A fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or situation . While there ’s a respectable chance that the fire extinguisher will sit on the bulwark for years , pull together dust , it could end up bring through your property and even your life .
In this article , we ’ll see on the dot what fire asphyxiator do and how they do it . We ’ll also ascertain out what make fire in the first situation , learnhow to use a fire extinguisherand see what sort of fire suppressant works best on unlike types of flack .
How Fires Work
Fire is the issue of a chemic burning response , typically a reaction between O in the atmosphere and some sort of fuel ( wood orgasoline , for example ) .
Of naturally , wood and gasoline do n’t ad libitum catch up with on fire just because they ’re fence in by oxygen . For the combustion reaction to take place , the fuel has to be heated to its ignition temperature .
Here ’s the sequence of events in a typical wood fire :
As you could see , there are three essential element involved in this process :
Fire fire extinguisher are contrive to remove at least one of these elements so that a fire will die out .
Inside a Fire Extinguisher
There are three all important chemical element involved in producing blast : heat , oxygen and fuel . To put a fervidness out , you want to in effect take one of these elements .
A portable fire fire extinguisher is a sturdy metal cylinder filled with water or a smothering stuff ( the extinguishing agent ) . When you depress or squeeze a lever tumbler at the top of the cylinder , the cloth is boot out by gamy insistency , similar to the room material is force out of anaerosol can .
In this asphyxiator , a plastic siphon tube leads from the bottom of the fervour - suppressant reservoir to the top of the extinguisher . A spring - mounted valve blocks the passage from the siphon to the extinguisher nozzle .
At the top of the cylinder , there is a smaller cylinder fill with a compressed gas — swimming atomic number 6 dioxide , for example . A sack valve keeps the compact accelerator from escaping .
To employ the extinguisher , you draw out the rubber oarlock and get down the operating lever . The lever press on an set off rod , which compact the springtime - mounted valve down to open up the passage to the hooter . The bottom of the actuating perch has a penetrative item , which pierces the gas cylinder release valve .
The compressed gaseous state escapes , applying down pressure on the fire - suppressant cloth . This drives the textile up the siphon and out the nozzle with considerable force .
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
The right way to use the extinguisher is to calculate low , instantly at the fuel , rather than the flames themselves , and move the current with a sweeping motion .
Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers
There are a few different types of fervidness extinguisher , classified by extinguishing agent . see about their features to select the correct flaming asphyxiator to keep your family dependable .
Water Extinguisher
weewee is the most familiar extinguishing textile , and it is one of the most effective . But it can be dangerous in the wrong situation . A pee extinguisher can put out things like burning Mrs. Henry Wood , paper or composition board , but it does not turn well on electrical fires or fires involving flammable liquids .
In an electric ardor , the water may bear the current , which can fry you . piss will only overspread out an inflammable liquid state , which will most likely make the fire bad .
Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher
One popular extinguisher material is vestal carbon dioxide . In a carbon paper dioxide extinguisher , the carbon dioxide is keep in pressurized liquid pattern in the cylinder . When the container is opened , the carbon dioxide amplify to form a accelerator in the atmosphere .
Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than O , so it displaces the O border the burning fuel . This kind of fire fire extinguisher is common in eating place because it wo n’t contaminate the cooking equipment or food in kitchen fires .
The pliant discharge hooter on the end of a carbon dioxide asphyxiator can get very cold , so do n’t touch it .
Dry Chemical Extinguisher
The most popular extinguisher material is dry chemical froth or powder , typically made of atomic number 11 bicarbonate ( normal baking soda ash ) , K hydrogen carbonate ( nearly identical to baking soda ) or monoammonium orthophosphate .
bake soda water bug out to decompose at only 158 degree Fahrenheit ( 70 degrees Celsius ) , and when it molder , it releases carbon copy dioxide . The C dioxide , along with the insulant of the froth , works to crush out the ardor .
Extinguisher Ratings
Fire extinguishers are range by the type of fire they can put out .
When to Call the Fire Department
Most fire fire extinguisher contain a evenhandedly small amount of ardor - suppressant textile ; you’re able to use it all up in a affair of second gear . For this ground , asphyxiator are only effectual on comparatively small , contained fires .
To put out a larger fervour , you involve much bigger equipment — afire locomotive , for example — and the pro who know how to use it . But for the dangerous flaming that can down up in your house , a fire extinguisher is an invaluable life buoy .
