• Different kinds of fire extinguishers put out different kinds of fires.Fire image by Luke Haverkamp from Fotolia.com
  
  Safety in the home, as well as the workplace, requires a fire extinguisher. Before purchasing a fire extinguisher, take some time to educate yourself about the available types of this safety tool. Fire extinguishers are classified by the kind of fire they handle and the material they use to put out the fire. The wrong kind of extinguisher could potentially put you and your family in danger.
  
  

Fire Ratings

• Consider the types of fire that may occur when choosing a fire extinguisher. Fire safety experts categorize fires of basic combustible materials such as paper, wood and many kinds of plastic as Class A. Class B fires involve flammable liquids: gasoline, oil, kerosene and grease. Electrical equipment fires can be put out only with a Class C extinguisher. Combustible metals, usually found only in chemical labs, can start a Class D fire. Fire extinguishers for the first two types of fire will have a numeric rating as well as letter classification indicating the size of fire they can put out. A new category was added in 1998, Class K or kitchen fires.
  
  

Water Extinguishers

• Extinguishers holding water and compressed gas are meant solely for use on Class A fires. Never use a water extinguisher on a flammable liquid (Class B), electrical (Class C) or chemical (Class D) fire. The numeric rating on a Class A extinguisher relates to the amount of water it holds and the size of fire it can put out.
  
  

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers

• CO2 is stored as a compressed liquid in these extinguishers meant for Class B and C fires. As a result of the high pressurization of the CO2, dry ice may form around the nozzle when you use this type of extinguisher. They will be ineffective on a Class A fire, because they usually don't displace enough oxygen to put the fire out. It may reignite.
  
  

Dry Chemical Extinguishers

• A dry chemical extinguisher may have a classification of either BC or ABC. These extingiushers create a non-flammable foam blanket which prevents a fire from reigniting. Although highly effective, these extinguishers make a big mess, and the chemicals used may have a corrosive effect on some metals.
  
  

Halon Extinguishers

• These extinguishers work by releasing a gas that interrupts the chemical reaction of burning fuels. Unlike dry chemical extinguishers, this type does not leave a mess. But halon extinguishers have a shorter range than dry chemical extinguishers (4 to 6 feet compared to 3 to 8 feet). Direct halon extinguishers to the base of a fire.
  
  

Metal/Sand Extinguishers

• Metal/sand extinguishers work by smothering Class D fires in environments such as labs that contain potentially flammable metals. Various types of Class D extinguishers are available, designed to fight the fires caused by various flammable metals present in labs. Some extinguishers smother the fire with sodium chloride, others employ powdered copper, graphite-based powders or other materials.
  
  

Wet Chemical Extinguishers

• Designed for Class K fires, these extinguishers release a fine chemical mist that puts out grease fires. This specialized type of extinguisher was developed primarily for commercial kitchens, because of the frequency and danger of fires from deep fat fryers and charbroilers.