| Author | Message | ||
     Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2002 |
I was chatting with my friend who's an EMT hoping to become a fire paramedic and he was quite sure that using my CO2 tank with a blower nozzle would effectively extinguish a fire without any residue. He theorized that the CO2 would displace the oxygen and starve the fire and being a gas would not leave white crud all over the engine bay. thoughts? | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 544 Registered: 03-2002 |
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are most effective on Class B and C (liquids and electrical) fires. Since the gas disperses quickly, these extinguishers are only effective from 3 to 8 feet. The carbon dioxide is stored as a compressed liquid in the extinguisher; as it expands, it cools the surrounding air. The cooling will often cause ice to form around the “horn” where the gas is expelled from the extinguisher. Since the fire could re-ignite, continue to apply the agent even after the fire appears to be out. Dry Chemical extinguishers are usually rated for multiple purpose use. They contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant. taken from: http://www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/extingrs.htm#fetypes so it seems to me, that the white stuff is the agent that puts out the fire and helps keep the fire from reigniting. messy, but helpfull. mike | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 225 Registered: 04-2003 |
Also as an added note, a CO2 extinguisher will build up a nasty static charge if use for more than a couple of seconds. Not a fun thing to have happen when you do decide to put it down. | ||
| Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 468 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm not talking about a CO2 extinguisher, but rather a trail air, power tank or other home brew on board CO2 system normally used for airing up tires and running impact tools. What about using that? | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 344 Registered: 11-2002 |
you would need 2 dramaticly different size regulators and now your fire control systems effectiveness is based on the current state of your trail air capacity what happens if you have a fire on day 10 after using air to reseat a bead or reinflate a dozen tires? |
