what is fire classification?

Fire is an important means of life on earth. We use it to cook food, provide light and heat. In addition, if we don’t respect it, it can be incredibly destructive.

Throughout history, the world has experienced many fires, and we have made great efforts to reduce the losses caused by them. One of the methods we have taken to reduce fire damage is to classify the fire rating. Modern building materials have fire protection classifications. This is a numerical indicator of how the material reacts when exposed to fire.

Different classifications have different degrees of flammability and smoke. Understanding the fire resistance assessment of materials can provide you with the knowledge you need to make effective choices.

What are the 5 different fires?

The way fire burns differs depending on the fuel source, so they are classified according to the type of fuel. Each type is sufficiently diverse, and we use different products and technologies to counter them.

We also use other building materials in areas where it is hotter and harder to extinguish fires. There are usually five categories:

Class A-Class A fires involve solid materials such as wood, garbage and textiles, and ordinary combustibles. These fires are the most familiar to us and the easiest to extinguish.

Class B-Class B fires involve flammable liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, diesel, etc. The volatility of the fuel source makes fire extinguishing more difficult.

Category C-Category C fires involve electrical components and equipment used as fuel sources. This includes fires caused by incorrect wiring on walls, circuit breakers and incorrect wiring in appliances.

Class D-Class D fires involve metals. In rare cases, metals will burn. This is mainly a problem in the laboratory environment and certain production and other industrial processes.

Class K-Class K fires involve cooking oils and fats. Sometimes confused with category B, but they are not the same category. These fires usually start when an unattended pot catches because someone has left.