ABE fire extinguishers, alongside fire blankets, are a common choice for protecting homes across Australia from fires. 

 

Why are ABE Fire Extinguishers ideal for the home?
ABE fire extinguishers (also known as a dry powder or dry chemical fire extinguishers) are filled with a powdered extinguishing agent that spreads easily and melts over flames. Within moments of being released from its canister, the powder blocks the fire’s heat and oxygen, causing the flames to die out. ABE fire extinguishers are a very common choice for household environments because they’re multipurpose and work well across multiple different types of fires, especially when purchased and used alongside a fire blanket. 

What kinds of fires are ABE extinguishers suitable for?
Typically, ABE Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers offer protection against the following kinds of fire risks and fire hazards that occur commonly at homes:

  • Class A – Normal combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, plastic or rubber products
  • Class B – Fires involving combustible flammable liquids such as petrol, oil paint and solvents
  • Class E – Fires where the ignition source contains Electrically Energised Equipment like motors, switchboards and electrical appliances.

What kinds of fires are they NOT suitable for?

A Dry Powder extinguisher should never be used on the below fire classes: 

  • Class C – Fires involving combustible gases, such as LPG, Natural gas and acetylene
  • Class D – Fires involving combustible metals such as aluminum shaving or magnesium
  • Class F – Cooking fires caused by fats or oils 

While effective in a range of situations, it’s important to remember that ABE fire extinguishers are not the perfect extinguisher for all kinds of fires – as they will not work effectively inside your kitchen. 

What kinds of fire risks do you have at home? You’ll need to consider all of these before making a decision on a fire extinguisher. Please let us know if you are aware of any unique fire risks at your home, so we can help find a fire equipment solution that’s ideal for you. 

What sized ABE extinguisher should I purchase for my home?
At Fire Equipment Online, our ABE Fire Extinguishers come in various sizes: 1 kg, 1.5 kg , 2 kg , 2.5 kg , 4.5 kg , 9 kg , 25 kg and 50 kg – but you probably won’t require anything over a few kilos. Smaller extinguishers are easier to use and they’re also more affordable, which is why we recommend a 2.5 kg extinguisher for most homes and investment properties. Again, if your home has fire risks that may be abnormal, please let us know, so we can help find the right size for your needs. 

How do I use an ABE extinguisher in my home?

Before you use your fire equipment, it’s important to ensure the extinguisher you’re using is the correct one for the fire at hand. Using the wrong extinguisher on a fire can be very dangerous. Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers can be identified by their colour – a red canister, with a white coloured band around the top of the cylinder.

Operating an ABE extinguisher is very similar to other extinguishers in Australia. However, for the best results, it’s a good idea to do some training so you can be sure you’re not overly panicked if an emergency happens! 

The PASS technique is a good way to remember your training in how to use an extinguisher. Simple Pull the Pin. Aim it at the fire. Squeeze the handle. Sweep from side to side. 

Other fire extinguisher resources:

A note about fire blankets
Fire blankets are a great additional line of defence against fires in households. They’re effective on Classes A, B and F (cooking fires). Plus, they’re super easy to store away and to use. We’d highly recommend purchasing one alongside your home fire extinguisher, to ensure you have your bases covered across your house in case a fire situation emerges. 

Want to learn more about what fire extinguisher is right for you? Fire Equipment Online is here to help. Our highly-qualified experts will help find the most affordable and most well-suited fire extinguisher solution for you, no matter how unique your requirements may be. Contact us today for more information.

 

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