CO2 Fire Extinguishers: A Guide
When it comes to fire safety, extinguishers are vital to protect your building, but you must choose the most suitable fire extinguisher for your unique set of risks.
CO2 fire extinguishers are crucial to fire safety and can often be spotted in commercial and industrial environments.
What Type Of Fire Can A CO2 Fire Extinguisher Be Used On?
CO2 extinguishers are used almost exclusively to extinguish fires caused by electrical equipment and live cables; however, you can also use them on fires caused by or involving flammable liquid (Class B fires).
There is no other fire extinguisher that can be used to extinguish an electrical fire; the CO2 extinguisher is the only extinguisher that can do this job.
How does a CO2 extinguisher work?
The carbon dioxide in a CO2 extinguisher is highly pressurised, so the gas itself is stored as a liquid within the canister. Once you discharge the extinguisher, the liquid CO2 will depressurise into a gas as you spray it onto the fire.
Like other extinguishers, the CO2 extinguisher attacks one of the three elements fire needs to burn - oxygen. Spraying CO2 onto a fire displaces the oxygen around it, suffocating the fire and helping to suppress it.
As a CO2 extinguisher discharges gas, no residue or mess is left behind, unlike other fire extinguishers.
How To Know If An Extinguisher Is A CO2 Extinguisher
CO2 extinguishers are easy to identify from other extinguishers thanks to a black label with white writing on it that reads ‘Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher’.
Where Are CO2 Extinguishers Found?
There are specific places that require CO2 extinguishers to be installed by fire safety regulations. These are usually locations that contain electrical equipment, including:
- Offices
- Laboratories
- Casinos
- Server rooms
- Mechanical rooms
- Schools
- Universities
As CO2 extinguishers can also be used on Class B fires, they are also often found in areas that provide storage for flammable liquids, such as petrol, paint and diesel.
How To Use A CO2 Extinguisher
You can safely use a CO2 extinguisher on relatively small and contained fires. If the fire is in an enclosed space, CO2 extinguishers are not recommended, as carbon dioxide is poisonous at a concentration of 4%.
Instructions on how to use a CO2 fire extinguisher are displayed on the side of the canister. However, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself beforehand with them in the event that you ever need to use the extinguisher.
- Remove the safety pin.
- Aim the CO2 extinguisher's hose at the base of the fire - this is important as you are aiming for the source of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever on the extinguisher.
- Make sweeping movements with the extinguisher's hose while aiming at the fire's base.
- Ensure that you hold the hose at the base and not the nozzle opening. When the freezing CO2 gas is discharged, it could freeze-burn your skin.
At Johnson Controls, we have a wide range of fire extinguishers to suit your needs - please click here to find the correct extinguisher.