There are several different classes of fire extinguishers. Each fire extinguisher class is for different types of fires. One of the most highly flammable fires falls under Class K. While Class K fires are not the most common class of fires, they are the most dangerous. A Class K fire spreads quite rapidly. Class K fires originate from cooking liquids, animal or vegetable-based oils, canola oil, olive oil, butter, margarine, and others of that sort. These fires primarily take place in businesses such as restaurants, cafeterias, and so on. You may not need to worry about having a backyard fire or a fire in a theater. Class K fires are some of the most dangerous fires due to the speed at which they spread and the fierceness of the flames. This article will get a more in-depth description of class K fire extinguishers.
There are about six fire extinguishers that all have different uses. For kitchen grease fires, you use the Class K fire extinguisher.
Class K Fire Extinguishers Are Used to Fight Kitchen Grease Fires
As stated above, a Class K fire extinguisher works on fires that involve cooking media such as fats, greases, and oils. The alkaline mixtures from the extinguisher react with the cooking oils, grease, and fats to produce a foamy soap-like material that works to extinguish the fire. The soap-like substance will hold in the heat and the vapors from the fire and eventually smother and kill it. Class K fire extinguishers separate fuel and absorb heat to help put out the fires caused by the cooking media.
Class K vs. Class B Fire Extinguishers
It is important to note that both Class K and Class B fire extinguishers work on flammable liquids. However, as stated above, Class K fires are some of the hottest flames you can get. Simply using a Class B extinguisher will not smother and take down the fire of a Class K fire. Water and any other types of methods you may have heard from your grandmother or whomever else will not help put out a grease fire. Instead, it can make the flames spread. You will end up doing more harm than good.
Why It is Critical to Have Tested and Certified Class K Fire Extinguishers in Every Commercial Kitchen
If you work in a commercial kitchen or own a restaurant, you need to make sure that a Class K fire extinguisher is on hand. Or, you will be highly likely to be a victim of a destructive catastrophic Class K fire at some point if one is not on hand when a fire breaks out. For one, you, your employees, and your customers will be safer. But it is also a protocol for industrial and commercial business buildings to have said equipment on hand in the correct place and ready to use at a moment’s use. It is also crucial that the workers know exactly how to use a Class K fire extinguisher. Class K fires, which are typically grease fires, spread faster than you can imagine, and you need to know what to do in a blink of an eye.