Fire Extinguisher

5 types of fire extinguishers: A guide to using the right class

 

1、What are the types of fire?

In international standards, fire classification is usually divided according to the type and characteristics of the burning material, and fires are divided into the following 6 categories:

 

Class A Fire

Burnable material: solid material fire (usually organic combustible material, which may produce embers after burning).

Examples: wood, paper, cloth, plastic, rubber, etc.

Fire extinguishing tips: water-based fire extinguishers, foam fire extinguishers, etc. can be used.

 

Class B Fire

Burnable material: liquid or meltable solid fire.

Examples: gasoline, diesel, alcohol, kerosene, asphalt, paraffin, etc.

Fire extinguishing tips: foam fire extinguishers, dry powder fire extinguishers or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are required to avoid using water to cause flowing fire.

 

Class C Fire

Burnable material: gas fire.

Examples: natural gas, liquefied gas, hydrogen, methane, propane, etc.
Fire extinguishing tips: Cut off the gas source first, then use a dry powder fire extinguisher or a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher to put out the remaining fire.

Class D Fire
Combustion materials: Metal fire (usually active metals).
Examples: Potassium, sodium, magnesium, titanium, lithium, aluminum-magnesium alloys, etc.
Fire extinguishing tips: Special metal fire extinguishing agents (such as dry sand, graphite powder, sodium chloride powder) are required, and water or ordinary fire extinguishers are prohibited.

Class E Fire
Combustion materials: Electrical fire (combustion of objects when they are electrified).
Examples: Fires in electrical equipment, wires, transformers, generators, etc. when the power is not turned off.
Fire extinguishing tips: Non-conductive fire extinguishing agents (such as dry powder, carbon dioxide) must be used, and the power must be turned off before extinguishing the fire.

Class F Fire
Combustion materials: Cooking materials fire in cooking utensils (mainly animal and vegetable fats and oils).
Examples: Burning of kitchen oil pans, fried foods, cooking oil, etc.
Fire extinguishing tips: Use pot lids to suffocate fire or fire blankets, and do not use water (may cause oil fire to splash).

 

Additional notes
Only some countries may have slightly different descriptions of "Class E" (for example, some countries call "electrical fire" "Class E (Electrical Fire)").

Fire extinguishing core principles: Different types of fires need to match corresponding fire extinguishing agents. Incorrect use may cause the fire to expand or become dangerous (such as using water to extinguish Class B and Class D fires).

Understanding fire classification is the basis for choosing the right fire extinguishing method, especially in industrial, home, public places and other scenarios.

 

2、Fire extinguisher types and uses

 

Fire Extinguisher Type	Suitable Fire Classes	Common Uses
Water	A	Wood, paper, textiles
Foam	A, B	Solids and flammable liquids
ABC Dry Chemical	A, B, C	Multi-purpose (homes, offices)
BC Dry Chemical	B, C	Gas and liquid fires (industrial)
CO₂	B, E	Electrical equipment, flammable liquids
Wet Chemical	F	Kitchen grease fires
Metal (D Class)	D	Combustible metals (industrial)
Clean Agent	B, E	Sensitive electronics/environments

 

Water Fire Extinguishers

Type: Water (APW, Air-Pressurized Water)
Fire Class:  (Class A) – Solid combustibles (wood, paper, textiles).
How it works: Extinguishes fire by cooling the burning material and removing heat.
Uses: Ideal for small fires in homes, offices, or classrooms involving organic solids.
Do not use on: B, C, D, or E class fires (risk of spreading liquid fires or electrocution).

Foam Fire Extinguishers
Type: Foam (AFFF, AR-AFFF, or Protein Foam)
Fire Class:  (Class A) and  (Class B) – Solids and liquids.
How it works: Creates a foam blanket to smother fires, blocking oxygen and cooling the fuel.
Uses:
Class A: Fires in wood, paper, etc.
Class B: Flammable liquids like gasoline, oil, or solvents (works on non-polar liquids; may not work on polar solvents like alcohol).
Do not use on: C, D, or E class fires.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers
Type:
ABC Dry Chemical: Ammonium phosphate-based (multi-purpose).
BC Dry Chemical: Sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate (for B and C fires).
Fire Class:
ABC Type:  (Solids, liquids, gases).
BC Type:  (Liquids, gases).
How it works: Interrupts the chemical reaction of fire by coating fuel surfaces.
Uses:
ABC: Versatile for kitchens, workshops, or industrial settings.
BC: Suitable for fuel storage areas, laboratories, or gas-powered equipment.
Do not use on: D class fires (may react with metals) or E class fires (ABC type is non-conductive, but better to use CO₂ for electrical fires)

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Fire Extinguishers
Type: Carbon Dioxide
Fire Class: Class B and Class E – Liquids and electrical fires.
How it works: Extinguishes fire by displacing oxygen and cooling slightly.
Uses:
Class B: Flammable liquids (e.g., gasoline, grease).
Class E: Electrical equipment (computers, servers, appliances) without leaving residue.
Do not use on: A or D class fires (ineffective on solids; may spread metal fires).

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
Type: Wet Chemical (potassium acetate, carbonate, or citrate)
Fire Class: Class F – Cooking oils, fats, and greases (kitchen fires).
How it works: Reacts with hot oil to form a soapy crust (saponification), smothering the fire and cooling it.
Uses: Exclusive for kitchen appliances like fryers, grills, or ovens.
Do not use on: A, B, C, D, or E class fires.

Metal (D Class) Fire Extinguishers
Type: Dry Powder (e.g., sodium chloride, copper powder, or graphite)
Fire Class: Class D – Combustible metals (e.g., sodium, magnesium, lithium).
How it works: Smothers the fire and absorbs heat, preventing reaction with air.
Uses: Industrial settings, metalworking shops, or laboratories handling reactive metals.
Do not use on: Any other fire class (risk of reaction or inefficiency).

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
Type: Halogenated Agents (e.g., HFC-227ea, FM-200) or Inert Gases (e.g., nitrogen, argon)
Fire Class: Class B and Class E – Liquids and electrical fires.
How it works: Suppresses fire by interrupting chemical reactions or displacing oxygen.
Uses: Sensitive environments like data centers, museums, or laboratories (leaves no residue).
Do not use on: A or D class fires.

 

Key Tips for Using Fire Extinguishers
 Remember the PASS acronym:
 Pull the pin.
 Aim at the base of the fire.
 Squeeze the handle.
 Sweep from side to side.
 Always ensure the fire is small and contained, and evacuate if the fire grows or spreads.
 Regularly inspect extinguishers for pressure and expiration dates.

 

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