Question 12Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) non-conducting. When dealing with electrical fires, the most important characteristic of the fire extinguishing agent is that it must be non-conducting. This is because electrical equipment and wiring are energized, and a conducting agent could potentially transmit the electrical current, posing a serious shock hazard to the operator. Non-conducting agents, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or dry chemical extinguishers, are specifically designed to be safe for use on energized electrical equipment without the risk of conducting the electricity. The other options are not as critical for electrical fires. Ease of removal (A) and being wet (B) are more important considerations for other types of fires, while flame resistance (C) is not the primary concern when dealing with an electrical fire.