Can a fine mist of water extinguish oil fires?

[hell18]

There are certain types of flammable liquids which cannot be put out by water easily, i know of one, rocket fuel. but there are certain like components which make the fire worse? what are they? components which like when added with water make it worse.

 

[FZ+]

Well, as far as I know, the primary thing about flammable liquids and water is that the burning oil tends to just float on top of the water, so instead of cutting out it's oxygen supply, you simply spread it around.

 

[Chemicalsuperfreak]

It all depends on the type of fire.

The classic don't-use-water fires are cooking grease and electrical fires. Water on the former just splashes the flaming grease everywhere, the latter can electrocute you.

Every fire is different.

 

[LURCH]

It should also be added that water on the grease fire can be much worse than a simple case of "spreading the grease around", because it floats. I once saw a demonstration in which water was poured into a pot of burning grease. Because grease floats on water, the water immediately went straight to the bottom of the pot. Because the flashpoint of grease is much hotter than the boiling point of water, the water rapidly converted to steam as it reached the bottom. The resulting "geyser" shot the flaming grease high into the air, and far across the room.

As for chemicals that cannot be doused by submersion, most of these are substances that contain their own oxygen supply (such as the rocket fuel you already mentioned).

 

[Tsu]

In some areas of hospitals that I have worked in, they have used halon to extinguish fires. We were trained that, if the halon dumps, get OUTTA THERE - as it completely removes the O2 from the air. How does this work? Anyone?

 

[Jikx]

http://www.harc.org/oha2.html

I always wondered.. would a fine mist of water work on a oil fire?

 

[Tsu]

Thanks, Jikx. This is what the site said:
"It stops the fuel, the ignition and the oxygen from dancing together by chemically reacting with them."

I need a better explanation. What reacts with what?

Also:

"Many people believe that halon displaces the air out of the area it is dispensed in. Wrong!"

Interesting. Why would a Fire Safety course in a hospital give bad info? To be sure, I'm going to be making a couple of phone calls tomorrow!

 

[FZ+]

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halon

At high temperatures, halons decompose to release halogen atoms that combine readily with active hydrogen atoms, depriving the fire of fuel.

http://www.halonbankingsystems.com/faq.html

The benefits of using Halons are that they do not leave liquid or solid residues when discharged, therefore they are preferred for sensitive areas, such as computer rooms and data storage areas. They also can be used in the presence of humans, which is important in closed areas such as aircraft, boats and armored fighting vehicles.

I'm guessing that this is because the reactions of Halons with hydrogen containing compounds only occur at high temperatures.

http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/sftynet/sn-55.html

When the detection system in a Halon-protected room is activated, the area should be immediately evacuated.
...
The effects of Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 on humans have been studied extensively. Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 are not considered carcinogens or cancer-suspect agents according to state and federal regulatory agencies. However, since Halon is heavier than air it may function as a simple asphyxiant by displacing air in a closed space. High levels of exposure to Halon 1211 or Halon 1301 may result in symptoms including lightheadedness, giddiness, shortness of breath, cardiac irregularity, and unconsciousness. These symptoms are reversible and will disappear if the victim is removed from the area of exposure.

 

[Tsu]

Originally posted by FZ+
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halon



http://www.halonbankingsystems.com/faq.html



I'm guessing that this is because the reactions of Halons with hydrogen containing compounds only occur at high temperatures.

http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/sftynet/sn-55.html

PERFECT! Awesome info! Thanks, FZ! Bless yer sweet face.

 

[Jikx]

(FZ+ Google Skills) > (Jikx Goodle Skills)

hehe.. now that Tsunami's question has been answered, does anyone know if a fine mist of water will work on oil fires?