Air Pressurized Water (APW) is a common substance in fire extinguishers used for Class A fires. It’s just water and pressurized air combined to create a more powerful stream of water. APW extinguishers should not be used on Class B, C, or D fires. Before using APW on electrical equipment, it must be unplugged and disconnected from power. APW reduces the thermal aspect of the fire by cooling it until it’s out.
Air Pressurized Water (APW) is a substance used in common fire extinguishers known as APW fire extinguishers. It is more common in residences and businesses where there are no computers or chemicals. Air pressurized water is nothing fancy; it’s just water and pressurized air combined to create a more powerful stream of water, just like in high powered squirt guns. While APW extinguishers are common, they can only be used on Class A fires. When used on other fires, these extinguishers will actually make the fire worse.
APW fire extinguishers are the most common type of fire extinguisher used. The pressurized water they hold inside isn’t anything special, though, and they’re really little more than big squirt guns. To produce pressurized water, the fire extinguisher is filled two thirds with water, while air fills the other third. Both water and air are normal; there are no special additives. The use of pressurized air ensures that water flows forward when needed for firefighting.
There are four classes of fire: A, B, C and D. A involves common combustible materials such as wood and paper; B stands for liquids such as gasoline; C indicates an electrical fire; and D indicates a chemical fire. Pressurized water is only useful for Class A fires, which are the most common fires in homes, businesses without chemicals and with large numbers of computers, and in residences. If an APW fire extinguisher is used on one of the other three classes, it can make the fire worse by splashing the fire or liquid or by conducting electricity into the extinguisher.
APW fire extinguishers are often used on or near electrical equipment when a computer catches fire or material near a computer burns. These extinguishers may be used if a class C fire extinguisher is not available. Before using air pressurized water, the equipment must be unplugged and a few minutes must pass before all power is removed from the equipment. If the fire extinguisher is operated before disconnecting it, electricity will conduct inside the fire extinguisher, causing it to explode or injuring the operator.
To fight a fire, the substance in an extinguisher must be able to reduce one or more aspects of the fire triangle, a diagram showing the three aspects of a fire. These aspects are air, heat and fuel. Air pressurized water kills fire by reducing the thermal aspect of a fire, cooling it until the fire is out.
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