Replies

1. 
   roy.unit8c | Jan 19, 2022 08:55am | #1

   We have a Kidde (United Technologies) brand fire extinguisher with a UL rating of 1-A:10-B:C. I have no idea what that means. It says for use on fires involving wood, papers, textiles, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment. The box says you should not have to travel more than 40 feet to reach your extinguisher. There is no tag but says it is good for 12 years. We keep it in our kitchen which is close to the back porch where I woodwork.

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 19, 2022 10:31am | #5

   Class A is for trash, wood, and paper

   Class B is for liquids and gases

   Class C is for energized electrical sources

2. 
   john_c2 | Jan 19, 2022 10:41am | #6

   The Class A size rating represents the water equivalency. Each number represents 1 ¼ gallons of water. For instance, 2A means the extinguisher is just as effective as 2 ½ gallons of water. 4A is equivalent to 5 gallons of water.

   The Class B size rating indicates the square footage the extinguisher can cover. 20B means that as long as you sweep the nozzle side to side, there is enough extinguishing agent inside the canister to provide 20 square feet of coverage.

   There is no size rating for Class C.

3. 
   john_c2 | Jan 19, 2022 10:42am | #7

   For what it's worth, for average home use, Kidder recommends one extinguisher on each floor, with a rating of 2-A:10-B:C

1. 
   roy.unit8c | Jan 19, 2022 11:29am | #10

   Thanks John_C2.

2. 
   spog_uk | Jan 19, 2022 09:24am | #2

   I have 2 in the workshop: a Class ABC (so able to deal with wood fires and solvents etc); and an everything one, which covers the above plus electrical and Li-ion battery fires. Positioned near the pedestrian and double doors respectively, figuring it would hedge the odds of being able to get out of at least one exit. No idea if that’s optimal. Both 2 litre. Also a fire blanket, and a hose outside — read somewhere that sawdust fires are better extinguished with a low pressure, to avoid spraying dust sparks all over. No idea if that’s good advice, so please don’t rely on it, but makes intuitive sense. Other general precautions are having the “metalwork” section in a semi-screened corner to try to mitigate for some of the sparks and keep the swarf and gloop away from wood (scare quotes because what I call metalwork would probably make an engineer wince, it’s mostly just grinding blades and the odd bit of hardware or jig doodads), and storing all solvents in an old decommissioned fridge. One day I’d like to move the dust extractor to its own enclosure outside, for both fire and air quality, but that’s near the bottom of a very long list.

3. FWW Editor
   ben_strano | Jan 19, 2022 09:31am | #3

   Kidde ABC as well. I need at least one more in here. My building is three bays, with a wall sectioning off one bay for use as a "garage". I need one in that bay as well since I would be way too far away from the shop extinguisher if needed.

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 19, 2022 10:19am | #4

   How about a little up-to-date article in the magazine, Ben?

1. FWW Editor
   ben_strano | Jan 19, 2022 11:03am | #8

   It's actually in the works!

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 19, 2022 11:21am | #9

   Outstanding.

2. 
   JT_NM | Jan 19, 2022 05:42pm | #11

   Would love to see it encompass first aid as well...

4. 
   _mj_ | Jan 19, 2022 07:09pm | #12

   Back to rule #1...

5. 
   rob_ss | Jan 20, 2022 12:44am | #13

   I keep a dry powder extinguisher to hand - I get them free as after a few years you have to replace them in a commercial building though they retain usefulness for many more years. I get enough that mine is never more than 5 years 'out of date'

   If it fails, I have a hose outside.

   Realistically, a shop fire is very unlikely to get out of control in any circumstance where a fire extinguisher would be useful, unless solvents are involved - the nature of the products tends to be slow to catch so the fire will probably only grow large if it develops when the shop is unattended, and by the time such a fire is detected, using the fire extinguisher is more dangerous than letting it burn and calling the experts in.
   The purpose of an extinguisher is really to aid escape - they are not really intended to put out anything other than very small fires.

   Perhaps the best thing to do for fire safety is ensure that solvents are kept away from where fires might develop.

6. 
   larson | Jan 20, 2022 10:02am | #14

   The safety supply company where I buy fire extinguishers recommend that once a month you whack the bottom with a rubber mallet while holding it upside down. They told me that the contents can settle down to the bottom and solidify there. I use my phone to remind me.