subject: Fire Extinguisher: An Emergency Equipment [print this page] A fire extinguisher is also known as a flame extinguisher or an extinguisher. It is an active fire protection equipment primarily used to control and extinguish small fires. It is mainly used in emergency situations. The fire extinguishing device consists of a hand-held cylindrical shaped pressure vessel. The pressure vessel consists of an agent, which is discharged to extinguish fire.
The first extinguisher was patented in England in the year 1723 by a well-known chemist, Ambrose Godfrey. It included a fire-extinguishing agent containing a chamber of gunpowder. The modern extinguisher was invented by Captain George William Manby in the year 1818. It included a copper vessel containing 3 gallons of pearl ash or potassium carbonate solution.
Today, a fire extinguisher has become an absolute necessity in every office or home. Rapid application of an extinguisher can prevent the fire from becoming out of control. It can help you to save your life and property, in case of a fire outbreak. It can minimize damage and potentially save many precious lives. A flame extinguisher is not designed to be applied on an out-of-control fire, such as one which can produce excessive smoke or cause explosion. Also, it is not advisable to use a flame extinguisher on a fire that has reached the ceiling or requires the assistance of professional fire fighters.
It is preferable to install a fire extinguisher at key locations on the emergency escape route of your home or office. Such key points are next to emergency doors and near the emergency exit from room or floor. In the United States of America, the emergency equipment installed in all buildings other than residential houses are required to be inspected and serviced by a Fire Protection service company on an annual basis. In some countries more frequent services are required for fire fighting equipment.
Fire extinguishers can be classified according to the type of fire they are used to extinguish. Using the wrong type of extinguishing equipment can be dangerous. It may cause the fire to go out of control. This can cause serious injuries and damage to property. There are mainly two types of extinguishing equipment:
Class A extinguisher: It is the most basic type of extinguishing device. This device is primarily used to extinguish fire caused due to ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, cardboard and simple plastics. These devices are filled with water under high pressure. They control the fire by cutting off the oxygen supply.
Class B extinguisher: These fire extinguisher are used to choke fire caused due grease, oil, kerosene and gasoline. Applying a Class A fire fighting device on a Class B fire can make it grow even larger. The Class B devices are filled with a chemical, which is designed to effectively choke the fire. They provide a supply of Carbon Dioxide for smothering the flame without spreading it. These emergency equipment can be also applied on electrical fires.
