Benefits Or Disadvantage With C02 Extinguishers
A variety of fire extinguishers exist to chosen from. Choosing the correct one for a home can seem overwhelming. Each home should have at least one fire extinguisher but, having the correct one is also very important. Experts in fire protection advise having one for the workshop, garage and kitchen. Dry chemical extinguishers have a benefit over c02 extinguishers because they use a non flammable material that decreases the chance of the fire reigniting.
Four groups exist for fire extinguishers according to the type of fire. Number ratings are used to inform you of the amount of fire the extinguisher can put out. The higher the number is, the more fire it can handle. Listed below are the groups used for classifying the extinguishers.
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.
Class C extinguishers are used for electrical fires like outlets, circuit breakers, wiring or appliances. DO NOT use water for these types of fire because of the risk of being shocked. These extinguishers do not come with a number rating. The extinguishing agent is non conductive.
Class D extinguishers are mainly used in chemical laboratories. Sodium, potassium, titanium and magnesium, flammable metals, are what these extinguishers are used for. They are not used for multiple purposes and do not have a number rating.
Because a combination of materials may be involved in a fire, it is wise to select an extinguisher with multiple ratings like ABC.
The most widely used extinguishers are:
APW or water extinguishers are pressurized by water and meant for class A fires. Do Not use water on class D, electrical or grease fires. If you do, the fire will spread. Use these extinguishers for fighting fires that have normal flammable items only.
Class A, B and C fires can have dry compound extinguishers used on them. These extinguishers use a foam or powder and are pressurized by nitrogen.
Extinguishers with sodium and potassium bicarbonate are classified as BC extinguishers. They are a dry element extinguisher that leaves a corrosive residue behind. This means that the clean up must be done immediately to stop any items from being damaged.
ABC extinguishers are a multiple purpose fire extinguisher. This type contains monoammonium phosphate which is a yellow powder that leaves a sticky residue. It can damage appliances like computers.
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.
Select and extinguisher according to your needs. The list here is just a sample of what is available.
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home alarms. If you want further information about CO2 extinguishers or are looking for a reputable fire extinguisher company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk
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