Kevlar
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What fire extinguisher is best for a small amature set up?
After some thinking about reactions I explicitly do outside or in the concrete garage, I realized some the others I do inside may one day result in a
fire. This is just the same as a pan of hot oil on the stove top combusting realy, nothing really reactive like reductions! But like hot oil you can
not be using water on certain hot lipid solvents.
Would a good choice be a CO2 extinguisher, they are cheap at about £35 and provide peace of mind and may come in use!
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Texium
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It depends on the type of fire. CO2 extinguishers are great for conventional oil or solvent fires, but they are not suitable for metal
fires (e.g. burning magnesium or sodium). For those, you're better off dumping a bucket of sand on it. So having a CO2 fire extinguisher
and a sand bucket on hand should cover any kind of fire you might need to handle.
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Kevlar
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I have a sand bucket but want to make the spaces I use more low risk with measures, but I had looked at what would be best like using CO2.
Metal fires you can use a bucket of dry NaCl to put out, or Cat D fire extinguishers which use dry NaCl in powder. Not sure what the gas they use to
pressurize them though
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B(a)P
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I have a 2.5 kg capacity carbon dioxide extinguisher. Carbon dioxide appeals to me as they are effective against a wide range of fires and in the
unlikely event that you need to use it they don't make I huge mess. If you get the correct extinguisher you can also have them refilled, this allows
you to have a practice, which isn't a bad idea in my view.
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Kevlar
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I'm very health & safety aware, and don't like doing anything I feel is a danger. Not because of myself, I have ADD and have no sense of personal
fear. But I do live with people who I care for very much! So, this is a dichotomy of me not being afraid but not wanting to put anybody (esp) those I
love in any danger.
I think the £35 CO2 one on Amazon is a 2.5kg capacity, and it seems the most logical option for a broad spectrum of hazards. Coupled with the sand
bucket, I think that should be sufficient for amature needs.
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BromicAcid
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Bucket of sand or a bucket of lime. That's what I used to use because I always worried that the projection of a fire extinguisher would cause
flammable solvents to go everywhere. Plus I never had any inhibition to use them unlike a one time use extinguisher. That being said I would
probably just get a fire blanket if I were doing it now. Would be even better, less cleanup.
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Morgan
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Off topic perhaps but this came to mind.
However, the unintended release of CO2 from fire-extinguishing systems has caused 72 deaths and 145 injuries, mainly in the marine industry, between
1975 and 2000.
https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/unintentional-release-of-car...
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Kevlar
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Thats due to poor H&S Knowledge!
Small spaces & people freezing there skin to a CO2 horn, is well documented. But I will agree it is important to point these risks out.
Safety equipment being dangerous? What the thing that was saving them killed them? YES
Read the information of how to use safety devices, in the environment being used, the device employed and its limitations!
Read up on your H&S risk assesments and reductions. All to true!
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Metacelsus
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At the beginning of my PhD program all the students got to put out a solvent fire with a CO2 extinguisher, under the supervision of the fire
department. It was pretty useful practice.
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Morgan
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From an old post and having once been shocked in this way from a hefty old fire extinguisher bought at a flea market ...
"CO2 fire extinguisher discharge hoses are manufactured with a braided continuous wire inside. If the wire in the hose is damaged, the buildup of
static electricity can't be dissipated and the operator may experience a shock. This is particularly true if the fire extinguisher is being discharged
while being carried up off the ground. That is why NFPA 10 requires that a continuity test be performed on the hose at the time of maintenance to
ensure the wire braiding remains capable of dissipating any static buildup. A label is then attached to the hose as an indication that the continuity
test has been performed."
"Anyone that is trained to use CO2 should also be trained in the hazard associated with static discharge. Large wheeled units have knocked down
operators when the hose bonding wire had been damaged."
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Have-u-ever-experienced-stati...
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Kevlar
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I've just found the perfect one, little of an expense you hope to never use. But this beast fights Cat A, B, C, D, E, & F fires.
Firexo All in One Fire Extinguisher (6 Litre / 6 kg) - Multipurpose Extinguisher for All Fires inc. Li-ion Battery Fires! - Safety & Emergency
Equipment for Home, Kitchen, Fireplace, Grill, Caravan
Google that beast!
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