If you’re thinking of buying a fire extinguisher, you will find this ultimate guide useful. All the points to to help you make the best purchase are discussed, like weight, class, how much you’ll have to spend, and more. Keep reading to find out what the rest are.
1. Pricing
Of course, price is something that you have to consider too. If you’re not careful, you could spend a lot on a fire extinguisher.
As you can imagine, the smaller options cost the least. This is another reason to go for them, other than them not being difficult to maneuver either.
If you’re serious about saving, you could look for a second-hand suppressor. There are several on the market. Just keep in mind to go for an option that is not too old. You might get stuck a product that is not very good.
2. Cylinder Size
Weight is something that’s important to consider. You might be tempted to get a very large cylinder, as getting rid of more fires would be easier. However, it might be hard to use.
In our opinion, a 5 LBs ABC fire extinguisher is the best. It is not too heavy, but is hefty enough to efficiently take out many flames.
3. Number of Extinguishers
Once you’ve considered the above point, you need to consider how many extinguishers that you would need. Now, you can’t estimate this. There is a formula to follow, and we’ve got your back – Area of floor space (m²) x 0.065 = minimum requirement to meet.
4. Class Type
There are different fire extinguisher types, and they are divided depending on their class. For instance, Class A suppressors are for ordinary burnable materials, like cloth and wood. But on the other hand, Class B is for flammable liquids, like oils, and Class C is for electrical fires.
For commercial kitchen, Class K is the best. It was designed to extinguish fires from fats.
Also, there are extinguishers that are safe for the environment, like clean agent automatic extinguishers. They do not emit any harmful gases, so you don’t have to feel guilty about emissions.
5. On Site Certification
Once you’ve bought the extinguisher, you will need to get it certified if it’s going to be on your business’ premises. You might not need to do this depending on where you live, but in locations like the UK, you will have to pay to get it certified according to the BS 5306 code.
Final Thoughts
Considering all of the points that were run through, what do you think? There are several points to keep in mind when it comes to buying fire extinguishers. From these points, considering the class that you’ll be buying is the most important. For a commercial kitchen, you will need to find a Class K option, but if it’s just for your home, Class A and B works fine.
Of course, consider how big the cylinder is too. If it’s too heavy, you would not be able to use it.
Also Read: 6 Easy Ways to Keep Your Office Fire-Prepared [Ultimate Guide]
