In this helpful article, we outline the appropriate use of powder fire extinguishers, including the types of fires where dry powder fire extinguishers should not be used as well as the types of fires that are suitable. Additionally, we will look at how powder fire extinguishers work and what surroundings will benefit from having one on site and how to identify powder fire extinguishers.
>>> What is a powder fire extinguisher? >>>>
What are powder fire extinguishers used for??
Flexible choice, use a powder fire extinguisher to fight which fires? for class A (flammable solids), B (flammable liquids) and C (flammable gases) fires. They can also be used on electrical fires involving electrical equipment below 1000v, without the risk of electric shock. However, in places where there is a risk of this fire (such as in communal kitchens or around electric heaters), we also recommend having a CO2 fire extinguisher available.
Powder fire extinguishers are used to extinguish any fire
Dry powder fire extinguishers should not be used on electrical equipment above 1000v, and you need to be careful when using powder fire extinguishers on items such as computers, as it can cause corrosion. Not suitable for kitchen fires, as the auto-ignition temperature of burning cooking oil is higher than that of other common flammable liquids, making dry powder fire extinguishers ineffective against fires F level.
How do powder fire extinguishers work?
The agent in a powder fire extinguisher forms a thick 'blanket' over the fire, diluting it with oxygen around the fire. However, it is worth noting that because dry powder fire extinguishers do not cool the fire, there is a small risk that the fire could re-ignite.
What locations are suitable for using powder fire extinguishers?
The best spaces to have powder fire extinguishers on-site include workshops, garage areas and construction sites. Because powder fire extinguishers are suitable for fires involving flammable liquids and gases, they are also recommended for all vehicles, including fuel tankers.
However, powder fire extinguishers are not suitable for enclosed spaces because the dry powder can obscure visibility and be easily inhaled, and remaining residue is difficult to clean.
How do you use a dry powder fire extinguisher?
First of all, remove the safety pin to break the anti-counterfeit seal, and stand where the fire is occurring. Then, aim at the base of the fire and quickly move the jet back and forward. For electrical fires, be sure to turn off the power if it is safe to do so before aiming at the base of the fire.
In short, powder fire extinguishers are used to fight any type of fire, as you can understand at a glance, they can be used for most types of fires.
Dry powder fire extinguishers can also be called ABC fire extinguishers, multi-purpose fire extinguishers or dry chemical fire extinguishers.
Standard dry powder fire extinguishers can be used on:
Specialized dry powder fire extinguishers can be used on:
- Combustible metal fires: such as lithium (L2 powder fire extinguishers only)
- All other combustible metal fires: (M28 powder fire extinguisher only) Dry fire extinguishers should never be used on the following types of fires:
- Class F fires - cooking oils: such as olive oil or butter. A typical example is a pan fire
- Electrical fire: if the voltage exceeds 1000v - Combustible metal fire: unless it is a specialized dry powder fire extinguisher
>>>> Compare CO2 fire extinguishers and powder fire extinguishers >>>>
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