Fire Extinguishers for Confined Space

More importantly.. what to avoid!

#1 - Many people are aware that carbon dioxide fire extinguishers can be hazardous to use in poorly ventilated, small volume spaces. Carbon dioxide will dilute the oxygen in the air. The oxygen levels in a confined space may already be depleted due to combustion from the fire!

#2 - Dry chemical extinguishers may also create a problem when extinguishing a fire in a confined space. The dry chemical powder (DCP) can be a breathing or eye irritant and the fine dust can decrease visibility. The chemical commonly used in DCP extinguishers is monoammonium phosphate. The propellent is nitrogen.

There is a good article from Surrey Fire and Safety (UK) here.