Advantages And The Disadvantage Of C02 Extinguishers
November 29, 2009 by Matthew Kerridge
Filed under Tech
Non combustible materials are used in dry chemical fire extinguishers which gives them an advantage over the c02 extinguishers. The garage, workshop and kitchen should have an extinguisher available for each of them as recommended by fire protection authorities. With the wide selection of extinguishers on the market, buying the correct one can be discouraging but is vital.
Fire extinguishers are broken up into four different types. To know how much fire an extinguisher can handle, number ratings are used. The higher the rating, the more it can handle. A list to help you select the right extinguisher for your needs is below.
For flammable substances such as paper, certain plastics, wood and cardboard a class A fire extinguisher is needed. The rating on these extinguishers tells you how much water is in the extinguisher and how big of a fire it can be used on.
Class B extinguishers are needed for flammable liquids like oil, grease, kerosene and gasoline. On class B extinguishers, the number represents the square footage of a fire that it can handle.
Wiring, appliances, outlets and circuit breakers are electrical fires that call for class C extinguishers. Using water to put these fires out is not recommended because of the risk of electrocution. Non conductive material is used in these extinguishers so there is no number rating.
Titanium, magnesium, sodium and potassium require class D fire extinguishers. This type is most commonly used in chemical labs and does not have a rating. They are also not suited for multiple purposes.
Multiple rating fire extinguishers are recommended due to the fact that some fires involve a combination of materials. Choose one that is rated for several uses such as ABC.
Fire extinguishers most commonly used are:
APW, also known as water extinguishers, are under pressure from water and used for class A fires. Do Not use water on electrical or grease fires. Doing so will make the fire spread. Use these extinguishers for putting out fires that contain common flammable items.
Dry chemical extinguishers are available in several varieties. They are used for class A, B and C fires. A foam or powder is used in these extinguishers and is pressurized by nitrogen.
BC extinguishers use a dry compound of either sodium or potassium bicarbonate. After using this extinguisher, to prevent damage to items, clean up has to be done immediately as it is corrosive.
For a multiple purpose extinguisher, select an ABC. A yellow powder with a sticky residue known as monoammonium phosphate is used. Damage to electrical appliances can occur with these extinguishers.
CO2, also known as carbon dioxide, extinguishers are meant for class B and C fires. A non flammable gas known as carbon dioxide is used. It is not uncommon to see dry ice come out of the nozzle because of the amount of pressure. These are not suggested for A fires. It is possible that enough oxygen may not be displaced to put the fire out, which can result in the fire reigniting.
The residue left behind by c02 extinguishers is not damaging which gives them an advantage over other extinguishers. They are good for putting out electrical fires.
Choosing the wrong type of extinguisher can result in life threatening situations.
These are only the common types of fire extinguishers. There are many others to choose from. Base your selection on the classification and the extinguisher’s compatibility with the items you wish to protect.
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in firealarms. If you would like further information about CO2 extinguishers or are looking for a trusted fire extinguisher company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk
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