CO2 1kg?

[Redone]

Tell me folks, can I replace my 2kg's with 1kg 34B CO2's?

[novascot]

Why not?
 When extinguishers are used by staff, it is expected to be on small fires. 1 kg CO2 will deal with a small fire. Too many extinguisher sales- persons talk their clients into buying bigger than neccessary extinguishers.

[Ken Taylor]

I suspect that the answer is 'Probably' depending upon the reasons why the CO2s were specified in terms of risk assessment, etc.

[fireftrm]

Of ocurse you can. The new 1Kg CO2 has the same fire rating as most 2Kg at 34B (there are some, from the same manufacturers who make the 1Kg that now have 55B, that of most 5Kg) as you state. Therefore if the original RA showed that a 2Kg was required this can now be met with a new technology 1Kg.

So if your 2Kg CO2 is not new it will be 34B and can be repalced with 1Kg, if 5Kg it may be replaced with new technology 2Kg 55B.

The only part that the larger extinguisher may yet be needed for is the dischrge time. The smaller one will have a much reduced discharge time, but will have been tested as extinguishing the relevant sized fire...............

Check the approvals to see if suitably tested for the rating.

[Ryan]

Why not just get a 2KG one anyway, Just incase that fire you may get is too large to handle with a 1KG but a 2KG can manage?

[Redone]

On training the girls found them easier to handle...  You don't what will deal with what until after the event.  I was just thinking a 34B is a 34B catagory... discharge time, hmmm, rather have an extinguisher staff are happy to use.  What I lose in discharge time I gain in speed of getting to work, I think.  Is that logical?

[jokar]

Without wishing to upset anyone else, if the category of extinguisher required is a 34 B then whatever configuration gets to that will be satisfactory.  The issue of handling is exactly the same as for water extinguishers, a 9l water can be replaced by a 6 litre water with an dditive if they both meet the specification required.

[kurnal]

Most CO2 extingishers in offices are provided to cover electrical risk but of course the B rating is referring to Class B fires.  Electrical risks are something else. In the absense of any definitive tests/ performance ratings for use on electrical fires I would do some digging into why the extinguishers were specified in the first place.

Ease of use is one factor but how much of the media will be able to penetrate into the casing of electrical equipment on fire? Much will be deflected and wasted.  In these circumstances 2kg may be better than 1.

In my experience in firefighting, 2kg CO2 discharge time is about 12 seconds.  And 2kg is capable of extinguishing most domestic/ office size electrical fires as long as the supply is isolated ( ie the sourceof the heat)- with just a  little in reserve for when the fire re-ignites as the gas disperses.
 If someone is not used to using one  probably a quarter of the contents will be wasted. They always pull the trigger before aiming.

[Redone]

True enough Kurnal, but if I can isolate the supply I'm not fussed about the conductivity of the medium.

Access with the medium is never easy.  My only reason for the 1kg, is the girls felt confident to use this size of CO2.

[Richard Earl]

as far as i can remember ( and its a while ) i thought the fire fightinh equipment should be user freindly, so if a 1kg with the same rating as a 2kg is more user freindly then use it. the same goes for why we put 9lt water in offices full of ladies, sorry girls no offence, but i think this is madness

[fireftrm]

Yes 9L water when 3L water, or foam spray, now exist with the same fire rating of 13A?

[Ken Taylor]

And if your still in doubt after checking and not impoverished - have 2 of the IKgs!

[AnthonyB]

Don't forget of course that fire ratings are based on use in controlled environments by experienced operators - unless you are having a lot of hands on training & use you may be wiser to over-rate.

If they are easier to use then fine if you are only using them as office cover wher eyou would only be flooding small equipment compartments like a monitor.

Really the modern office fire point should be using 3 litre water based media extinguishers and 1 or 2 kilo CO2s for ease of handling.

Another advantage of the 1 kilo version is that the manufacturers fit the Zahan horn as standard - this not only allowed the higher rating but more usefully eliminates the freeeze burn risk & you can hold the horn during discharge

[PhilHallmark]

I was led to believe that the Fire Ratings are a British Standard comformity achieved via a BS test fire.
The EN03 minimum size for a C02 is 2Kg. These units are not Kite Marked and therefore not Fire Rated regardless of any claim.

Co2 units have had to have a Class B rating so as to allow them to be a Kitemarked product -electric cannot be classed as a fuel.. Therefore they have had to pass the Class B test. I do not believe a 1Kg Refurbished unit would ever pass a Rated Test Fire.

The CE mark is not a sign of safety, but a manufacturing standard - the BSI website has a clear description and explanation.

Most insurers stipulate Kitemarked products be installed which would render this unit useless.

Here's a suggestion: this product will disappear once the distributors limited stock has diminished.

[AnthonyB]

Stainless steel extinguishers are not kitemarked either and sell in their thousands.

Thousands of non kitemarked extinguishers with ratings are sold each year either new or as exchanges in the low budget end of the marked. Where used as service exchanges for extended services or overhauls they wil often replace a kitemarked original

You can get rated without using BSI - other test houses will do the test fires based on EN3 and this is how the non kitemarked or non size compliant extinguishers bear a rating

All are however CE marked.

The only reason the 1Kg (made in Israel incidentally) will disappear is lack of sales not lack of approval, unless the insurers are going to inspect every extinguisher every year in every building you will never get compliance.

Only 1 distributor, Jactone has taken it on for its customers, so unless bigger fire companies go direct to the manufacturer it shows no signs of being very widespread