The Science Behind Fire and Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers for business are a necessity in all work places, hospitals, care homes and larger shared accommodation sites. While there’s every chance your extinguishers will lay dormant, never being required, it could very well end up saving your property and perhaps even lives. While they remain unused it’s easy not to give them a second thought. At Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) we thought we’d look at the science behind these fantastic inventions that form an integral part of any fire safety equipment installation.

All fires are the result of a chemical combustion reaction between oxygen and at least one type of fuel. The third essential element required for combustion to take place is heat. In the case of a typical wood fire, friction or focused light might heat the wood to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which decomposes some of the cellulose material in the wood. Volatile gasses are released as a compound of hydrogen, carbon & oxygen and as the temperature continues to rise, the compound molecules break apart and recombine to form the water, carbon dioxide and other gasses that make up the flame. It is the carbon atoms that emit the light of the flame as they heat up and the fire will continue to burn while there is fuel and oxygen as the heat of the flame will keep the fuel at ignition temperature.

To put out a fire at least one of the three fire producing elements must be removed or blocked and that’s where the fire extinguisher comes in. To remove the heat element of the fire, a water fire extinguisher can be used, cooling the fuel to below the ignition point. However, most fire extinguishers work by removing the oxygen element by smothering the fire. This is used in the majority of cases because removal of the fuel element is usually not practical.

Oxygen can be removed using a CO2 or a dry powder fire extinguisher. The dry powder fire extinguisher is usually filled with sodium bicarbonate or baking soda and is pressurised with nitrogen. When the safety pin is removed and the operating lever pressed, the gas cylinder is pierced and the nitrogen decomposes the powder to create carbon dioxide. CO2 is heavier than oxygen so it works by displacing the oxygen which in turn stops the fire. This CO2 will help the smother the fire along with the powder which is expelled by high pressure like an aerosol.

And of course the trusty fire-blanket should also be considered alongside the fire extinguishers in any installation of fire safety equipment. It too works by smothering the fire to block oxygen. In practice, you don’t need to know the science when you’re choosing fire extinguishers for business, but you do need to know how and when to use them, so contact Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) and we’ll guide you through everything you need to know.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.