What is a fire extinguishing gas?

 extinguishing gas

     Pure carbon dioxide is one of the most popular gases for use in fire suppression. Where carbon dioxide gas is generally kept in the form of a compressed liquid in a cylinder, and when it is opened for the purpose of extinguishing a fire, carbon dioxide expands in its gaseous form into the surrounding air, and because carbon dioxide Carbon is lighter.  The oxygen surrounding the fire replaces the oxygen and prevents the fire from becoming more flammable, and the use of carbon dioxide gas is more effective than the use of water in extinguishing electrical fires or fires containing flammable liquids. 

     Chemicals in fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers contain many different chemicals depending on their use and type, the most famous of which are:

     Portable fire extinguishers: They are usually composed of compressed carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas, and the active ingredient can be a powder such as potassium bicarbonate, liquid water or vaporized fluorocarbon. 

     Water-based extinguishers: Water is one of the most effective materials for extinguishing fires, and water can effectively extinguish wood or paper fires, but it is not capable of extinguishing fires caused by electricity or flammable liquids. 

Fire extinguishers that contain halon: especially halon 1301, but it has some damage as a result of the emission of bromine and chlorine gases into the atmosphere, causing serious damage to the ozone layer in the stratosphere, for which it was replaced by substances called hydrofluorocarbons, which have physical properties similar to halons and are not ozone 

     How to use fire extinguishers

     Before starting the fire suppression process, it is necessary to ensure that the correct type of extinguisher is used to extinguish the current fire. The following steps explain the mechanism of using fire extinguishers:

•      Pulling a pin is the top of the extinguisher after breaking the lock that keeps the extinguishing agent inside the extinguisher.

• aim at the target. This is done by standing a safe distance from the fire with the barrel pointed towards it.

•      Squeeze the handles to release the substance from the fire extinguisher.

•      Movable Nozzle When approaching a fire, the nozzle should be moved in different directions, taking care to direct the extinguishing agent towards the base of the fire.