It should come as no surprise that there are several different types of fire extinguishers – some to put out fires caused by “ordinary combustibles”, aka wood, paper, cardboard, etc.; others to put out fires started by flammable liquids like gasoline and petroleum; still others to put out electrical fires – the list goes on!
Needless to say, the “best fire extinguisher” varies from building to building – every place is different based on the type of hazard. For instance, K-class fire extinguishers work great in commercial kitchens, but aren’t optimal for fires that may pop up in an office building. If you’re not sure of the best fire extinguisher for your building, follow this guide to figure out exactly what you need.
Best fire extinguisher for office buildings – the best fire extinguisher for most office buildings is going to be an ABC fire extinguisher. ABC fire extinguishers are the best fire extinguishers for putting out fires caused by things like trash, paper, cloth, etc, making them appropriate for most offices.
Note: if you need to use an ABC fire extinguisher in your office, make sure you clean it up right away. The chemical in these fire extinguishers is mildly corrosive and can potentially damage any surfaces it lands on (just be sure you wait until after the fire is out before you start scrubbing!).
Best fire extinguisher for hospitals – in general, hospitals, if they experience a fire, are going to experience the same types of fires as standard office buildings. However, due to the amount of sensitive, life-saving equipment, along with the presence of dozens to hundreds of patients (many of whom have weakened immune systems), using the corrosive ABC chemical is not an option. The best fire extinguisher for hospitals is a water mist fire extinguisher – this will knock out the fire without damaging the equipment.
Best fire extinguisher for commercial kitchens – kitchen fires burn much faster and much hotter than typical fires. For this reason, an ABC fire extinguisher is probably not the best fire extinguisher for commercial kitchens. Instead, go with a class K fire extinguishers – these are the best fire extinguishers for putting out kitchen fires.
Best fire extinguisher for laboratories – choosing the best fire extinguisher for a laboratory is not always easy. The specific fire hazards present in laboratories vary heavily based on what time of materials are located in said lab. In general, the best fire extinguishers for laboratories are:
Choosing the best fire extinguisher in Houston, Texas is extremely important if you want to afford yourself the maximum protection. For more information or for fire extinguisher installation or service, call Kauffman Co today!
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