What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Fire extinguisher ratings (e.g., "3A:40B:C") indicate exactly what fires the unit can suppress and at what size. The A number measures effectiveness on ordinary combustibles per UL wood crib testing — higher number means larger fire capacity.
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) NFPA 10 defines five fire extinguisher classes, each matched to a specific fire type: Class A (ordinary combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids/gases), Class C (energized electrical equipment), Class D (combustible metals), and Class K (cooking oils/fats). Using the wrong
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Class K extinguishers suppress cooking oil and grease fires using wet chemical agents (potassium acetate or potassium citrate) that work through saponification — converting burning oil into a non-flammable soap-like foam while cooling it below the 600°F+ ignition point.
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Class D fires involve combustible metals — magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, zirconium, and aluminum powder — that burn at extremely high temperatures. Standard extinguishing agents (water, ABC dry chemical, CO2) make these fires explosively worse. Class D extinguishers use specialized dry powders (sodium
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, and the suppression rule is absolute: only non-conductive agents are safe. Water and foam conduct electricity and create electrocution paths. Dry chemical (ABC) and CO2 are the two standard non-conductive options. Every
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Class AB extinguishers handle ordinary combustibles (Class A) and flammable liquids (Class B) but lack the non-conductive "C" rating for electrical fires. In most modern commercial buildings, electrical equipment is ubiquitous, making ABC the safer and more common
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials — wood, paper, cloth, plastic, rubber, and foam — present in every building. Water-based extinguishers are the most effective Class A suppression tool because water's heat capacity cools burning material below ignition temperature
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) Selecting fire extinguishers starts with a hazard assessment — identifying which fire classes are actually possible in each zone of your facility. NFPA 10 requires extinguishers matched to the specific hazards present, spaced so no occupied point exceeds 75 feet travel distance
What Do I Need?
Reviewed by Jason Mitchell, CFPS (Certified Fire Protection Specialist) ABC multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers handle the three most common fire classes — ordinary combustibles (A), flammable liquids (B), and electrical equipment (C) — in one unit. They are the most widely installed portable extinguisher in U.S. commercial buildings. A standard 5-