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From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: Hydrogen Peroxide solutions and fire extinguishers
Date: Jul 14, 2011 12:59 UTC
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< div style='font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000' >Let me start with the caveat that I don't know much about this.
That said, I would expect an ABC extinguisher to knock down flames from
such a fire, but it wouldn't address the source. That is, concentrat
ed hydrogen peroxide in contact with a fuel will oxidize, heat up, ignite b
y itself and burn rather vigorously with all that oxygen. Seems to me
that once the ABC agent knocks down the flame, there's nothing to keep it
from reigniting. This may be a case where water, applied in a spray p
attern if there's a flammable liquid involved, would be useful, as it
would dilute the H2O2 and cool down the mixture. The combination of
ABC followed by water might also work. A type K extinguisher, w
hich contains aqueous potassium bicarbonate solution, has a spray nozzle, a
nd is intended for hot grease fires in kitchens, just might be ideal.
CO2 probably wouldn't work since the fire has its own oxygen source.
;
This might make for some interesting small scale, outdoor experim
entation at your next fire extinguisher training session (after class is di
smissed).
&
nbsp; DonCan anybody tell me if type ABC fire extinguisher can be used for Hydrog
en
Peroxide solution related fire instead of type A fire extinguisher?
Is there a
critical concentration above which ABC extinguisher be
comes useless or
dangerous?
Thank you.
Mubetcel