What type of fire does a 10 B:C rated extinguisher specifically address?

A 10 B:C rated extinguisher is specifically designed to address Class B and Class C fires, which makes it suitable for flammable liquids and electrical fire hazards. Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, and paint. In contrast, Class C fires are initiated by electrical equipment or appliances, and extinguishing these fires requires agents that do not conduct electricity.

The rating "10 B:C" means the extinguisher is effective on fires involving 10 square feet of flammable liquid while also being safe to use on electrical fires. Therefore, while it's important that it can tackle both class B and class C fires, the focus of this rating indicates its primary strength lies in addressing Class B fires effectively.

Other classes, such as Class A (ordinary combustibles like wood and paper) and Class D (combustible metals), fall outside the scope of what a B:C rated extinguisher is intended to handle, which is why they are not applicable in this context.