CO2 fire extinguishers are an invaluable safety tool for homes or offices; they contain Carbon Dioxide, which is a liquefied gas. CO2 units are specifically designed to fight Class B and Class C type fires, and they are especially efficient because they don’t leave a hard-to-clean mess after being used. It’s of the utmost importance to know that you are using the right kind of extinguisher for a particular fire.
The following four categories of fires are used to decide what type of fire extinguisher to use:
1. Class A-Fires that include such combustible materials as paper, wood, and most plastics.
2. Class B-These fires are caused when certain liquids-including gasoline, oil, grease, and kerosene-are ignited.
3. Class C- CO2 extinguishers are highly effective fighting these types of fires, which include electrical appliances such as television sets, computers, and home entertainment centers.
4. Class D-This type of fire is caused when metals ignite; potassium and titanium and magnesium are three examples.
The cost for CO2 extinguishers isn’t excessive when you think of the potential benefit in an emergency. Cost ranges from about $140 for a five-pound unit to $200 for a 15-pound extinguisher.
It won’t do you much good to have a CO2 fire extinguisher if you don’t know how to use it. Ask for help from your fire department if the instructions aren’t explicit enough.
The CO2 unit will discharge a white, dust-like, non-flammable Carbon Dioxide vapor that will smother the fire. The spray is highly pressurized and scary if you have never used your extinguisher. You need to be within 3-8 ft of the fire when you release the spray. And it would be wise to keep a pair of cloth work gloves with your extinguisher because the metal parts of a CO2 extinguisher can become so cold that it can damage your hands. Ask an expert from your fire department to show you the proper way to hold your unit while fighting a fire.
Aim your spray carefully because you will have little more than ten seconds to hit the target and smother the flame. Ten seconds is more time than it sounds like in a crisis situation.
Be sure and have your extinguisher recharged after any use. CO2 units don’t have pressure gauges to tell you when they are low. Each extinguisher will have a “tare” weight stamped on it; that’s the empty weight. You have to weigh your unit and subtract the real weight by the tare weight to determine whether or not you need to have it recharged.
You need to get instructions on how to use your CO2 unit before an unexpected fire breaks out. If you haven’t been trained on how to use and hold your CO2 extinguisher, you’re inviting disaster. Take your unit to your fire department and have one of their experts show you how to use it. That will eliminate mistakes when you need a calm and deliberate demeanor to fight a fire in your home or office.
