UKH

I need a couple of small fire extinguishers for home. Any recommendations? Got the usual electrical stuff (stove, toaster, microwave etc), gas boiler.

In reply to Lankyman:

If you don't want to put too much thought into it, then a water mist extinguisher covers most of your bases. Powder is cheaper and again covers most fires but would make a mess if ever needed and have their downsides in terms of efficacy depending on the type of fire. The fire service have pretty good resources online for extinguisher suitability and the size you need for a given area. Think about what the likely hazards are and which extinguisher would be most suitable for the area.

In reply to Lankyman:

Co2 is another useful one - and doesn't leave a mess.

 

In reply to Sharp:

Thank you. I've emailed Lancs Fire & Rescue to see what they recommend.

In reply to Billhook:

Thanks. I wonder if you can get a helium one? You could talk like Donald Duck while putting out the chip pan fire!

In reply to Lankyman:

I once deplored a likkle 1kg powder one in our kitchen. Put the fire in the oven out but the whole room was White and it took hours to clean up. 

In reply to Sharp:

Powder are no longer recommended for use in enclosed spaces (indoors), advice now is to use foam. Generally foam is the one to choose for kitchens as they can be used on pretty much anything.

I've never used a fire extinguisher in earnest but have used a fire blanket - very simple and easy to use, mess free and effective.

In reply to Jenny C:

Foam or water mist seem to be the front runners. I've just been emailed back by the local fire service advice centre and they don't make recommendations. Is this an example of @rse covering?

In reply to Lankyman:

I'm not familiar with water mist, but water and electrics or got oil are not a good combination, so something I'd think you want to avoid in a kitchen.

My understanding from commercial buildings is foam in kitchens, CO2 around computers and electrics, water by exits to get you out of the building.

In reply to Lankyman:

Depends on what your question was?

I'd have thought they would be able to tell you what type of extinguisher they would recommend you place in a specific environment but I wouldn't expect them to tell you to buy brand x over brand y.

The only fire extinguishing equipment I've ever used was a fire blanket, keeping one in the kitchen would probably be a good idea.

In reply to gethin_allen:

I too thought this before asking

No, neither did I

I have one, but as I don't have a chip pan it (hopefully!) won't get used?

In reply to Lankyman:

I just took my annual Fire Warden test last week and this site should help you lots as it describes both the types of fires you might need to tackle and the corresponding extinguishers recommended for each:

https://www.uksafetystore.com/resource-hub/fire-safety/a-guide-to-the-diffe...

In reply to Lankyman:

See if there is a local small company that services extinguishers - ours were very helpful on suggestions and worked out cheaper than buying them from Screwfix/Toolstation and will service them down the road if they need refills/ recharge. Think we've got one powder, one foam and a fire blanket, which is a bit of peace of mind when we're a way from the fire station and that is a volunteer based one. 

In reply to Fraser:

Thanks.

In reply to Deri Jones:

Good advice. Hopefully more forthcoming than Lancashire Fire & Rescue as well.

In reply to Jenny C:

Water mist is surprisingly ok for both cooking oil fires and electric fires, the mist doesn't go below the surface of the oil and the water used is deionised so doesn't conduct electricity. 

For a domestic kitchen you'd be looking at CO2 (for electric fires) plus a fire blanket (for cooking oil) or a water mist which will do pretty much everything, but is expensive. Down side of a CO2 (or foam) extinguisher in a kitchen is if someone else uses it on a chip pan fire, however we have CO2 extinguishers installed by a local fire extinguisher company in the kitchens at work. 

In reply to Sharp:

We also used water extinguishers, again on a broad spray.  to combat oil fires.  But the fires had to be in a compartment with the burning oil floating on water.  The spray was used to push the burning oil against the bulkhead which carefully done pushed the burning oil under the water and put it out.  Hey presto!

We had plenty of practice doing this in simulated situations which were pretty realistic. I'm surprised there were no deaths!!  Fire, flames, smoke, flash grenades, electrical wires, darkness, water coming in through holes in the bulkheads and NO breathing apparatus.

In reply to Lankyman:

Water mist, near the exit(s) of the property. If you use boiling oil (chip pan) then you could consider the specialist extinguisher but they're really for commercial kitchens.

In reply to Lankyman:

was recommended this a while ago,  not bought one yet as were out of stock at the time. https://firesafetystick.com/

In reply to Lankyman:

I guess the question is what are you planning on burning? Do you have a history with kitchen fires?

Or is your property especially a concern?

In a kitchen (pan etc) if a wet t towel or fire blanket won't put it out, you're already in too deep tbh. Having used these many times, it's a skill, as are fire extinguishers. I'd suggest some practice if possible. 

Whatever you have needs to be easy to get to. Packed in a busy cupboard is no use. Might as well not have one. 

Powder although good is very messy and reduces visibility when used. And chokes you. But it does put fire out. 

Co2 is next to useless on pan fires as they can and do quickly reignite. 

Foam is ok. But on hot fat fires again is dubious to effectiveness as the heat burns off/evaporates the foam. Wet chemical is for hot fat fires. Normally only fitted in commercial and high risk situations. 

Water is useful for getting out the building but not for fat style fires as it makes the flames far bigger and scarier. 

In short. A fire blanket. And examine why you feel you need a fire extinguisher and risk reduce. Then consider an extinguisher. 

Good luck to your toast! Kev. 

In reply to Lankyman:

I think a small powder one is a decent choice for a house without any unusual hazards. They're about the most versatile and seem to give the most extinguishing capability for the size. I've used one once on a toaster, it did make quite a mess but it's not that bad, certainly better than not putting the fire out.

In reply to Lankyman:

A cautionary tale. 

Our works and office extinguishers needed replacing, they have a shelf life and ours had reached it but the guage still showed full pressure so I decided to take one home to keep in my forge just in case. 

Unfortunately I didn't secure it very well in the back of the van, it fell over on to the trigger, the Impact broke the plastic tab and thd handle was depressed. 

It was a foam one and the back of my van looked like Santa's grotto.