Bissoy.com
Doctors Medicines MCQs Q&A

Which type of fire extinguisher should be used to extinguish fires in electrical cables/equipment?

Which type of fire extinguisher should be used to extinguish fires in electrical cables/equipment? Correct Answer carbon dioxide

Halon fire extinguisher is most suitable for a live electrical fire, as it is not the option, then the next suitable fire extinguisher is CO2 Fire Extinguishers.

Concept:

A fire extinguisher, flame extinguisher or simply extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.It is not intended for use on and out of control fire. 

Many types of fire extinguishers are available with different extinguishing 'agents' to deal with different classes of fires. 

Halon extinguishers:

  • This is suitable for electrical fires caused by appliances, tools and other plugged in gear. 
  • These extinguishers may be filled with carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and bromochlorodifluoro methene (BCF).
  • They may be of either gas cartridge or stored pressure type.
  • They are more effective in extinguishing small fires involving pouring liquids.

Mistake Points

  • To extinguish fires in electrical cables/equipment, both Halon and CO2 are used. But Halon is expensive and depletes the ozone layer and its use is restricted. Therefore, primarily, we use CO2 fire extinguisher for electrical cables/equipments.

 

Additional Information

Foam extinguishers:

These may be of stored pressure or gas cartridge types.

Foam extinguishers are most suitable for:

  • flammable liquid fires
  • running liquid fires

Must not be used where electrical equipment is involved.

[ alt="foam" src="//storage.googleapis.com/tb-img/production/18/11/foam.PNG" style="width: 181px; height: 300px;">

Water-filled extinguishers 

There are two methods of operation.

  • Gas cartridge type
  • Stored pressure type

[ alt="water" src="//storage.googleapis.com/tb-img/production/18/11/water.PNG" style="width: 204px; height: 300px;">

Dry extinguishers:

  • Extinguishers fitted with dry powder may be of the gas cartridge or stored pressure type.
  • The main distinguishing feature is the fork-shaped nozzle.
  • Powders have been developed to deal with class D fires. 

[ alt="powder" src="//storage.googleapis.com/tb-img/production/18/11/powder.PNG" style="width: 173px; height: 300px;">

Classes of fire

Types of fires

Class “A”

Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics.

Class “B”

Flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, alcohols

Flammable gases such as propane and butane

Class “C”

Energized electrical equipment such as computers, servers, motors, transformers, and appliances

Class “D”

Combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.

Class “E”

Cooking oils and greases such as animal and vegetable fats
 

[ alt="Fire16" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/tb-img/production/18/11/Fire16.PNG" style="width: 490px; height: 352px;">

Related Questions

Which type of fire extinguisher is used to extinguish petroleum fires?
Which type of fire extinguisher do you use to fight an electrical fire if a carbon dioxide extinguisher is unavailable?
The following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences and mark your response accordingly. S1: The sun-dried stalks of rice had caught fire and burst into flames. S6: Even those who were too feeble to keep up with the first rush were on their feet, eager to join the fire-fighters. P: Then came most of the older people, and mothers with babies at their backs. Q: And all the active women and girls followed them to assist them in fighting the fire. R: All the young men and boys were soon on the spot. S: Staring wildly at the blazing rice, the people of the village ran to extinguish the fire. The proper sequence should be
Which type of fire extinguishers are used to put out electrical fires from electrical components or energized electrical equipment?
In which of the following situations, water cannot be used to extinguish fires? (A) electrical fire (B) burning of wood (C) burning of petrol (D) burning of paper
BCF Extinguisher is used to extinguish which type of fire?
Which type of fire extinguisher is to be used on electrical equipment or installation under fire?
Which type of fire extinguisher must NOT be used in case of electrical base fire
Which type of fire extinguisher is most effective for putting out electrical fire?
Consider the following statements regarding Fire Detection and Suppression System. 1. FDSS technology can detect fire in buses in less than 30 seconds and extinguish it in 60 seconds thereby reducing the risk to life and property to a significant extent. 2. It is developed by DRDO's Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?