How to Choose the Right Portable Fire Extinguisher for Your Commercial Kitchen

According to fire rules, if you own or run a commercial kitchen, you are required to have portable fire extinguishers in addition to an automated fire suppression system. This makes it more likely that staff members will be able to put out a fire that could start in an area that isn’t covered by the automated fire suppression system. Before selecting items to safeguard your kitchen, take a look at what you need know about portable fire extinguishers. You contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you need help.

Fire extinguisher classifications

It’s crucial to think about the kinds of fires that might develop in your kitchen before you start shopping for fire extinguishers. Depending on the materials being burnt, fires are categorized into the following groups:

• Class A: Natural materials such as wood, cloth, paper, and many types of polymers
• Class B: Flammable liquids such as lacquers, tars, petroleum greases, solvents, and so on.
• Class C: Energized electrical equipment
• Class K: Flammable cooking ingredients, such as fats and oils

Two types of frequently used portable fire extinguishers

Depending on the sort of fire they are intended to put out, several portable fire extinguisher models employ various extinguishing ingredients. For instance:

A decent all-purpose fire extinguisher for use in the home or business is an ABC Fire Extinguisher. They employ mono ammonium phosphate, a chemical, to put out Class A, B, and C flames. Because of its corrosive nature, this chemical must be rapidly cleaned up after usage.

Grease fires in industrial kitchens may be put out with Class K fire extinguishers. To stop oil from splashing and causing the fire to spread, they spritz the flames with potassium acetate and potassium citrate rather than stream it. The chemical will aid in preventing the fire from re-igniting as it adheres to the cooking utensils.

UL Ratings UL tests portable fire extinguishers and assigns ratings that represent the efficacy of the device. The extinguisher’s performance in putting out a fire in comparison to 1.25 liters of water is always shown by the first number in the rating.

For instance, a product with a rating of 2A:K would be twice as effective on a Class K fire as 1.25 liters of water (or as effective as 2.5 gallons). You can also discover a second number on ABC extinguishers that indicates the maximum square footage it can handle. For instance, a 4A:80B:C extinguisher would cover 80 square feet and hold the equivalent of 5 gallons of water.

Comparing rechargeable versus non-rechargeable

Both rechargeable and non-rechargeable versions of the majority of portable fire extinguisher types are available. Rechargeable extinguishers are strongly recommended for commercial kitchens by Flue Steam. Although this kind of portable fire extinguisher is more expensive initially, it offers a superior long-term value since it may be replenished after each use rather than being thrown away.