When discharging a portable CO2 fire...

When discharging a portable CO2 fire...

Question 1 of 2707066636ef128f7522a1c521f77

When discharging a portable CO2 fire extinguisher, why must you grasp the hose handle and NOT the discharge horn?

Question 1 of 27070

Q

When discharging a portable CO2 fire extinguisher, why must you grasp the hose handle and NOT the discharge horn?

🔍 Key Concepts

• CO2 fire extinguisher discharge characteristics (temperature change when gas expands) • How frostbite / cold burns can occur from rapidly expanding gases • Design and material of the discharge horn vs. the handle

💭 Think About

• What happens to the temperature of CO2 when it is released quickly from high pressure to the atmosphere? Does it get hotter or colder? • Which part of the extinguisher is designed for you to hold safely, and which part is designed only to direct the agent? • In real use, which part would be most likely to cause an injury to your hand based on how CO2 behaves when discharged?

✅ Before You Answer

• Think about whether the horn would become extremely hot or extremely cold when CO2 is discharged • Consider which choice is directly related to gas expansion and temperature change, not just where the horn is aimed • Eliminate any options that don’t match the known physical behavior of CO2 under rapid expansion