It can be hard work figuring out which types of fire extinguishers you need to have. What you need depends largely on the types of fire hazard which are present and would need a fire extinguisher to safely tackle. And that’s the same whether you’re looking to kit out your shop, office, public building, or residential property.
Having a fire risk assessment completed by a competent person is the absolute best way of knowing, for sure, that you’re doing everything practically possible to prepare and prevent a fire.
However, we’ve put together this handy infographic to help give you guidance in making the right decision.
Types of Fire Extinguishers | Which Type Of Extinguisher To Use?
Remember, it’s important to choose the right extinguisher for the job. Using the incorrect fire extinguisher could prove ineffective at putting out a fire, and may even exacerbate the flames and cause it to spread. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between all the types of fire extinguishers.
Any fire extinguisher you have should then be commissioned by a professional extinguisher engineer. This would be a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, with similar legislation in place for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Plus, your insurance company may want to see the certificate.
And you should also not forget to have them serviced annually, again by a professional fire extinguisher engineer. In the meantime, it’s worth making occasion visual checks yourself, looking out for obvious signs of damage, corrosion and tampering.