It is important for everyone to have a clear understanding of fire extinguishers. This knowledge will help you to save lives and minimize damage when a fire occurs.
Before a fire has the time to spread and destroy a whole structure, it can be promptly put out using a fire extinguisher. We will thus go over the top five fire extinguisher facts in this article. This will aid in your comprehension of the background of fire extinguishers and their correct use. Let’s take a look at the most important fire extinguisher facts that you should be aware of.
The very first fire extinguisher
In the Middle Ages, the first crude fire extinguisher was created. A stream of water was sprayed to the base of a fire using what was called a “Squirt”. The Squirt operated in a manner similar to that of a bicycle pump. After submerging the nozzle in water, you may extract about one liter of water by pulling on the plunger. You could press on the plunger to discharge water and put out the fire after the Squirt was full of water.
First automatic fire extinguisher
Ambrose Godfrey, an English chemist, received a patent for the first automated fire extinguisher in 1723. The extinguisher was equipped with a fuse that linked a pewter chamber of gunpowder and a cask containing a fire suppressing chemical. The extinguishing solution would be released on top of the fire when the fuse was lit, causing the gunpowder to explode.
Shape and color
Handheld fire extinguishers have a cylinder shape. Usually, they are red in color to improve the device’s visibility. The extinguishers are equipped with one of the seven pressurized chemicals to put out minor flames in a house or place of business. The class of the fire and the setting in which it is employed dictate the kind of agent.
Types of fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishers go into three main categories: carbon dioxide, dry chemical, and water. The most popular kind, water, helps extinguish the fire’s heat source by using compressed air as a propellant. The propellant in dry chemical extinguishers is compressed nitrogen, and the tank is filled with either dry powder or foam. Next, a combination of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide is included in the carbon dioxide extinguishers.
Importance of fire extinguishers
For company owners, fire extinguishers are essential. Approximately 80% of fire events can be extinguished with only a fire extinguisher. The difference between small and substantial fire damage may be determined by using a fire extinguisher. A fire may cause less damage and need fewer repairs if you can put it out before it spreads.