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Types,Advantages And Disadvantages of Fire Extinguishers

Updated: Jan 10, 2019

There are various types of fire extinguishers. Such as are water-fire extinguishers, dry-type fire extinguishers, gas fire extinguishers, and foam-type fire extinguishers.


1)WATER-FIRE EXTINGUISHERS


Content : Filled with 9 liters of ordinary water

: Mixed with sodium nitrate to prevent water from being frozen and rusted cylinders.

Fountain Distance: 20 feet to 25 feet

Fountain Duration: 60 to 120 Seconds

Label or color: A (RED)

Burning materials: wood, garbage, plastic and cloth

Life span: 10 years


HOW TO ACTION

-When pressed the plugger, it will puncture scaling desc cartridge and gas co2 will come out.

-Gas co2 will push the water out through the discharge tube and exit through the nozzle.

- This kind of fire extinguisher is suitable for class A fire.


ADVANTAGES

- Easy to handle.

- Can control or eradicate the fire early.

- The liquids used are not harmful.


DISADVANTAGES

- Only once can be used.

- Not suitable for combustion of electrical and metallic tools.

- Cannot be placed where the temperature is cold and can freeze.

- Cannot control and remove large fires.


2)DRY-TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

1) Cartridge Type

2) Stored pressure


Content- Sodium bicarbonate: 97%

- Magnesium stearate: 1.5%

- Magnesium carbonate: 1%

- Tricalsium carbonate: 0.5%

Fountain Distance: 15 feet to 20 feet

Duration of Fountain: 2 Minutes

Label or color: ABC (BLUE)

Burning materials: all types of materials

Life span: 12 years


HOW TO ACTION

-When the plugger is pressed, the co2 gas will push the dry dust out through the nozzle. This fire extinguisher is suitable for all fire classes.


ADVANTAGES

- Easy and easy to handle

- Can control or remove class A, B and C fires effectively

- The removal is more effective than fire extinguisher, foam or co2

- Production (fountain) can be controlled by operating lever.


DISADVANTAGES

- Only once can be used.

- Its debts can cause damage to certain materials such as car engine, food stuff and so on.

- Cannot remove metal fire.

- Cannot be placed where the temperature is cold and can freeze

- The flour can be frozen if placed in a cool place.


Attention

The placement of fire extinguishing devices should be placed in a visible and suspended place so that the appliance is not damaged in the tube as well as its contents.


Examination

1. Must be checked every month

2. Make sure the preasure guage on the tube shows full content (green - full and red - empty).

3. In the event of lack of pressure, sent to the agent service.

4. Make sure there is no damage or durability on the outside portion of the tube.

5. Make sure the safety pin is in the correct position.

6. Discharge nozzles, hoses and operating lever are specified in good and clean condition.

7. Once a year is sent to the service agent registered for inspection or approval.

8. Inspection and maintenance is made only for catridge type fire extinguisher, while type of stored pressure is supplied directly from the supplier or agent.



3)GAS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Content- in a tube filled with Co2 in liquid form in pressure.

- It has a size between 2 and 5 weight.

Focal distance: 8 feet to 12 feet and the ratio development is 1: 450

Exercise period: 8 to 30 seconds

Type of gas: stored pressure

Horn is the tip of the nozzle to facilitate gas out spraying and pointing to the source of the fire.

Label or color: C / CO2 (BLACK)

Combustible materials: paint, oil, gasoline, gas and electrical equipment

Life span: 10 years


ADVANTAGES

- Easy to handle

- Can control or remove fires early in advance effectively

- Gas is clean and does not help fire

- Gas does not drain electricity

- Can penetrate in small surface areas

- Gas is harmless to health and does not leave any effect


DISADVANTAGES

- Only once can be used

- The cylindrical object does not match gas content, its overall weight is 5.3 kg but contains only 2.2 kg of gas.

- The contents of the gas are invisible and should be weighed from time to time to avoid a deficiency of 10%

- It is not appropriate to remove fire type A, B & D

- Cannot control or erase large fire


Examination

- checked should be done once every 3 months

- make sure the cylinder does not rust

- the plugger can be moved

- vent hole is not clogged

- nozzle no clogging

- every 4 years the tube shall be subject to hydraulic testing

- avoid sunlight, as it will affect the light and the tool.



4)FOAM-TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Suitable for extinguishing 'B' class fire and its role is to cover and lower the temperature below the flame temperature (cooling).


Content - There are 2 tubes

- Deep tube (Alauminium Sulphate)

- Outdoor tubes (Sodium Bikarbonate / Stabilizer)

Fountain Distance: About 20 feet

Fountain Duration: 30 to 90 seconds.


2 ways to produce foam in portable fire extinguishers, namely: -

1) Chemical reactions: mixing two chemicals ie sodium bicarbonate with aluminum sulfate.

2) The content is 9 liters of water and 0.5% AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) concentrate.

Life span: 10 years

Label or color: B (WHITE / YELLOW)

Combustible materials: oil, paint, petrol, lekar, thinner and gas.

Progress rate: 1: 8


HOW TO USE IT

-Blood is reversed so that these two chemicals mix and produce foam, lead to the base of the fire.


ADVANTAGES

- Easy to handle

- Foam can cover liquid surfaces and block oxygen supply from helping to fire

- Uninterrupted from the wind

- Can control fire effectively.

- Easy replenishment


DISADVANTAGES

- Can only be used once

- Cannot erase electric fire

- Cannot remove class A, C and D fire

- If the mixing of the chemical is incorrect, the foam cannot effectively remove the fire

- Not suitable for use with dry powder fire extinguisher as the powder breaks the foam.


This is an article that I convey about the kind, the advantages and disadvantages of the fire extinguisher. Hopefully useful and for more clarity, can visit our website https://www.zurithsafety.com.my/ or our facebook https://web.facebook.com/zurithsafety/ or you can contact us at 06 -454 1987.



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