The car is considered to be a means of transportation. For some, it is a demonstration of status or financial position, but not the point. Any car needs care and proper equipment. Many drivers do not think about the purpose and benefits of a fire extinguisher in a car. He can appear in the trunk only before a technical inspection or at the insistence of employees of the state traffic inspectorate. But in vain! After all, its absence at the right time can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Purpose of car fire extinguishers
No one can predict in advance what will happen to him in the next minute of life. There are unpredictable cases on the roads, for example, you drive past a lighted car and urgently need outside help. There is no guarantee that the fire test will not affect your machine. For this, a fire extinguisher should always be in the car in order to avoid such force majeure.
But what kind of fire extinguisher to buy for yourself? To do this, you need to understand what they are and how they operate, evaluate their financial capabilities, and go for this purchase to the automotive market.
What is the difference between a powder fire extinguisher and others?
There are three main types of fire fighting vehicles. These are carbon dioxide, air-foam and powder fire extinguishers. The shelf life of each species is different. There are still water extinguishers, but they can’t be used at cold temperatures, so this type is not suitable for Russian conditions.
To have an idea of air-foam fire extinguishers, you can recall a spray can with hair styling foam. Their operating principles are very similar. When you press the button, foam is released that extinguishes the flame. Unfortunately, such fire extinguishers will not extinguish vast areas, and sometimes this needs to be done urgently. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and your car, it is better to give preference to more reliable types of fire extinguishers.
Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, as the name implies, are carbon dioxide cylinders. In case of fire by pressing the button, the gas flow under pressure can be directed to the desired location. They knock down flames and cool the source of ignition. The main advantage of using this type of fire extinguisher is that after using them, a person can see only traces of the fire. Consequences and traces of it on other objects do not remain. But it is also necessary to remember that in the case of using this tool, new fires are possible. Therefore, it should always be complete, and when extinguishing it is necessary to carefully remove even the smallest fire.
Powder extinguishers contain a special dry powder and some inert gas inside to create pressure. Unlike other species, it is very effective in extinguishing a very wide range of burning substances. It can extinguish liquid, solid and gaseous substances, as well as live objects. Able to work both at low and at high temperatures, and those that can not stand other types. The effectiveness of such fire extinguishers is many times greater than others.
Mode of action
To activate the powder fire extinguisher, it is necessary to pull out the safety pin and press the button. The substances included in the composition block the access of oxygen, thereby preventing further combustion. In case of fire in the car, it can be used in the passenger compartment and engine compartment. According to the rules, a powder fire extinguisher must be used at a distance of three or four meters.
The disadvantages of such a fire extinguisher
Firstly, traces of powder are an unpleasant consequence of the use of such a fire extinguisher. They are not always able to be removed from surfaces that were rescued after a fire. Various elements of the car can suffer not only from fire, but also from chemical powder. In this case, such constituent parts are not subject to resuscitation, and they simply need to be replaced. But this is better than the defeat of large surfaces by fire.
Secondly, after some time, the powder inside the container may change and become unusable.
Thirdly, the gas pressure is also constantly decreasing, especially if the expiration date of the powder fire extinguisher for a car is over.
Fourthly, they cannot be used for extinguishing alkali metals. How and why to use it is written directly on the fire extinguisher.
What types of powder fire extinguishers are there?
Powder extinguishers are divided into several types:
- Upload. This type is designed to extinguish fires of all types. There is a special locking device for ease of use, as well as a pressure gauge.
- Gas generating. Most often used in cars. Based on gas energy.
- For various application parameters, such as temperature, pressure, size and service life, powder extinguishers are identified by numbers. For example, OD1 (h), OD3 (h), OD5 (h), OD70 (h).
Powder extinguishers. Shelf life
For the correct and safe use of this fire extinguishing agent, it is necessary to carefully monitor its condition and the end date of use. The shelf life of a powder fire extinguisher is typically ten years for type OP. This is an average value, but in practice it depends on many factors, as well as the type of fire extinguisher. There is a concept of a regulatory shelf life, from which it is possible to understand what maximum period a particular fire extinguisher can serve. A quarterly check confirms the health of the device.
The shelf life of an OP 4 powder fire extinguisher is a classic example of the lifespan of a standard appliance. He works for 10 years with a recharge every five years. If you constantly recharge it and monitor this tool, then you will be sure of the safety of your car.
Powder extinguisher recharge
Powder extinguishers, whose shelf life still allows them to be used for a long time, can be recharged for further work. Typically, such recharging takes about five years. The expediency of charging is determined depending on the model. The shelf life of the
OP 2 powder
fire extinguisher is short due to its small volume. It is better not to recharge it, but simply replace it with a new one. Many small-volume models also do not recharge.
Powder extinguisher has expired, what should I do?
The question of the use of fire extinguishers, which have deteriorated or can no longer be used, worries many drivers. So how do you use powder fire extinguishers whose expiration date has expired?
- You can practice extinguishing skills, and then pass the bottle to a scrap collection point.
- Make a recharge, but this option is no longer suitable for the car. The shelf life of an automotive powder fire extinguisher is strictly regulated by safety rules.
- You are lucky if there is a reception center for old fire extinguishers nearby and you can pass it there with a calm mind. Unfortunately, this is rare.
- Come up with your own version, for example, make it a unique art object.