Extinction of fires

Brushlinski, N., Sokolov, S. and Wagner, P, World Fire Statistics at the End of the 20th Century, Report 6, Center of Fire Statistics of CTIF, International Technical Committee for the Prevention and Extinction of Fire, Moscow and Berlin, 2000. 

A rather universal substance for volume extinction of fire is carbon dioxide, which is kept in liquid form in vessels under excess pressure. Carbon dioxide devices and fire extinguishers are used to extinguish highly flammable liquids. If air contains 12-15% (vol.) of CO2, the fire stops. 1 kg of liquid CO2 produces 500 1 of gas. Carbon dioxide is sent out of vessels as gas and "snow". Snow C02 has a strong cooling effect and is usually supplied directly onto the burning surface. 

Suppression is probably one of the most complex processes associated with fire. Extinction of fires implies the understanding of heat and mass transfer in the solid and gas phase, as well as the concept of chemical inhibition of the combustion reactions. Only a brief summary of the different material parameters controlling extinction will be presented here. 

Arc formation and extinction lakes place inside a sealed chamber, thus emitting no gases or vapours to the atmosphere, which may be a cause of fire hazard. They are the most appropriate choice for such areas... 

Research is conducted to increase understanding of the science of combustion specifically as it relates to fires involving homes and plastics, wood, and large-scale spills. This is helpful in the development of fire prevention and extinction techniques. 

Heskestad [21] has shown that droplet sprays can be partially scaled in fire. He developed a correlation of the water flow rate (1/ 0) needed for extinction of a pool fire, as shown in Figure 12.11. Heskesrtad determines that the water flow needed for extinction is... 

Heskestad, G., Extinction of gas and liquid pool fires with water sprays, Fire Safety J., June 2003, 38, 301-17. 

Fires may be started by one or several of die following so-called "common fire hazards matches and cigarets, rubbish (spontaneous ignition), locomotive sparks, mechanical spartks, friction, open-flame devices, heating appliances, electric wiring and equipment, static electricity and lightning. The primary object of fire prevention and extinction is to avoid loss of life and personal... 

Rasbash, D.J., Drysdale, D.D., and Deepak, D., Critical heat and mass transfer at pilot ignition and extinction of a material, Fire Safety Journal, 10, 1-10, 1986. 

Sibulkin M, Little MW. Propagation and extinction of downward burning fires. Combust. Flame. 1978 31 197-208. 

Wear protective gloves and eye/face protection as specified by the manufacturer/supplier or the competent authority. Keep away from flames and hot surfaces. In case of fire, use. .. for extinction. .. appropriate media specified by the manufacturer/supplier or the competent authority if water increases risk. Store in cool/well-ventilated place. Dispose of contents/container to... (in accordance with local/regional/national/intemational regulation). 

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