Sos Roofline Systems

Unfortunate though it may be, fires do happen – and what would you do if you had a small stove fire to handle? You may assume that a small fire won’t be much of a challenge to take care of, but even a small stove fire can get out of hand in a matter of seconds. You need to put these fires out right away; but water isn’t the answer and you can’t get it under control by smothering the flames either. To take care of these fires, you need to have a CO2 fire extinguisher handy in your kitchen, in the office and anywhere else where a fire could break out. A CO2 fire extinguisher can get a fire put out in a matter of seconds, which can keep a small fire from becoming a disaster.

In general, CO2 fire extinguishers are mostly employed to deal with electrical fires. This is because these extinguishers deliver a blast of compressed cold air that smothers the oxygen needed for the fire to expand. Water, on the other hand, would not only not smother the fire but it could cause a serious, dangerous reaction with the electrical currents. Another common fire situation where CO2 is needed is fires based on flammable liquids. Of course, it is also important to point out that CO2 fire extinguishers can be used effectively in any fire emergency and not exclusively one that deal with electrical problems or flammable liquids.

CO2 fire extinguishers use a liquid form of carbon dioxide. When the fire extinguisher is used, it releases a mixture of liquid and vapor which smothers flames by freezing over them. This prevents oxygen from feeding the flames in a manner which is far more effective than a conventional fire extinguisher.

The CO2 vapor which is released from a CO2 fire extinguisher quickly dissipates in the air. This means that when you use a CO2 fire extinguisher, you need to be close to the fire for it to be effective. You’ll have to be within 4-8 feet of the fire; farther away than this and the CO2 will disperse and become a cloud which is too diluted by oxygen to smother the flames and extinguish the fire.

Just because a fire appears to be out does not always mean that it has been totally extinguished. Even one hot spot can cause a fire to re-ignite. After putting out a fire, stay close by and watch it closely. You need to be ready to use your CO2 fire extinguisher again in the event that the fire is still smoldering. Don’t leave the area until you can be sure that the fire is not going to flare back up.

Thankfully, fires are not a common occurrence, so you may not use your CO2 fire extinguishers any time soon. Make sure to have your fire extinguishers tested regularly so that you’ll always have a working fire extinguisher on hand for when the unthinkable happens.