Heather --
This question comes up fairly frequently in fire museums. . . . And on the Museum-L (see archives)
The earliest grenade-type fire extinguishers were invented in the late
1800s. They were designed to be thrown at the flames where the glass
would break and the contents would spill out. Made of clear or colored
glass, these early extinguishers usually have a fancy cut-glass, round
or octagonal shaped body, and a tall neck and usually contained a HARMLESS salt
water and brine solution. "Harden" or "Hayward" were the most common
brand names.
On the other hand, the smaller glass "light bulbed" shaped grenades
(such as the one mentioned in this original post), were made from 1920
to 1960s and they DO contain "Carbon Tetrachloride." These
extinguishers were usually red in color (or with red liquid inside),
and usually carried the brand names of either "Red Comet," or
"Shure-Stop." Some hung on a wall or sat in a box and were designed to
be thrown at the flames, while others incorporated a fuse and spring
and worked much like a modern sprinkler head. When exposed to
high-heat (flames) a small piece of soft metal would melt, releasing a
spring, breaking the glass, and dispersing the contents. Also made
during the 1920s through 1960s were numerous size and shaped models of
metal (usually brass) fire extinguishers that also contained Carbon
Tetrachloride as the firefighting agent. The most common was the
“Fyer-Fyter” brand and was a small handheld brass cylinder (somewhat
like a large sausage stuffer) that had a piston-pump plunger handle on
one end and a small nozzle on the other.
Questions about what do with these extinguishers (and their contents)
have been raised a number of times. Should an extinguisher be emptied?
How dangerous are the contents? What should be done with them? What
happens if one breaks?
While carbon-tet IS classified as a HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, (and is banned
from production). Although chemical is believed to be a carcinogen
that can be inhaled and absorbed though the skin, the most significant
danger comes only when the chemical reacts with heat/fire. Under
intense heat, carbon-tet forms toxic fumes (phosgen-gas) that smother the flames and
deprive the air of oxygen. Although I have never heard of someone
becoming ill because of a recent leak/spill, I would use caution when
storing or displaying these items. If the glass has remained intact
all these years, it is recommended you leave it alone, I have never
found a way to “drill” and drain the contents, though others claim they have.
Some of the "light bulbed shaped" glass extinguishers have a spring
release mechanism that automatically breaks the. If you find one of
these, I would recommend you should secure/disable that spring release
to prevent accidental breakage. When dealing with the other (metal)
fire extinguishers with carbon-tet, it is advisable to empty the
contents by emptying them outside (under the direction of your local
fire department or hazardous materials team) in a WELL ventilated.
If an extinguisher (with carbon-tet) does accidentally break/leak, the
“proper” response would be to leave the room and ventilate the area.
Your fire department can assist you with providing large fans to help
with the ventilation process, but carbon-tet evaporates and disperses
quite quickly (probably before they get there in typical two to three
minute response time). After the fumes subside, any residual liquid
(and the glass fragments) can be wiped up using rubber gloves and paper
towels or absorbent pads.
Although carbon-tet IS indeed dangerous, if you respect the
extinguisher and its contents, and with a little caution and common
sense steps taken to prevent accidental breakage or release, you should
be safe.
- David -
David Lewis, Curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
and the Fire Museum Network's Web Guy
[log in to unmask]
* DISCLAIMER -- I am not a chemist nor do I want to play one here on
the Internet, (I nearly failed chemistry in High School). My comments
are based on personal experience in dealing with a carbon-tet leak,
talking with others, consulting with our local hazardous materials
response team, culled from various posts to the Fire Museum Network
Discussion Board, and common sense.
-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Pozun Watson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 9:45 am
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Antique Fire Extinguishers
We have come across 2 red comet Fire Extinguishers (one c. 1940 and one c.
1920) while unpacking our collection and they are still filled with what is
most likely carbon tetrachloride. Any advice on how other institutions have
handled disposal/display/storage/replication of these?
Thanks!
Heather
--
Heather Pozun Watson
Director, Fremont Co. Pioneer Museum
1443 W. Main Street
Lander, WY 82520
Ph: 307-332-3373
Fax: 1-866-899-2534
[log in to unmask]
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