Advantages And Disadvantage With Using C02 Extinguishers

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.

Class A fire extinguishers are for flammable items like some plastics, cardboard, wood and paper. The amount of water contained in the extinguisher, and the amount of fire it can handle, is indicated by the number.

Kerosene, gasoline, oil and grease need a class B extinguisher. To know how much square footage can be controlled with this extinguisher, pay attention to the rating on the canister.

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.

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.

The most widely used extinguishers 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 are a normal type of dry chemical extinguisher. It contains potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate. The residue left behind is slightly corrosive so it must be cleaned up immediately to halt any potential damage to items.

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 advantage to CO2 extinguishers versus the others is that the residue left behind is not corrosive. They are good for putting out electrical fires.

A dangerous situation can occur if the wrong type is used.

Select and extinguisher according to your needs. The list here is just a sample of what is available.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in firesystems. If you want more information about CO2 extinguishers or are searching for a trusted fire extinguisher company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk

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