No, let’s get that out of the way immediately. Firexo extinguishers are not a scam. This is no ruse from a snake oil salesman; these things really can put out all fires. Now, fire safety is always a bit more complicated than that, especially when thinking about size (Firexo extinguishers aren’t really built for large, industrial fires). So I’ll say right now that when we say ‘all’, we mean all officially recognised fire classifications. Through that lens, Firexo can be accredited as absolutely honest and credible in their claims.
What I want to help you with is understanding exactly what Firexo extinguishers are. I’m going to tell you how they work, how they came to be, and why, most surprisingly, they aren’t automatically the best firefighting solution for your needs.
What Type of Fire Extinguisher is Firexo?
Great question, because it’s not immediately obvious, even when browsing our own offers. Extinguisher types are defined by the agent they use, i.e., the stuff inside them that puts the fire out. Each agent has a certified list of fire classes they can extinguish (see the chart below). It just so happens that Firexo can boast having all of them under its belt.
Just quickly, I’ll list off the main types of fire extinguishers: Powder, Water, Foam, CO2, and Wet Chemical. Firexo is like water, foam, and wet chemical combined, but it is a more complex substance than any of those. The agent is best described as a unique liquid formula, with the main active ingredients being ammonium sulfate, water, and nitrogen. The resulting liquid is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and thankfully non-toxic. So while Firexo extinguishers are definitely analogous to a few of the most common types, it’s simply more accurate to see them as a bespoke, self-contained type of their own.
Let’s talk actual fire classes now:
- Class A: combustible solids like wood, paper, fabric, etc.
- Class B: flammable liquids such as paint and petrol.
- Class C includes gases, for instance, butane and methane.
- Class D includes flammable metals, examples being magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
- Class Fs are cooking oil and fat fires.
- And finally, we have electrical fires and lithium-ion battery fires.
Firexo can handle all of these.
I would say you’re just going to have to trust me, but that’s not the case. Later in this article, I’ll explain the actual operation of the extinguishers, but for now, I would strongly recommend viewing this page on Firexo’s website. Here you can see Firexo extinguishers in action against all the fire classes listed above. So, if you want some reassurance, there it is.
Where did Firexo Extinguishers Come From?
Firexo extinguishers are uniquely positioned in the fire safety realm. They are a brand new and innovative technology in a market ruled by old, arguably outdated guidelines. Firexo complies with as many guidelines as it can, and is, by all conventional measures, safe to use and effective at what it does, but unfortunately, it cannot satisfy all the standards we’d like it to. The extinguishers do at least have the privilege of bearing the BSI Kitemark (at least when you buy from us they do, other suppliers seem to miss this out, for whatever reason), which is perhaps the most important safety certification for a product to have in the British Isles specifically.
There isn’t the most concrete documentation of how the Firexo extinguishing agent came to be. According to their website, the company was launched in 2018 after a revolutionary ‘all-in-one’ fire extinguishing solution had finally been created and patented. They wanted to tackle the confusion that consistently emerges in the midst of fire emergencies. The wrong kind of fire extinguisher may not only be ineffective on a certain fire, but could actually exacerbate it. An ‘all fires’ solution removes the time taken to make a decision, and eliminates the chance of getting it fatally wrong.
So, How do Firexo Extinguishers Actually Work, and What’s the Catch?
Firexo extinguishers have a fairly standard operation, so you’re not going to be miffed when you take one of these things out of the box. The Firexo Mini Extinguisher is the only variant that’s a little different, but that thing is pretty much just an aerosol can; nothing complicated there. And just to disambiguate, by standard operation, we mean:
- Hold the extinguisher upright
- Pull out the safety pin
- Aim at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the handle while sweeping from side to side
On top of their titular benefits, Firexo extinguishers feature a number of traits that give them a further edge. They all have an operating temperature range of -15°C to +60°C and longer discharge times than the equivalent sizes in other categories. The fire ratings themselves vary in comparison, so I won’t go around boasting about them. But what they can claim, over say a foam or powder extinguisher (which could hold higher ratings for some classes), is being safe to use in any environment.
As established, the Firexo agent is non-toxic. This is thanks to it being free of the harmful chemicals (PFOA/PFAS) often found in (mostly old) foam extinguishers; you might be pleased to hear that they are specifically fluorine-free, which alleviates a lot of the headaches involved in foam extinguisher regulations. It is also easy dispose of after use by wiping down with soapy water.
Fire extinguishers should be kept by emergency exit routes, keeping them near to safety and in a known location. A fire risk assessment will provide a more specific plan, but Firexo extinguishers should be kept in the same places and in the same way as any others. Due to their capabilities, they are also perfectly at home in vehicles. Keeping an extinguisher secure is often a separate concern altogether, but rest assured that these aren’t compromising on durability.
And that’s it!
So that’s probably everything I can say about Firexo extinguishers without overselling them, or being accused of writing a puff piece. But, there’s always more. And frankly, while they can handle any type of fire, when it comes to the big ones? I’m eager to know when Firexo finally make a wheeled version (which is apparently in the works, thank God).
Anyway, that really is it. So if you want to see more, then browse our range here, or check out the helpful video below. Thank you!
