In firefighting, fires are identified according to one or more fire classes. Each class designates the fuel involved in the fire, and thus the most appropriate extinguishing agent. The classifications allow selection of extinguishing agents along lines of effectiveness at putting the type of fire out, as well as avoiding unwanted side-effects. For example, non-conductive extinguishing agents are rated for electrical fires, so to avoid electrocuting the firefighter.
Multiple classification systems exist, with different designations for the various classes of fire. The United States uses the NFPA system. Europe use the European Standard "Classification of fires" (EN 2:1992, incorporating amendment A1:2004). Australasia uses yet another.
Read more about Fire Classes: Ordinary Combustibles, Flammable Liquid and Gas, Electrical, Metal, Cooking Oils and Fats (kitchen Fires)
Famous quotes containing the words fire and/or classes:
“When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battle- field, they have all one rank in my eyes.”
—Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)
“What’s the greatest enemy of Christianity to-day? Frozen meat. In the past only members of the upper classes were thoroughly sceptical, despairing, negative. Why? Among other reasons, because they were the only people who could afford to eat too much meat. Now there’s cheap Canterbury lamb and Argentine chilled beef. Even the poor can afford to poison themselves into complete scepticism and despair.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)