How to Use and Store CO2 Fire Extinguishers

It is vital that site managers, health and safety representatives and property owners are aware of the risks of CO2 fire extinguishers, and the correct way to store them.

When used and stored correctly, CO2 fire extinguishers are a fantastic, dependable piece of equipment, which can greatly improve the safety standards of your site.

However, if insufficient or incorrect precautions are taken, heat can cause the top of CO2 fire extinguishers to ‘pop’ or ‘burst’.

To avoid this from happening, our fire safety experts have created this simple guide to the correct usage and storage of this piece of equipment.

What are CO2 fire extinguishers, and how do they work?

A CO2 fire extinguisher is, mainly, designed to be used in Class B fires, and to minimise the risk of using electrical equipment.

Class B fires are fires that are caused by flammable liquids or flammable gases. These include petroleum greases, tars, oils (including oil-based paints) solvents, lacquers, or alcohols. Some of the main causes of Class B fires are propane, natural gas, gasoline and kerosene.

These extinguishers work by using self-charged gas pressure, which is stored at the top of the extinguisher. The liquid CO2 is then stored directly underneath, and is kept in a liquid state, at 51 bar at 15 degrees centigrade.

Then, as the handle is squeezed, the valve is pierced, which pushes the gas down onto the liquid, sending the CO2 up the syphon tube and through the nozzle, where it is released as a gas.

What is the best way to use CO2 fire extinguishers?

Before you squeeze the handle, lift the nozzle, so that it is pointing at the fire, with the extinguisher kept upright.

Then, pull the pin out, squeeze the handle, and direct the CO2 gas towards the base of the fire. Make sure that you don’t hold the nozzle, because it can freeze (it is designed to keep in position by itself).

Keep squeezing the handle, until the fire has been completely put out.

We provide fire safety training for groups in Manchester, Rochdale and across the North West – which include how to use fire extinguishers. See our fire training page for details about our courses.

What is the correct way to store a CO2 fire extinguisher?

Firstly, you need to make sure that the CO2 extinguisher is kept within a temperature range of -30 degrees centigrade to +60 degrees centigrade, even if it is stored inside. It cannot go beyond either of these values.

Then, we recommend that you keep the extinguisher away from direct sunlight – you can do this by using blinds or covers to block out the sunlight, or having the extinguishers fitted under a window.

Why is it so important to implement safe storage measures?

Despite their ease of use, fire extinguishers are a complicated piece of equipment, with (if they are not treated with care) relatively high-risk components.

You may have heard a CO2 extinguisher pop or burst without it being touched.

This happens if the pressure within the body is allowed to increase, due to a rise in temperature.

This occurs because the extinguisher has an in-built bursting disc, so that it can cope with the pressure and release it as safely as possible.

However, if the top of your fire extinguisher bursts, it will render the extinguisher useless, and can still cause a safety risk to anyone who is in the room when it happens.

Due to the pressure vessels that exist within CO2 extinguishers, there are strict legal requirements in place, in order to ensure that they are used and stored safely.

But, remember that the extinguisher won’t physically ‘explode’. If the bursting does occur, only the top of the device will burst. So, while there is no serious safety risk with these devices, we still highly recommend that you store them carefully.

If you have any further questions about the safe use of fire extinguishers, or if you would like to enlist the fire safety services of Target Fire, don’t hesitate to get in touch.