As you know, not a single person is safe from unforeseen circumstances. No one can know when the lights will turn off, when a car will spray him, or when he will get sick. The same goes for fire. Uncontrolled fire can occur under almost any conditions, and it is very dangerous for human life and health. That is why it is necessary to observe safety precautions and make sure that primary fire extinguishing means are always available and operational. This article will focus on the fire extinguisher OP-1.
general information
So, powder fire extinguishers are one of the most common types of devices for eliminating fire. The purpose of powder fire extinguishers is to use them to eliminate fires of various categories, including ignition of solid, liquid, gaseous substances and electrical installations. At the same time, fire extinguishers of this type cannot be used to extinguish metals. This information is indicated on the body of each fire extinguisher.
Such devices can be used at any temperature. Moreover, they can be used to extinguish fires inside any premises. The volume of the covered area, of course, depends on the volume of the fire extinguishing agent itself. So, a powder extinguisher OP-1 means that 1 kg of charge is inside it. In this regard, this device has the following characteristics:
- jet ejection length - 2 meters;
- operating time - 6 seconds.
Given the above information, we can conclude that OP-1 is the ideal fire extinguisher in a car.
Device and principle of operation
This type of fire extinguisher has a fairly simple design, which includes:
- Hollow body with a substance that suppresses the combustion process.
- Siphon tube.
- Charging and starting device.
- Spray hose.
- Pressure gauge.
The OP-1 fire extinguishers are based on the use of compressed gas energy, which may be nitrogen, carbon dioxide or ordinary air. Under pressure, it throws the powder to the source of ignition, which leads to the suppression of the combustion process.
As for the powder itself, its composition is based on sodium, potassium and phosphorus-ammonium salts. In order for the powder to arrive in a friable state for a long time (not caked), talc, white soot and nepheline are often added to its composition.
Application
If you do not know how to bring an OP-1 fire extinguisher into action, then you should not worry, because it is quite simple. To do this, you need to hold the device vertically, break the seal and pull out the check. After that, it will be ready to use. Next, you need to direct the hose to the fire and press the start lever.
To put out a fire quickly, correctly and as safely as possible, certain rules must be followed. In addition to the fact that the powder must be directed as accurately as possible to the source of ignition, it is also necessary to stand on the windward side with respect to the source of ignition. In other words, if you put out a fire on a street or in a room with a strong draft, you need to become so that the wind blows in your back. On the one hand, this will protect you from flames. On the other hand, a headwind will not prevent the powder from the device from reaching the source of ignition. It is this requirement that makes powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers similar.
Benefits
OP-1 fire extinguishers have a number of advantages that set them apart from the rest. It should be noted separately that all these positive characteristics apply to all powder fire extinguishers, and not just to OP-1. So, the advantages of this kind of fire extinguishing devices are as follows:
- Universality. As mentioned above, these fire extinguishers can be used to eliminate the combustion of a wide range of substances.
- The ability to extinguish electrical equipment. The OP-1 fire extinguisher is almost the only way to effectively eliminate the fire of equipment that is under voltage up to 1000 volts.
- Reasonable cost.
- Convenience in operation.
Given all the positive properties of this type of fire extinguishing device, no one should have any more questions why powder fire extinguishers are so popular and in demand.
disadvantages
At the same time, one should not assume that such fire extinguishers are completely devoid of flaws. Unfortunately, there are a number of negative points:
- Significant pollution. Given the fact that the powder leaves traces that are then incredibly difficult to get rid of, such fire extinguishers cannot be used to extinguish electronic equipment, museum exhibits, computer rooms, etc.
- Smokiness. If you use the OP-1 fire extinguisher indoors, then be prepared for the formation of a strong powder cloud, which will significantly impair visibility. The smaller the room, the stronger the smoke will be.
- Lack of cooling effect. This fact is almost the main drawback, because it can lead to the fact that already extinguished objects will ignite again due to the fact that the temperature was not lowered.
- Strict storage conditions. If such fire extinguishers are stored in inappropriate conditions, the powder will very quickly lose its properties. As a result of this, it may happen that you cannot even put out a small fire using such a device.
As you can see, it is precisely these shortcomings that do not allow us to say that the OP-1 powder fire extinguisher is an ideal tool for eliminating fires of various types.
Cost
This topic has already been touched upon above, but it will not be out of place to mention that such devices can also boast of a fairly reasonable price. A powder extinguisher can be purchased for a little more than 200 rubles. Having studied the prices in the market, we can conclude that this is an acceptable and affordable cost for such an effective means to eliminate fires of various substances.
Conclusion
As we could see, the OP-1 fire extinguisher is a pretty good tool for eliminating fires of various types. Given its compactness and ease of use, this device is the most suitable option for car owners. Naturally, it has both advantages and disadvantages, but the positive characteristics significantly outweigh the negative properties. The main thing here is to carefully monitor that the fire extinguisher is stored in appropriate conditions. Violations of the recommendations may lead to the fact that in a critical situation the device will be malfunctioning. Based on all of the above, it can be concluded that the OP-1 fire extinguisher fully justifies the money spent on it. Moreover, its price is very low, which, undoubtedly, is one of the main advantages.