Consideration before buying a fire extinguisher

Buying a fire extinguisher is paramount as the menace of fire is a potential disaster that is with us in our- day to day to life.

It’s better to be safe than sorry and that’s why it’s vital to have appropriate fire safety systems properly equipped at your home and in your place of business.

Fire extinguishers are necessary despite being required by law in most institutions. It’s a way to raise your level of preparedness as fire occurrence is quite unpredictable.

Today we are going to focus on various aspects and factors to consider before buying a fire extinguisher.

Consideration Before buying Fire Extinguisher

Here are several factors to keep in mind while purchasing a fire extinguisher at Safety Hub Company Limited for both your residential and commercial building :

• The type of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight
• The weight of the fire extinguisher
• Fire extinguisher contents
• Consider the room size
• Compare the rechargeable and disposable extinguishers

The type of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight

Fire extinguishers come in varieties and each is designed for a specific kind of fire. Manufacturers rate the fire extinguishers according to the fire they put off.

The ratings are labeled on the canister.

Classes of fires

There are five different classes of fire;
⦁ Class A: It occurs when materials like wood, paper, fabric, trash, and light plastic catch fire
⦁ Class B: It involves flammable liquids and gases, especially petroleum-based products
⦁ Class C: It involves electrical fires that are extinguished by non-conductive materials
⦁ Class D: It involves metallic fires caused by flammable materials like aluminum, magnesium, titanium and potassium
⦁ Class K: It involves flammable liquids, especially grease and cooking fires

The letters on the canister represent the class. You can also find combined classes like DC or ABC. This means that the fire extinguisher can put out each of those types of fires.

Identify the type of fire you should look out for at your establishment to purchase the right equipment. You can also inquire from Safety Hub Limited to explain the differences in case you are at a crossroads on which one to purchase.

The weight of the fire extinguisher

The extinguishers come in various sizes according to the volume of liquid the extinguisher holds.

The numbers preceding the letter in the extinguisher’s rating indicate the size of the fire extinguisher.

The extinguisher contains an equivalent of 1.25 gallons, thus, if it’s labeled 8A it means multiply 8 by 1.25 which is 10 gallons worth of firefighting power.

Before purchasing, evaluate your ability to handle it in case of a fire outbreak. Despite large fire extinguishers combating bigger fires, some people may be unable to use them as they are heavy.

Pick a size that the people in the facility will be able to use in case of an emergency. Small fire extinguishers can be placed under the sink while larger extinguishers can be attached to the wall away from the reach of small children.

Whether lightweight or heavy, the choice is yours to identify the best extinguisher to meet your needs.

Fire extinguisher contents

The contents of fire extinguishers are also a consideration. A fire extinguisher contains either foam(Foam Fire Extinguishers), air-pressurized water(Water fire extinguisher), dry chemicals(Dry Chemical Extinguishers), Dry Powder fire extinguishers or non-flammable carbon dioxide.

The fire extinguishers have a red body and an agent-specific color code that represents the extinguishing contents. That is;

• Red label –Water fire extinguishers have a red label and a class A rating
• Cream label – AFFF foam extinguishers have a cream label and are effective for class A and B fires
• Black label – CO2 fire extinguishers have a black label and are designed for flammable liquid fires and also class B fires.
• Blue label – ABC powder fire extinguishers have a blue label and can be used for classes A, B, and C
• White label – De-ionized water mist fire extinguishers have a white label and are effective for class A, B, A and C
• Yellow label – Wet chemical fire extinguishers have a yellow label and are efficient for use on crease and cooking fires

In addition, the substances inside the extinguisher also depend on their classification. Before purchasing it, ask the supplier the type of fire the extinguisher is designed for.

Consider the room size

The size of the room is a determinant when purchasing fire extinguisher equipment. The fire extinguisher for a large room is not the same as that fit for a small room.

The fire extinguishers range from 1.25 lbs. to 25 lbs. that are indicated on the canister. For home use, preferably go for the five-pound fire extinguisher.

Before purchasing one, consider the size and space of your room. If you have some difficulties in deciding on the right extinguisher, our team at Safety Hub Ltd will gladly help you out.

Compare the rechargeable and disposable extinguishers

It’s cost-effective to purchase a rechargeable fire extinguisher for the disposable one because the cost of refilling is cheaper than buying a new one.

The rechargeable fire extinguishers usually have metallic valves that can be refilled while the disposable ones have a plastic valve that renders them useless after the contents have been used.

Inquire from the supplier on whether the extinguisher is disposable or rechargeable to make an informed decision while purchasing an extinguisher.

Shop from the largest Fire Extinguisher Supplier at an affordable price

Conclusion

Last but not least, fire extinguishers should be on every floor and in the kitchen as fire occurrence is very unpredictable. Remember to have the equipment inspected Contact us at https://www.safetyhub.co.ke/ to help you choose the right equipment for your building.

Consider buying from Safety Hub Ltd Today

Safety Hub

Safety Hub Enterprises boasts as one of best safety equipment suppliers in Kenya and safety wear manufacturer. Buy safety boots, dust coats, dust masks,rain suit,safety helmets,bee suit,safety gloves , safety gumboots, respiratory masks etc.

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