Portable fire extinguishers should be located throughout your premises, strictly in accordance with BS5306 Part 8 (the current British Standard for the selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers). Scutum South East supply every type of fire extinguisher to commercial premises across London and the surrounding areas. Our team will identify the most suitable areas of your property to install each extinguisher, ensuring all hazards are mitigated and all legal regulations are complied with. In addition, we provide regular maintenance of your fire extinguisher so that it’s always ready for use, and we offer a range of training courses to ensure that it’s always used correctly.

CO2 extinguishers are mainly used for tackling electrical fires. Because the gas dissipates shortly after use, no residue is left, meaning that they are safe to use on expensive and sensitive equipment.

There are also some specialist dry powder extinguishers that can be used on some Class D fires involving flammable metals – but it’s important that you make sure your dry powder extinguisher is suitable for flammable metals before attempting to extinguish this type of fire.

Because they are effective on flammable liquid fires, foam extinguishers can usually be found in petrol stations, garages, workshops, factories and food preparation facilities. However, because they are also effective on Class A fires, they can be equally useful to the majority of businesses and commercial establishments.

They are usually loaded with dry powder, because it is the most versatile of all the extinguishants, being suitable for Class A (e.g. wood, paper, fabrics), Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (flammable gases) fires, along with some electrical fires.

Water extinguishers should only be used on Class A fires. Water is particularly dangerous when used on electrical fires, owing to the very high risk of the user being electrocuted, and on kitchen fires and flammable liquid fires, because firing water at burning liquids could cause them to splash and spread the fire.

There are six classes of fire, categorised by their contrasting sources of ignition and fuel. Because the sources of ignition and fuel are different, the chemicals, liquids or substances needed to successfully tackle the blaze are different also. Failing to use the correct substance on a particular class of fire will not only be ineffective, but may also aggravate the blaze.

Offices are particularly prone to class A fires, due to the high volume of paper typically in the vicinity. Water extinguishers are also commonly found in schools, hotels, hospitality venues and retail outlets.

In most cases, the element removed is the oxygen, and this is achieved by smothering the fire with the extinguishant. This is the method used by foam, dry powder, CO2 and wet chemical extinguishers, although CO2 and wet chemical extinguishers also cool the fire to remove the heat.

Wet chemical extinguishers are important assets to kitchens and other cooking areas that can be found in a huge number of businesses and commercial establishments.

Foam extinguishers separate fuel from flame by shooting a thick foam barrier into the fire. The flame is unable to continue burning without access to fuel, and the fire quickly decelerates until it is fully extinguished.

Any commercial premises where lithium-ion batteries are stored and charged would be well-advised to keep a lithium-ion battery extinguisher to hand. This is likely to include those with electric vehicles, forklift trucks, laptops, cordless power tools and many other personal or factory equipment.

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An automatic fire extinguisher will nearly always have been installed in order to deal with a specific fire risk. And because it is triggered automatically, you won’t have any say over when it is triggered.

Water extinguishers remove the heat from a fire, as do lithium-ion battery extinguishers, although they also interrupt the chemical reaction to ensure the fire does not reignite once extinguished.

CO2 extinguishers are identified by their black label with ‘CO2’ in large white lettering. They also have a large black frost-free horn instead of the narrow hose found on other fire extinguishers – this is to reduce the potential for burns from the cold gas.

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Dry powder extinguishers may be extremely versatile, but they are not suitable for all fires, particularly Class F fires involving kitchen fats and oils for the simple reason that they won’t work. Although they can be used for some electrical fires, they leave a corrosive residue, so you might want to be careful near valuable equipment.

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Water fire extinguishers are suitable for use on class A fires. These are fires that involve common combustible materials, such as paper, fabric, wood and other flammable solids. For this reason, water fire extinguishers are one of the most common types of fire extinguishers.

Wet chemical extinguishers spray a solution of potassium onto the fire, which attacks the blaze in two ways. The first is by cooling the flame and lowering its temperature, decreasing the rate at which it burns. The second is by coating the surface in a soapy foam that creates a barrier between the flame and fuel.

Water fire extinguishers are distinguishable by their block-red body and white lettering, with the word ‘Water’ being most prominent. In fact, they are the only type of extinguisher that doesn’t incorporate a panel of contrasting colour above the instructions.

Scutum South East is a leading expert in fire safety and security solutions for businesses and organisations located across South East England, including London and Surrey.

Thanks to their multi-purpose use, dry powder extinguishers are extremely useful in areas where multiple types of fire hazards are present, making them a vital option for many different businesses. These include large, open work areas with multiple fire risks – such as garage forecourts, commercial boiler rooms, large workshops and flammable liquid storage facilities.

If you’d like to find out more about Scutum South East, get in touch with our friendly team or explore our products and services on our site.

From fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire risk assessments to access control, CCTV and intruder alarm systems – and a lot more besides – we offer a comprehensive range of products and services designed to keep you, your business and your staff and visitors safe.

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Automatic extinguishers feature a glass bulb instead of the squeezing lever found on manual models. When a fire occurs, the bulb gets hot, causing the sensitive liquid inside the bulb to expand. When the bulb reaches a predetermined temperature, the liquid expands so much that it shatters the bulb, causing the contents of the extinguisher to release into the fire.

While you should only use a foam fire extinguisher for Class A and Class B fires, they are particularly dangerous if used on electrical fires, kitchen fires and fires involving flammable metals.

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CO2 fire extinguishers are the ideal piece of equipment for use in areas or businesses that incorporate large amounts of wiring or electrical equipment. Misuse of extension cords and plug sockets can cause electrical fires, as can faulty wiring and overheated light fixtures. Read more about tackling electrical fires in our blog on the subject.

Wet chemical extinguishers are extremely important as they are the only ones that can be used to tackle class F fires. These are known as ‘cooking fires’ and are typically caused by cooking oils and fats – chip pan fires are a common example of a class F fire.

Wet chemical fire extinguishers can be identified by their yellow labels with ‘Wet Chemical’, usually in red lettering. Wet chemical extinguishers also tend to have a longer hose than other extinguishers to enable you to stand well back from the fire you are trying to tackle.

Unlike the other types of fire extinguishers, there is no set colour label used to distinguish a lithium-ion battery extinguisher. Many have a green label with white lettering, but this is by no means universal.

CO2 fire extinguishers should never be used on kitchen fires. Meanwhile, because the carbon dioxide in a CO2 fire extinguisher disperses oxygen in the air when ejected, there is a danger of asphyxiation if used in an enclosed space.

Water extinguishers tackle fires with powerful streams of cool water. The cold liquid douses the flames, removing the heat and reducing the rate at which the fire burns. As the heat continues to reduce, the fire continues to decelerate until the flames are completely extinguished.

With decades of industry experience to call on, we’re proud to hold accreditations from leading trade associations and bodies such as British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE), the British Fire Consortium, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB).

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You should also be cautious about using a dry powder extinguisher in an enclosed space, as inhaling the powder can be harmful to your health.

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Foam fire extinguishers can be easily identified by their cream coloured labels with the word ‘Foam’ in large red letters.

Lithium-ion batteries pose a serious fire risk when they overheat and catch fire. This is because of what is known as a thermal runway. This creates an especially intense type of fire that can cause the battery to explode and result in an even more dangerous situation. Only specialist extinguishers can safely deal with this type of fire.

Wet chemical extinguishers should never be used on electrical fires or on Class C fires involving flammable gases. They may be able to be used on Class B fires involving flammable liquids, but only if they have been specifically cleared for such use.

Because it isn’t operated by a person, an automatic extinguisher won’t have the sort of hose or trigger commonly found on manual fire extinguishers.

Foam extinguishers are suitable for use on the most common types of fires, making them one of the most recognisable types of extinguisher. They are effective at extinguishing Class A (combustible materials such as wood, paper and fabrics) and Class B (flammable liquids, such as alcohol, paint or petrol) fires.

Automatic extinguishers trigger automatically, without any human intervention. This makes them useful in unmanned areas, hard-to-reach locations or where the fastest possible response to the detection of a fire is required.

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To enquire about any of the extinguishers we offer, or for more information, give our friendly team a call today. Alternatively, click on each type of extinguisher to learn more about how it works and when it should be used.

Forensic Video Solutions, Inc. is owned and operated by Grant Fredericks, a pioneer in Forensic Video Analysis applications. One of the most skilled and knowledgeable trial experts in his field, Mr. Fredericks has been processing video evidence for criminal and civil investigations for over 30 years.

If you’d like to know more about the different fire extinguishers available from Scutum South East – or you’d like one of our experts to assess your premises and recommend the best extinguishers for your particular fire risks – just get in touch with us now.

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Dry powder fire extinguishers work similarly to foam extinguishers; they tackle a fire by isolating the flame from the fuel. Unlike foam extinguishers, dry powder extinguishers achieve this separation using a dry chemical powder known as monoammonium phosphate. This chemical creates a reaction in the flames, chemically inhibiting combustion and expelling the oxygen.

Many people instinctively choose to throw water over cooking fires, but this will cause the burning oil to splash and spread the fire even further. Wet chemical extinguishers coat the burning oils and fats to separate them from the flame and halt combustion.

Labelling on an automatic extinguisher doesn’t have the same level of importance as it does with other extinguishers, as the user does not need to select the extinguisher for use. Nevertheless, as automatic extinguishers usually contain dry powder, they should have a blue label.

Because they have been specially designed to extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire, these extinguishers should not be used for other fires – not least because the contents are more expensive to recharge than those of other extinguishers.

Grant is a former police officer and coordinator of the Vancouver Police Forensic Video Unit in Canada. For 14 years, he was an adjunct instructor of Forensic Video Analysis at the Digital Multimedia Evidence Processing Lab at the University of Indianapolis and is currently a contract instructor at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, where he has taught each NA Session since 2002.

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Automatic fire extinguishers differ to the other fire extinguishers we offer, not by the substance it contains, but by the way it operates. Unlike manual extinguishers, which require human input, automatic extinguishers detect when a fire has occurred and respond by automatically deploying their contents.

The use of an automatic fire extinguisher tends to be determined less by the nature of the fire risks present than by the nature of the layout of the premises. So, companies with a number of buildings on their premises or with rooms only used occasionally could find the installation of automatic extinguishers of particular use.

Scutum South East supplies a range of fire extinguishers, covering fires of every class, to increase fire safety on your premises.

Fire extinguishers generally work by removing one of the elements of the fire triangle (heat, oxygen, fuel) from the fire.

Dry powder extinguishers – sometimes referred to as ABC extinguishers – are perhaps the most versatile of all the extinguishers, as they can be used on Class A (e.g. wood, paper and fabrics), Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (flammable gases) fires. They can even be used on some electrical fires, but only those involving equipment of less than 1000v.

These extinguishers work by directing freezing cold carbon dioxide at the source of a fire, removing the oxygen but also cooling the fire to prevent reignition. The gas is stored in the extinguisher as a liquid, but when the release mechanism is triggered, it is converted under pressure into a gas and emitted at very high speeds.