Electrical Fire Extinguisher
There is an increased used of equipment that runs on electricity in households and offices, and with this increase, the risk of a fire starting through them is also getting higher. From fax machines in offices to microwave ovens in homes, electrical equipments are ubiquitous. Since they are also potentially dangerous as it is not at all unusual for these to be responsible for a fire, one should always be prepared for the worst. The fires can happen due to a short circuit or improper maintenance of equipment, repeated use of old equipment or any such reason. The presence of flammable substances near them makes the problem even more serious.
Therefore it is important that when you select your fire extinguisher, you should make sure it is capable of handling such fires effectively, since electrical fires need to be treated differently and with caution. This is because during the fire, it is also possible for people inside to be affected by electricity related dangers like shocks and burns.
Electrical fires are best handled by certain substances, and not by others. Some of the good and practical options that you have are –
- Carbon dioxide
- Sodium/Potassium bicarbonate
- Ammonium phosphate
- PKP
Carbon dioxide based fire extinguishers are specially made for electrical fires and have proved to be quite effective and cheap in dealing with these. They are widely available.
Electrical fires are classified as Class C fires, but in many cases, there could also be Class B fires that include flammable liquids like oil and petroleum. Therefore to be ready in case of emergency involving electrical fires, you should make sure that the firefighting equipment that you use is capable of handling these types of fires and is rated C or BC for use.
