Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher: purpose, types and rules of use. What fires can be extinguished with a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

Today, many offices or work sites in the enterprise are equipped with a variety of functional devices. Not all of them are necessary (coffee machine, for example). At the same time, there are some devices that are required to be available, and without them, managers will face constant sanctions and fines. We are talking about carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, the purpose of which is to extinguish all kinds of fires.

General description of the OS

Here it is worth starting with the fact that recently manufacturers of such products have been actively advertising a new type of gas fire extinguisher - chladonovye. However, they have not passed the test of time, but carbon dioxide fire extinguishers (OU) have been used for a very long time. They are universal fire extinguishing devices. They are often used where another type of equipment cannot be used or will do more harm than good. The main advantage is that CO ₂ evaporates quickly enough and does not leave any negative traces.

For this reason, the purpose of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is to extinguish fires, whose cause is almost any. In addition, they can be used to extinguish the flame near valuable electrical equipment, household appliances with water or for its production, chemical foam, powder, etc.

What can I put out using an op-amp?

If we talk more specifically about the purpose of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, then it is intended to extinguish a fire in such conditions:

1. Extinguishing any industrial or electrical equipment is permitted. This includes a variety of installations, devices, control devices and more. If they remain connected to the network, then their voltage should not exceed 1000 V for using the op-amp. Is it possible to extinguish electrical installations with a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher? If it was possible to turn off the power, then it is allowed to use this type of device to extinguish transformer plants and switchboards with a voltage of up to 10 kV.
2. It is allowed to use this technique to combat fire in office premises where computers are installed. In addition, it can be used to eliminate flames in supervaluable equipment installed in large data processing and storage centers. The purpose of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is to extinguish a fire in the vicinity of cinema projection equipment in cinemas.
3. It is allowed to extinguish any paintings exhibited in the museum or stored in galleries, etc. It is also worth adding the possibility of extinguishing valuable documents printed on paper and stored in the state archive.
4. Appointments and rules for using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher allow it to be used to extinguish household appliances. However, few people get such a device. Unless the owners of expensive cars or their own garages, repair shops.
5. Shelter can extinguish any fire that occurs in a vehicle. There are virtually no restrictions, you can put out everything from a small bike to an electric train.
6. Most substances that are actively burning with the participation of oxygen.

Exceptions

Despite the almost complete universality of the purpose of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, there are some objects for which this type of equipment is prohibited. You can not put out:

• Metals of potassium and sodium in their pure form.
• Magnesium and aluminum, as well as any alloys made on their basis.
• Paper and wood dust, sawdust.
• Is it possible to extinguish a person with a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher? Such an action is prohibited, and it is impossible to extinguish burning clothes on a person.
• Any substance that can burn without interacting with oxygen, as well as capable of smoldering in its own mass.

OS Properties

Which fires can be extinguished by a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher and which cannot be exerted is argued by its physicochemical properties. It is worth noting that the extinguishing mixture consists of liquid carbon dioxide and gaseous CO ₂ . Here are a few reasons why op-amp is in some cases the most effective tool, and in some cannot be used:

1. During exit from the tank, the liquid is able to increase in volume up to 500 times and at the same time it is rapidly cooled. As for the gas temperature, the CO _{2 is} cooled down to -70 degrees Celsius.
2. This property is great for extinguishing a fire for several reasons. Firstly, carbon dioxide itself is not capable of supporting combustion. Secondly, too low a temperature also effectively affects the source of ignition, dramatically reducing the flame force, and then completely eliminating it. The listed properties are not owned by any analogue of a fire extinguisher. Tanks with freon became the only properties close to portable carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.
3. However, too low a temperature has its drawbacks. Such a low temperature of the outgoing gas will lead to the fact that touching the bell of the fire extinguisher will be accompanied by instant frostbite. The same threatens hands, if you do not use protective gloves.
4. The same reason explains the strict ban on extinguishing burning clothes on the human body. Since this will only exacerbate the effects of the fire and can lead to death.

The main types of OS

Today, there are two main types of OS: portable or manual, mobile. Transportable tanks include liquid carbon dioxide, the mass of which is in the range from 1 to 10 kg. They have the corresponding marking OU-1, OU-2, OU-3, etc., up to OU-10.

Mobile or portable units include OU-25 and OU-80, respectively, with a mass of 25 and 80 kg.

As for the provision of industrial and public buildings with these devices, they are carried out in accordance with the "Rules of the fire regime in the Russian Federation." It is worth noting that gas stations are not included here.

Appendix No. 1

The rules have an appendix according to which the distribution of OU-1, OU-2, OU-3 and others takes place.

Portable fire fighting tanks are used in the following conditions:

1. For industrial buildings with a total area of ​​up to 400 square meters. m and fire hazard category B - 4 OU-2 should be used.
2. If the fire hazard category is G or D, then the area increases to 1800 square meters. m, and the amount of OU-2 remains the same - 4 pieces.
3. It is used in public buildings with an area of ​​800 square meters. m. In this case, their main purpose is to extinguish a fire in electrical installations. However, the rules do not prohibit the ignition of other types of raw materials, equipment, etc. For these purposes, it is necessary to have 4 pieces of OU-2.

Annex to Regulation No. 2

The Appendix to the PPR, released in 2012, includes standards for the use of mobile (transportable) carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.

1. Premises with fire hazard category A, B, C for 3 OU-80 for every 500 square meters. m of the room area, as well as in the classification of fire A, B, C. 2 OU-25 or 1 OU-80 is used in case of fire hazard class E in a room of the same area.
2. If the room is characterized by hazard category B and D and occupies up to 800 square meters, then in case of a Class A fire, either 4 OU-25 or 2 OU-80 is used. In case of fire, class B, C uses 3 OU-80, and with category E - 1 OU-25 or 1 OU-80.

What you need to know about opamp

There are several specific and most common questions that arise for employees of the enterprise responsible for the fire safety of the premises and the condition of the fire extinguishers themselves.

A fairly common question concerns the mass of the tank. If we take into account all the components of the container, the weight of the liquid itself and gaseous CO ₂ , then OU-1, for example, will weigh from 4.5 to 6 kg. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher 10 will weigh about 25 kg. The exact mass depends on the manufacturer of this equipment. Naturally, the mass of all other reservoirs will be within the presented limits.

It is worth noting here that 25 kg is a large enough mass even for a healthy man to operate without any problems. For this reason, all types of OS after 10 are made in a portable version, that is, installed on the frame of the trolley with a pair of wheels. The approximate weight of the OU-25 is 120 kg, the OU-80 weighs about 225 kg.

As for the pressure in the tank, at room temperature it is about 6 MPa. One of the rules for using op-amps is temperature limitation. However, the ranges are quite extensive. They can be used at ambient temperatures from -40 to +50 degrees Celsius. This is a significant advantage in comparison with water, air-foam and powder fire extinguishers. For them, low temperatures are critical.

The last rule concerns verification of the opamp. Fire extinguisher charge mass should be checked once a year. Once every 5 years it is required to be sent for detailed inspection and charging to specialized centers licensed by the Ministry of Emergencies for working with such equipment.

Op amp application

Typically, the rules for using such a device are indicated on the label or sticker on the body of the fire extinguisher itself. The usage algorithm is quite simple. The bell of the device is directed to the flame, after which you should press the lever, if it is a portable fire extinguisher. In the case of a transportable cart, unscrew the valve. There is only one important point. The OU bell should not be brought closer to the fire closer than 1 m. The same rule applies to electrical equipment that is energized.

Storage rules

Since a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher contains a rather specific environment inside, special requirements are imposed on the storage of such devices. Firstly, it is necessary to periodically check the pressure on the pressure gauge, as well as to control the mass of the charge. Secondly, since CO _{2 is} contained inside, overheating of the cylinder and direct sunlight should be avoided. Thirdly, at the time of purchase of the tank, the presence of a seal or checks should be checked. You also need to check the presence of a trademark and a mandatory stamp on passing technical control in the appropriate service.