Which fire extinguisher should I buy?
Tatutata! It's burning! The fire department has to come out to prevent the worst. To prevent this from happening, small fires can be extinguished with a fire extinguisher.
But which is the right fire extinguisher? And where can I get a tested, safe fire extinguisher? We will be happy to advise you on the different types of fire extinguishers and help you make the right choice.
What types of fire extinguishers are there and which one is right for me?
First and foremost, fire extinguishers differ based on the different extinguishing agents. Because every fire is different and every material burns differently. Here we are talking about different fire classes. These are named from fire classes A to F - with the exception of class E.
There are different fire extinguishers depending on the fire class. Some fire extinguishers cover several fire classes at once. Other fire extinguishers, however, are only for a certain class.
It is therefore very important to choose the right extinguishing agent before choosing a fire extinguisher. Using the wrong extinguishing agent could actually make the fire worse! The classic: Have you ever tried to put out a grease fire on the stove with water? The fire will spread explosively, endangering life! So be careful when buying a fire extinguisher for your home.
An overview of the fire protection classes
But which fire extinguisher should be used for which fire?
Water fire extinguisher:
Advantage:
- Suitable for fire class A
- Extinguishing effect by cooling the burning substance
- Low environmental pollution due to the extinguishing agent
Disadvantage:
- Low extinguishing performance
A fire extinguisher with water is suitable for textiles, wood, rubber, paper, various types of plastic and normal fuel fires - i.e. for small fires in the household.
Döka fire extinguisher Wi6BS (water)
Powder fire extinguisher (ABC fire extinguisher):
Advantage:
- Suitable for fire classes A, B and C
- Frost-proof down to -30 °C
- Good all-round fire extinguisher when there is no gas heater or gas stove
- The powder is non-toxic, so there is no danger if accidentally inhaled
- Long fire extinguisher durability, rare fire extinguisher maintenance
- Powder fire extinguishers weighing 2kg are a good size for cars
Disadvantage:
- High extinguishing damage caused by the extinguishing powder, as it is distributed over large areas and in the smallest spaces. This makes it difficult to remove.
- We therefore recommend using the powder extinguisher in garages or basements and not in living rooms
The ABC fire extinguisher is suitable for textiles, wood, rubber, paper, various types of plastic and normal fuel fires. Additionally, it can be used for dry chemicals, paints, gasoline or oil-based fires. It is also suitable for electrical fires caused by devices, tools or other connected electronics.
In addition, powder fire extinguishers are a savior in the event of fires caused by gas, for example on a gas stove or gas heater.
ATTENTION: Please do not confuse this with fires caused by cooking oil or animal fats. These can only be extinguished with a class F fire extinguisher.
A powder extinguisher is therefore a versatile, reliable and relatively inexpensive fire extinguisher. For most fires, an ABC fire extinguisher is the best choice, especially when the cause of the fire is not apparent.
An optimal car fire extinguisher is a compact 2 kg powder fire extinguisher. It is small and light for transport and powerful enough to extinguish small fires in or on the car.
Döka fire extinguisher GN6A (powder)
Foam fire extinguisher:
Advantage:- Suitable for fire classes A and B
- Easy to remove foam
- Little damage caused by extinguishing, as the foam can be applied specifically to the burning object with the extinguishing gun
- Frost-proof down to -30 °C
- Good fire extinguisher for home
- Higher purchase price
The foam fire extinguishers are suitable for textiles, wood, rubber, paper, various types of plastic and normal fuel fires. Additionally, it can be used for dry chemicals, paints, gasoline or oil-based fires. It is also suitable for electrical fires caused by devices, tools or other connected electronics.
Fire extinguishers with foam work twice as well: they smother the fire and cool it at the same time. This is particularly important for fire class B liquids. These can ignite again on their own at high temperatures. A foam fire extinguisher is therefore very suitable for many household fires.
Döka fire extinguisher Si6BF (foam)
Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher (CO2 fire extinguisher):
Advantage:- Suitable for fire classes B
- Particularly suitable for technical systems and areas with special hygienic requirements
- Residue-free deletion
- They should be used with caution indoors!
The carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are particularly suitable for electrical fires caused by appliances, tools or other connected electronics. Also suitable for dry chemicals, paints, gasoline or oil-based fires.
The CO2 fire extinguisher does not extinguish the fire using water, but rather using carbon dioxide. CO2 deprives the fire of oxygen and suffocates it. But there is also a disadvantage here: high concentrations of carbon dioxide are a health hazard, especially in small, enclosed spaces. In addition, CO2 does not cool the fire area, which can re-ignite due to high temperatures.
Grease fire extinguisher:
Advantage:
- Suitable for fire classes A, B and F
- Particularly suitable for (large) kitchens
- Extinguishing without leaving any residue, as a special foam is used as an extinguishing agent
Disadvantage:
- Not suitable for gas fires
The grease fire extinguisher is generally intended for fire class F. This fire class refers to burning fires caused by cooking oils and fats. Since the class F fire extinguisher is basically a foam extinguisher with a special foam, it can also be used to extinguish class A and B fires.
The grease fire extinguishers are therefore very suitable for cooking fat and cooking oil fires in the kitchen and also for many fires in the household. Attention: Do not use on gas fires in the kitchen!
Döka grease fire extinguisher Si6BS Bio+
Metal fire extinguisher:
Advantage:
- Suitable for fire classes D
- Suitable for metal fires
Disadvantage:
- Not ideal for household fires
The metal fire extinguisher is basically intended for industry, especially for metal fires. Basically it is a powder fire extinguisher with special powder. Metals only ignite at very high temperatures and must therefore be extinguished with powder made from a salt mixture. Water should be avoided as much as possible as it can lead to explosions. Since the special powder is only used to extinguish metal fires, it is rarely found in the private sector and even more so in industry.
A conclusion at the end:
Which fire extinguisher best suits the respective requirements depends on the area of activity. The first question that should be asked is which source of the fire could need to be extinguished: The deep fryer? The circular saw in the garage? Or the gas stove?
Conclusion: A foam or grease fire extinguisher is a good choice for the household. However, if a gas connection is available, an ABC powder fire extinguisher is recommended.
And one last tip: The rating indicates how much a fire extinguisher can extinguish. The higher the rating, the better.