Fire extinguishers are a necessary safety item in every building across America, whether it be an office complex or a home still under construction. Fires can quickly get out of hand if you are not fast-acting, and the best way to smother a fire is with a fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher has the best liquid or foam material specifically designed to put out fires and reduces the number of decisions a panicked person needs to make. If you see a fire, use a fire extinguisher — it is that simple. The only issue that can come out of this is not having the correct type of fire extinguisher.

The Common Fire Extinguisher

Most houses and businesses will not need any sort of special fire extinguisher because the objects that could catch on fire in their home are general items that are not high-risk or contain unique materials. These fire extinguishers are the ones you find in most shops and will be the default position for many safety kits. Make sure if you are storing it to follow the directions and to keep up to date with the maintenance schedule. There is nothing worse than needing a fire extinguisher only to find out it has long since become obsolete.

Gas and Electrical Fires

For those who work in more commercial areas that contain a lot of hazards relating to gas and electrical fires, you will need a more specialized fire extinguisher that can smother the more dangerous elements of these fires. Traditional water-based fire extinguishers can actually increase the danger of these spot fires and turn them from minor incidents into major problems. Most industries will have guidelines or laws in place to govern what safety equipment needs to be on-site, so make sure you stay on top of this.

Toxic Materials

Paints, chemicals, and other toxic materials can be very flammable and will not be easily put down by water or traditional fire extinguishers. These sorts of fires require a special fire extinguisher that utilizes dry powder, C02, or foam, depending on the severity and availability of fire extinguishers. These are highly regulated materials, so if you do not have the necessary precautions to deal with an outbreak, you could see the whole area go up in flames almost immediately. Do not risk the property or your life. Get protected and make sure you have the right fire extinguisher today.