Aerosol as an extinguishing agent, often referred to as dry mist, is a potassium carbonate-based particle extinguisher, which separates the chemical bond of the flame at the molecular level.
What is an aerosol?
An aerosol is a heterogeneous mixture of a gas and fine liquid or solid colloidal suspended particles.
Definition of colloids: particles with a diameter of a few micro- to nanometers, finely dispersed in a solid, gas or liquid.
Structure of an extinguishing generator
Aerosol as extinguishing agent in solid form is the main component in cylindrical or box-shaped extinguishing generators. In the event of fire, this is ignited by an electrical or thermal impulse. The reaction process produces potassium carbonate (also used as an additive E501 in food), which exits as a solid aerosol (the average particle size of the extinguishing agent is between 0.5 and 2.5 μm).
When the extinguishing agent exits the aerosol extinguishing generators, the chemical chain reaction of the flame is interrupted, and the fire is extinguished within seconds.
Fire fighting at the molecular level
While conventional extinguishing agents rely on cooling or oxygen removal during the extinguishing process, aerosol as an extinguishing agent uses the molecular level to break up the resulting flame within seconds and thus extinguish it. This chemical reaction prevents re-ignition as long as the aerosol extinguishing agent is present in the room.
What does the aerosol extinguishing agent extinguish?
Due to the structure and operation, aerosol extinguishing agent can extinguish many classes of fire. Tested are according to European standard EN-2: classes of fire A, B, C, F
