Fire Extinguisher
Supplier

Before choosing an extinguisher, it is important to know the size and nature of the fuels present and whether any chemicals in the area will react adversely with an extinguishing agent. NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, classifies fires according to the fuel involved:

• Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
• Class B fires involve flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
• Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment.
• Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
• Class K fires are fires in cooking appliances involving combustible cooking media, vegetable or animal oils, and fats.