As you know, no one is immune from unforeseen circumstances. No one can know when the lights will be turned off, when the car will spray them, or when they will fall ill. The same applies to fire. Uncontrolled fire can occur under almost any conditions, and it is very dangerous for human life and he alth. That is why it is necessary to observe safety precautions and ensure that primary fire extinguishing equipment is always available and in good working order. This article will focus on the OP-1 fire extinguisher.
General information
So, powder fire extinguishers are one of the most common types of fire extinguishing devices. The purpose of powder fire extinguishers is to use them to eliminate fires of various categories, including the ignition of solid, liquid, gaseous substances and electrical installations. At the same time, fire extinguishers of this type cannot be used to extinguish metals. This information is indicated on the body of each fire extinguisher.
Such devicescan be used at any temperature. Moreover, they can be used to extinguish fires inside any premises. The volume of the covered area, of course, depends on the volume of the fire extinguishing agent itself. So, the OP-1 powder fire extinguisher means that there is 1 kg of charge inside it. Therefore, this product has the following features:
- jet throw - 2 meters;
- working time - 6 seconds.
Given the above information, we can conclude that the OP-1 is the ideal fire extinguisher for the car.
Design and principle of operation
This type of fire extinguisher has a fairly simple design, which includes:
- Hollow body with flame retardant.
- Siphon tube.
- Charger Launcher.
- Spray hose.
- Manometer.
The operation of OP-1 fire extinguishers is based on the use of compressed gas energy, which can be nitrogen, carbon dioxide or ordinary air. Under pressure, it ejects the powder onto the fire, which leads to the suppression of the combustion process.
As for the powder itself, its composition is based on sodium, potassium and phosphorus-ammonium s alts. In order for the powder to arrive in a friable state for a long time (not caking), talc, white soot and nepheline are often added to its composition.
Application
If you do not know how to put the OP-1 fire extinguisher into action, then you should not worry, because it is quite simple. To do this, hold the device vertically, break the seal and pull out the pin. After that, it will be ready to use. Next, you need to direct the hose to the source of fire and press the start lever.
To put out a fire quickly, correctly and as safely as possible, you need to follow certain rules. In addition to the fact that the powder must be directed as accurately as possible to the source of ignition, it is also necessary to stand on the windward side in relation to the source of ignition. In other words, if you are putting out a fire outside or in a room with a strong draft, you need to position yourself so that the wind blows at your back. On the one hand, this will protect you from flames. On the other hand, the headwind will not prevent the powder from the device from reaching the source of ignition. It is this requirement that makes dry powder and CO2 fire extinguishers similar.
Benefits
OP-1 fire extinguishers have a number of advantages that make them stand out from the rest. It should be noted separately that all these positive characteristics apply to all powder fire extinguishers, and not only to OP-1. So, the advantages of this type of fire extinguishing devices are as follows:
- Versatility. As mentioned above, these fire extinguishers can be used to eliminate the burning of a wide range of substances.
- Possibility of extinguishing electrical equipment. Fire extinguisher OP-1 almostthe only means to effectively extinguish the fire of equipment that is energized up to 1000 volts.
- Moderate cost.
- Ease of use.
Given all the positive properties of this type of fire suppression device, no one should have any more questions why powder fire extinguishers are so popular and in demand.
Flaws
At the same time, one should not assume that such fire extinguishers are completely devoid of flaws. Unfortunately, there are a number of negative points:
- Significant pollution. Given the fact that the powder leaves traces that are then incredibly difficult to get rid of, such fire extinguishers cannot be used to extinguish electronic equipment, museum exhibits, computer rooms, etc.
- Smoke. If you use the OP-1 fire extinguisher indoors, then be prepared for the fact that a strong powder cloud is formed, which will significantly impair visibility. The smaller the room, the stronger the smoke will be.
- No cooling effect. This fact is almost the main drawback, because it can lead to the fact that already extinguished objects ignite again due to the fact that the temperature has not been lowered.
- Strict storage conditions. If such fire extinguishers are stored in improper conditions, the powder will lose its properties very quickly. As a result, it may happen that you cannotput out even a small fire with such a device.
As you can see, it is these shortcomings that do not allow us to say that the powder fire extinguisher OP-1 is an ideal tool for extinguishing fires of various types.
Cost
This topic has already been touched upon above, but it would not be superfluous to mention that such devices can also boast of a fairly reasonable price. A powder fire extinguisher can be purchased for a little over 200 rubles. Having studied the prices on the market, we can conclude that this is a fairly acceptable and democratic cost for such an effective means for eliminating fires of various substances.
Conclusion
As we could see, the OP-1 fire extinguisher is a pretty good tool for extinguishing fires of various types. Given its compactness and ease of use, this device is the most suitable option for car owners. Naturally, it has both advantages and disadvantages, but the positive characteristics greatly outweigh the negative properties. The main thing here is to carefully ensure that the fire extinguisher is stored in appropriate conditions. Violations of the recommendations can lead to the fact that in a critical situation the device will be faulty. Based on all of the above, we can conclude that the OP-1 fire extinguisher fully justifies the funds spent on it. Moreover, the price is very low, which is undoubtedly one of the main advantages.
