Fire extinguisher services are meant to prevent small fires from becoming big ones. Extreme cold conditions can cause a fire extinguisher to cease functioning easily. According to reports, 81.5% of fire incidents were solved with the help of portable fire extinguishers. This shows their importance and also explains why it is important to prevent these extinguishers from freezing.
Fire Extinguisher Freeze in Cold Weather?
At certain times, a fire extinguisher can freeze under extreme temperature conditions, making it either useless or dangerous to use. The risk of freezing mainly depends on the extinguishing agents used. Fire Equipment Maintenance is essential to ensure the equipment remains functional and safe, reducing the chances of freezing.
Types of Fire Extinguishers and Their Freeze Resistance
Water Extinguishers
Most commonly available; it is based on the principle of withdrawal of the fire by either water or a water-based agent.
Foam Extinguishers
It is based on the fact that the supply of the foaming agent cuts off a fire.
• No Freezing Possibility: Low to Medium. The foam concentrates are not sensitive to cold, but freezing for a longer time affects them in some way.
• Effect: Frosted foam does not allow free flow of extinguishing agent.
CO2 Extinguishers
These restrict atmospheric oxygen and stop the fire with carbon dioxide gas at high pressure.
• Low Freeze Risk: CO2 is, at nearly all temperatures, in a gaseous state; it is unlikely to freeze.
• Effect: The inside pressure of the cylinder may be exposed to extreme cold; thus, it has the consequence of lowering the discharge rate.
Clean Agent Suppression Agents
Clean Agent Suppression Agents use clean extinguishing agents and halon alternatives that stop the chain reaction of the chemical fire.
• Freezing Risk: This depends on the type of clean agent being used. Various types of clean agents freeze at different points.
• Effect: Freezing impacts the flow rate and even the extinguishing agent’s efficiency.
How to Prevent Fire Extinguishers from Freezing
The failure rate of fire extinguishers is between 1.2% and 11.2% which showcases their reliability. Prevent your fire extinguishers from freezing through necessary preparation. The following are some of the best methods to prevent freezing of your fire extinguishers.
1. Storage Placement:
• Insulated Places: Mount the fire extinguisher in insulated places, like heated buildings, garages, or storage cabinets. Do not install fire extinguishers in any unoccupied location, for instance, a shed or one that is kept outside.
• No Cold Traps: Mount the fire extinguisher in a vented location with windows and doorways where the cold air moves.
• Up installation: The extinguishers are installed upwards to prevent settling out and freezing of the extinguishing agent. This is especially important for people who have water or agents made of foam.
2. Maintenance and Inspection by Period
• Visual inspect your fire extinguishers regularly to check for corrosion and damage.
• Check the pressure gauge at all times to ensure that the fire extinguisher is at full charge. If the pressure drop happens fast, it may be a sign of icing up.
3. Professional Maintenance
Avail the fire extinguisher services from a professional to carry out the inspection, servicing, and recharging of the equipment. These service providers will be in an excellent position to inspect your extinguishers and recommend what action to take when it is cold.
4. Cold Weather Preparation
• Emergency Contingency Plan: Prepare for cold-weather contingency. You might, like many, wonder where one would look to locate something of this nature temporarily, or perhaps even who could go to and order a few cold-weather-rated extinguishers.
• Instruct Staff: Instruct employees that the risk could be arrested and should let the staff be aware of this; inform them if the extinguisher has undergone proper storage and handling in a low-temperature state, they likely managed to maintain good conditions about the extinguisher.
With proper preventive measures, the danger of your fire extinguisher freezing up will be reduced while being able to make use of these firefighting apparatuses during a time of emergency, even in the worst winter conditions. And do not forget that maintenance accompanied by professional advice ensures that your equipment for fire safety keeps on working right.
What to Do If Your Fire Extinguisher Freezes
First and most importantly, if there’s an accident at all that threatens your use of your fire extinguisher or, worse still, suspicions of it freezing – again, safety is your chief goal. Do not act to make bad things any worse. It is unpleasant enough if someone attempts earnestly to make a deadpan use of a frozen extinguisher; they’ll be unable to discharge their contents satisfactorily, so one could attempt to use them up the end but abandon the recipient and his goods to the tender mercies of the fires.
• More Pressure: The amount of water or any fluid inside the extinguisher that expands when frozen can exert much pressure on the cylinder. Sometimes, it breaks the cylinder into pieces because when its contents ooze out all sides, it explodes.
• Risk of Injuries: The bursting of the extinguisher in an explosion has caused the occurrence of several injuries like burns, frostbites or eyes destroyed.
So, if you come to know that your fire extinguisher has frozen, then move ahead by following the below steps
1.Fire Extinguishers: Contact experts who can service you right away, people who are equipped, trained, and licensed for the correct job to do inspections to assess the condition and understand the situation facing the extinguisher. This will enlighten you on the status of its condition, whether it can still be put to use, and advise you on what can be done with it. Fire Extinguishers Must Be Routinely Maintained to ensure they remain functional and effective when needed.
2. Replace if Necessary: If the extinguisher is not working, replace it now. Do not wait until the broken extinguisher becomes worthless and your building becomes a tomb.
FAQ
1. Can all types of fire extinguishers freeze?
Ans: No, all fire extinguishers freeze. Dry chemicals, CO2, and some clean agent extinguishers are not very likely to freeze. Water-based and some foam extinguishers freeze a whole lot faster.
2. At what temperature can a fire extinguisher freeze?
Ans: Each extinguishing agent has its unique freezing point. Water-based extinguishers freeze at 32°F (0°C). The freezing temperatures for other extinguishing agents are considerably lower.
3. Can a frozen fire extinguisher still work?
Ans: No, a frozen fire extinguisher will neither act nor even discharge. Sometimes, the use of a frozen extinguisher is dangerous and causes the cylinder to burst.
4. How can I store a fire extinguisher safely in cold weather?
Ans:
- Keep them in well-insulated places, such as heated buildings or garages.
- Store them off drafts and cold currents.
- Store them erect.
5. Can I use antifreeze in a fire extinguisher?
Ans: It is not possible. However, it is still possible if you haven’t tried to put the antifreeze in the fire extinguisher. Antifreeze will not mix well inside the extinguisher with all of the agents for extinguishing fire, so trying to use it after making that mix may make it unusable or, worse yet, unsafe to try and use.
Conclusion
Knowing the perils of freezing and being more prepared to handle said risks just might be enough to put your fire extinguishers in a good position to tackle even the most spectacular emergencies to their best temperatures. One would have been made to believe that only Fire Extinguisher Services will commit to regular check-ups and maintenance on the effectiveness and safety of your fire protection equipment.
Also Read: How to Use a Fire Extinguisher in Car Emergencies