OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course

What type of fire involves hazardous combustible metals such as magnesium and titanium?

1. Class A

2. Class B

3. Class C

4. Class D

The correct answer is: Class D

The type of fire that involves hazardous combustible metals, such as magnesium and titanium, is classified as Class D. This classification specifically pertains to fires that involve combustible metals, which can react violently with water and produce flammable hydrogen, making them unique compared to other classes of fire. Class D fires require specialized extinguishing agents such as dry powder agents to effectively suppress them. Water or other standard fire extinguishing methods are not suitable as they can exacerbate the situation. Understanding the characteristics of Class D fires is crucial for proper fire safety training and emergency response, particularly in industries that work with these types of metals. Other classes of fires are designated for different types of materials: Class A involves ordinary combustibles like wood and paper; Class B is for flammable liquids; and Class C pertains to energized electrical equipment. Each class has specific extinguishing methods tailored to the materials involved.