Under what conditions would the use of a "Class C" hand-held fire extinguisher be preferable to the use of a "Class A" hand-held fire extinguisher?
Correct Answer: B
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Class C fire extinguishers are used for fires involving electrical equipment.
Class C fires are electrical fires which that may occur in electrical equipment or wiring. Class C fire extinguishers use non-conductive agents such as gas, CO2 or dry powders.
Class A fire extinguishers use water or foam. Water or foam used on an electrical fire would conduct the electricity and make the fire worse. Therefore, for an electrical fire, a Class C fire extinguisher is preferable to a Class A fire extinguisher.
Incorrect Answers:
A: A fire being in its incipient stage (just starting) is not a reason to use a Class C fire extinguisher.
Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
C: For a fire in an enclosed area, a Class A fire extinguisher that uses water or foam is preferred (unless the elements of the fire require a different fire extinguisher). This is because other fire extinguishers can use gases that are harmful to life. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
D: All products that are burning in a fire are 'flammable'. The specific type of product needs to be determined to determine which fire extinguisher to use. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
References:
Harris, Shon, All In One CISSP Exam Guide, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2013, p. 472