Understand the fire triangle, fire classes (A/B/C/D/K), and which extinguishing methods work best.
Effective fire protection starts with fundamentals. Fires behave differently depending on the fuel, so choosing the right method—water, foam, CO2, clean agents, wet chemical, or special dry powder—matters for safety, code compliance, and post-incident recovery.
Fire requires Heat + Fuel + Oxygen. Suppression works by removing or interrupting one (or more) of these elements.
| Class | Typical Fuels | Suitable Agents | Most Effective (General) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, textiles) | Water, Foam, Dry Chemical | Water (sprinklers/hose) | Cool and soak to prevent re-ignition. |
| B | Flammable liquids (diesel, solvents, oils) | Foam, CO2, Dry Chemical | Foam | Do not use water jets—risk of spread. |
| C | Flammable gases (propane, butane) | CO2, Dry Chemical | CO2 | Isolate gas supply; ventilate. Avoid ignition sources. |
| D | Combustible metals (magnesium, aluminum, sodium) | Special Dry Powder (Class D) | Class-D Powder | Water/foam can react violently. Use dedicated agents only. |
| K / F | Cooking oils and fats | Wet Chemical, Foam (suitable types) | Wet Chemical | Designed to saponify oils; common in commercial kitchens. |
Important: Always follow local codes and the manufacturer’s instructions. The most effective agent depends on the hazard, scale, ventilation, and detection/suppression design specifics.
For electronics, archives, and mission-critical spaces, clean agents (e.g., FM-200®, Novec™ 1230, inert gases) provide fast knock-down without residue, when engineered to the relevant standards.