Fires that involve energized electrical equipment are Class what?

Fires that involve energized electrical equipment are Class what?

• A. Class A
• B. Class B
• C. Class D
• D. Class C

Answer: (D)

Fires involving energized electrical equipment are classified by the electrical hazard present. Class C is used for fires where electricity is live, because electricity requires a non-conductive, safe approach that doesn’t create a path for current to travel. Water or other conductive methods can endanger responders, so extinguishing agents chosen for electrical fires are non-conductive and designed to interrupt the flame without spreading electricity. If the power is shut off, the fire can be reclassified based on the burning material (for example, ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or metals). The other classes cover different fuels: ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and combustible metals, not the electrical hazard. Therefore, the correct classification is Class C.

Fires involving energized electrical equipment are classified by the electrical hazard present. Class C is used for fires where electricity is live, because electricity requires a non-conductive, safe approach that doesn’t create a path for current to travel. Water or other conductive methods can endanger responders, so extinguishing agents chosen for electrical fires are non-conductive and designed to interrupt the flame without spreading electricity. If the power is shut off, the fire can be reclassified based on the burning material (for example, ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or metals). The other classes cover different fuels: ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and combustible metals, not the electrical hazard. Therefore, the correct classification is Class C.