What Is A Fire Extinguisher?

It is a mechanical device created for putting out fires. The history of the fire extinguisher goes back to the 19th
century, when George William Manby, Captain of the British militia, noted that firemen in Edinburgh weren’t able to
reach the top floors of the buildings. He made a cylinder of copper which contained water and compressed air. The
firemen only need to point the hose to the fire to extinguish it.

During the rest of the 19th and 20th century, this device was continuously improved due to the necessities of the
modern world. Better materials and chemicals where implemented, bringing us to the portable fire extinguisher of
today.

How Does A Fire Extinguisher Work?

Modern extinguishers contain an inner cartridge filled with carbon dioxide, which is the chemical that creates the
pressure over the extinguishing agent. Once you push a lever, the carbon dioxide will push the agent and project it
through the hose. The pressure will permit the user to point the fire from a safe distance, permitting him to maneuver
and control the fire.

Categories of Fire Extinguishers

There are several types of fire extinguishers. They have been specially designed for determined types of burning
material. Why? As we have gained more experience on this theme, we have learned that some extinguishing agents
are better than others when you use them on wood, liquids or electrical equipment:

Class A
This type of extinguisher was created for combustible materials based on cellulose, like paper, wood or cardboard, or
materials like cloth, styrofoam, trash or plastics. Its markings are a green triangle with an A inside and a black square
with burning wood and a burning trashcan.

Class B
It involves flammable liquids and greases. Some examples are gasoline, kerosene, oil, paint, solvent and rubber
cement. It is represented by a B within a red square and a black square with a burning gas can.

Class C
The Class C extinguishers are those made for electrical fires. Represented by a blue circle with a C inside and a
square with a burning plug and socket, they were created for extinguishing fires created within a computer, an
appliance or a fuse box.

Class D
This kind of extinguisher was designed for flammable metals, like sodium, magnesium or titanium. They have a
yellow star with a D inside.

Class K
Although it’s also used for oils, this extinguisher was specially created for commercial kitchens. It’s a rare kind of
extinguisher since it only has eight years in the market. Most restaurants still use the Class B extinguisher.