Fractional or atomized water fire extinguisher was probably the first portable extinguishing device created to put out a fire at its very beginning. Abandoned over the years for other types of extinguishing agents such as powder and halon, it has recently been dug out due to the greater attention to environmental protection issues. Water fire extinguisher is part of the most ecological fire extinguishers which use water mixed with filming agents and special additives, which act both for cooling and extinguishing.
Water fire extinguisher consists of a tank that contains about 90% of water, while the rest of the volume is composed of filming agents and additives. It is equipped with a permanent pressurization system, while the delivery system consists of a hose surmounted by a spray nozzle, which allows the water to flow out with a fractioned or nebulized jet, so as to produce a greater heat exchange and a greater heat absorption. The extinguishing efficiency of water is in fact due to its enormous ability to absorb heat. If the volume is sufficient, the water simply removes heat faster than the fire can regenerate it, and so the fire is extinguished.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has divided the type of fires into 5 classes:
Pressurized water fire extinguishers are ideal in the case of class A fire, i.e. fires caused by paper, wood, plastic, solid waste or fabrics. The technological evolution of the nozzles located at the top of hose made this type of fire extinguisher effective even for class B and F fires. Moreover, in some European countries these fire extinguishers have even passed the dielectric test, while in Italy it is still forbidden to use them on electric equipment. Therefore, the application on the relative label of the danger symbol is compulsory.
On the market there are different types of water fire extinguishers, able to satisfy a range of needs. There are small portable 500 ml fire extinguishers, which can be bought for just 10 €, ideal to be kept in the car or camper van for travel safely or to use at home to extinguish the small outbreaks that can be caused leaving smartphone charging all night long. If you are looking for a bigger but practical and handy fire extinguisher, you can buy a 1-l water fire extinguisher spending between 20 and 50 €, especially useful for those people who have to go to foreign countries where it is compulsory to have it aboard the car. On the other hand, the 6-l water fire extinguisher is perfect for office and home security, which offers a good value for money. Equipped with a support for wall mounting, it can be bought at a price between 50 € (if you trust the e-commerce sites) and 200 € (at specialised companies).
To avoid endangering your and other people’s safety, it is always better to contact a security expert, so that you are sure to use this fire extinguisher correctly if necessary!
