Fire Prevention in Office Buildings - Classes of Fires

Every year fires in business facilities kill 5000 people, injure 80,000 and cost business over 11 billion dollars. Unfortunately, most fires are caused by lack of adequate training or carelessness. Following proper safety procedures in the office will help your facility avoid the tragic circumstances of a fire. One of the most important aspects of safety is classes of fires and what extinguishing agent to use in putting the fire out.

To identify the different types of burning materials, and indicate what substances can be used to extinguish them, fires are separated into four classes - Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D.

Class "A" fires involve everyday materials that are combustible like paper and wood. They are generally put out with water which stops the fire by cooling the burning materials.

Class "B" fires are fueled by flammable gases and liquids, such as oil and Propane or some cleaning supplies and things made out of plastic. Chemical foams are best for putting these types of fires. They blanket the area and cut off the fire's oxygen supply.

Class "C" fires are electrical and can involve things like office machines and lighting fixtures. These fires are also smothered with chemical agents, but these agents are designed to be "non-conductive" so they don't conduct electricity.

Class "D" fires are fueled by combustible metals such as potassium, sodium and magnesium. These fires are extremely rare and you probably will never encounter them but if you do, don't attempt to put them out. They are complicated to extinguish and need to be put out by a trained professional.

Don't be part of one the devastating office fires that occur every year. Learning the classes of fires and how to extinguish them is a good first step. Learn as much as you can about classes of fires and how to put them out and follow your sites safety guidelines when dealing with equipment and materials that could start fires. Fire safety is everyone's responsibility.