co2 Fire Extinguishers
Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher – Firefighting Has Never Been Cool With The Coldest Fire Extinguisher
If being cold means being cool and hip, there is no doubt the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher will be coolest and hippest among extinguishers. Owing to its carbon dioxide content, this type of extinguisher is known to be dangerously cold. Necessary precaution when using carbon dioxide extinguishers. Its metal parts are usually dangerously cold, follow the instruction carefully or have someone show you how to use it.
As the name implies the extinguisher contains carbon dioxide which is a colorless and odorless gas. It is a non-flammable gas at room temperature and is the fourth most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is as much important to plants as oxygen is to humans. Plants utilize carbon dioxide to produce its own food through photosynthesis which then give off oxygen for animals to consume.
There are other uses for carbon dioxide aside from being a major component in the food-making process of plants. It also has its commercial uses, carbon dioxide is used to carbonate beer and soft drinks. Decaffeinated coffee is produced through the process called supercritical fluid extraction which uses carbon dioxide. Likewise, dry ice which is used in theatrical productions to make artificial stage fogs is also made of carbon dioxide.
The carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is just one the uses of this important gas. This type of extinguisher is an effective deterrent to class B and class C fires. If you are wondering why carbon dioxide extinguishers do not have pressure gauges, this is because carbon dioxide is a condensable gas. You cannot tell how much agent remains in the cylinder by measuring pressure. You can tell the the amount of carbon dioxide in a cylinder by reading the tare weight stamped on it. In order to tell how much gas remains in the cylinder, you only have to subtract the tare weight form the current weight.
Anybody using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher should be extra careful. Carbon dioxide may cause the following:
Asphyxiation – Avoid releasing gas in an unventilated area, carbon dioxide can lower the oxygen level.
Frostbite – Avoid touching any metal parts where the gas flows through.
Pressure Explosion – Make sure that carbon dioxide extinguishers are stored at room temperature. Storing the cylinders in places where the temperature is likely to increase might cause the extinguisher to explode.
Some people believe that carbon dioxide is visible, they argue that the white mist seen around solid carbon dioxide is the gas itself. This is a misconception since the white mist is not carbon dioxide but water vapor that has condensed from the air. The reason why the color of the discharge from the extinguisher is partly white is condensed water vapor and not carbon dioxide which is colorless.
What makes this type of extinguisher effective in putting out class B and class C fires is its ability to displace or remove oxygen. Likewise, carbon dioxide can dissipate heat from the fuel by its sheer coldness as it comes out from the extinguisher. Its ability to remove two elements from the fire triangle by all means makes it the coolest fire extinguisher.
By: Brian Ayling
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Having specialized in the carbon dioxide extinguishers trade for over 20 years, Brian now works tirelessly to promote affordable fire safety for home and for business.
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Now for the science part: the elements of fire are oxygen, fuel, and heat. If you take away one of these aspects, there is no way a fire can last. The vinegar and baking soda produce a chemical reaction in which the foam eliminates oxygen. If this reactive substance is directed at a flame, it helps eliminate the oxygen, thus aiding in extinguishing the fire.
In order to avoid the occurrences of these car fires, it is wise to keep a car fire extinguisher in your car. A motor vehicle is a fire-magnet since it has so many hazardous elements in it which can catch and cause fire. It contains many types of flammable fuel like gasoline and oil. Aside from this, it also contains solid combustibles like the car upholstery and detonators in airbag systems. A car’s electrical wiring is a major source of ignition in the cases of short circuits. Leakages of fuel to hot exhaust system is another source of fire in the car. Another common cause of car fires is faulty fuel lines which leads to fuel leaks. Car batteries are also fire hazards since the hydrogen gas resulting from the electrolysis reaction ignites swiftly in a fire which can lead to an explosive release of battery acid.
Even electric and hybrid cars aren’t exceptions to the risk because these cards have large batteries composed of either NiMH, Li-ion, or lead-acid. Aside from the possibility of an electric shock, these batteries can explode or leak. Because of a good possibility of this from happening, these cars have built-in safety features to safeguard it from fire such as temperature sensors, smoke detectors, and overcharge protection. Yet even with these safety features, it is still important to have a car fire extinguisher nearby so that a preliminary stop is applied to the fire. Often, passengers inside the car have the opportunity to get out of the car in the event of a fire because a bulk of the fire is initially contained in the engine compartment. The passenger compartment is protected from the engine through a firewall.
Every time we fry, we use oil or fats in volumes and high heat. We need to do that in order to cook all sides evenly and quicker. Since, it usually takes time to cook fried items; our natural tendency is to leave the kitchen. Deep-fried foods are left unattended and probably one will end up busy doing something else. Note that while you are doing something, the temperature rises for your oil or grease. This can even get worse when you forgot that you have been cooking. When this happens, the tendency of your deep fryer is to combust resulting to fire. One thing about this kind of fire is that it is hard to put out. You cannot splash water because you can be smothered by it. Therefore, at times like this, you can put out fire with the use of CO2 fire extinguisher.
However, if you do not have any other equipment at home, in case this happens, the best thing to do is to use baking soda to cover the fire. Do not splash it because you might end up hurting yourself. What you can actually do is to turn of the gas and hit the base of the fire. If this does not work, the simplest remedy is to close the lid of the pan. Both of these actions have the same concept: which is to remove oxygen. Remember, oxygen is one of the aggravators of fire therefore, taking them out on this case, will kill the fire.
Class A fires are fed by combustible solids, such as paper, wood, fabric, and most plastics. Class A extinguishers use water propelled by a gas, or can be easily pumped. Foam can also put out a Class A fire.
Be sure to think about how many extinguishers you will need. At minimum, buy one each for the basement, garage, and kitchen. Providing a fourth for your sleeping area is highly recommended. As soon as you get the extinguisher home, read the directions in front of your family, and recheck the extinguishers monthly to make sure they are fully charged.