Safety question - fire extinguishers and freezing temps

[sammerdog]

Our comrade Iseman down in Texas recently had a close call with a garage fire. Luckily, he was prepared with a fire extinguisher and knocked it back.

For us guys up north, does anyone know what (if any) cold temps play on the effectiveness of fire extinguishers?

I have a basic B-C extinguisher standing by in my unheated garage.

Full disclosure: it's only January 2nd, but we seem to be getting an influx of safety related questions. I think that's a great trend to start the New Year with. Let's keep it up.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Dry nitrogen gas as a propellant, and dry powder as the agent. Cannot see where extreme cold would present any problems other than to make the flex hose (if it has one) difficult to aim and if it has a plastic valve, more brittle and prone to breakage. I suspect these considerations have been taken into account in the design.

Charles

 

[nissan_crawler]

they work in a -35* shop. dry chem, and halon.

 

[wpgf250]

As a Volunteer Firefighter in the great white north I can say that as long as it is a dry chemical or Halon extinguisher, you will be fine at low temps. The only type you need to worry about are type A water extinguishers which are not very common these days.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Actually, I've never thought about it, I'll try to check tommorrow at work and see what I can find out.

 

[D.J.]

wpgf250 is correct about the exts their are no problems unless you have the water types class A's but they even have a antifreeze solution in them to keep them from freezing, unless someone has recharged them with only 100% water. Ext maintenance includes taking the dry chems off the hanging brackets and turn them upside down and even hit them on the sides with a rubber mallet to ensure the chemicals are loose in the pressurized cylinders. Also unscrew the hoses if equipped and blowing compressed air thru them to make sure insects haven't set up housekeeping in them.
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[akdiesel]

Just make sure you have the pressure in the green area on the gauge and it is a dry chem or N2 as mentioned.
I would not take any extinguisher apart unless you have had the training.

 

[Identaltech]

sammer no matter how much you want to do this dont I mean dont lick the fire extinguisher......
or is that flag poles?

 

[sammerdog]

It ain't gonna stick - your old man is full of beans.

 

[jkeyser14]

Just make sure you have the pressure in the green area on the gauge and it is a dry chem or N2 as mentioned.
I would not take any extinguisher apart unless you have had the training.

I sadly wish you could trust the pressure gauges. We had a need for a fire extinguisher at a shop I was at at a few years ago when something caught fire when welding. The first (and less than a year old) extinguisher we grabbed didn't work, luckily the next one did. We took the guage off and the needle was stuck. There was also no release of pressure when we removed it.

 

[jeepxj]

I sadly wish you could trust the pressure gauges. We had a need for a fire extinguisher at a shop I was at at a few years ago when something caught fire when welding. The first (and less than a year old) extinguisher we grabbed didn't work, luckily the next one did. We took the guage off and the needle was stuck. There was also no release of pressure when we removed it.

sorta related:

if you mount it on a wall with a door on it the vibrations make the powder settle. flip it over or hit the bottom with a mallet yearly to loosen it up.

 

[D.J.]

akdiesel I didn't say anything about taking one apart just unscrewing the hose off of it isn't considered taking one apart! Also blowing air thru the hose is the accepted way of making sure their are no obstructions in the hose assembly. Thanks D.J.
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