When people think of putting out fires they generally think of a water fire extinguisher. However, in some cases, using a water fire extinguisher can do more harm than good.
In this article, we will look at fires a water fire extinguisher should not be used on, as well as when it is appropriate to use on.
Water fire extinguishers should be used on organic materials such as burning wood, paper or textiles. These are classified as a Class A fire.
Instead, the British Standard recommends using these in conjunction with another extinguisher in order to cover the other fires that are not suitable for water. For example, you may choose to have CO2 extinguishers in your office for electrical risks, and a wet chemical for cooking fats and oils.
Don’t Add Water
Never use a water extinguisher on electrical fires or any fire involving a flammable liquid. As any science student will tell you, water conducts the current.
If you spray water onto an electrical fire, inadvertently or intentionally, you risk electrocuting yourself.
In the case of a flammable liquid, water doesn’t extinguish it, and all the water does is spread it around. This results in the burning liquid spreading around much faster and doing much more damage, and would actually help to spread and exacerbate a fire
Therefore you are better off having an additional extinguisher alongside your water fire extinguisher.
All extinguishers have clear labels on the front indicating what they are used for and how to use them, so you should be able to distinguish which one is right to use in an emergency. And this is why you should also partner all fire extinguishers with a corresponding extinguisher sign. These give quick and clear advice.
The Right One
You need the right extinguisher for the right job. In an office the two most likely fires you will have to deal with will be material (cardboard, paper etc.) or electrical.
Therefore, in this instance, you would probably have a water extinguisher ready for the materials and a CO2 extinguisher in order to have something for dealing with an electrical fire.
Other extinguishers are necessary depending on the risks involved in your particular working environment. Inevitably in an industrial environment, there are more potential risks and different types of fire hazards.
For example, in an environment where you are handling lithium or other metals a metal powder extinguisher is the right one to have on hand as it is specifically designed for that particular type of fire.
The best way of ensuring you have the right extinguishers is to have a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person, detailing all the hazards present and the correct procedures for handling them.
Since October 2006 premises are legally required to have fire extinguishers. However it is not just about having something at hand to show that you have checked something off the list of requirements-as we have established if you use a water extinguisher on fires that a water extinguisher should not be used on then you can end up doing more harm than good, so it is important to get the right one.
This is why it is vital to read product specifications carefully and to ensure that you get the most appropriate type of fire extinguisher to suit your particular requirements, ensuring the safety of you, your employees, and anyone who visits your premises.