Water Fire Extinguishers
Water fire extinguishers are the most basic and traditionally used type of extinguisher. They are designed exclusively to combat fires involving ordinary combustible materials. They suppress fire by cooling the fuel below its ignition temperature.
These extinguishers are only rated for one class of fire:
- Class A (ordinary combustibles). Fires involving common materials such as wood, paper, cloth, plastics, and trash.
Water mist fire extinguishers are a highly versatile and clean option that discharge an ultra-fine spray of de-ionized water. This mist rapidly cools the fire and reduces the oxygen supply, making them effective on a few classes of fire:
- Class A (solids)
- Class C (electrical up to 1000V)
Common Usage Situations
Water fire extinguishers are commonly found in environments where the primary fuel source is organic material, and the risk of electrical or flammable liquid fires is minimal or addressed by other extinguishers:
- General offices and administrative areas. Ideal for addressing fires in paper storage, filing cabinets, and cardboard.
- Storage facilities. Used in areas dedicated solely to storing cardboard boxes, wood pallets, or non-hazardous materials.
- Textile and fabric manufacturing. Effective on fires involving cloth and fibers.
Important Safety Note:
Water fire extinguishers are NOT SAFE for use on Class B (flammable liquids), Class C (electrical), or Class K (cooking oil) fires. Using water on these classes can spread the flammable liquid fire, cause electrocution, or violently spread burning grease, making the situation worse. They are often paired with other extinguishers (like CO2 or ABC types) in mixed-hazard environments.