When most people picture a fire extinguisher, the image that is called to mind is that of a CO2 extinguisher. With their large, metals cylinders of bright red and hard horns, these fire extinguishers have been installed as an emergency measure in homes and businesses for generations. Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be differentiated from similar extinguishers by the lack of any sort of pressure gauge at the top of the tank.
This form of fire extinguisher is primarily effective at battling certain chemical and electrical fires and is particularly popular for laboratories, kitchens and storage areas. Because the gas that is released from these extinguishers only travels a distance of three to eight feet, carbon dioxide extinguishers are only effective at controlling or extinguishing fairly small fires. All CO2 extinguishers require regular service every five years in order to be both hydrostatically tested and recharged.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers were invented in 1924 by the Walter Kindle Company as a method of controlling the electrical fires that were known to break out on the early telephone switchboards of the Bell Telephone Company. Prior to the invention of the CO2 extinguisher, the only portable fire extinguishers that were available were chemical devices which often used very dangerous chemicals.
Another factor influence the widespread adoption of the carbon dioxide extinguisher was the fact that it was considerably safer to use than the earlier chemical models. The dry chemicals that were used in the other fire extinguishers were known to cause toxic reactions in people in the immediate vicinity of their use that ranged from mild to deadly. In fact, the relatively harmless effects of the CO2 extinguisher are a big factor in the continued popularity of the device in the modern world.
CO2 extinguishers operate by releasing highly pressurized carbon dioxide onto that comes out a velocity that is high enough to remove all of the oxygen out of the area of a fire and extinguish the source of combustion. The gas that is released from CO2 extinguishers is also very cold and rapidly lowers the temperature of a fire. While CO2 extinguishers are very common in many buildings, they are not effective at extinguishing all fires. However, there are effective at controlling many fires long enough for residents to evacuate a building or for the fire department to arrive on the scene.
While CO2 extinguishers provide an excellent source of fire control over many industrial fires, they do not provide absolute control over all fires. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are very effective at extinguishing small chemical and electrical fires, but they only provide temporary control over organically fuelled fires, also known as Class A fires. This is because the pressurized carbon dioxide gas is only effective at removing the oxygen from the vicinity of the fire and does not chemically treat the fuel of the fire. As a result, the fire may continue to smoulder beneath the surface of the fuel and reignite shortly after oxygen has been introduced to the vicinity.
Fire rescue workers do not regularly use CO2 extinguishers when fighting the average home or office fire, but they are regularly employed by low budget television and film productions due to their low cost and the unlikelihood of injury to the actors. However, CO2 extinguishers are effective at providing a temporary measure of control over organic fires and can effectively squelch the flames of an individual's clothing in the event that a person catches fire during an emergency. - 29955
This form of fire extinguisher is primarily effective at battling certain chemical and electrical fires and is particularly popular for laboratories, kitchens and storage areas. Because the gas that is released from these extinguishers only travels a distance of three to eight feet, carbon dioxide extinguishers are only effective at controlling or extinguishing fairly small fires. All CO2 extinguishers require regular service every five years in order to be both hydrostatically tested and recharged.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers were invented in 1924 by the Walter Kindle Company as a method of controlling the electrical fires that were known to break out on the early telephone switchboards of the Bell Telephone Company. Prior to the invention of the CO2 extinguisher, the only portable fire extinguishers that were available were chemical devices which often used very dangerous chemicals.
Another factor influence the widespread adoption of the carbon dioxide extinguisher was the fact that it was considerably safer to use than the earlier chemical models. The dry chemicals that were used in the other fire extinguishers were known to cause toxic reactions in people in the immediate vicinity of their use that ranged from mild to deadly. In fact, the relatively harmless effects of the CO2 extinguisher are a big factor in the continued popularity of the device in the modern world.
CO2 extinguishers operate by releasing highly pressurized carbon dioxide onto that comes out a velocity that is high enough to remove all of the oxygen out of the area of a fire and extinguish the source of combustion. The gas that is released from CO2 extinguishers is also very cold and rapidly lowers the temperature of a fire. While CO2 extinguishers are very common in many buildings, they are not effective at extinguishing all fires. However, there are effective at controlling many fires long enough for residents to evacuate a building or for the fire department to arrive on the scene.
While CO2 extinguishers provide an excellent source of fire control over many industrial fires, they do not provide absolute control over all fires. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are very effective at extinguishing small chemical and electrical fires, but they only provide temporary control over organically fuelled fires, also known as Class A fires. This is because the pressurized carbon dioxide gas is only effective at removing the oxygen from the vicinity of the fire and does not chemically treat the fuel of the fire. As a result, the fire may continue to smoulder beneath the surface of the fuel and reignite shortly after oxygen has been introduced to the vicinity.
Fire rescue workers do not regularly use CO2 extinguishers when fighting the average home or office fire, but they are regularly employed by low budget television and film productions due to their low cost and the unlikelihood of injury to the actors. However, CO2 extinguishers are effective at providing a temporary measure of control over organic fires and can effectively squelch the flames of an individual's clothing in the event that a person catches fire during an emergency. - 29955
About the Author:
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home fire safety. If you want more information about types of co2 extinguishers or are looking for a reputable co2 extinguisher company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk
