The range of a CO2 fire extinguisher is approximately how many feet?

The range of a CO2 fire extinguisher is approximately how many feet?

• A. 3 feet
• B. 5 feet
• C. 10 feet
• D. 15 feet

Answer: (B)

CO2 extinguishers are designed to blanket the fire with a cold cloud that displaces the surrounding air, so the useful reach is how far that cloud can effectively reach the flames. For common handheld CO2 units used on boats, that effective distance is about five feet. Being within this range lets you aim at the base of the flames and sweep the area to smother them with the CO2. If you’re farther away, the discharge will be too dispersed to knock down the fire, and being much closer doesn’t improve effectiveness. So five feet is the practical range for relying on a CO2 extinguisher to control a small fire.

CO2 extinguishers are designed to blanket the fire with a cold cloud that displaces the surrounding air, so the useful reach is how far that cloud can effectively reach the flames. For common handheld CO2 units used on boats, that effective distance is about five feet. Being within this range lets you aim at the base of the flames and sweep the area to smother them with the CO2. If you’re farther away, the discharge will be too dispersed to knock down the fire, and being much closer doesn’t improve effectiveness. So five feet is the practical range for relying on a CO2 extinguisher to control a small fire.