Mounting

• Mounting is simple, requiring the hardware supplied by the manufacturer, screws, a tape measure and a drill driver. Use common sense when deciding where to mount the fire extinguisher. At work, choose a place easily accessible to most workers. At home, the most likely place is the kitchen, but away from the stove.
  
  

Class "A"

• The ultimate class "A" extinguisher.fire fighters image by darephoto from Fotolia.com
  
  Class "A" extinguishers use water to fight wood, paper and cloth fires--common combustibles. These extinguishers have an "A" on the front of the unit and sometimes in a green triangle and are not recommended in the home.
  
  

Class "B"

• These extinguishers are for flammable liquids like gasoline and oil. They may use a dry powder or foam as the extinguishing agent. The class "B" extinguisher is marked by a "B," sometimes in a red square. These are good for your garage.
  
  

Class "C" and "D"

• Class "C" extinguishers are for electrical fires and are marked with a "C" that may be in a blue circle. Class"D" extinguishers are for flammable metals. These are marked by a "D," sometimes in a yellow star. Both of these types are mostly for industrial use.
  
  

Class "K"

• Class "K" is for cooking oils and fats.Flambe image by ENVY from Fotolia.com
  
  This is a new classification for home kitchen use that was originally in commercial settings. They use a halon solution that evaporates quickly and causes little residual damage. They can also for class "A" and "B" fires.
  
  

Expert Insight

• It only takes 10 minutes to reach this stage.fire image by Maxim Fedorov from Fotolia.com
  
  Talk to your local fire department's fire prevention office. They can help you with identification, placement, mounting help and with hands-on fire extinguisher classes. If you are going to buy one, learn to use it properly.