The CO2 extinguisher is the fire safety tool of choice for professional kitchens and industrial laboratories due to the effectiveness of this device against battling chemical and electrical fires. CO2 extinguishers are amongst the most popular fire extinguishers that are currently in use and are very easy to recognize with their bright red tanks and long rubber hoses.
While there are other red fire extinguishers that use dry chemicals instead of compressed carbon dioxide gas, you can easily spot a CO2 extinguisher by the fact that there will be no gauge at the top of the devices tank. CO2 fire extinguishers have a limited range of only a few feet and are typically only used to put out small fires or clear the way for safe evacuation of the area. Each CO2 extinguisher must be recharged every five years.
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.
Although there have been advances in fire control technology since the invention of the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, it remains widely popular today in part thanks to the low impact of the pressurized gas on the environment. Alternative fire extinguishers that are more effective at battling organic fires are even banned in many parts of the world due to their toxic chemicals. The only potential environmental danger of using CO2 extinguishers is the possibility of frost bite if skin is exposed to the cold gas for an extended period of time.
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.
CO2 extinguishers are an excellent tool for controlling and extinguishing many fires that erupt in the industrial workplace, but they are considered to be ineffective at extinguish organically fuelled fires, also known as Class A fires. These fires often burn organic fuels that are beneath the surface of the materials and will quickly reignite once the carbon dioxide gas has been removed from the area.
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.
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in fire safety. If you want further information about types of co2 extinguishers or are looking for a reputable co2 extinguisher company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk
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