Fire Extinguisher Sources

I want to have a CO2 FE on hand as well as the dry chemical FEs I now have in the house and garage. The dry chemical FEs are easy to source at the home center, WalMart, Costco, etc. but I have not come up with many options for sourcing CO2 FEs. They are recommended for nuisance fires, since they don't leave any residue and can be used multiple times before refilling. I'd also like to locate a place to get it refilled. Any wisdom to impart?

 

A welding gas shop might have them. Our local one had an extinguisher subsidiary. They offered annual inspection services, sales, testing, etc.

 

They also work really well for chilling out beer!

 

We installed a CO2 extinguisher in our shop up in NC years back. It had a 100lb fixed cylinder attached to a 50 hose reel with trigger nozzle. It originally came out of a Government installation protecting electronics.
Fortunately, we never had to use it in the 25 years we worked out of the building, though my brother and I discharged it shortly after the install to see how it worked. I had several more full cylinders. It was pretty overwhelming, and I'm glad the garage door was open wide when we did. I think we could have suffocated if the door was closed (shop was 30'x40'x12' high). It also frosted everything near where the nozzle was pointed.
Do not use CO2 in a confined space as they work by displacing oxygen (which can smother you) and yes, they cool really well too. They are very effective for electrical fires, and pretty effective for liquids and fuels. Not so much for burning wood or paper. They leave no residue. I would not expect to get repeated uses from a single extiguisher as the seal is often compromised by frost, emptying the cylinder. Most fire service companies will be able to refill the cylinders and recertify for further use.
-Donny

 

Ask at your local Fire Station.

 

I have refilled CO2 at welding gas shops. There is also a fire extinguisher service shop in here in Dallas that does it as well as re-certifying the pressure vessel.

 

Sparks from welding or grinding.

 

I'm sure you know, but remember CO2 has little or no extended effect on glowing embers or whatever. Great for knocking down the flames, but good to have water or dry-chem for lasting suppression if needed.

 

A lot of soft drink bottling/distributors will refill CO2 cylinders, usually much cheaper than the welding gas companies.

 

Halon production stopped in 1994 due to the Clean Air Act. It is a CFC. It is still available as a recycled commodity. The FAA recommends Halon fire extinguishers for aircraft.

 

I have had to pull the handle on a halon fire bottle in a race car. I'm not sure if the fire is more choking or the extinguisher.

 

Even dry chemical FE can be dangerous. Had one go off in the cab of a pick up truck, the inside went white and the guy could not get out. Lucky there where some workers standing around the truck and they pulled him out. He coughed and gaged for 15 minutes after that.

I dug a old FE that had water in it out of the dumpster. Keep it in my garage. If it is used, dump more water in it and charge it with a air compressor. The dry chemicals make a mess when used. If you are worried about sparks from grinding and welding, I would keep a bucket of water around and use that first. You can get one of those pump garden spray bottles and use that.

 

A 2-1/2 gallon pressurized water extinguisher can do a lot. Refillable at zero expense, and the only 'residue' is water.

 

Thinking about water options ... had a water extinguisher, but the Orange CA Police took it away from me.