Powder Fire Extinguisher

A powder fire extinguisher is filled with powder and a gas that pushes the powder out. The powder stops the fire by cooling the area and covering the burning object, which cuts off the oxygen supply and smothers the flames.

With burning liquids, be careful that the pressure from the extinguisher does not splash the liquid and spread the fire instead of putting it out – do not hold the nozzle too close.

It is not recommended for use in small enclosed spaces because of the risk of inhaling the powder. If you use this extinguisher in a room with electronics or dust-sensitive equipment, there is a risk of damaging it. In general, items hit by the powder are difficult to clean afterwards.

This powder fire extinguisher must not be used on light and flammable alkali metals (batteries), loose bulk materials, or vegetable fats and oils.

There is a special type of powder fire extinguisher that discharges the powder much more slowly. A fire involving flammable metals (class D) is essentially buried under the powder, which smothers it, and the composition of the powder ionises the surface of the metal, preventing the fire from spreading. If there is a risk in your operation that you will have to extinguish metals or batteries, this extinguisher is essential, because there is practically nothing else that will put out a metal fire.