A fire extinguisher is an amazing emergency instrument used in dangers associated with fire to save lives and property.
Whether you are in a home or your office, you should always keep a fire extinguisher with you to handle fire crises like small fires caused by an electric short circuit, gasoline, or chemical reaction.
An important thing to note here is that there are 5 types of fire extinguishers and always keep that in mind when buying a fire extinguisher because you cannot just buy a random fire extinguisher because it has its pros and cons, more on this later.
Can Fire Extinguishers Explode
The other concern that many people have is the danger associated with a fire extinguisher and that is the danger of fire extinguishers exploding themselves. This is true, and the explosion can occur due to several reasons that we are going to discuss below.
You should take this seriously because a fire extinguisher explosion can cause collateral damage and the degree of destruction depends on the weight of the fire extinguisher.
Being a responsible fire extinguisher owner, you should keep in mind that a fire extinguisher can be hazardous if not handled with care.
Unlike the fire department guys, homeowners are ill-equipped and if not taken seriously, having a fire extinguisher can pose a threat to your home, people, or belongings.
So, a rule of thumb is to do a regular inspection of your fire extinguisher and the complete inspection means doing a visual examination to see if the unit isn’t damaged or has scratches on it. As the fire extinguisher is made of steel or another form of metal, so it’s prone to get damaged by dropping, falling, or hitting it with metal.
Sometimes, people drive their car over the fire extinguisher mistakenly and forget to do a checkup on it which can lead to unwanted consequences.
So, let’s take a look at the necessary precautions to reduce or eliminate the chance of exploding the fire extinguisher.
First of all, you should check the pressure gauge because over time, fire extinguishers can lose the pressure and you can see that from the gauge. If the gauge shows low pressure, that means it is depressurized. But, if the gauge shows high pressure, then that means the fire extinguisher is over-pressurized and that is the biggest hint that it can explode sooner or later.
Another common reason for the explosion of fire extinguishers is when there is an external pressure on it due to hard usage like you mistakenly put something on it or it got hit with a metal, appliances, furniture, boxes, etc.
Due to the high internal pressure, the container becomes unable to bear the external pressure will result in physical damage to the fire extinguisher and it will end up exploding or bursting causing serious casualties.
You should keep in mind that the metal bodies are prone to puncture and that’s why it is highly recommended to keep the fire extinguisher in a safe location where it cannot be knocked off.
Another common reason for the fire extinguisher exploding is when people try to service it themselves. You should never try to open a fire extinguisher yourself because a damaged, dented, or defective fire extinguisher will explode in your hands which can cause injury or death.
Before buying a fire extinguisher, you must learn about the types to avoid buying the wrong one which can lead to unwanted consequences.
There are five types of fire extinguishers
Class A: This type of fire extinguisher is used for domestic fire or fire caused by paper or lumber.
Class B: This type of fire extinguisher is used to take care of fire caused by gasoline or combustible liquids.
Class C: This type of fire extinguisher is used to handle the fire caused by electrical short circuits
Class D: This type of fire extinguisher is helpful when there is a chemical fire to control the flames.
Class K: This type of fire extinguisher is used for kitchen fires.
The most important thing to know about the types of fire extinguishers is that you cannot use any type of fire extinguisher for any type of fire.
Suppose, there is a fire caused by oil or due to an electrical short circuit and if you mistakenly used a water extinguisher, you can end up getting an electric shock or facing an explosion.
Similarly, if there is a chemical fire outbreak and you used any of the fire extinguishers other than Type K, then you should get ready to face explosions.
So, the ideal recommendation for you is to first figure out the type of fire extinguisher you need for the type of fire. Either you want one for your home, for your factory, or your office. Once, you have figured out the type of fire you are going to handle, then you can opt for the right fire extinguisher.
Top reasons for Fire Extinguishers Exploding
Storing Fire Extinguisher Near Heat Sources
You should carefully store the fire extinguisher and make sure to never store it near those places where there is a lot of heat like stoves, fireplaces, or power generators.
The reason behind this is simply the higher internal pressure makes the body of the extinguisher highly sensitive to external pressure and when you put it near any high-temperature source, the external pressure can damage the valve or tank which can lead to an explosion. So, the ideal temperature to store the fire extinguisher is 40 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are buying one for your home, then try to store it in the kitchen but away from the stove like inside any cabinet or behind the door so that you can use it in an emergency where there is a kitchen fire incident. Keep in mind that oven heat can also be a danger for a fire extinguisher, so store it away from it as well.
You should always keep the fire extinguisher within your reach like in your bedroom because, in case of a fire incident, you would be able to quickly reach it and use it to overcome the fire incident. Suppose, there is a fire in your kitchen or room, now if you have stored the fire extinguisher in your garage, that can create a problem for you because you won’t be able to reach it due to the excessive heat or flames all around you.
The science of a fire extinguisher is simple it is a sealed container having high pressure inside and if it is exposed to a higher temperature, it can explode so make sure to keep it away from intense heat sources. The rigid bodies of the fire extinguishers make them prone to bursting. But don’t underestimate it as well, because they are designed to withstand normal heating situations because they are built with safety devices included.
The container and Valve
The extinguisher valve has a ruptured disc near the red plastic tether on the back.
The valve protects the extinguisher from the explosion because it is designed to fail at a lower pressure than the cylinder and when the extinguisher will run out of pressure, there won’t be an explosion.
Any tank with higher pressure comes with a safety valve or ruptured discs because the intense temperature can melt the valves which means the gas will escape easily and there won’t be an explosion.
Never use antique fire extinguishers because they can get corroded over time or the body can be rusty or cracked which can lead to an explosion. So, the better deal would be to get a new one rather than get an old one.
Can a Fire extinguisher explode from heat?
Yes, but in rare cases, because the fire extinguisher is designed to be used in situations where there is a lot of heat so there is no point in making such a device that can explode when needed. So, there are safety tools installed on it that can malfunction the extinguisher in the intense heat to prevent an explosion.
Can a fire extinguisher explode from freezing?
No, that’s not possible, until and unless the body or the canister gets cracked in intense freezing which will also freeze the contents inside.
On the other hand, there are chemical fire extinguishers with a water solution that cannot be enhanced by anti-freezing ingredients making them possible to freeze even under the negative temperature. So, make sure to not store it under intensively less temperature because the liquid inside can expand or the container can weaken and result in bursting. You may also read the caution warning written on as “ protect from freezing”.
For those living in a cold climate, the ideal storage place for a fire extinguisher is inside an insulated area like your bedroom or kitchen but not in your basement, sheds, or garage because they are uninsulated.
Anti-Freezing Ingredients in Fire Extinguishers Can Fail
Using anti-freezing ingredients is not a suitable option because these materials can eat the shell or container which can cause leakage. So, the ideal lifespan of a fire extinguisher is less than 8 years.
Overcharged Fire extinguishers
Another biggest reason for the fire extinguishers to explode can be overcharging which happens when you are re-charging them. During the overcharging scenario, the pressure gets abnormal inside and can get beyond the limit of the fire extinguisher, leading to an explosion that can cause severe injury or death as well.
Fire Extinguishers Sizes
Fire extinguishers come under a considerable stored pressure to prevent explosions in normal conditions.
But a damaged fire extinguisher has a higher chance of getting exploded or leaking.
Every fire extinguisher comes with a maximum limit by the manufacturer to hold the pressure and exceeding that limit is going to cause an explosion.
If the fire extinguisher is abused or damaged extremely, make sure to not use it.
The larger size means a large explosion because there are more chemicals, powder, and fluid, stored under pressure that can cause collateral damage with serious consequences.
Effects of Fire extinguishers Explosions
You should be ready to hear a large or loud brust in an event of the explosion of the fire extinguisher. In this scenario, the shell can break into parts and those parts can fly at great speed hitting the nearby things or people. Sometimes, no explosion but a serious leakage is releasing harmful chemicals into the air.
Therefore, avoid buying the cheapest fire extinguisher just for the sake of saving money because cheap price means low-grade quality which means higher risk. So, always invest in a good-quality fire extinguisher to make your home safer.
Dropping Fire extinguishers
Dropping a fire extinguisher from a considerable height can lead to an explosion. So, never try to toss or throw the fire extinguisher during emergencies.
How many PSI does a fire extinguisher have
A fire extinguisher has 100 PSI to 850 PSI and different models have different pressure given below.
100 psi – Water mist, deionized water, foam liquid
150 psi – Fire extinguishing foam small spray can (aerosol spray)
Fire extinguishers are approved by National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA ) and you should always get one that is approved by NFPA because that is safe for you to use because it is tested according to their standards.
Another common reason for the explosion of fire extinguishers is corrosion if the unit is left out for a while or you are using it on a ship where saltwater and chemicals cause the canister to corrode rapidly. Similarly, you can experience blockage by the agent inside hoses, springs, gaskets, and o-rings as well.
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
