Keeping a fire extinguisher on hand is one of the most effective ways to ensure you are prepared to respond quickly in the event of a fire. This type of quick response can often make a world of difference when it comes to getting a fire under control before it is able to grow and cause serious damage or bodily harm. However, if you attempt to use the wrong type of extinguisher for the job, you could ultimately end up making the situation worse instead of better. This is because different types of combustible materials will respond differently to different extinguishing agents. For instance, while standard combustible materials such as wood and paper can easily be put out using water, throwing water on a grease fire can actually cause the flames to grow larger.

That is why it is so important for you to be aware of the five different types of fire extinguishers on the market so that you can always be sure you are choosing the right class of extinguisher for the job at hand.

Class A

Class A fire extinguishers are among the most commonly used since these extinguishers are designed to put out fires that are fueled by common combustible materials. These combustible materials include wood, paper, and fabric.

Class B

Class B fire extinguishers are most commonly found in kitchens, garages, and workshops. This class of extinguisher is effective against fires that are fueled by flammable liquids such as cooking oils, gasoline, and motor oil.

Class C

Class C fire extinguishers are less common than A or B; however, they can be quite useful to have in your home or office. This class of extinguisher is made to be an effective agent against electrical fires. 

Class D

Class D fire extinguishers are most commonly found in automotive shops and industrial locations. This is because Class D extinguishers are effective against fires that are fueled by flammable metals. Since this type of fire is rarely found in residential environments, it is not common to find this class of extinguisher in someone's home.

Multipurpose Extinguishers

The final type of fire extinguisher is a multipurpose extinguisher. These are the most common and often most useful type of extinguisher because they offer the ability to work on several different types of fires. These extinguishers will be labeled with different variations of the classes above in order to let you know exactly what type of fires they will be effective on. For instance, an extinguisher that is labeled A-B will be effective on both standard fires and grease fires. However, an extinguisher that is labeled A-B-C will be effective on standard, grease, and electrical fires.

Keep these tips in mind as you begin looking for fire extinguishers for sale.

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