There is no fire extinguisher that can tackle all kinds of fires. As a result, we have various types of fire extinguishers which put off different categories of fire extinguishers. According to the Kenya fire report, the number of fires successfully extinguished through the portable fire extinguishers has immensely increased from 80% to 93% between 2003 to 2021.

The different types of fire extinguishers are determined by the types of fire that they extinguish. Fires are divided into six different fire classes namely;

1. Class A

This are fire that arise from combustible solids such wood, paper and textiles

1. Class B

This are fires caused by flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel and oil (Not cooking oil)
      c)  Class C

This are fires that result from flammable gases such as methane, butane, propane among others

1. Class D

This class of fire comprises of fires caused by burning metals such as aluminum, magnesium among others

1. Class F

This are fires caused by cooking oils and fats

In Kenya, all fire extinguishers should conform to BS EN3 Standards. The BS EN3 Standards specify that the fire extinguishers body should be colored red. All fire extinguisher cans should have a colored band which shows the type of extinguisher. The colour bands are as follows

• Red band- For Water Fire extinguishers
• Cream band- For foam fire extinguishers
• Blue band- For Dry powder fire extinguishers
• Yellow band- For Wet chemical fire extinguishers
• Black Band- For Co2 fire extinguishers.

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Fires are divided into six different fire classes namely;

1. Class A

This is the fire that arises from combustible solids such as wood, paper, and textiles

1. Class B

These are fires caused by flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, and oil (Not cooking oil)
      c)  Class C

These are fires that result from flammable gases such as methane, butane, and propane among others

1. Class D

This class of fire comprises of fires caused by burning metals such as aluminum, magnesium among others

1. Class F

These are fires caused by cooking oils and fats

In Kenya, all fire extinguishers should conform to BS EN3 Standards. The BS EN3 Standards specify that the fire extinguisher’s body should be colored red. All fire extinguisher cans should have a colored band that shows the type of extinguisher. The color bands are as follows

• Red band- For Water Fire extinguishers
• Cream band- For foam fire extinguishers
• Blue band- For Dry powder fire extinguishers
• Yellow band- For Wet chemical fire extinguishers
• Black Band- For Co2 fire extinguishers.

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Having discussed above the various types of fire, below is the different types of fire extinguishers and the respective fire that they extinguish

1. Water fire extinguishers

Water fire extinguishers are used to extinguish class A fires. They have a red colour band as per the required standards.

Water extinguishers tackle fires resulting from wood, straw, rubber, paper and plastics. The extinguisher has a spray nozzle which helps to cover a wide surface area.

In some, the water has additives to make them more efficient and to reduce the size and weight. However, these are more expensive

This is the most common and simplest type of extinguisher and is ideal for use in offices, shops, schools, hotels and domestic premises

1. Water mist extinguishers

This is the most recent type of fire extinguisher. They are powerful and exude fine microscopic mineralized water.

They are ideal for class A,B,C and F fires. Some mist fire extinguishers are ideal for electrical fires up to 1000v volts.

This type of fire extinguisher works by cooling the fire and reducing the oxygen supply.  However, they cannot be used on class D fires.

1. Foam Fire Extinguishers

Foam Fire extinguishers are used for class A and class B fires and have a cream band. They are idea extinguishers for burning liquids such as paint, turpentine and petrol.

If tested and approved, these extinguishers can be used on electrical connections if fired at a distance.

1. Dry powder fire extinguishers

Powder fire extinguishers are used for class A, B and C fires. They putt off fires from burning solids, gases and liquids.

How do the dry powder fire extinguishers put off fires? They work by foaming a crust or coating that smoother the fire by displacing oxygen and thus stops it from spreading.

One of the disadvantages of dry powder extinguishers is that they do not have a cooling effect on the fire and they do not soak into the item/materials.

If inhaled, the powder is hazardous and thus should be used in highly ventilated areas. After use, the powder extinguishers give a lot of cleaning work.

Some special fire extinguishers with additives can be used to extinguish class D fires involving combustive metals such as aluminum and lithium. They cannot be used for Class F fires.

1. CO2 Fire Extinguishers

This extinguish contain pressurized CO2 gas and have a black label.  They are ideal for class B and electrical fires.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers work by displacing the oxygen and they do not have any residue. They are, therefore, for electrical connections as they do not cause any damage or cause a short circuit.

One shortcoming is that these extinguishers get very cold during discharge and if not fitted with the right type of handle, they may cause your fingers to freeze during deployment.

Fire can easily re-ignite if the CO2 is absorbed into the atmosphere, this poses a risk and lowers the post-fire security.

These extinguishers are ideal for server rooms and factories.

1. Wet Chemical Extinguishers

They contain pressurized wet chemical (solution containing alkali salts and water) and have the yellow band. These extinguishes are the best for class F fires (fires from fats and cooking oils).

They can also be used for class A and B fires and extinguish fires by forming a fine mist on the materials thus cooling the fires and preventing spread.This is one of the most expensive types of extinguishers.

The latest fire reports show that four out of ten people are using the wrong type of fire extinguisher on electrical fires. After the Kenyan government rolled out the rural electrification program, most parts of Kenya now have electricity. These has also led an increase in the number of fires emanating from electrical connections. This leads to today’s question, which is the best fire extinguisher for electrical fires?

For electrical connections, CO2 is highly recommended. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers put off fires by displacing the oxygen element which is an element of combustion. Once oxygen is displaced then the fire is easily distinguished. Besides CO2 extinguishers are recommended on electrical fire as they do not leave any residue and lowers the risk of short circuit.

When electrical fires are taking place, you are advised not to us foam, water-based and wet chemical extinguishers as they may during the deployment, they may conduct electricity and cause electrocution.

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Basic training is required for one to use a fire extinguisher. The following doesn’t count as training but just forms the basics of what is required/done.

Fire extinguishers should only be deployed once the fire alarm has been triggered and a safe evacuation route has been determined. If you feel unsafe, you are required to immediately vacate the building. However, the following is the procedure of using an extinguisher. Easily memorized as the P.A.S.S ( Acronym) technique.

• Pull– Pull the safety pin to break the tamper seal
• Aim– Using the hose or nozzle, aim the base or bottom of the fire ( Caution- Do not get into contact with the hose for the CO2 extinguisher as it gets extremely cold and can damage your skin)
• Squeeze: Squeeze the extinguisher handle with your hand to discharge the extinguishing agent
• Sweep: Sweep right and left at the base of the fire with the extinguishing agent to distinguish the fire

All fire extinguishers have different prices depending on the sizes (1kg, 2kg, 4kg, 25kg, 50kg). The prices also depend on the suppliers but we guarantee you our competitive prices.

The servicing cost for fire equipment also depend with the quantity and location. We do charge commissioning and installation charges and provide a 1year guarantee.

At safety hub we do have an Annual Fire equipment Service Plan, for all our clients though at a subsidized rate.