What does a Class K extinguisher suppress?

A Class K extinguisher is specifically designed to suppress fires that involve cooking oils and fats, which are commonly found in commercial kitchens and food preparation areas. These types of fires can occur when cooking oils are heated to their flash points and ignite, often resulting in a rapid and intense fire.

Class K extinguishers utilize a specialized extinguishing agent that is effective in saponifying the burning oils, effectively turning them into a non-flammable soap-like substance. This helps to smother the flames and prevent re-ignition. The effectiveness of Class K extinguishers in extinguishing fires involving cooking oils and fats is crucial, particularly in settings where such materials are prevalent and pose a significant fire risk.

The other types of extinguishers mentioned address different classes of fires: fires involving electrical equipment require extinguishers that do not conduct electricity; fires involving general combustibles like paper are handled by Class A extinguishers; and flammable liquid fires are addressed with Class B extinguishers. Each type of extinguisher is specially formulated to tackle specific fire hazards effectively, which highlights the importance of using the right class of extinguisher for the given fire scenario.