Fire extinguishers help to fight incipient fires quickly and effectively. But how does a fire extinguisher work and how does the way it works differ depending on the type of extinguisher?
In this article, we take a detailed look at how fire extinguishers work.
The basis of how a fire extinguisher works
The fire triangle describes the conditions or basics for a fire to start. It consists of three elements: Fuel, oxygen and an ignition source.
An effective fire extinguisher intervenes in this triangle to fight the fire. Once the extinguisher is activated, the extinguishing agent, be it water, powder, foam or CO2, is targeted at the source of the fire and released. As a result, the extinguishing agent cools, suffocates or isolates the oxygen and thus extinguishes the fire
The correct operation of fire extinguishers
The use of fire extinguishers should be practiced regularly. The following steps should always be carried out when using a fire extinguisher:
- Remove the fire extinguisher safety catch
- Press down the firing head so that the container is pressurized
- Hold the hose with the spray gun towards the source of the fire and hold the handle of the fire extinguisher with the other hand
- Actuate the spray gun (impulsively) and point it at the source of the fire
Small device, big effect
Fire extinguishers are little heroes in emergency situations. By intervening in the fire triangle in a targeted manner, they can fight fires effectively and quickly. The different types of fire extinguishers make it possible to respond to different classes of fire.
An understanding of how these life-saving devices work is crucial in order to be able to act correctly in an emergency.
