Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a highly efficient extinguishing agent and effect on the oxygen and heat sides of fire triangle. Carbon dioxide is a member of the inert gas family but due to its special features, has a different fire extinguishing system. CO2 is suitable for fire classes of B and C.
CO2 properties:
- Natural inert gas
- Colorless
- Odourless (slightly pungent odour at high concentrations)
- Non-conductive
- Transportation and storage in liquid form
- 1.5 times heavier than air (density of 1.87 kg/m3 ) at +15°C and atmospheric pressure
Advantages:
- Eco-friendly
- High availability
- Reasonable price
Disadavntage:
- Danger to life (carbon dioxide concentration more than 5% volume)
- Forming the mist after releasing the gas.
CO2 is used in both types of extinguishers:
1- Portable extinguisher
2- Fixed extinguisher (stationary system)
- Single sector
- Multi sector
Component of fixed extinguishing systems:
1- Mechanical parts
- Cylinder rack (wall or floor)
- Cylinder bank
- Main / Reserve
- Master / Slave
- Cylinder (control/pilot, CO2/N2)
- e.g. CO2 cylinder
- Capacity: 67.5 / 80 liter
- Working pressure: 200 bar
- Test pressure: 300 bar
- System pressure: 58 bar
- e.g. N2 cylinder
- Capacity: 5 / 10liter
- Working pressure: 200 bar
- Test pressure: 300 bar
- e.g. CO2 cylinder
- Cylinder valve
- Weighing device + Limit switch (for CO2 cylinder)
- Pressure gauge with electrical switching contact (for pilot N2 cylinder)
- Triggering device (electrical/pneumatic/manual)
- Electrical actuator
- Pneumatical actuator
- Solenoid actuator
- Control (pilot) hose and adapter
- Discharge hose and adapter
- Manifold
- Check valve
- Bleed valve
- Safety valve
- Pressure reduction valve
- Selector valve (Three-way valve)
- Mechanical blocking device
- Time delay device (Non-electrical)
- Valve with test clutch, test device
- Odouriser Cartridge
- Distribution pipe network, fittings, couplings, supports, brackets, rods, nuts, bolts, dowels
- Nozzle
- Pressure relief damper (vent)
- Pressure-controlled, electrical switching contact
- Electrical switching contact
- Pneumatic signal horn
- Safety sign
- Fire extinguishing control panel
- Fire detector
- Alarm indicator
- Manual release
- Manual hold
- Sounder flasher
- Warning panel
Related standards:
- NFPA 12
- VdS 2093
- CEA 4007
- NFPA 72
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