What fire extinguisher is best suited for most shop fires?

• A. Water
• B. ABC
• C. Dry chemical
• D. Foam

Answer: (B)

In a workshop, fires can start from ordinary combustibles like wood and paper, flammable liquids such as solvents, or electrical equipment. You want a single extinguisher that can handle all of those common hazards, so you’re protected no matter which type of fire breaks out. An ABC extinguisher uses dry chemical powder that is effective on three classes of fires: A for ordinary combustibles, B for flammable liquids, and C for electrical equipment. That broad coverage means you can respond quickly and effectively to most shop fires without needing to grab a different extinguisher for different fire types. Water extinguishers are limited to ordinary combustibles and can be dangerous on electrical or liquid fires. Foam extinguishers work well on some liquid fires but aren’t reliable for electrical fires and have other limitations. Dry chemical might work on multiple classes, but the ABC option is specifically designed to cover all three major shop hazards, making it the best general choice for a variety of shop fire scenarios.