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The most ubiquitous symbol of firefighting is the fire extinguisher. The red cylinder that we see mounted in homes, offices and public spaces is often our first line of defence against a fire. Most of us think of all extinguishers as one.
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What You Should Know About Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher The most ubiquitous symbol of firefighting is the fire extinguisher. The red cylinder that we see mounted in homes, offices and public spaces is often our first line of defence against a fire. Most of us think of all extinguishers as one. Differing in size, but essentially the same. However, extinguishers are actually different from each other.
One of these is the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. You will find these quite frequently with extinguisher specialists, since these are widely used. But before you go out to get one, let us learn a bit more about it.
CO2 extinguisher is not effective against all kind of fires Did you know that there are different types of fire? Depending on the accelerant present, fires are divided into six classes. These are: Class A: Involving organic solids like paper and wood. Class B: Involving combustible liquids like petrol and grease. Class C: Involving flammable gases. Class D: Involving combustible metals. Class E: Involving electrical appliances. Class F: Involving cooking oil and fat.
CO2 extinguishers are largely ineffective against most kind of fires, except for Class B and E fire. That is, it is most commonly used in fires involving flammable liquids like petrol and electrical appliances. This is because although it does a good job of displacing oxygen, it does not cool down the temperature. So, the fire can reignite later as latent ember catches some atmospheric oxygen.
CO2 extinguisher is most effective in case of an electric fire Of all the other material used in fires involving electrical equipment, the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is most effective. It works by flooding the surrounding area with carbon dioxide gas, displacing the oxygen which fuels the fire. Despite it limitation stated above, it is the preferred extinguisher in Class E fire involving electrical appliances because unlike chemicals of water, it is not wet and will hence, not cause a short circuit.
Unlike dry chemicals it also does not leave any discharge. The gaseous nature of the discharge also means that we can expel it in a large quantity without flooding the space. This makes it ideal for appliance stocked rooms like IT infrastructure offices.
CO2 extinguisher does not have a pressure gauge A CO2 extinguisher is quite easy to spot. It has no pressure gauge. This is because the gas within is condensed and the only way to asses the level of the CO2 inside is to weight it. So, instead of a pressure gauge the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher has Gross Weight (GW) stamped on it. To check the level, we have to weight the cylinder.
In larger cylinders the horn is located at the end of a hose which gives it flexibility of usage. But its most distinct characteristic is a black-coloured large, cone-shaped hard horn from where the gas is expelled. The design of the horn is not without purpose and was actually patented by an American company Brooks Equipment in the 1970s.
The design was specifically developed to ensure that the highly pressurised carbon dioxide, which was in liquid form in the cylinder, could be expelled safely in a gaseous form. The problem here was that the carbon dioxide when expelled, cools quickly. The horn gave the gas enough space to expand and cool quickly without freezing over. The design also ensured that the process will take too quickly for the 'snow' formation. This is also why a C)2 extinguisher must be handled very carefully.
CO2 extinguisher needs regular maintenance Like all extinguishers, a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher must be inspected regularly for any damages. It is also weighed during its regular maintenance service to ensure that it is filled at the optimum level. It comes with an expiration date after which it has to be replaced or refilled. Cylinders with plastic parts usually have to be replaced, while those with metal can be refilled. Follow your manufacturer directions on the right procedure.
