Praveen Shrestha

CO2 Carbon Dioxide Fire ExtinguisherWhat Colour Band and What is it Used For A Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher is a fire-fighting equipment that uses carbon dioxide at high pressure, in a liquid state, as the extinguishing agent. It is one of the 6 types of fire extinguishers currently available. A CO2 fire extinguisher is suitable for extinguishing electrical fires, i.e. Class E fires. Australian Standard (AS1851) may require you to have CO2 fire extinguishers installed depending on the nature of your workplace and the risk of fire hazards. What Colour Band is a CO2 (carbon dioxide) Fire Extinguisher? Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are marked by a black colour band near the top. What is a CO2 (carbon dioxide) fire extinguisher used for? Carbon Dioxide is used for extinguishing all class E fires. Type E fire classification includes fires that involve electricity or energized electrical equipment. Australian Standard has also confirmed that CO2 fire extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing small Class B fires. Likewise, you can also use this type of fire extinguisher on small quantities of Class A fuels such as computer-based equipment, switch, etc., when they are predominantly involved in fires involving energized electrical equipment. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguisher Advantages Carbon Dioxide, as an extinguishing agent, doesn’t leave any residue. You can easily use this on electrical fires without worrying about the additional damage that might have been caused due to the residue. It also makes cleaning up relatively easier. A CO2 fire extinguisher can also be used in semi-sealed enclosures. Due to its use of gaseous extinguishant, it can easily penetrate through the most unnatural gaps and put out the fire. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguisher Disadvantages Poor “knock down” and short discharge range are among the disadvantages of CO2 fire extinguishers. The CO2 fire extinguisher works by displacing the oxygen around the fire with its extinguishing agent, carbon dioxide. So, this type of fire extinguisher cannot be used in windy atmospheres or areas with significant air movements. Important Note: CO2 fire extinguishers can cause asphyxiation, so it shouldn’t be used for anything other than extinguishing the fire. A first time operator might get startled by the loud noise a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher makes during discharge. The user should also be wary of any static charge produced by an extinguisher during discharge. It might transmit a mild electric shock to the user. Where not to install Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguishers? Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers shouldn’t be installed in locations directly exposed to the sunlight or radiated heat. CO2 fire extinguishers contain pressure relief devices that could potentially be activated when the temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Do you need a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguisher? It is your legal responsibility to be prepared for any kind of emergencies. If your workplace, business, or home has even the slightest chance of a fire breaking out, you need to have a Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher installed. You will also need to make sure that everyone in your home or workplace is well aware of the fire extinguisher and also knows how to properly use it. This simple piece of equipment could potentially prevent extreme tragedy. About Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers Maintenance All CO2 fire extinguishers must be inspected or replaced after its expiration date. Regular maintenance ensures that it will work properly when you need it the most. All CO2 fire extinguishers must carry a maintenance tag that shows their last inspection date. How to use a CO2 Fire Extinguisher? The technique used to operate CO2 fire extinguishers isn’t any different from using other extinguishers. The technique is called PASS, which is the acronym used to describe the four essential steps of operating a fire extinguisher. - Pull the pin. Aim the nozzle. Squeeze the handle. Sweep from side to side. See our detailed guide on How to use a Fire Extinguisher. You will, however, need to keep a few things in mind while using a CO2 fire extinguisher.   There is a risk of freeze burn injury as the surface temperature of a CO2 fire extinguisher horn falls rapidly. You can opt to purchase frost-free horn to solve this issue. Make sure that the fire has been extinguished completely as there is a high probability of reignition when using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.