The requirement to have a fire extinguisher in the car is not a whim, but a real means of ensuring road safety. In an extreme situation, a fire extinguisher can save the car and even life, but the choice and purchase should be approached carefully.
Traffic regulations establish a requirement for the presence of a means of combating fire in the passenger compartment. For these purposes, class "B" fire extinguishers are used, suitable for extinguishing the flame of ignited fuel liquid or other fuels and lubricants. Fire extinguishers in cars are used carbon dioxide and powder, but there is a wide variety of models that differ in the duration and volume of the extinguishing agent, the width of the jet and its pressure, as well as internal pressure.
Many manufacturers supply vehicles already equipped with primary fire extinguishing equipment. For the attention of the drivers of new cars, fire extinguishers have a certain expiration date, after which the fire extinguisher must either be refilled or disposed of with the subsequent purchase of a new one. In this case, there are clear recommendations for choosing a fire extinguisher from the car manufacturers themselves, which should be guided in the first place. In addition, you should consider a few simple rules for using different types of fire extinguishers for a car.
Powder fire extinguishers
These devices throw dispersed chemical powder into the flame, blocking the access of oxygen. The main disadvantage of dry powder fire extinguishers is the high level of contamination: white powder is very difficult to remove from smooth surfaces, and it can remain forever in the pores of plastic and fabric upholstery. On the other hand, such fire extinguishers are indispensable for extinguishing electrical wiring, since the composition tightly covers the burning insulation, therefore, even with constant heating due to a short circuit, the fire will not flare up again.
Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers
The fire extinguisher cylinder contains high pressure liquefied carbon dioxide, which, during operation, is ejected through the bell and displaces the oxygen required for combustion. Due to their high head, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers effectively bring down flames and can extinguish burning fuel in a few seconds. However, such devices are very traumatic. First, the carbon dioxide jet is at a very low temperature, which can lead to severe frostbite if used carelessly. Secondly, inhalation of concentrated carbon dioxide causes paralysis of the upper respiratory tract, which means that it is unacceptable to use them to extinguish a fire that has blocked people inside the car.
Use for extinguishing a fire
It is recommended to have two different types of fire extinguishers in the vehicle. You do not need to store them in the trunk, they should be located in an accessible and convenient place. Best of all - under the driver's seat in special mounts. It is better to extinguish open fires with carbon dioxide fire extinguishers: the interior and body of the car, spreading fuel. Powder fire extinguishers will be indispensable for extinguishing fire in hard-to-reach places: the engine compartment, trunk, under the bottom of the car.
