Aerosol style fire extinguishers

[The Metric System]

Does anybody have experience/feedback on this style of small aerosol fire extinguisher:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/First-Alert-Fire-Extinguishing-Spray/1000990428

I am considering getting a few as supplementary equipment in addition to the full-size extinguishers I have in the shop. My thinking is that it would be good to keep one at each workbench as an instant-response option to small fires, and keep one by the door to carry along when doing potential hot work outside.

Worthwhile approach or a waste of money?

 

[Skyman]

I can't comment on that type, but will suggest you might also have a look at the Element 50 or Element 100.

 

[driftpin]

Better than nothing, I see you have traditional equipment also. As a supplement to what else you have, I see nothing wrong with it. When the fire is in its incipient stage, that's when something like this could do the most good.



Buy extinguishers based upon the material/hazard you are likely to encounter. A 10 lbs. A-B-C extinguisher is a good all-around choice. Messy, but effective.

If you expect to be dealing with oil, gas, or electrical fires, then a CO2 extinguisher is better than an extinguisher rated for Class A fires.

I suggest putting in a 911 call as soon as possible if you encounter a need to discharge whatever you have. 'Hot Work' calls for a vigil for a period of time after work stops, in-case there is an ignition of the work area. Many fires occur because roofing work or welding work causes an opportunistic ignition, and no one is there monitoring the worksite.

I am a retired FL firefighter/paramedic and fire inspector, and a Fire Service Instructor III.

Types of Fire Extinguishers: Class A-B-C-D-K Guide | National Fire Supply

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[Hank11]

I can't comment on that type, but will suggest you might also have a look at the Element 50 or Element 100.

Tell us about them, please.

 

[JB052]

I can't comment on that type, but will suggest you might also have a look at the Element 50 or Element 100.

The 'Element' type is getting quite popular in the UK, especially for keeping in the car

 

[Aaron_W]

I don't see any rating on these to tell you how much fire it can extinguish or the types it is effective against. Without that I personally wouldn't use or recommend it. They may work, but I'm sensing gimmick or they would be rated.
The claim that it has 4x the extinguishing time vs a conventional extinguisher (which type?) is similarly meaningless. Application rate is an important consideration. Applying 1000 gallons of water on a fire at the rate of 10 gallons per minute from a garden hose is completely different from applying it at 300 gallons per minute from a 2-1/2" hose or 1000 gpm from a deckgun. The garden hose taking much longer to flow that 1000 gallons rarely offer a benefit.

These cans are not much smaller than a 2.5lb ABC dry chem extinguisher (3" diameter, 16" tall) which is rated 1A 10BC.

I have a small shop so I just keep a couple of 5lb and 10lb ABC dry chem extinguishers along with a 2-1/2 gallon pressurized water type.

What kind of hazards do you have where you would consider having something right at hand? A bucket of sand or box of baking soda (soda, not powder, same base material but a very different effect) are small, very cheap options for many materials. Water or water spray works well for small wood or paper fires, and again many cheap options there.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I am a retired FL firefighter/paramedic and fire inspector, and a Fire Service Instructor III.

Not to hi jack the thread but, considering your experience - what do you think about these "fire blankets" that are now advertised? Good thing to have in some situations?

 

[rlitman]

I don't see any rating on these to tell you how much fire it can extinguish or the types it is effective against.

No rating means 0A0B

Not to hi jack the thread but, considering your experience - what do you think about these "fire blankets" that are now advertised? Good thing to have in some situations?

Best option for a kitchen grease fire. Also great to throw on a person who's clothing is on fire (if you have a fire pit).

 

[reader2580]

It seems like some of the fire blankets that come in fancy boxes for like $40 are just overpriced versions of welding blankets. The customer base they are going after would likely have no idea what a welding blanket is.

 

[rlitman]

It seems like some of the fire blankets that come in fancy boxes for like $40 are just overpriced versions of welding blankets. The customer base they are going after would likely have no idea what a welding blanket is.

Indeed. They're just fiberglass blankets. Really to cheezy to be used for welding. I think I paid $8 for TWO in easy deployment bags. $40 is just plain nuts.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't waste my money or time with them.

Hot work outside, just keep a 5 gallon bucket of water nearby or the garden hose.

Inside, in cooperation with what you already have for extinguishers, many times a simple squirt bottle of water or a wet rag will snuff out a small flame without making a mess like a drychem.

 

[ChefRex]

I bought a small Halon fire extinguisher, a couple of decades ago for my classic car, never had to use it thankfully so I guess I can't comment on it's effectiveness.

 

[reader2580]

Inside, in cooperation with what you already have for extinguishers, many times a simple squirt bottle of water or a wet rag will snuff out a small flame without making a mess like a drychem.

Ths is what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure how water would play with a lot of the flammable liquids that GJers tend to work with.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Ths is what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure how water would play with a lot of the flammable liquids that GJers tend to work with.

It's just a matter of common sense to quickly think through the process or before you get started doing what you're doing.

Basically, you need to extinguish the flame by doing one thing,

*remove the fuel or let it run out of fuel
*remove the oxygen or shut of the supply of O2
* stop the chemical reaction resulting in ignition

What I might do and what anybody else might do is two different things.

Using an extinguisher for some is a taboo subject and sometimes make things worse when used wrong. Making french fries in a pan of oil on a stove can be quite similar to what we (most of us) do in our garages. Oil boils over and catches on fire. . . shut off the burner and put a lid on the pan or cookie sheet. It'll shut off the O2 supply and go out, the oil on the burner will quickly go out, in most cases, if not, be prepared to up the ante. It might be as simple as a wet towel placed around the pan or pat down the remaining flame. That same pan of oil catching on fire and dumping a dry chem extinguisher into it, will blast it contents all over the kitchen and along with burning oil at times, creating a bigger issue with burning oil across the counter, cabinets, behind the stove and on other kitchen decor.