Portable fire extinguishers are very much helpful in dealing with small fires. They can prevent fire from spreading, which prevents an uncontrolled fire. Different types of fire extinguishers are used in ships. It may be water, foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, etc. They are kept in a place from where it can be easily taken out and used if necessary. Portable fire extinguishers are normally painted with red colour. In additional they have a colour band around them, which represent the type of extinguisher or its content inside, thereby anybody can identify the type of extinguisher from far away. Also there must be clear instructions posted on them including its quantity, name and year of manufacture, details of approval, classes of fire where it can be applied, last service date, test pressure details, temperature range of effective use, etc.

Water Fire Extinguisher

Water fire extinguishers are of the most simplest design. A 9 liter capacity portable water fire extinguisher is shown above. This extinguisher can be used for class A fires (or in other words, fires on solid materials such as wood, plastics, furniture, paper, cloth, etc.). The extinguisher contains fresh water with added salts to reduce freezing point and a CO2 bottle inside. The extinguisher is not pressurized when not in use. It must be stowed and operated in upright position.

For operating the extinguisher, remove the safety pin, un-clip the hose, point the hose towards seat of the fire, and squeeze the handle. While squeezing the CO2 bottle top seal is pierced and releasing CO2which can pressurize the container to expel the water out through the hose with high pressure. This pressurized water comes out through the nozzle and extinguishes fire. For stopping water discharge, handle can be released. Once used, depressurize the container and extinguisher to be recharged.

Characteristics of Portable Water Extinguisher