A Homeowners Guide to Fire Extinguishers

7/21/2018 (Permalink)

Arm yourself with the right tools to prevent and put out a house fire in Tulsa, OK.

As a homeowner in Tulsa, OK, you are an expert in many areas. When it comes to fire preparedness, you know the importance of having an escape plan, keeping functioning smoke detectors at every level of your home and having a fire extinguisher in case of a home fire. However, do you know which type of extinguisher is best? Do you know what information is relevant when buying a fire extinguisher? Here is a guide to help you decide.

Know the ABCs of Fire Extinguishers

There are many classes of extinguishers, some for residential and others for commercial properties. Each class works best for a different type of fire, and some combine to combat more than one type of fire. Those best for the home setting include a combination of the three classes:

• Class A rating extinguishers work best on fires involving trash, paper, wood, plastics and textiles. The container holds the chemical monoammonium phosphate.
• Class B rating extinguishers are for flammable liquids, such as grease, oil, paint, kerosene or gasoline. This also uses monoammonium phosphate, with the addition of sodium bicarbonate.
• Class C rating extinguishers are used in electrical fires and also use both monoammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate. Class C extinguishers do not conduct electricity.

Other Considerations

• The numbers that proceed the class rating refer to effectiveness and area covered by the contents of the canister. The larger the number, the larger the area it covers.
• Extinguishers come in different sizes. Buy the largest one that you can independently operate. A 5 pound canister is a good choice to keep in the laundry room or kitchen, while a 10 pound extinguisher would be better for a garage.

Arm yourself with the right tools to prevent and put out a house fire in Tulsa, OK. Use a fire extinguisher to combat a home fire only when the fire is caught early and contained. If the fire has spread, promptly exit to safety and call 911. When fire damage occurs, contact a fire restoration specialist and your homeowner’s insurance agent as soon as possible. Ask for guidance on returning your home to pre-fire condition. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROsouthtulsacounty.com/.