Fires that are fueled from substances such as cooking oils are classified as Class K fires. These conflagrations can only be quenched through the use of a Class K fire extinguisher. It is important for businesses that have commercial kitchens that are susceptible to these kinds of fires to have the right extinguishers on hand for easy access and use. You may ask, “What is a Class K fire extinguisher?” The answer is that it is an extinguisher with the ability to use dry or wet chemical agents in order to suppress dangerous fires resulting from the ignition of oils, grease, and animal or vegetable fats. These extinguishers can disperse wet and dry agents to a distance of 30 feet. The wet agent may consist of a wet mist and the dry agent may consist of potassium bicarbonate.
Similarity of Class K and Class B Fires
Class K fires are somewhat similar to Class B fires because both of these conflagrations involve flammable liquids as the fuel source. Both types of fires can spread quickly.
Kitchen Fires
Commercial restaurant kitchens can benefit by having Class K fire extinguishers in place for emergency use. These extinguishers are useful when the kitchen has a built-in hood suppression system installed. When answering the question “What is a Class K fire extinguisher?”, a trusted fire equipment and services business will have an abundance of information on different types and sizes, depending on the needs of your business.
It’s important to understand whether you need a Class K or Class B fire extinguisher to manage any potential kitchen fires you may face. For instance, fires that spread in conjunction with high cooking temperatures involving fats and oils may not be handled effectively with a Class B unit – they may require a Class K fire extinguisher.
If you’re going to apply the agent to a fire from a Class K fire extinguisher, is best to do so after the kitchen cooking equipment has been turned off. There’s an issue involving conductivity to electricity that must be avoided with the use of these extinguishers.