When buying a fire extinguisher, many questions come to our minds. For example, what is the content of fire extinguishers? Are they going to protect me from hazards?
Different types and variety surely confuse some of us, not knowing which one is the most suitable. The first thing you need to do is understand what the content of fire extinguishers is. It is important to make sure you have the right fire extinguishers on hand to put on fires.
Fire extinguishers are available in different types of ingredients depending on the type of fire it puts out. The class of fire extinguishers can be differentiated by using a colour-coded label tagged on the fire extinguisher. This is how users can differentiate each type.
Content in Fire Extinguishers
Dry Chemicals
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Mono ammonium phosphate | Class A, B and C | Must be cleaned up soon after extinguishing the fire because nonconductive but corrosive |
| Sodium bicarbonate | Class B and C | Requires minimal clean up because it is non-corrosive and non-toxic. |
| Potassium bicarbonate | Class B and C | Requires minimal clean up because non-conductive and non-corrosive. |
Wet Chemical
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Potassium acetate-based agent | Class K | Often found in commercial cooking areas. |
Water and Carbon Dioxide
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Water | Class A | Often used in combination with chemicals in fire extinguishers. |
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Carbon Dioxide | Class B and C | Can be used on electrical equipment with minimal damage. |
Halotron or Halon
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Halotron | Class A, B and C | Halotron is an alternative to halon because dangerous gases are formed when halon is used on fires. |
Metal Powders
| Ingredient | Class of fire extinguisher | Description |
| Powdered metals such as copper or sodium chloride and sand | Class D | Work best for fires including uranium, powdered aluminium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. |
Choose the right fire extinguisher
