Can a fire extinguisher explode ?
That is a very good question. A fire extinguisher is basically a pressurized container. A typical Dry powder extinguisher will have a pressure of 185 to 195 psi and a Carbon Di-oxide type fire extinguihser has around 825 psi. Now how high of a pressure is this.
For a comparison a typical car tyre has 35 psi of pressure and a truck tyre has around 145 psi. This video of a tyre exploding should paint a clear picture of the risk involved.
Has there been any incidents where a fire extinguisher exploded ?
Incident 01: : 23rd June 2023
A senior high school student has died after an extinguisher exploded during a fire drill at his campus in Thailand. Twenty-one others at Rajavinit Mathayom School in Bangkok were injured in Friday's incident, said the city's governor. Seven were taken to hospital. The explosion had sent the extinguisher flying towards the victim, who was about 10 metres away. Rescuers said the extinguisher may have been defective because of sun or heat exposure.
Incident 02: Feb 3, 2023
Fire extinguisher explodes in rubber factory in Greater Noida, 3 injured. The incident occurred at a rubber factory in Sector Beta-2, a fire broke out in Omfa Rubbers Ltd in Site-4 around 9.30am on Thursday. “The fire was triggered when a machine producing fan belts caught fire due to friction. The employees used a fire extinguisher to control the flames, but the cylinder exploded instead.
One very important that I have noticed is that these types of extinguisher explosion incidents occour only in "Cartridge type fire extinguishers". The already weakened walls of the fire extinguisher is unable to contain the sudden release of pressure.
Corrective and Preventive Action
Regular inspections by qualified professionals identify potential issues, such as corrosion, leakage or damaged components.
Pressure checks should be performed as the manufacturer recommends to ensure the extinguisher’s pressure remains within the safe range.
Store fire extinguishers in designated areas away from extreme temperatures and ignition sources
Ensure the fire extinguihser is not kept directly on the ground.
Fire extinguishers shall be place at a height greater than 5 feet.
Recognizing Signs Of A Potentially Dangerous Fire Extinguisher:
Operating a Fire Extinguisher
For rechargeable fire extinguishers, you will need to replace them if any of the following issues occur:
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