What fire extinguisher do you need?
No home or business must be considered safe without a fire extinguisher. Even though you can follow daily fire safety best practices, you can still end up with a house fire. As fire protection professionals, we recognize the significance of preparedness for the worst. So, buying a proper fire extinguisher is among the easiest things you can do to protect your property from flames. But what fire extinguisher do you need?
Class A
A class A fire extinguisher is ideal for fires on solid flammable objects. These objects may include fabric, paper, leaves, or wood. For example, keeping a class A extinguisher in the same room as your fireplace is a good idea.
Class B
Class B fires involve flammable liquids. Typical examples of Class B fires include kerosene, gasoline, or grease. You should avoid using water for this fire type because it will only cause the fire to spread. In addition, fire extinguishers with a Class B rating help remove these fire types by smothering them. This may make them a good inclusion in your garage or kitchen.
Class C
Class C fire extinguishers are designed to put out electrical fires. Similar to class B fires, water will not do the trick here. In fact, it can pose an electrocution risk. Instead, it would help to consider putting a class C fire extinguisher wherever you may think an electrical fire may crop up – like behind your entertainment center or around your computer.
Determining What Fire Extinguisher to Purchase
When deciding what fire extinguisher to purchase, you may feel tempted to get one of all the classes above and place them in appropriate spots. Although this is optional, we don’t necessarily advise it. Having more fire extinguishers is always good, but you risk combining them and using one on the wrong fire type.
Fortunately, there is such a thing as an ABC fire extinguisher. This is appropriate for use in all three categories we have discussed above. You should also consider purchasing several of these and putting them around your house. For general fire safety, this is your ideal bet! Remember, there are more fire classes and extinguishers than we discussed. But these are the only fires that will most likely occur in a domestic setting.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480.