The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has provided mandates to employers to institute fire protection and prevention programs in their workplaces. The safety devices used to protect occupants of buildings, including workplaces, include such things as intercom systems as well as fire alarms and fire suppression systems. These systems provide warnings and protection to the occupants of the structure when fire threatens human life.

The key device that required as part of a comprehensive fire protection system is the fire extinguisher. Iowa businesses and organizations can benefit significantly from having comprehensive training in the use of these extinguishers to maximize the effectiveness of any particular fire protection protocol.

Instruction

Fire safety involves making proper preparations and taking the necessary preventative steps in advance of any emergency. Having a fire extinguisher in the right place can be a very effective part of any fire safety system. These extinguishers can save lives and help minimize property damage. Those who would use an extinguisher need to receive proper instruction and guidance in order to use them with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

After going through in completing a training course and the use of fire extinguishers and learning about the hazards involved with fighting fires, an individual can be highly prepared to use one of these devices to potentially help save one or more lives in the future.

Fire Classes A, B and C

Three classes of fire are important to understand because different types of extinguishers are best suited for particular types of fires.

Class A fires burned such materials as wood, cloth, rubber, paper, and plastic. Multi-use fire extinguishers that use air pressurized water may be used to put out these types of fires.

Class B fires burn with flammable liquids or grease. These fires need to be put out with dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguishers.

Class C fires are electrical fires and often involve electrical equipment. These fires are best put out by CO2 extinguishers. You can use these extinguishers without leaving a damaging residue on the electrical equipment.

If you need to improve the fire safety knowledge and capabilities of your workforce, you may want to contact an experienced provider of fire extinguisher training.