What is the best fire extinguisher for domestic use?

Author: Prof. Olaf Murazik  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides minimum recommendations for the home: Primary Fire Extinguishers - For your main home protection, install a 2-A:10-B:C rated extinguisher on every level of your home - no more than 40 feet apart. Include all locations where a fire may start.

What is the best fire extinguisher to have in your home?

An ABC dry chemical extinguisher is the best option for nearly all homes and for use by a lay person. You can buy one at Lowe's, Home Depot, and various hardware stores very easily.

Is a foam or powder fire extinguisher better?

ABC Dry Powder has an impressive ability to suppress larger flames when compared to a foam of the same size. This is because 1). When discharged the Powder aerates, expands and forms a cloud much, much larger than the volume of the powder in the cylinder, and 2).

Which is better, ABC or CO2 fire extinguisher?

An ABC extinguisher would be better as it works for all types of combustibles A(wood, paper, grass, etc) B(oils, chemicals, gas) C(electrical). ABC extinguishers are far more effective than C02 hence the reason that they are in every store, shop, etc.

Do I need a 5 or 10 lb fire extinguisher?

For a room of average dimension, a 5-lb fire extinguisher may be sufficient. For larger commercial spaces and warehouses where a fire has more room to spread, a larger 10-lb model may be necessary.

The Best Fire Extinguishers for a Safe Home Kitchen

How long does a 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher last?

Based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, here are the two fire extinguisher life expectancy guidelines every business owner or facility manager needs to know: Disposable fire extinguishers - Should be replaced every 12 years. Rechargeable fire extinguishers - Should be recharged every 6 years.

How big a fire extinguisher do I need for my home?

The fire rating is found by multiplying the floor area in metres squared (m²) by 0.065. Therefore for a floor area of 200m² the fire rating is 200 x 0.065 = 13A. A 9 litre water extinguisher has a fire rating of 13A, therefore one 9 litre water extinguisher will be required for every 200m² of floor area.

Where not to use ABC fire extinguisher?

It's important to note that while ABC extinguishers are versatile, they are not suitable for fires involving cooking oils and fats (Class K fire extinguishers are suited for this) or combustible metals.

When not to use a CO2 fire extinguisher?

CO2 fire extinguishers are mainly aimed at electrical fires but are also suitable for Class B liquid fires and are used in different ways depending on the type of fire they are being used on. Do not use CO2 extinguishers in small rooms as CO2 gas is poisonous at only 4% concentration and can kill at just 8%.

What type of fire extinguisher is used in kitchens?

Minimax Kitchen (F-Class) Type fire extinguishers are designed for use on Class F fires which involves cooking oils and fat. Wet chemical is the only type of extinguisher to be used on kitchen (F-Class) fires.

What is the best fire extinguisher for everything?

Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher - Dry powder extinguishers work by smothering the fire, interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle. They are good in that they are designed to work on all fire types except burning oils.

Where not to use foam fire extinguisher?

Where Can Foam Fire Extinguishers Not Be Used? This extinguisher type should not be used in any of the following scenarios: Class F fires; cooking fires that include oil and grease, for instance, chip pan fires should not be treated with a foam fire extinguisher.

How to decide the type of fire extinguisher to use?

Class A - Ordinary combustibles (e.g. solid materials such as wood, paper, plastic) Class B - Flammable liquids (e.g. oil, grease, petrol) Class C - Flammable gases (e.g. methane, propane) Class D - Flammable metals (e.g. titanium, magnesium)

Which type of fire extinguisher is not suited for domestic use?

Discharging a powder extinguisher will result in a large cloud of fine powder which, while being very effective in extinguishing fires, blocks vision and can cause breathing difficulties. Therefore, we would not recommend a powder extinguisher to be used inside your home.

Is ABC fire extinguisher ok for kitchen?

Even though the ABC fire extinguisher may be able to temporarily put out the cooking fire, the class K fire extinguisher with it's wet chemical agent will help make sure it does not reignite.

What is one disadvantage of CO2 extinguishers?

Pros and Cons of CO2 extinguishers:

Cons: risk of cold burns if the user holds the extinguisher by the horn; less environmentally friendly than other types of extinguisher; they replace the oxygen in the air with CO2 so risk of asphyxiation if used in confined spaces.

Can you use a powder fire extinguisher indoors?

For this reason, powder extinguishers should generally not be specified for use indoors, unless mitigated by a health and safety risk assessment. We hope this guide to what fire extinguisher should not be used in confined spaces has been helpful.

Which fire extinguisher is not used in hospitals?

Generally speaking, is a hospital was likely to experience a fire, it would be a similar experience as a standard office building fire. However, due to the amount of sensitive and lifesaving equipment present, and the patients in the building using an ABS chemical fire extinguisher may not be the best option.

What size fire extinguisher for kitchen?

These are not required, but are highly recommended. Kitchen – The kitchen is the likeliest place you will have a fire. Protect your home with a 711A extinguisher in the kitchen area.

What is the number one cause of fire related deaths?

Causes of Fires and Fire Deaths

Cooking fires often result from unattended cooking and human error, rather than mechanical failure of stoves or ovens. Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.

What is the first thing you should do if you spot a fire?

If You Discover a Fire ...
  1. Pull the fire alarm and call for help. ...
  2. Alert people in the area to begin evacuation. ...
  3. Close doors to confine the fire.
  4. Go to your designated assembly area, away and upwind from the building.

What is the best fire extinguisher for home use?

Simply put, ABC extinguishers are the standard for home use. You can find a few kinds of ABC-rated extinguishers. The most common and affordable use monoammonium phosphate as the extinguishing agent. Other ABC extinguishers use agents such as Halon and Halotron, but those can cost as much as $500 apiece.

What is the leading cause of kitchen fires?

Every year, fire departments respond to more than 170,000 home fires caused by cooking. The top reason for these fires is someone leaving the stove unattended while cooking.

Does Walmart sell fire extinguishers?

Fire Extinguishers (Pressurized) Fire Extinguishers in Fire Extinguishers and Brackets - Walmart.com.

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