OSHA Classifications for Portable Fire Extinguishers in Houston
Courtesy of OSHA Website
Houston Portable Fire Extinguisher Classes
Portable fire extinguishers are classified to indicate their ability to handle specific classes and sizes of fires. Labels on extinguishers indicate the class and relative size of fire that they can be expected to handle. It's a great idea to install portable fire extinguishers into your home residence, commercial business, office, vehicle, rv, and around public and industrial facilities. For more information on the types of fires and their classes please visit WHMIS Classifications
Houston A, B, C and D Portable Fire Extinguishers
Class A extinguishers are used on fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as wood, cloth, and paper. Class B extinguishers are used on fires involving liquids, greases, and gases. Class C extinguishers are used on fires involving energized electrical equipment. Class D extinguishers are used on fires involving metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, and potassium.
Houston Fire Extinguisher Markings
READ YOUR PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER OWNERS MANUAL AND/OR FIRE EXTINGUISHER LABEL
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Extinguishers suitable for Class A fires should be identified by a triangle containing the letter "A." If colored, the triangle should be green.
Extinguishers suitable for Class B fires should be identified by a square containing the letter "B." If colored, the square shall be colored red.
Extinguishers suitable for Class C fires should be identified by a circle containing the letter "C." If colored, the circle should be colored blue.
Extinguishers suitable for fires involving metals should be identified by a five-pointed star containing the letter "D." If colored, the star shall be colored yellow.
Extinguishers suitable for more than one class of fire should be identified by multiple symbols placed in a horizontal sequence.
Class A and Class B extinguishers carry a numerical rating to indicate how large a fire an experienced person can put out with the extinguisher. The ratings are based on reproducible physical tests conducted by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. Class C extinguishers have only a letter rating because there is no readily measurable quantity for Class C fires which are essentially Class A or B fires involving energized electrical equipment. Class D extinguishers likewise do not have a numerical rating. Their effectiveness is described on the faceplate.
Houston Portable Fire Extinguisher Class A Ratings
Class A RatingsAn extinguisher for Class A fires could have any one of the following ratings: 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 6-A, 10-A, 20-A, 30-A, and 40-A. A 4-A extinguisher, for example, should extinguish about twice as much fire as a 2-A extinguisher.
Houston Portable Fire Extinguisher Class B Ratings
Class B RatingsAn extinguisher for Class B fires could have any one of the following ratings: 1-B, 2-B, 5-B, 10-B, 20-B, 30-B, 40-B, and up to 640-B.
Houston Portable Fire Extinguisher Class C Ratings
Class C RatingsExtinguishers rated for Class C fires are tested only for electrical conductivity. However, no extinguisher gets a Class C rating without a Class A and/or Class B rating.
Houston Portable Fire Extinguisher Class D Ratings
Class D RatingsClass D extinguishers are tested on metal fires. The agent used depends on the metal for which the extinguisher was designed. Check the extinguisher faceplate for the unit's effectiveness on specific metals.