How to Choose a Portable Fire Extinguisher

Choosing a Portable Fire Extinguisher is As Easy As You're "ABC's".
The labels on your portable fire extinguisher will let you know the type of fire that it will put out. These labels can be found on the side of your extinguisher.

Symbol on Fire Extinguisher	Description of materials extinguished by respective Class of Extinguisher.
	Class A: Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics... (material that produces Ashes)
	Class B: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, tar, oil-based paint, solvents, lacquer, and flammable gas... (remember that liquids Boil)
	Class C: Energized electrical equipment including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and appliances... (anything that carries an electric Charge)
	Class D: Combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, or sodium. These types of fire are very dangerous and seldom handled by the general public... (in other words, Don't mess with it!)

Number Rating

Fire extinguishers also have a number rating. For Type A fires, a 1 would stand for 1 1/4 gallons of water, a 2 would represent 2 1/2 gallons, 3 would be 3 3/4 gallons of water, etc. For Type B and Type C fire, the number represents square feet covered by the extinguisher. For example, 2 would be two square feet, 5 is five square feet, etc.

Fire extinguishers are also made to extinguish more than one type of fire. For example, you might have an extinguisher with a label that reads 2A5B. This would mean this extinguisher is good for Type A fires with a 2 1/2 gallon equivalence and it is also good for Type B fires with a 5 square feet equivalency. A good extinguisher to have in each residential kitchen is a 2A10BC fire extinguisher. You might also get a Type A for the living room and bedrooms and an ABC for the basement and garage.

Some portable extinguishers will show multiple labels with one or more of the labels crossed out with a line. These are only to be used for those types of fires indicated by labels that do not have a line through them.

Types of Extinguishers

There are three main types of fire extinguishers available for use by the general population:

pressurized water (seldom used today),
carbon dioxide, and
multipurpose dry chemical.

NOTE: there are other specialty extinguishers that are available in specific locations for special hazards. These extinguishers include:

sodium bicarbonate based BC extinguishers for kitchen use,
halon extinguishers for use on computers and other sensitive electronic equipment, and
Metal X extinguishers for use on highly flammable metal fires.

Portable extinguishers should be installed within plain view and out of the reach of children. They should be near an escape route and always away from stoves and other heat sources.

Unless it is a disposable extinguisher, which should be replaced after each use, an extinguisher requires care. Follow your extinguishers operating instructions regarding its routine maintenance. Before purchasing an extinguisher, ask your dealer how often it should be inspected and serviced. Note: All rechargeable models must be serviced after each use.

Check your extinguisher gauge every month, making sure the needle is always in the green section of the gauge. If it is not, replace it or have it recharged. It is extremely important that the pin is always kept in the handle and only pulled out just before use. NOTE: Some pins are metal and others are plastic.