Types of Fire Fighting Equipment
Last updated:It is important that only trained people tackle a fire but only if it does not put themselves or others at risk. No one should attempt to fight a fire larger than a small waste bin. IF IN DOUBT - GET OUT
Type: Water
Coloured Panel: Red
How it works: Cooling
Type of fire: Solid fires, wood, cloth paper, Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances
How to use: Point the jet at the base of the flames, keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out
Type: Water Spray Extinguisher (Water with additive)
Coloured Panel: Red
How it works: Cooling
Type of fire: Solid fires, wood, cloth paper, Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances
How to use: Point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out. Instead of a jet nozzle a spray nozzle is used, with a higher pressure, which creates a fine spray, i.e. an increase in the surface area presented to the fire. This makes extinguishing more efficient by more rapid extraction of heat.
Type: AFFF (aqueous film forming foam)
Coloured Panel: Cream
How it works: Smothers and cools fire
Type of fire: Solid and burning liquids, such as paint and petrol. Do not use on chip or fat pan fires.
How to use: For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out. For fires involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid. Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid. Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.
Type: Dry powder
Coloured Panel: Blue
How it works: Smothers fire
Type of fire: Organic solids, liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol, etc. Can also be used on gas fires. Do not use on domestic chip or fat pan fires. Safe on live electrical equipment, although does not penetrate the spaces in equipment easily and the fire may re-ignite. This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and care should be taken that the fire does not flare up again. There is danger of inhalation if powder extinguishers are used within buildings.
How to use: Point the jet or discharge horn at the base of the flames and, with a rapid sweeping motion, drive the fire towards the far edge until all the flames are out. Extinguish the whole extinguisher. If the extinguisher has a hand control, wait until the air clears and if you can still see the flames, attack the fire again.
Type: Carbon dioxide CO2
Coloured Panel: Black
How it works: Smothers fire
Type of fire: Live electrical equipment, although it allows re-ignition of hot plastics. Now mainly used on large computer servers, although care has to be taken not to asphyxiate people when using the extinguisher in small server rooms. Do not use on chip or fat pan fires, as it carries burning fat out of container.
How to use: The discharge horn should be directed at the base of the flames and the jet kept moving across the area of the fire. Fumes are harmful, ventilate area after use. Only use CO2 extinguishers with frost-free horns, as the hand holding the horn can otherwise be frozen to the horn
Type: Wet chemical
Coloured Panel: Canary yellow
How it works: Forms a scum that smothers fire
Type of fire: Wet chemical fire extinguishers are ideal for Class F fires, involving cooking oils and fats, such as lard, olive oil, sunflower oil, maize oil and butter
How to use: Apply the wet chemical using the extended applicator in slow circular movements, which give a gentle, yet highly effective application. Apply the fine spray onto the burning fat until the surface of the burning cooking oil changes into a soapy like substance, which prevents re-ignition. Discharge the whole extinguisher. The gentle application helps to prevent burning oil splashing out of the container.
Type: Hose reel
Coloured Panel: Red
How it works: Cooling
Type of fire: Solid fires, not live electrical equipment
How to use: Aim at base of fire and keep moving across the areas of fire.
Type: Fire blanket
Coloured Panel: Red
How it works: Smothers fire
Type of fire: Fires involving both solids and liquids. Particularly good for small clothing fires and for chip and fat pan fires providing the blanket completely covers the fire. If the blanket does not completely cover the fire, the fire will not be extinguished.
How to use: Place carefully over fire, keep hands shielded.