Understanding the different types of fire is essential for effective prevention, response and safety planning. Fires are classified based on the fuel or material that is burning, and each type behaves differently and may require specific fire safety techniques.
Class A: Combustible materials
Class A fires involve everyday combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth and textiles. Class A fires are one of the most common in the UK. They can be tackled with water or extinguishers.
Class B: Flammable liquids
Class B fires are caused by flammable liquids such as petrol, solvents and oils. These fires spread quickly and should never be tackled with water alone, as it can spread the flames.
Class C: Flammable gases
Fires involving flammable gases like propane or butane fall under Class C. Gas fires can be explosive and require careful handling.
Class D: Combustible metals
Class D fires involve burning metals such as magnesium or lithium. These fires burn at high temperatures and require dedicated dry powder agents that do not react with the metal fuel.
Electrical fires
Electrical fires originate from live electrical equipment, wiring faults or overloaded circuits. Fire safety planning often reflects electrical risks identified in a fire risk assessment Cheltenham such as those undertaken by services like https://www.apmfireandsecurity.com/fire-risk-assessment/cheltenham/.
Class F: Cooking oils and fats
Class F fires occur when hot cooking oils or fats ignite, particularly in kitchens.
Being aware of these fire classes and how they behave helps improve safety and ensures appropriate emergency responses.