Total Fire & Safety Blog

All fires and fire extinguishers are not created equal. It is important, especially in a commercial setting, that a business has the right kind of fire extinguishers available and ready to go for the most probable fires.  Fires are classified five ways (see chart below). While a restaurant may be most concerned with Type K fires, a manufacturing plant may be concerned with B or D.

According to the NFPA, the materials which ignite the most industrial fires are flammable liquids and gases, and electrical wire or insulation. These materials are common in industrial settings, so be sure to follow all fire safety recommendations, and know what kind of fire extinguishers are best to have on hand in the workplace.

Here is a chart that explains which type of fire extinguishers work for each type of fire. Of these fires, only one (type A) can be extinguished with water. The rest require special ingredients that cut off oxygen in different ways, therefore, it’s important to have the right kind of extinguisher on hand.

Once you have the correct extinguisher in place, it’s also important to make sure that you have regularly scheduled fire extinguisher inspections and that your employees have correct fire extinguisher training. Total Fire and Safety offers fire extinguishers for every type of fire. If you have any questions about the type of extinguisher you should have onsite, or current extinguisher maintenance issues, please feel free to contact us at 630.960.5060