Guide

Fire Extinguisher Types: Which Extinguisher for Which Environment?

Comparison of ABC dry chemical, CO₂, foam, water-based, and clean agent extinguishers. Choosing the right extinguisher saves lives.

Yangın Takip Ekibi

February 20, 20266 min read

Understanding Fire Classes

To choose the right extinguisher, you first need to understand fire classes:

Class A: Solid material fires (wood, paper, textiles)
Class B: Liquid fires (gasoline, oil, paint)
Class C: Gas fires (LPG, natural gas, propane)
Class D: Metal fires (magnesium, aluminum powder)
Class E/F: Electrical and cooking oil fires

Detailed Extinguisher Type Comparison

1. Dry Chemical Powder (ABC)

The most common type. Suitable for general-purpose use.

Suitable for: Class A, B, C fires
Advantages: Wide application, economical, 5-year refill cycle
Disadvantages: Leaves powder residue, can damage electronics
Ideal environment: Offices, warehouses, general areas

2. CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)

Clean suppression — leaves no residue.

Suitable for: Class B and electrical fires
Advantages: No residue, electronics-safe, fast-acting
Disadvantages: Ineffective outdoors, insufficient for Class A, cold burn risk
Ideal environment: Server rooms, laboratories, electrical panels

3. Foam (AFFF)

Specialist for liquid fires.

Suitable for: Class A and B fires
Advantages: Surface coverage effect, prevents re-ignition
Disadvantages: Cannot be used on electrical fires, 3-year refill cycle
Ideal environment: Fuel storage, garages, kitchens

4. Water-Based

Eco-friendly alternative.

Suitable for: Class A fires
Advantages: Environmentally friendly, high cooling effect
Disadvantages: Dangerous for electrical and oil fires, freezing risk
Ideal environment: Wooden structures, paper storage

5. Clean Agent (FM-200, Novec)

Premium protection — for sensitive equipment.

Suitable for: Class A, B, C and electrical fires
Advantages: Zero residue, ozone-friendly, rapid suppression
Disadvantages: High cost, requires enclosed space
Ideal environment: Data centers, museums, archives

Selection Guide

Environment	Recommended Type	Capacity
Office	ABC Dry Chemical	6 kg
Server room	CO₂ or Clean Agent	5 kg
Kitchen	Foam or Class F	6 L
Warehouse	ABC Dry Chemical	12 kg
Parking garage	Foam	9 L
Electrical room	CO₂	5 kg

Proper Placement & Quantity

Minimum 1 extinguisher per 500 m²
Maximum distance to reach an extinguisher: 25 meters
Mounting height: 90-120 cm from floor
Must be placed in visible, marked locations

Inventory Management

To digitally track different types of extinguishers, manage refill schedules, and handle maintenance differences, use the Yangın Takip platform. Each extinguisher's type, capacity, and maintenance history is tracked from a single screen.