For effective fire fighting on board a ship, thorough knowledge of the classification of fires is required.
Fires are classified into six types depending on the material, which acts as fuel to start a fire as per the international Organisation for Standardization.
As per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This is followed in the United States of America. They are:
Class A: Result from ordinary combustible materials, including wood, cloth, paper, and many plastics.Â
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 1 Class A Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-A-Fire.png?resize=502%2C303&ssl=1)
Class B: Burn inflammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, oils, alcohols, and flammable gases.Â
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 2 Class B Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-B-Fire.png?resize=501%2C273&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 2 Class B Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-B-Fire.png?resize=501%2C273&ssl=1)
Class C: Involve energized electrical equipment.Â
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 3 Class C fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-C-fire.png?resize=443%2C258&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 3 Class C fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-C-fire.png?resize=443%2C258&ssl=1)
Class D: Fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.Â
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 4 Class D Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-D-Fire.png?resize=418%2C233&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 4 Class D Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-D-Fire.png?resize=418%2C233&ssl=1)
Class K: Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media, such as vegetable or animal oils and fats.
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 5 Class K Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-K-Fire.png?resize=441%2C248&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 5 Class K Fire](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Class-K-Fire.png?resize=441%2C248&ssl=1)
In India ISO standards are followed. They are:
Class A fires – Combustible materials: caused by flammable solids, such as wood, paper, and fabric
Class B fires – Flammable liquids: such as petrol, turpentine or paint
Class C fires – Flammable gases: like hydrogen, butane or methane
Class D fires – Combustible metals: chemicals such as magnesium, aluminium or potassiumElectrical fires – Electrical equipment: once the electrical item is removed, the fire changes class
Class F fires – Cooking oils: typically a chip-pan fire.
There are six different classes of fire that can be prevented by using a different fire extinguisher.
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 6 Fire Extinguisher 1](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Fire-Extinguisher-1.png?resize=640%2C318&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 6 Fire Extinguisher 1](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Fire-Extinguisher-1.png?resize=640%2C318&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 7 Extinguisher class and colour](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Extinguisher-class-and-colour.png?resize=390%2C348&ssl=1)
![Different Classes of fire and their Control | Class A fires, Class B fires, Class C fires, Class D fires, Class F fires 7 Extinguisher class and colour](https://i0.wp.com/brightmariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Extinguisher-class-and-colour.png?resize=390%2C348&ssl=1)
please check class B and Class C photo use for demonstration are wrong, please update which will create confusion for new people.