Air-Pressurized Water Extinguisher

A Class A fire requires the heat-absorbing effects of water or the coating effects of certain dry chemicals.

An air-pressurized water (APW) portable fire extinguisher is used for putting out Class A fires fueled by ordinary combustibles, such as:

• Wood
• Paper
• Some plastics
• Textiles

The APW extinguisher is one of the most popular forms of a Class A portable fire extinguisher because water is one of the most commonly used extinguishing agents for type A fires. These extinguishers are recognizable by their large silver container. They are filled about two-thirds of the way with ordinary water, then pressurized with air. In some cases, detergents are added to the water to produce a foam. They stand about two to three feet tall and weigh approximately 25 pounds when full. Extinguishers that are suitable for Class A fires are identified by a triangle containing the letter "A."

It is important to remember the instances in which it is not suitable to use a Class A APW portable fire extinguishers, such as:

• When the fire is fueled by flammable liquid. Water is extremely ineffective at extinguishing this type of fire and may make matters worse by spreading the fire.
• When the fire is an electrical fire. Water is a good conductor and may lead to electrocution if used to extinguish an electrical fire. Electrical equipment must be unplugged or de-energized before using a water extinguisher on an electrical fire.

To learn more about Fire Extinguishers visit our Portable Fire Extinguishers Online Training web page.