Which extinguisher type is used for ordinary combustibles?

Which extinguisher type is used for ordinary combustibles?

• A. Type B
• B. Type C
• C. Type D
• D. Type A

Answer: (D)

Extinguishers are categorized by the type of fire they’re designed to fight. For ordinary combustibles—things like wood, paper, and cloth—the extinguisher labeled for Class A is used. It extinguishes these fires mainly by cooling the fuel with water or a water-based agent, lowering the material’s temperature below its ignition point and stopping the flame. This makes it the best choice for solid fuels that leave ash. Other extinguishers address different hazards: for flammable liquids you use a Class B extinguisher, for electrical fires a Class C extinguisher, and for certain reactive metals a Class D extinguisher. Using a non-A extinguisher on ordinary combustibles won’t remove the heat effectively and can be unsafe or ineffective.

Extinguishers are categorized by the type of fire they’re designed to fight. For ordinary combustibles—things like wood, paper, and cloth—the extinguisher labeled for Class A is used. It extinguishes these fires mainly by cooling the fuel with water or a water-based agent, lowering the material’s temperature below its ignition point and stopping the flame. This makes it the best choice for solid fuels that leave ash. Other extinguishers address different hazards: for flammable liquids you use a Class B extinguisher, for electrical fires a Class C extinguisher, and for certain reactive metals a Class D extinguisher. Using a non-A extinguisher on ordinary combustibles won’t remove the heat effectively and can be unsafe or ineffective.