Why Every Home Needs a Fire Extinguisher!
Every home needs a fire extinguisher because they save lives. Indeed, a house fire extinguisher can provide you with a range of vital safety benefits. The first is that, as they are designed to put out fires, a house fire extinguisher can be used in an emergency.
The second is that having access to a house fire extinguisher can help reduce the risk of injury from fire in the home, as well as reduce damage to your property.
Next, having a house fire extinguisher to hand means that you can proactively deal with a small fire, ensuring that it does not get out of hand and cause a bigger risk.
A house fire extinguisher is inexpensive which means you won’t have to pay out a great deal of money for enhanced home safety.
Types of Fire Extinguishers for Home Use
Now you know more about the reasons to make sure there is a fire extinguisher in your home, it's important to learn about the different types available.
ABC Fire Extinguishers (Best for most homes)
Class A Fire Extinguisher
A class A fire extinguisher is ideal for use close to your fireplace because they are created to extinguish fires of combustible materials such as plastic, paper, firewood and cloth.
Class B Fire Extinguisher
Class B fire extinguisher on the other hand is designed specifically to put out fires fueled by gas or liquids that are flammable. Examples of these types of flammable liquids include things like propane which is used in heating systems in the home, gasoline which is used to fuel vehicles, and ethanol.
The best place to locate a class B fire extinguisher is close to the source of flammable liquid or gas, such as in a garage where your vehicle is stored.
Class C Fire Extinguisher
Class distinctions are specifically designed to put out fires of the electrical type. This is a particularly important type of fire extinguisher to have in the home because electrical fires cannot be put out using water, as doing so puts those in the area at risk of electrocution. Therefore, you must have the right type of fire extinguisher to use in your home in case of an electrical fire.
Water Mist Extinguishers
Another type of fire extinguisher that is useful to have around the home is a water mist extinguisher. These units mist deionized water when sprayed, so they can be used on electrical or grease fires where regular water could not. Water mist also reduces the risk of electrical conduction and so electricians when putting out these types of fires.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Extinguishers
Ideal for putting out fires fueled by flammable liquid or electrical, carbon dioxide extinguishers, which contain CO2, starve a fire of the oxygen it requires to continue burning. However, CO2 extinguishers will not be effective for use against combustible materials like paper, firewood cloth or plastic. Instead, a class of fire extinguishers should be used for putting out combustible fires.
Class K Extinguishers (For kitchen fires)
Finally, let's take a look at class K extinguishers, which are perfect for putting out kitchen fires. This is because they are specifically manufactured to extinguish fire that is fueled by cooking grease or oil. After all, if regular water or other types of extinguishers are used to put out oil fires, they can make them much more intense.
How to Choose the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Home
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a fire extinguisher for your home. Many of these are on the label of the fire extinguisher, which you can read in the following way:
Size of the fire extinguisher
For the home, you will need a lightweight and portable fire extinguisher so it can be easily manipulated by the residents. That means a 2 lb or 5 lb one is usually the best choice. Although spaces that contain higher risk material, like garages or basements, may be better off with a 10 lb fire extinguishing unit.
Class of fire
The class of fire is represented by an alphabetical letter.
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Class A(US/EU) – Combustible materials
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Class B(US/EU) – Flammable liquids
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Class C(EU) – Flammable gases
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Class D(US/EU) – Burning metals
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Class C(US) – Electrical fires
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Class K(US)/Class F(EU) – Cooking oils and fats
You will need to select the right type of house fire extinguisher for the fire you will be putting out in your home. Be sure to check the label to ensure you have the right match for your needs when buying and using your extinguisher.
Best Locations to Place Fire Extinguishers at Home
While it's ideal to have a house fire extinguisher in every room in the home, there are some specific locations that are vital.
Kitchen
The 1st of these locations is the kitchen comma whether the majority of home fires begin. store your fire extinguisher Close to the stove for easy access. however make sure it's also not too close, As the continued heap from the stove could damage it over the long term.
Living Room
The next location you should install a fire extinguisher in your home is your living room. The ideal location is close to your heating sources and electrical outlets because these are the areas that are most likely to catch alight.
Garage or Workshop
Installing a fire extinguisher in your garage or workshop also makes a lot of sense because you will have one in reach in case of liquid combustible, such as fuel.
Bedrooms
For a sound night sleep making sure there is a fire extinguisher in each of your bedrooms is also smart practice. This is because you will be able to access it easily in the event of a night time emergency. A bedroom fire extinguisher can also help you secure the safety of your escape route from your home in case of a fire.
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How to Use a Fire Extinguisher Properly (PASS Method)
There’s little point in having fire extinguishers in your home if you do not know how to operate them properly.
Step one is to check that the fire extinguisher you are about to use is the right one for the type of blaze you are about to put out. For example, using a water extinguisher on an electrical fire is highly dangerous as it involves the risk of an electric shock.
Once you have established that the fire extinguisher you are using is the correct one for the type of fire in front of you you can use the PASS method to operate it in the correct way.
The PASS Method
Step 1: P - Pull
The first step is to pull the pin. All you need to do here is pull the pin located at the top of the extinguisher. Pulling the pin means you will be able to depress the handle. Once you have pulled the pin, direct the extinguisher away from the operator and test that it works, and observe how far the stream reaches.
Step 2: A - Aim
The second step is to aim. This means you need to approach the fire whilst maintaining a safe distance and aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
Step 3: S - Squeeze
The third step is to squeeze. This step is all about squeezing the handles between your palm and fingers, which will release the contents of the fire extinguisher. Remember, you should be aiming at the base of the fire. To stop the house fire extinguisher from discharging, just release the handles.
Step 4- S - Sweep
The fourth and final step sweep. This step is all about sweeping the nozzle of the fire extinguisher from side to side as you go about extinguishing the fire from the bottom of the flames. Remember to only approach the fire from a safe distance, and that in class A fires, you must check for hotspots that could reignite the fire even once it's out.
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Replacement
To ensure that your house fire extinguisher always works reliably when you most need it you will need to properly maintain it and regularly replace old units.
The way to go about this is to complete regular scheduled inspections of your house fire extinguisher to ensure they are in good working order. A house fire extinguisher inspection should include:
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Make sure the pin and tamper seal are intact.
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Checking the pressure of the house fire extinguisher by looking to see if the gauge is still in the green zone.
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Check that the nozzle is clean and not obstructed by anything.
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Check the entire unit for indications of problems such as leaks, damage and corrosion.
In addition to self checking of your home fire extinguishers, you should make sure a professional yes performs a yearly inspection. This will ensure that any home fire extinguisher units you have on your property comply with the proper safety standards.
Recharging and Replacing Your House Fire Extinguisher
Every extinguisher must be either replaced or recharged after it has been used even if only partially. Fire extinguishers should also be replaced if they are 1 years old or older, or if the pressure gauge is showing as low.
If you have a disposable house fire extinguisher that features plastic valves, you will need to replace each unit once it has been used. However, if you have a rechargeable house fire extinguisher which features metal valves, you can go to a specialist to have your house fire extinguisher recharged. A choice that is often more cost-effective than replacing the unit.
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House Fire Extinguishers Recommendation
If you are considering buying a fire extinguisher for your home, then check out our following recommendations.
Stylish and lightweight option, the Tiger PRO features an extinguishing agent imported from Japan and is certified nationally in Taiwan. The Tiger PRO extinguishes fires easily, using eco-friendly and non-toxic extinguishing agents that will prevent re-ignition.
Compliant with USA fire protection standard FM5130, the eco-Li is designed to extinguish lithium battery fires, making it ideal for the home. The eco-Li contains SGS-tested halogen-free chemicals, which are non-toxic, environmentally friendly and easy to clean up. Used on both class A and class B fires, this refillable extinguisher is verified by the Fire Protection Fund for Fire Suppression Performance.
This new gen, double-strength, eco-friendly and clean house fire extinguisher is suitable for A, B, or C class fires. Containing an agent which is 7-7.8 on the PH scale and refillable for 6 years, the Eco-Nuts pull-up safety pin provides fast operation for both right and left handed users.
Install the Eco-Neut yourself and it will last for a 6 year effective period with a refillable agent. The Eco-Neut also qualifies for professional inspection, making it perfect for in home and outside of the home use.