Benefits And Disadvantage Of C02 Extinguishers

An assortment of fire extinguishers is available to select from. Selecting the appropriate extinguisher for the home may be intimidating. At least one fire extinguisher needs to in each home but, choose the appropriate one to have. Fire protection specialists suggest having a total of three for the workshop, kitchen and garage. Dry chemical extinguishers have an advantage over c02 extinguishers due to the non combustible material used in them.

Fire extinguishers are separated into four different categories, according to the type of fire. These extinguishers come with a number rating to show how much fire the extinguisher can handle. Higher numbers mean that the extinguisher has more fire fighting power. Below is a list of the categories that will serve as a quick reference guide for choosing the appropriate type of extinguisher.

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.

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.

Wiring, appliances, outlets and circuit breakers are electrical fires that call for class C extinguishers. Using water to put these fires out is not recommended because of the risk of electrocution. Non conductive material is used in these extinguishers so there is no number rating.

Chemical labs use class D extinguishers. This extinguisher is for certain metals like magnesium, sodium, potassium and titanium. They are not used for multiple purposes and do not have a number rating.

Since some fires can involve multiple classifications, the extinguisher you choose should have several ratings 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.

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.

Select the appropriate extinguisher to prevent 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 systems. If you would like further information about CO2 extinguishers or are looking for a trusted security service please visit http://www.adt.co.uk