Which Fire Extinguisher Should be Used for Electrical Fires?

With six types of fire extinguisher readily available from Scutum South East, one of the most important things you need to know in order to keep your premises safe is which fire extinguishers are suitable for which types of fire.

In this article, we’re going to discover the best fire extinguishers for electrical fires, together with those you absolutely should not use. But first, let’s remind ourselves of those six fire extinguishers.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

As mentioned, the different types of fire extinguisher have different contents that make them suitable for safely tackling different types of fire.

These are the six fire extinguishers:

• Water
• Foam
• Dry Powder
• CO2
• Wet Chemical
• Lithium-Ion Battery Extinguisher

Apart from the final extinguisher listed, there’s very little in the names to tell you which can be used on which fires. But before we discover which can be used for an electrical fire, we’re going to explore the nature of an electrical fire.

What is an electrical fire?

Basically, an electrical fire is one that starts as a result of faulty electrical equipment, frayed wiring or damaged outlets. Because the electrical component has to be live in order to start a fire, it provides the heat element of the fire triangle.

Of course, that electricity isn’t just dangerous because it can start a fire – it also has the potential to kill through electric shock, especially if you use the wrong type of extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers suitable for electrical fires

• CO2 Fire Extinguishers – This is the most commonly used extinguisher for electrical fires – and not just because it’s so effective at safely putting them out, which it does by smothering the fire and displacing the oxygen it needs to continue. Because the carbon dioxide quickly dissipates afterwards, it leaves no trace on the electrical item itself, meaning expensive equipment can escape almost totally undamaged.
• Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers – Although the CO2 extinguisher should always be your first choice for tackling an electrical fire, dry powder extinguishers can also be used under certain circumstances. Those circumstances are when the electrical equipment being used is under 1000 volts. In the stress and panic of an actual fire, working out the voltage of the electrical equipment on fire may not be easy, so always make CO2 extinguishers your first choice when dealing with electrical fires.
• Lithium-Ion Battery Extinguishers – Okay, so we’re cheating a little here, because these aren’t technically electrical fires. However, they do usually take place when the battery is plugged in and being charged and they are becoming increasingly common. It’s worth noting that while a CO2 extinguisher can temporarily extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire, the thermal runway that these fires involve means that it will quickly start up again when the CO2 dissipates.

Fire extinguishers not suitable for electrical fires

• Water – Using a water extinguisher is a bad idea for many reasons, the main two being that it won’t put out the fire and you’ll stand a very good chance of electrocuting yourself in the process if you try.
• Foam – In fact, some foam extinguishers can be used on electrical appliances, but only if they have passed the 35kv conductivity test – otherwise, again, you stand a very real chance of electrocuting yourself. In short, unless you’re 100%+ sure that yours is suitable, they’re best avoided.
• Wet Chemical – These should only be used on fires involving kitchen fats and oils and will not be effective on electrical fires. However, because many kitchens hold electricall equipment, it might be hard to avoid them in an emergency, so the chemicals in one of these extinguishers should be non-conductive to ensure there’s no risk of electrocution.

How to avoid electrical fires

There are a number of things you can do to minimise the chances of having an electrical fire. These include:

• Not overloading electrical sockets and extensions
• Keeping flammable objects away from electrical sources of heat
• Turning appliances off or unplugging them when not in use
• Having all small appliances PAT tested regularly
• Regularly checking cords and wiring for signs of fraying and other wear and tear
• Not buying cheap electrical appliances off the internet – stick to sellers you can trust

If electrical fires are a risk at your commercial premises, why not ask the experts at Scutum South East for a free site visit, so we can assess the situation and make an informed decision on the best ways to keep you protected?

We’ve been providing extensive fire safety solutions for customers across the South East for some 25 years. In that time, we have become a trusted supplier of everything from fire alarms and fire extinguishers to fire risk assessments, fire doors and staff fire safety training.

Get in touch with us now to find out more.