A dry chemical fire extinguisher rated as 10-B should be capable of extinguishing how many times as much fire as a unit rated as 1-B?

A dry chemical fire extinguisher rated as 10-B indicates that it can extinguish a fire that has a maximum potential size of 10 square feet of flammable liquid. The rating system, which uses the number preceding the letter 'B', is specific to Class B fires involving flammable liquids and gases.

When comparing it to a unit rated as 1-B, this means that the 10-B extinguisher is capable of handling 10 times more fire than the 1-B unit. Hence, the rating of "10-B" signifies that it can extinguish fires in an area ten times larger than that of a 1-B extinguisher. Understanding these ratings is crucial for proper fire suppression strategy, as it helps determine which extinguisher to use based on the size and type of fire encountered. This knowledge is essential for firefighters to effectively manage different fire scenarios.