What types of fire are there

Not all fires require the same type of extinguisher and the correct type has to be used for each blaze. Checkout our quiz to test your knowledge on fire extinguishers. Protection is about reducing damage and saving lives when a fire occurs. This can be done using a lot of methods which we will explore in this section of the course. Protection measures can be split into active and passive.

Active control measures are safety measures that require action from a person or situation. This means that active protection measures are either used or react when a fire takes place.

Examples include fire extinguishers and blankets which are used by people. Other examples include sprinkler systems and emergency lighting as these are triggered when a fire happens. Passive control measures are physical features that do not require any action in protecting life.

They are usually built into a building and are no different when a fire takes place to any other day. They include fire exits, signs leading to the nearest exits and any special fire safety equipment built into the location such as fire resistant walls and doors. Obviously, it is a lot easier to say this than do it in practice but carrying out regular fire drills and having a good understanding of how fire spreads is a huge help.

This knowledge will result in you knowing what to do in situations where fire is present and help you to avoid some of the common mistakes people make.

When no training is taken, people that are caught in a fire can make mistakes such as —. If you ever hear a fire alarm you should stay calm and act according to the procedures set out in your workplace. When evacuating a building due to an alarm being raised, you should stay calm and not take any risks.

All belongings should be left as fire can quickly spread and the most important thing is to get out of the building as quickly as possible. Lifts should not be used unless they are part of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan these will be covered soon.

This is due to the risk of the lift mechanisms being damaged by fire as well as the elevator shaft being able to fill with smoke very easily. The nearest fire exit should be taken as long as this is safe to use. If it is smokey, stay low to the ground and always remember to shut any windows and doors after you. At all times in the workplace, you should have access to an emergency exit. These exits should never be blocked as you do not know if these will be needed at any point. However, if you do become trapped in a building with no means of escape you must carry out certain steps.

Firstly, if the emergency services have not yet been informed you must call them. If the fire is not in the same room as you, make sure that the doors and internal windows are shut. This will create a barrier between you and the fire. Grab any fabric that is available and place this in cracks around doors and windows to stop any smoke or flames from entering. If possible, it is also best to wet this material first. If any smoke does start to get into the room, use some material to cover your nose and mouth and try to only breath through your nose.

If you are ever too close to a fire and your clothes catch alight, you can carry out the stop, drop and roll technique. STOP — the first thing to remember is to never run if your clothes catch fire.

This will add more oxygen to the flames and make the fire burn faster. DROP — drop to the floor and lie down. This will stop the flames from moving up your body vertically and burning your head and face. ROLL — Once on the floor, place your hands over your face and roll back and forth to smother the flames. This will reduce the oxygen to the fire and work to extinguish the flames.

If someone else is present, they can use something like a rug or thick blanket to smother the flames. If possible, this should be soaked in water first. Fires should only ever be tackled if it is safe to do so. Without the correct training and equipment, attempting to tackle a fire is extremely dangerous and should never be done. Different types of fire extinguisher can have different instructions for use so these should be checked.

However, in the case of a fire, it is unlikely that you will have time to read these instructions fully so you can follow general advice with the PASS method. PULL — Firstly pull the pin from the fire extinguisher. This may have a small plastic seal around it known as a tamper seal which will break when the pin is removed. This will act to cover the base of the fire and should be continued until the fire is out.

The ways to minimise and prevent the risk of a fire breaking out is to follow good house keeping practices, at home and at work. Eve has worked at CPD from the start, she organises the course and blog production, as well as supporting students with any problems they may have and helping them choose the correct courses.

Eve is also studying for her Business Administration Level 3 qualification. Outside of work Eve likes to buy anything with flamingos on it, catching up with friends, spending time with her family and occasionally going to the gym!

Knowledge Base » Health and Safety » The different types of fires. In this article. Heat — The most obvious hazard from a fire is the actual flames.

These flames can burn your skin as well as your eyes and lungs. Burns are life threatening to a large extent and extremely painful. Smoke — When a fire burns, smoke is often given off. CO2 extinguishers work by smothering the fire and cutting off the supply of air.

Wet chemical extinguishers are suitable for use on Class F fires involving cooking oils and fats, such as lard, olive oil, sunflower oil, maize oil and butter. They are extremely effective, when used correctly. The wet chemical rapidly knocks the flames out, cools the burning oil and chemically reacts to form a soap-like solution, sealing the surface and preventing re-ignition. Although they are primarily designed for use on Class F fires, cooking oils and deep fat fryers.

They can also be used on Class A fires wood, paper and fabrics and Class B fires flammable liquids. Fire blankets are primarily for use on hot oil fires such as frying pans or small deep fat fryers. They can also be used on someone whose clothing has caught fire. They work by smothering the fire, stopping access to the oxygen fuelling it and extinguishing it.

Browse range. Classes of fire Class A - fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles. Class B - fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils. Class C - fires involving gases. Class D - fires involving metals. Class E - fires involving live electrical apparatus. Types of extinguishers Water extinguishers Water extinguishers are one of the most cost-effective ways to fight Class A fires, those fuelled by solid materials such as paper, wood and textiles.

Water jet extinguishers work by spraying a jet of water at the burning materials, cooling them and preventing re-ignition. Extinguishers with a K rating are designed to extinguish fires involving vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats utilized in commercial cooking appliances. An example would be a commercial kitchen similar to those found in restaurants and cafeterias. Most portable extinguishers are rated for use with more than one classification of fire.

For example, an extinguisher with a BC rating is suitable for use with fires involving flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type.

Skip to main content. ABCs of Fire Extinguishers. Classifications of Fires and Extinguishers Class A Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials, such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Class B Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, oil-based paints, lacquers.