How to Choose and Use Fire Extinguishers

By: John Kelsey, This Old House magazine (Page 1 of 6)

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Reading the label of a fire extinguisher

Icons: Courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association

Every household extinguisher is labeled A, B, or C. In the fine print, the higher the number preceeding each letter, the greater the extinguisher's effectiveness against each type of fire.

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Amerex B441 10-pound fire extinguisher, rated 4-A:80-B:C, about $85 at safety-supply companies

Photo: Eric Piasecki

First Alert FE3A40 5-pound fire extinguisher with a 3-A:40-B:C rating, about $40.

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Shown: Kidde 466310 2-pound fire extinguisher, rated 5-B:C, about $20 at home center or auto parts store

Firestop, from Williams-Pyro, for the stovetop

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Firestop stovetop fire extinguisher, from Williams-Pyro, about $49 for set of two cans needed to cover four burners.

Illustration: Joel Naprstek

Remember the acronym PASS to use your fire extinguisher: P is for Pull the extinguisher's safety pin.

Aim the chemical at the source of the flames

Illustration: Joel Naprstek

A is for Aim the extinguisher at the source of the flames.

Squeeze the trigger and hold it, keeping the extinguisher upright

Illustration: Joel Naprstek

S is for Squeeze the trigger and hold it.

Illustration: Joel Naprstek

S is for Sweep the source of the flames until the extinguisher runs dry.

Photo: Eric Piasecki

The EN-Gauge sensor system from MIJA flashes a red light and sounds an alert, reminding you to refill your extinguisher.

Photo: Eric Piasecki

The alarm company gets a signal from a fire extinguisher gauge wired to home security system.

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A fire extinguisher can be a lifesaver. Placed near an exit, in an easy-to-grab spot, it can put out a small fire before the firefighters arrive, or at least suppress the flames while you escape.

All household extinguishers are classified A, B, or C (or a combination of these) on the label to indicate which types of fires — ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or electrical—you can use them on. Many of the ones sold at home stores are classified A:B:C and fight all three types of fires.

The main distinction among home extinguishers is size. In most cases bigger is better, but sometimes the biggest extinguishers are too heavy to maneuver. (The weight on an extinguisher refers to the amount of chemical inside; the canister adds several more pounds.) There's also a difference between rechargeable extinguishers, with metal valves, and disposable ones, which have plastic valves. A rechargeable one will cost more, but refilling it once the pressure gauge shows that use or time has depleted the contents is still less expensive than buying a new disposable one.

The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) recommends an extinguisher for each floor. But no matter how many you have, nothing can substitute for the most important safety tool: a fire plan. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to get out in a hurry, where to meet outside, and how to call 911. Even if you think you've put out the fire on your own, don't cancel that emergency call. Leave it to the pros to decide if it's really out.