Water Fire Extinguisher
Information And Advice

Buy Water Fire Extinguishers (UK Only)

If you are interested in purchasing Water fire extinguishers or any other type of fire fighting equipment, please visit the 'Buy Fire Extinguishers' page. There you will find a range of equipment provided by recommended supplier, Screwfix, who offer a wide range of equipment at very competitive prices, with next day delivery.

They have over thirty years experience and are one of the largest and most reliable suppliers in the UK. You can find details of their 9 litre Water Extinguisher here, or view their full range of extinguishers on their workplace safety page.

See Also The Following Pages:

Main Fire Extinguishers Page

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers

Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers

Halon Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

How To Use A Fire Extinguisher

The History Of The Fire Extinguisher

Water Fire Extinguisher - Types of Extinguisher and Class of Fire

Water fire extinguishers are used on Class A fires, which usually involve freely burning solid materials such as paper, wood, straw, fabrics and coal. The extinguisher works by spraying a jet of water onto the fire, which penetrates the fire and extinguishes the flames by cooling the burning materials and preventing them re-igniting.

Ordinary water fire extinguishers should not be used on fires with electrical equipment because water is conductive so could lead to an electric shock if used on anything electrical. There are several main types of water fire extinguisher, which are the standard ones, spray mist extinguishers and water additive extinguishers. Standard models use ordinary tap water which is sprayed out in a jet under pressure from compressed air.

The spray mist type fire extinguisher produces a fine mist of de-ionised water, which prevents conduction of electricity and risk of electrocution if it is accidentally sprayed on electrical equipment. It should not be used as a solution for dealing with electrical fires, but it does mean it is more versatile and is definitely safer than a standard water fire extinguisher if electrical equipment is encountered near the fire. The fine spray also improves the soaking and cooling ability of the extinguisher, though you need to fight the fire from a closer range than with the standard water extinguisher.

The water additive type has an environmentally friendly additive in the water which significantly increases the effectiveness of the extinguisher by reducing the surface tension of the water. It means that, compared to a standard water fire extinguisher, a water additive appliance can be smaller and lighter, and still be more effective than the ordinary extinguisher. It often also comes with a spray type nozzle.

Their suitability for use on most common materials makes the water fire extinguisher the basic fire fighting tool of choice, particularly in offices, warehouses, schools, and many other workplaces. See the main fire extinguisher page for details of how many fire extinguishers to use and where to locate them.

Water Fire Extinguisher - How They Work

Fire needs three things to exist - a source of ignition, oxygen and fuel. All fire extinguishers work by removing at least one of these elements, without which a fire cannot continue to burn. They apply an agent to the fire that either cools down the fuel so that it can no longer burn, or removes or displaces the oxygen supply so that the fuel cannot ignite.

The easiest way to remove heat is to cover a fire with water, which is the basis of the water fire extinguisher. The water cools the fuel to below its point of ignition, thus interrupting the combustion cycle.

Water fire extinguishers can be of two main types in terms of the main mechanism, stored pressure or cartridge operated. The commonest type of water fire extinguisher is the stored pressure type, in which the extinguisher cylinder itself is pressurised with compressed air. In the cartridge operated extinguishers, there is a small cartridge of compressed gas inside the cylinder. Activating the extinguisher releases the gas into the main container, which pushes the water out of the hose.

Water Fire Extinguisher - Factors To Consider When Purchasing

As safety is of paramount importance in your workplace, you really should not take any chances with the quality of your fire extinguishers. On that one occasion that you need to use it, lives could depend on its effectiveness, so there are a few things you can look for to help ensure that you are buying something that has been made and tested to certain approved standards.

BS EN 3 is the European Standard for portable Fire Extinguishers. This standard means that the manufacturer has had to pass certain test criteria to ensure the extinguisher meets a standard level of performance.

It is best to go for products with the British Standards Kitemark. This confirms that the product confirms to the British Standard and should be safe and reliable. There is no legal obligation to display this mark, but it does show that the product has passed independent tests by the BSI and reached an approved standard.

The letters 'CE' on a product indicate that it has met all relevant European directives.

Bear in mind that it is not inconceivable that some cheap imported fire extinguishers may have some of these marks on even though they have not actually been approved or met any standards.

BUY WATER EXTINGUISHER NOW

Fire Rating 21A

For use on paper, wood, textiles and similar materials. This is a rechargeable extinguisher which is supplied fully charged.

BSI Kitemark KM 28000 to BS EN 3: 1996

BUY NOW through Screwfix

Water Fire Extinguisher - Other Things To Consider:

• A five year guarantee is a reasonable expectation
• Is a wall bracket supplied with it, or a plastic base for standing on?
• Water fire extinguishers are usually available in standard sizes including 3 litre, 6 litre and 9 litre.

Water Fire Extinguisher - Use and Training

Please be aware that no-one should attempt to use a fire extinguisher without the appropriate training. Operating instructions are printed on the extinguisher itself, but an identification sign should be mounted above each water fire extinguisher to ensure easy identification in the event of a fire.

The temptation when fighting a fire is to aim the water fire extinguisher at the flames, but the proper way is to aim it straight at the actual fuel that is burning.

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