Class K Extinguishers

Class K fire extinguishers use a wet chemical agent, typically a potassium acetate and potassium citrate blend, meant for cooking oil, vegetable fat, and animal fat fires in commercial kitchens. NFPA 96 requires Class K portables anywhere solid-fuel, vegetable-oil, or animal-fat cooking operations exist. The portable works alongside a pre-engineered hood suppression system over the cookline.

The portable unit is listed to UL 711. The UL 300 hood suppression system has its own separate listing. The hood discharges automatically when a sensor trips. The portable gives a crew member a second tool to finish the job or handle a fire that escapes the hood's coverage area. Pre-engineered wet chemical systems are governed by NFPA 17A.

Never substitute an ABC or CO2 extinguisher on a grease fire. ABC powder reacts poorly with hot cooking oil. CO2 cools the surface but allows re-ignition once the oil warms back up.