As we all know, everybody commonly uses fire for cooking and for many other things in their daily lives, so, it is important to take measures against the fire blast. A fire blast is a very dangerous thing that can affect the life of every person. Historically, we have heard many examples of a fire blasts that massively affected people’s lives. It is important for every person to take safety measures before a fire blast.
Fires are categorized into five distinct classes, based on the nature of the fuel that is sustaining the flame. This method of categorizing makes it easy to determine the best fire-fighting method and the right firefighting equipment to use.
These are the most common types of fire. They occur when combustible materials become heated to their ignition point. This type of fire is sustained by 3 elements – oxygen, heat, and fuel.
Materials involved in this category of fires are as follows
Class A fires are easy to extinguish. Spraying it with foam or water will cool the flame, and reduce the heat supply that makes the fire burn. Water-based extinguishers are the most appropriate equipment for putting out Class A fires.
Any liquid that has an ignition temperature that is less than one hundred degrees Celsius is classified as a flammable liquid. These liquids have a very low flash point, meaning that they burn easily. The flashpoint of a liquid is the temperature at which the substance gives off a sizable amount of vapor to be ignited. Flammable liquids will burn at any temperature if there is a source of ignition, like a naked flame or a
spark.
Some common examples of flammable liquids are as follows
alcohol, paints, petrol, and solvents.
Fires that are fuelled by these materials spread very quickly and give a
lot of heat. They also produce toxic, thick, black smoke, which makes it difficult to extinguish.
The most effective approach to extinguishing a Class B fire is to use a foam extinguisher to put out the flames. Using water to smother this kind of flame will cause the fire to spread and cause more damage.
Flammable gasses like petroleum gases, butane, and propane have the ability to create a serious explosion if triggered by an open flame or a spark. This is the reason why flammable gases are stored in sealed containers.
Fires involving flammable gasses are difficult to put out. Before attempting to extinguish a Class C fire, you should ensure that the gas source is isolated. Water and foam fire extinguishers are not effective against Class C fires. Dry powder extinguishers are effective against this type of fire.
Me metals can burn endlessly when ignited. Although a lot of heat is required to ignite most metals as they are excellent conductors of heat. Powdered metals pose a higher fire risk because they are easier to ignite, especially when compared to solid metals.
Alkali metals like sodium, potassium, aluminum, and magnesium can burn when they come in contact with water and oxygen. Using foam or water to put out metal fires will only intensify the flames and may lead to an explosive reaction that will send metal debrisin every direction.
The safest way to address this fire is to allow it to burn itself out. Class D fires produce a lot of ash that eventually builds up and starves the fire of oxygen.
Faulty equipment, short circuits, damaged wiring, and overloaded switchboards can cause electrical fires. Since water is a good conductor of electricity, it should not be used to put out electrical fires. Dry powder and carbon IV oxide extinguishers are the only types of fire extinguishers that can effectively tackle electrical fires.
Class F fires, which involve cooking oil and fats, are very difficult to extinguish. Water and foam are not effective against it. In fact, water may make it spread quicker.