Effect on: |
Risk: |
Water |
Water plus Additive |
Foam |
Wet Chemical |
People |
Toxicological |
None unless contaminated by toxic substances |
None unless contaminated by toxic substances |
None unless contaminated by toxic substances |
None unless contaminated by toxic substances |
Respiratory |
None unless bacterially by toxic substances |
None unless bacterially by toxic substances |
None unless bacterially by toxic substances |
None unless bacterially by toxic substances |
Dermatological |
No risk to user |
Wetting or foaming additive may be an irritant |
Wetting or foaming additive may be an irritant |
Wetting or foaming additive may be an irritant |
Electrical |
User at high risk of electrocution if used on live electrics |
User at high risk of electrocution if used on live electrics |
User at high risk of electrocution if used on live electrics |
User at high risk of electrocution if used on live electrics |
Noise |
Minimal Noise |
Minimal Noise |
Minimal Noise |
Minimal Noise |
Visual |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
Cooling |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
Some risk to user if 'slop-over' of hot fat occurs |
Property |
Wetting |
Variable risk to materials that are destroyed, deteriorate
or degrade upon wetting |
Variable risk to materials that are destroyed, deteriorate
or degrade upon wetting |
Variable risk to materials that are destroyed, deteriorate
or degrade upon wetting |
Variable risk to materials that are destroyed, deteriorate
or degrade upon wetting |
Corrosive |
Risk to metals (patricularly iron/steel) including internal
workings of machinery/electrical |
Risk to metals (patricularly iron/steel) including internal
workings of machinery/electrical - also, risk of corrosion
to other materials. Careful clean-up afterwards of
equipment/ materials wetted in the courseof fire-fighting
may be required |
Risk to metals (patricularly iron/steel) including internal
workings of machinery/electrical - also, risk of corrosion
to other materials. Careful clean-up afterwards of
equipment/ materials wetted in the courseof fire-fighting
may be required |
Risk to metals (patricularly iron/steel) including internal
workings of machinery/electrical - also, risk of corrosion
to other materials. Careful clean-up afterwards of
equipment/ materials wetted in the courseof fire-fighting
may be required |
Cooling |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
Electrical |
Risk to electrical equipment through short-circuiting |
Risk to electrical equipment through short-circuiting |
Risk to electrical equipment through short-circuiting |
Risk to electrical equipment through short-circuiting |
Effect on: |
Risk: |
Carbon Dioxide |
Gaseous (Halon replacement types) |
Powder (ABC and BC types) |
Powder (D Class) |
People |
Toxicological |
No risk to user |
Dependant upon gas type and concentration - may be toxic to
user |
Commonly used powders are non toxic |
Some D class powders react with metal fires to produce toxic
fumes |
Respiratory |
No risk under normal usage - higher risk in confined spaces |
Dependant upon gas type and concentration - may be
respiratory risk to user |
Risk to user of irritation to respiratory tract and lungs
(patricularly if susceptible - e.g. asthmatic) |
Risk to user upon operation unless appropriate respiratory
apparatus used |
Dermatological |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
Powder (particluarly if wetted) may be an irritant |
Powder (particluarly if wetted) may be an irritant |
Electrical |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
Noise |
Very noisy - may startle user upon operation |
Very noisy - may startle user upon operation |
Very noisy - may startle user upon operation |
Minimal Noise |
Visual |
Visual impairment during operation which ceases after
discharge |
Visual impairment during operation which ceases after
discharge |
Considerable visual impairment during operation which
continues after discharge |
No risk to user |
Cooling |
May cause frost-burns to user if used incorrectly |
May cause frost-burns to user if used incorrectly |
No risk to user |
No risk to user |
Property |
Wetting |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
Corrosive |
None - clean agent leaving no residue and requiring
no clean-up |
Clean agent leaving no residue and requiring no clean-up.
some gases decompose upon use on a fire and produce
corrosive decomposition products |
Risk to materials when wetted of potentially forming a
'baked' on acidic layer that can be corrosive.
Discharged powder may remain in the air for some time
necessitating more than one clean-up |
Risk to materials when wetted of potentially forming a
'baked' on acidic layer that can be corrosive.
Discharged powder may remain in the air for some time
necessitating more than one clean-up. Some D class
powders are salts and therefore corrosive |
Cooling |
May cause thermal damage to electrical components |
May cause thermal damage to electrical components |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
Electrical |
No risk to property |
No risk to property |
Risk to electrical equipment through 'baking' onto
components |
Risk to electrical equipment through 'baking' onto
components. Some D class powders are salts and
therefore corrosive |