Fire extinguishers with a Class A rating are effective against fires involving paper, wood, textiles, and plastics. The primary chemical used to fight these fires is monoammonium phosphate, because of its ability to smother fires in these types of materials.
What is class A fire extinguisher?
Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials, such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Extinguishers with an A rating are designed to extinguish fires involving these ordinary combustible materials.
What chemicals make up fire extinguishers?
The most common agents used in dry chemical fire extinguishers are monoammonium phosphate and sodium or potassium bicarbonate. Time is of the essence when this type of extinguisher is used because these powders can be corrosive to metals and can lead to further damage if not cleaned up quickly.
Is a class A fire extinguisher dry chemical?
ABC Fire Extinguishers use monoammonium phosphate, a dry chemical with the ability to quickly put out many different types of fires by smothering the flames. This pale, yellow powder can put out all three classes of fire: Class A is for trash, wood, and paper.
What chemicals are in a Type B or Type C fire extinguisher?
Ordinary dry chemical extinguishers are used for Class B and C fires only. They often contain sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which comes out as a white powder.
What type of fire is Class A?
Class A: Ordinary solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth and some plastics. Class B: Flammable liquids such as alcohol, ether, oil, gasoline and grease, which are best extinguished by smothering.
What are the 5 classes of fire extinguishers?
5 Types of Fire Extinguishers
- Class A Fire Extinguishers. Class A fire extinguishers are safe for use on ordinary combustible fires, like those fueled by paper or wood. …
- Class B Fire Extinguishers. …
- Class C Fire Extinguishers. …
- Class D Fire Extinguishers. …
- Class K Fire Extinguishers.
What is the chemical composition of a class ABC fire extinguisher?
ABC dry chemical is usually a mix of monoammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, the former being the active one. The mix between the two agents is usually 40–60%, 60-40%, or 90-10% depending on local standards worldwide.
Is sodium carbonate used in fire extinguisher?
Sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate is used as a fire extinguisher. When heated to a high temperature, the chemical properties of this salt make it produce lots of carbon dioxide and remove oxygen. This reduces the amount of oxygen and puts the fire out.
Is ABC fire extinguisher powder toxic?
From Quora: While fire extinguisher powder is non-toxic, it is not entirely safe. … Inhalation is one of the biggest dangers with fire extinguisher powder. It is very irritating to mucous membranes and may cause difficulties with breathing if inhaled in large enough quantities.
What are the contents of a class BC fire extinguisher?
Regular (BC) Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers extinguishers contain a siliconized sodium bicarbonate based dry chemical with free flowing and non-caking additives. Regular dry chemical fire extinguishers are an economical choice for Class B & C protection with lower initial cost and recharging.