Class C Fires

Class C Fire Extinguisher: What You Need to Know About Flammable Gas Fires

by Classes of Fire

Understanding Class C Fires and How to Protect Against Them

When it comes to fire safety, choosing the right extinguisher for the specific type of fire can make all the difference. One important—but sometimes overlooked—category is fires fuelled by flammable gases, known as Class C fires. These fires involve gases such as propane, methane, and butane, which can ignite quickly and pose serious risks.

In this article, we’ll explain what Class C fires are, why specialised extinguishers are necessary, and how to safely use them.

What Are Class C Fires?

Class C fires occur when flammable gases catch fire. These gases can spread flames rapidly, creating dangerous situations in various settings, including:

  • Industrial environments like chemical plants and gas storage facilities
  • Laboratories where gases are in use
  • Homes that rely on propane or natural gas appliances

Some common flammable gases involved in Class C fires include:

  • Propane (commonly used in grills and heaters)
  • Butane (found in lighters and portable stoves)
  • Methane (the main component of natural gas)
  • Hydrogen (used in manufacturing and fuel cells)
  • Acetylene (used in welding)

Recognising the presence of these gases and understanding their fire hazards is crucial for effective prevention and response.

Which Fire Extinguishers Are Suitable for Class C Fires?

Using the wrong extinguisher on a Class C fire can worsen the situation or even cause explosions. Water or foam-based extinguishers should be avoided entirely. Instead, the following types are recommended:

  • Dry Powder (ABC) Extinguishers: Versatile and widely available, these extinguishers use powders like monoammonium phosphate to tackle Class A (solids), B (liquids), C (gases), and electrical fires.
  • Monnex Dry Powder Extinguishers: Designed for high-risk industrial areas, Monnex extinguishers are highly effective on flammable liquids, gases, and electrical fires with a strong BCE rating.
  • Clean Agent Extinguishers: These extinguishers deploy gases such as Halon or FM-200 to suppress fires without leaving residues, making them ideal for sensitive environments like data centres while being effective on Class C fires.

How to Use a Class C Fire Extinguisher Safely

If you encounter a fire involving flammable gases, it’s important—if it can be done safely—to isolate the gas supply first. Without a fuel source, the fire becomes much easier to extinguish, following the principles of the fire triangle.

Once the gas is isolated, use the PASS method to operate the extinguisher:

  1. Pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher.
  2. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire (not the flames).
  3. Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
  4. Sweep the nozzle side to side until the fire is fully out.

If the fire is large, spreading quickly, or you feel unsafe, evacuate immediately and call emergency services. Never risk your safety.

Why It’s Important to Have a Class C Fire Extinguisher

Though less common than fires involving solids or liquids, Class C fires can escalate rapidly and cause significant damage. Having a suitable extinguisher nearby, along with the knowledge of how to use it, can prevent a small incident from turning into a disaster.

Final Tips for Class C Fire Preparedness

If your environment involves flammable gases, make sure you:

  • Know which gases are present.
  • Choose extinguishers specifically rated for Class C fires.
  • Regularly maintain and check your extinguishers.
  • Train staff or household members on how to respond effectively.

Fire safety is a shared responsibility—protect your people, property, and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Class C Fire Extinguishers

Q1: What are Class C fire extinguishers used for?
They are designed to extinguish fires caused by flammable gases like propane, methane, butane, and hydrogen, stopping the chemical reaction without increasing danger.

Q2: Can water or foam extinguishers be used on Class C fires?
No. Water and foam can spread flammable gases or cause dangerous reactions. Use dry powder or clean agent extinguishers instead.

Q3: How do ABC and Monnex extinguishers differ?
ABC dry powder extinguishers are general-purpose for solids, liquids, gases, and electrical fires. Monnex extinguishers are industrial-grade powders with superior effectiveness for flammable liquids, gases, and electrical hazards.

Q4: When do I need a Class C extinguisher?
If you store or work with flammable gases—such as in welding shops, labs, kitchens with gas appliances, or gas storage—you should have a Class C-rated extinguisher nearby.

Q5: How often should I service a Class C extinguisher?
Visually inspect monthly and have a professional service annually. Replace or recharge after use.

Q6: Are clean agent extinguishers good for Class C fires?
Yes, especially in sensitive locations like server rooms where residue from powder extinguishers is undesirable.

Class B Fires

Understanding Class B Fires:  Prevention and Extinguishing

by Classes of Fire

When it comes to fire safety, understanding the different classes of fires is crucial for effective prevention and response. Class B fires, often referred to as flammable liquid fires, are a common type of fire hazard. In this informative blog post, we’ll explore what a Class B fire is, its causes, and the fire extinguishers that can be used to combat them.

What Is a Class B Fire?

Class B fires are fires involving flammable liquids. These can include a wide range of liquids, such as gasoline or oil. These types of fires are characterised by their ability to spread rapidly, producing intense flames and potentially hazardous situations. They can occur in various settings, from industrial facilities to homes, making it essential to be prepared for such emergencies.

Causes of Class B Fires

Class B fires can be sparked by various factors, including:

1. Spills and Leaks: Accidental spills or leaks of flammable liquids are common causes of these types of fires. Even a small spill can ignite if exposed to a spark or open flame.

2. Electrical Faults: Faulty wiring or electrical equipment can produce sparks that ignite nearby flammable liquids.

3. Human Error: Careless handling of flammable substances, such as smoking near fuel storage areas, can lead to flammable liquid fires.

4. Equipment Malfunctions: Mechanical failures in machinery that handle or store flammable liquids can cause fires.

Extinguishing Class B Fires

When dealing with a Class B fire, choosing the right fire extinguisher is crucial for effective suppression. There are a few types of fire extinguishers suitable for flammable liquid fires:

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguishers: CO2 extinguishers displace oxygen, suffocating the fire. They are highly effective for Class B fires and leave no residue, making them ideal for use around sensitive equipment. These extinguishers can also be used against Electrical fires, making them very useful.

2. Foam Fire Extinguishers: Foam extinguishers create a barrier over the surface of the flammable liquid, cutting off its oxygen supply and cooling the fire simultaneously. They are suitable for Class A and Class B fires.

3. Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher: Dry Powder extinguishers release a fine chemical powder onto the fire. This powder interrupts the fire’s chemical reaction by smothering the flames and preventing oxygen from reaching the fuel source. Dry powder extinguishers are effective against Class A, B, C and Electrical fires.

3. Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers: Clean agents work by interrupting the chemical reaction without leaving any residue. They are ideal for flammable liquid fires and are environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

Understanding Class B fires and having the right fire extinguisher on hand is essential for effective fire safety. Whether at home or in the workplace, being prepared for these types of fires can save lives and property. 

Always ensure that your fire extinguishers are up to date and regularly inspected and that you and those around you are familiar with their proper use in case of a fire-related emergency. By being informed and prepared, you can help protect yourself and potentially your loved ones against the devastating consequences of flammable liquid fires.

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers

by Types of Fire Extinguisher

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers

What are they? Why are they different? What is so good about them?

Clean agent extinguishers act to extinguish a fire by smothering it without damaging the delicate electronic equipment it is commonly used on and also leaving no residue. The Clean Agent does not conduct electricity back to the user making them also effective on electrical fires. Clean Agent is effective on Class B and C fires typically petrol, oil, propane, butane etc.

A fire can only occur when three elements are present: heat, oxygen, and a fuel source. If one element is not present or is blocked, the fire will be extinguished. Clean agents eliminate either the heat or the oxygen elements to extinguish the fire. 

Clean agent extinguishers act to extinguish a fire by smothering it without damaging the delicate electronic equipment it is commonly used on and also leaving no residue. The Clean Agent does not conduct electricity back to the user making them also effective on electrical fires. Clean Agent is effective on Class B and C fires typically petrol, oil, propane, butane etc.

A fire can only occur when three elements are present: heat, oxygen, and a fuel source. If one element is not present or is blocked, the fire will be extinguished. Clean agents eliminate either the heat or the oxygen elements to extinguish the fire. 

Clean agent suppression systems are activated by smoke rather than heat. As a result, clean agent systems are able to suppress fire at its incipient stage by dispersing either an inert or Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gas. Clean agents also are designed to prevent re-ignition.

Clean agent suppression systems are specifically beneficial to buildings holding mission critical data such as telecommunication switches, server rooms, museums, vaults, or process control rooms. This is because when clean agent systems are used to extinguish fire, instead of sprinkler systems, there’s no concern over water damage. With a system like these water damage can be as bad as the damage from the fire, if not worse.

Typical applications include Boats, Computer Rooms, Clean rooms, switch rooms and telecoms, Data Storage Areas and art storage rooms. 

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