Extinguishers & More – Raleigh Fire Safety Ltd

Wet and Dry Extinguishers for Campbell River Kitchens, Garages and Workshops

For the best selection of wet and dry extinguishers in Campbell River, get in touch with the experts at Raleigh Fire Safety Ltd.. With so many fire extinguishers to choose from on the market today, selecting the proper one for your home can be a daunting task. Everyone should have at least one fire extinguisher at home, but it’s just as important to ensure you have the proper type of fire extinguisher to match your needs. Fire protection experts recommend different types of extinguishers for use in the kitchen, the garage and workshop.

5 CATEGORIES OF FIRE PROTECTION

Fire types are divided into 5 categories and Fire Extinguishers are rated in accordance to their effectiveness in extinguishing the fire for each category. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the size of fire the extinguisher can be expected to control. The higher the number, the more fire fighting power is available. The following is a quick guide that will help you to choose the right type of extinguisher:

Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating for this type of fire is based on a predetermined 3 dimensional wooden cribbing unit. 1A rating means the extinguisher is effective in extinguishing the fire of one unit.
Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids, such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for Class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish.
Class C rating simply means the fire extinguisher is safe to use around electrical equipment, wiring, or anything that is electrically energized. Never use water to extinguish class C fires – high risk of electrical shock. Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating.
Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. This type of extinguisher is fairly specialized and would not commonly be needed or used by the average person. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for use on class D fires only.
Class K fires involve kitchen cooking grease fires and are commonly found in commercial kitchens. This type of extinguisher is fairly specialized and would not commonly be needed or used by the average person. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for use on class K fires only.

Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them.

Most Common Types of Fire Extinguishers

A – Water extinguishers or PW extinguishers (pressure water), are suitable for class A fires only. Never use a water extinguisher on grease fires, electrical fires or class D fires. Water extinguishers are filled with water and pressurized with air.

Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are suitable for a combination of class A, B and C fires. These are filled with foam or powder and pressurized with nitrogen.

BC – This is the regular type of dry chemical extinguisher. It is filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. BC extinguishers are not very common anymore and are only used where ABC extinguishers are not compatible with the hazard. It is less corrosive than ABC agent and for that reason is sometimes preferred for use around electrical equipment.

ABC – This is a multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher. The ABC type is filled with monoammonium phosphate, a yellow powder that can be corrosive if it comes in contact with moisture. Due to its corrosive nature it should be cleaned immediately after use in order to prevent any damage to materials, electrical equipment, etc.

CO² (carbon dioxide) extinguishers are for class B and C fires. CO² doesn’t work well on class A type fires because it is a gas that dissipates fairly quickly and deep seated fires tend to reignite. CO² extinguishers have an advantage over dry chemical in that they leave behind no harmful residue. That makes carbon dioxide a good choice for an electrical fire involving a computer or other delicate electrical equipment.

NFPA 10 Services

Raleigh Fire Safety Ltd. will perform all the services required by NFPA 10 – Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Annual Inspection – This refers to a complete inspection of the extinguisher and must be performed by a professional. A visual inspection is done to ensure the extinguisher meets NFPA Standards. This will include examining the cylinder for rust, dents and/or other types of damage, also making sure the label(s) includes the required information and approvals.

The extinguisher components are then checked, we make sure the nozzle or hose are free of debris, we check the gauge, remove the pull pin and replace the tamper seal, we agitate the powder and test to make sure it is free flowing. We also check dates to see if certain other maintenance procedures need to be done. A date check will reveal the need for 6 year maintenance or 12 hydro-test on dry chemical extinguishers. Co2 and water based extinguishers require hydro-testing every 5 years.

Six Year Maintenance – Every six years dry chemical extinguishers shall be discharged, disassembled and subjected to a thorough examination of mechanical parts. Any repairs or parts needing replacement will be performed at this time. The extinguisher is then refilled with the appropriate agent, pressurized with nitrogen and leak tested. When applicable maintenance procedures are done during periodic recharging or hydro-testing, the 6-year requirement will begin from that date.

Recharge – All types of fire extinguishers must be professionally recharged immediately after any use. This should be done by a local service company who has the trained personnel, extinguishing agents and equipment to do it properly. The extinguisher must be recharged using the appropriate agent.

Hydrostatic Testing – Every twelve years for dry chemical extinguishers / every 5 years for Co2 extinguishers and every 5 years for water based extinguishers. The extinguisher is discharged, disassembled and subjected to a thorough examination of mechanical parts. Any repairs or parts needing replacement will be performed at this time.

The cylinder is hydrostatically tested to confirm the integrity of the vessel, if it passes it is reassembled, refilled with the appropriate agent, pressurized with nitrogen (dry chem.) and leak tested. When applicable maintenance procedures are done during periodic recharging or hydro-testing, the 6-year requirement will begin from that date.

It is now required for extinguishers to have collars or rings attached to the neck or another part of the fire extinguisher in order to verify that the unit was serviced. Raleigh Fire Safety Ltd. accommodates walk-in fire extinguisher service, as well as dry chemical suppression systems. Please contact us to learn more or to schedule service.