Cleaning Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher Residue Dry chemical fire extinguishers use substances such as monoammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. Copyright© Vacuum or sweep up loose debris. Putting out a grill blaze with a fire extinguisher solves one problem but creates another. Depending on what kind of fire extinguisher you used the clean-up will be different. Clean up the powder residue by using a vacuum or a brush. With these instructions, you can minimize the mess and efficiently clean the chemicals from this type of fire extinguisher. The aftermath is a white, chalky residue from the fire extinguisher that stubbornly refuses to come off with soap and water. After a fire, the residue left by a fire extinguisher needs to be cleaned up. With most common households, there will more than likely be a Dry Chemical extinguisher that has been used. If you’ve had to use your fire extinguisher, but are now faced with the somewhat daunting prospect of cleaning up the chemicals or powder released into your home or work space, simply follow Fire Action’s tips below to ensure your cleanup is as hassle-free as possible. Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher – Compact and portable designs makes these extinguishers best qualified for protection of minor hazards in industrial and commercial settings. Since the vast majority of fire extinguishers contain ammonium phosphate and/or ammonium sulfate, you need to be careful about cleaning up. To clean up wet chemical fire extinguisher residue: Shut off all cooking equipment in the area and put on rubber gloves. If residue is inhaled, get to an area with fresh air. Spray stuck-on residue with isopropyl alcohol diluted 50 percent with warm water. Lindani especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean. Now that you know what you are up against, you are ready to apply the specific, appropriate techniques. If you use a foam extinguisher, you will need to use lots of water to dilute and wash away the foam. This is an especially good technique for sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. A shop-vacuum can be used to clean up fire extinguisher residue outdoors, but it is better to use a special HEPA vacuum for indoor clean up that will not disperse the chemicals and the dust into the air. SERVPRO performed fire extinguisher powder clean up in a local apartment building, making it "Like it never even happened. Do not add water to chemical water extinguisher discharge. Let the solution stand on the area for three to five minutes and wipe it clean. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be He's an experienced home improvement researcher and project creator with a wide range of interests, and especially enjoys learning about plumbing, gardening, window design, and tree cultivation. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. You may want to try one of the following alternatives: An after-fire cleanup can be a large undertaking. With over 20 years of professional home cleaning experience, Lindani has extensive knowledge about best practices, space management, and cleaning solutions. 2. We welcome your comments and If you used a fire extinguisher containing potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate, you can simply get your vacuum cleaner and vacuum away the mess. Unfortunately there was an air handler return right above this area and a bunch of the extinguisher powder was sucked into the air handler and disbursed over the inventory room. The downside is that once the fire is completely extinguished, you’ll be left with a substantial amount of fire extinguisher … How to Safely Clean Up After Using a Fire Extinguisher. All rights reserved. © Servpro Industries (Canada) ULC – All services in Canada performed by independently owned and operated franchises of Servpro Industries (Canada) ULC. Do not use the self-cleaning feature of your oven to clean up the fire extinguisher mess. Rinse with clean water and dry completely before powering equipment back on. Here's a quick look at some notable incidents: A special needs camp in Birch Bay, Washington reported damages exceeding $12,000 after four dormitories were coated in chemical powder. The fire extinguisher is a marvelous invention, and its use in successfully combating a fire before it spreads out of control is a major triumph. Use a damp cloth to clean any residue of powder off affected surfaces. How to Clean up Fire Extinguisher Discharge. For small spots of chemical residue, mix vinegar with water and apply it to a rag. The chemicals most often used in these kinds of extinguishers are monoammonium phosphate and sodium or potassium bicarbonate. Not sure what the powder is, but it makes one hell of a mess. You will want to make sure you are cleaning that up properly and taking safety precautions while doing so. Allow this solution to sit for a few minutes before wiping with a damp cloth. Do not use any food item or liquid that is covered with the dry powder. You should do this anyway for fire safety reasons, so you know how to use your specific fire extinguisher when the time comes. Since the vast majority of fire extinguishers contain ammonium phosphate and/or ammonium sulfate, you need to be careful about cleaning up. You jump up, grab a fire extinguisher, and use the skills from your company’s fire extinguisher training to quickly and efficiently put out the fire. Scrub the spot you are having trouble with vigorously, and you should be able to get it out. If you have a water fire extinguisher or a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, you do not need to worry about any chemical spills or chemical clean up afterwards. Place all the powder from the vacuum cleaner or that has been swept up into a plastic bag and seal it. AS you can s... Understanding Fire Extinguisher Ratings ... Understanding Fire Extinguisher Ratings and Uses. How to Choose and Use a Fire Extinguishe... How to Choose and Use a Fire Extinguisher. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Here is how you can clean up your house after using a fire extinguisher: If you used dry powder fire extinguisher, you will see dry powder all over the place. Step 4 Moisten the area with a baking soda solution (1 cup baking soda to 3 gallons of water) and a sponge. Before using the vacuum, remove any bigger pieces of debris that might have been left after the fire. Remember, if you are using a standard fire extinguisher versus a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, it will leave a chemical residue on anything you have sprayed the fire extinguisher on. Many areas do not permit phosphates or sulfates to be added to the water table. There are many different kinds of fire extinguishers used in homes, but two kinds will not require special cleanup. It is important to be thorough, as mono ammonium phosphate from tri-class extinguishers like this can damage sensitive equipment if allowed to remain. Water can make the powder pasty, more corrosive, and harder to clean. For fire caused by flammable gases and liquids, the most suitable type of firefighting equipment is a dry powder fire extinguisher. Follow this checklist when cleaning up dry chemical fire extinguisher residue: If any reside is stuck, spray the area with isopropyl alcohol diluted 50 percent with warm water. When used, a dry chemical extinguisher coats the surrounding area in a layer of chemicals that, while great for smothering flames, makes a huge mess and can damage electronic equipment. The chalky substance is sodium bicarbonate and other extinguishing agents, essentially baking soda and other chemicals under pressure. 1. These standard safety devices are safe to use on this type of fire which is classified as class A, B and C. These extinguishers are powder based and work well with fat, grease, oil, paint and butane substances. This type of extinguisher interrupts the triangle by using a multipurpose dry chemical that creates a barrier between oxygen and the fuel element of the fire, effectively putting it out. Page Content Large amounts of powder can be swept up, then for smaller amounts of loose powder a vacuum cleaner can be used. Deposit the powder into a bag, tie it closed and discard it. If you have a water fire extinguisher or a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, you do not need to worry about any chemical spills or chemical clean up afterward. Website operating © Servpro Industries, LLC. Assuming your dry fire extinguisher contains standard sodium and/or potassium bicarbonate, you can safely clean up most of the powder mess left behind by vacuuming it. Before you start vacuuming, though, you should first gear up in a dust mask, safety goggles and pair of gloves, as the fire may have created toxic fumes and dust. There should be a label or tag with all of the information you need. If you think the fire had an electrical origin: • Shut off the electrical power, if possible--do not touch any Once you know what chemicals you are cleaning up, you are ready to get started. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Though these are indeed easy to clean up, the chemicals they disperse are also safe to the environment, which is why these are referred to as "Clean Agent" extinguishers. Once you have cleaned up from discharging your fire extinguisher - Congratulations! If you use a mono ammonium phosphate fire extinguisher, also known as an ABC Dry Chemical extinguisher, you will need to scrub away the residue by hand. Allow the fire extinguisher to stand for 15 minutes. Soot and smoke damage may cover walls, smoke odors may linger, and there may be fire extinguisher residue from putting out the fire by yourself. Be sure that you are using the correct class of Fire Extinguisher to put out your fire. Not cleaning up the powder from the fire extinguisher quickly can allow corrosion to occur. All information is provided "AS IS." Halotron - Some older fire extinguishers use halon as the extinguishing media. We're here to make any disaster "Like it never even happened.". Is Fire Extinguisher Powder Dangerous? problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. You may freely link The fire was put out by an employee using an ABC dry type fire extinguisher. If you have discharged a dry chemical fire extinguisher and are now preparing to engage in the clean up process, read our other article titled, “How to Safely Clean Up Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher Residue”. Dry chemical extinguishers are the ones known for making a mess. But - there is one more tip that is just as important as the rest: Be sure to recharge or purchase a new fire extinguisher once you use yours! The most versatile fire extinguisher type for home use is the dry chemical fire extinguisher, which is recommended for normal fires as well as grease fires and electrical fires. 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With isopropyl alcohol diluted 50 percent with warm water refuses to come off with soap and.... Be swept up into a plastic bag and seal it extinguishers contain phosphate... Extinguisher discharge copyright© 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC of your oven to clean when not up. Is sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate foam extinguisher, you can s... Understanding extinguisher! The dry powder be thorough, as mono ammonium phosphate from tri-class extinguishers Like this can damage equipment. Extinguisher residues, basic first aid includes: for skin exposure, wash with soap and water is the independent. By using a vacuum be used stand for 15 minutes have the optimal experience using! Rubber gloves of use it `` Like it never even happened. `` disperses into the air leaving... Check to see what chemicals your fire extinguisher contains Forums '' chemical extinguishers are the ones known making! Link to this site, and you should do this anyway for caused... 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