Fires safety is all about fire fighting and fire prevention. Its goal is to prevent damage, human suffering, injuries, casualties, and the exposure to hazardous atmospheres.
In order for everyone to be safe, they should know how to fight the source of fire. In this world, we experience classes of fighting fires. And in each class, there is also a way to fight and stop it.
CLASS A
Class A fires are defined as ordinary combustibles. These type of fire uses commonly flammable material as their fuel source. Wood, fabric, paper, trash ,and plastics are common sources of Class A fires.
Fighting the source of fire:
Class A fires are commonly put out with water or monoammonium phosphate.
CLASS B
The Class B fire is defined as one that uses a flammable liquid or gas as its fuel base such as liquid based fuel sources which include petroleum based oils and paints, kerosene, and gasoline and also flammable gases such as butane or propane. Class B fires are a common hazard in industries dealing with fuels, lubricants, and certain types of paint.
Fighting the source of fire:
Smothering these types of fires to remove oxygen is a common solution as are chemical reactions that produce similar effects.
CLASS C
The Class C fire is defined as a fire that uses electrical components and/or energized equipment such as motors, appliances, and electronic transformers. These are common in industries that deal with energy or make use of heavy electrically-powered equipment.
Fighting the source of fire:
To extinguish such fires you cut the power off and use non-conductive chemicals to extinguish the fire.
CLASS D
The Class D fire is defined as one that uses a combustible metal as its fuel source like titanium, magnesium, aluminum, and potassium. These fires are a danger in laboratory environments. However, be aware that combustible metals are used as part of production and other industry processes, and you need to be certain of what materials you are using for day-to-day operations. When confronted with such a fire, common extinguishing agents such as water are ineffective and can be hazardous.
Fighting the source of fire:
To extinguish a Class D fire, use a dry powder agent. This absorbs the heat the fire requires to burn and smothers it as well.
CLASS K
A Class K fire is defined as a cooking fire involving combustion from liquids used in food preparation such as greases, cooking oils, vegetable fat, and animal fat. Class K fires are naturally of concern in the food service and restaurant industry. Such fires can be very dangerous and far more destructive than you may think.
Fighting the source of fire:
Wet chemical fire extinguishers have become popular in putting out these types of fires.
Now, you know the classes of fires and ways on how to fight each.
From the very start, we should know the steps on how to build a fire safe future. In this way, we can prevent fire break outs and prevent to harm ourselves brought by fire.
Here’s the 3 steps on how to build a fire safe future:
1. Collect comparable data
2. Share best practices
3. Set a vision for fire safety in buildings
A well planned future can save lives and properties. We should always think ahead on what’s beyond those walls that might lead us to harm. Thinking ahead is also making a future safer than a future with no assurance of safetiness.
Fire Prevention 