ', - is contained in an un-pressurized metal container. When the hand-operated lever is depressed, a carbon dioxide cylinder is punctured and the released gas pressurizes the container. The pressure propels the dry powder from the container through the hose and hand held nozzle.
Purple-K powder's main components are, potassium bicarbonate with sodium bicarbonate
Chemical fire extinguishers will put out fires but have no cooling effect. There is always a possibility of a flash-back.
In addition to ' Purple K ' dry chemical, other ' multi-purpose ' dry chemical extinguishers are used for domestic fires and larger two-wheeled units for industry. These are in general use against all classes of small fires.

Hand Portable, Non-residue Type:
A non-residue extinguisher uses compressed or high pressure liquefied gas to reduce the amount of available oxygen. These types are called 'CO2' extinguishers and are used in laboratories, homes, control rooms and sub-stations.
Since the extinguishing agent is in gaseous form, they are ideal for electrical and electronic equipment fires as there is no residue to clean up. However, these types are not suitable for out-door use in windy conditions. They can also create a low oxygen condition in confined spaces.

Hand-portable water type:
Compressed air operated, water filled extinguishers are generally used in offices, warehouses .. etc, for paper or wood fires.

Water type extinguishers should NEVER be used on electrical fires - the water may provide a path for electric current to flow causing shock or even electrocution.

Wheeled Extinguishers
Large, two-wheeled extinguishers, containing 150 lb of dry chemical, are used in many industrial areas to give more effective fire control than the small hand-held types. This type of unit, uses compressed nitrogen gas which, when the hand-held nozzle is operated, forces the powder from the cylinder. The nozzle aims and controls the flow of powder on to the fire.

Water Hydrants:
These are installed in large industrial complexes as part of a fire water ring-main system.
The ring main is maintained under pressure at all times. The hydrants are located at strategic points throughout the complex and consist of a stand-pipe having one or more valved outlets and hose connections for standard fire hoses
Near to the hydrants, Fire Boxes are installed which contain a minimum of four hoses and two nozzles. Some boxes also contain foam-making liquids.

Fire-water Monitors
Monitors are also connected from the fire-water ring main and placed at strategic points around the area. These are used to provide a steady, unattended stream or spray of water onto equipment near to a fire in order to keep them cool. The monitor stream can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically as needed. The nozzle can also be adjusted to provide a narrow stream or a wide spray. When making adjustments to a monitor, the effects of the water pressure and the wind direction and speed need to be taken into account.

Foam:
In some areas, where large spills of flammable liquids are possible, containers of foam compound and foam making nozzles are provided. In order to produce a foam blanket for covering such spills, the foam nozzle is attached to the fire-hose and the foam compound pick-up tube inserted into the compound container.
When the water is turned on, the foam compound is drawn into the water stream – (operates like a venturi eductor ), and a stream of foam is produced and directed on to the required area.

Answer 6

There maybe CO2 or foam.

That can put off fire mainly bases on their density.

Consider CO2, CO2 is denser than air, hence goes nearer to the fire, which stops the supply of oxygen. Oxygen is essential for a fire.

Fire extinguisher also bases on lower the fire's temperture.High temperature is also essential to fire.

Hence, fire extinguisher can put off fire.

Answer 7

well firstly there are the red water ones which are for paper fires and none electrical, non chemical fires.
then theres black co2 (carbon dioxide) ones which are good for electrical fires, and some types of chemical fires.
then u have the dry powder ones which can b used, i think for all fires because the powder dosnt conduct electric and nor does it react with most chemicals, although i am unsure what colour the powder ones are. hope that helps.

Answer 8

Water, C02 and Foam

there uses are to put out fires... just don't use water on electrical ones!