Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers are intended for use on what class of fires?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers are specifically designed for use on Class B and Class C fires. Class B fires involve flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oils, and solvents, while Class C fires involve electrically energized equipment.

CO2 is effective for these classes of fires because it displaces oxygen, which is essential for combustion. When CO2 is discharged from the extinguisher, it rapidly cools the burning material and suffocates the flame by removing the oxygen around it. This makes it particularly suitable for flammable liquids and electrical fires, where the use of water or other extinguishing agents could be hazardous.

Using a CO2 extinguisher on Class A fires (involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and fabric) is not effective, as these materials require an extinguishing method that cools the material and removes heat. Additionally, Class D fires (which involve combustible metals) and Class K fires (cooking oils and fats) are also not suitable for CO2 extinguishers due to the specific nature of these fires and the need for specialized extinguishing agents.

In summary, the correct choice highlights the intended application of CO2 fire extinguishers to manage flammable liquid