Difference between Stored Pressure and Cartridge-Operated Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguisher plays a key role in times of fire outbreaks. Every building and establishment must contain enough fire extinguishers as per the governmental norms.

What are Stored Pressure Fire Extinguishers?

In stored pressure fire extinguishers, the compressed nitrogen gas that serves as the dry chemical agent’s propellant is kept in the same canister as the dry chemical itself. The dry chemical is kept in a non-pressurized container in side cartridge-driven systems, while the compressed nitrogen gas is kept in a different cartridge.

What are Cartridge Operated Fire Extinguishers?

A separate pressure cartridge must be activated to pressurize a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, which just has powder or agent inside. These extinguishers are operated differently depending on how they are made.

For cartridge-operated extinguishers, usually dry chemical is kept within the un-pressurized cylinder, and usually the propellant is either “dry air” or even nitrogen that is kept in a different cartridge that is attached to the side of the device.

We must know the functions of the two fire extinguishers to know about the better one among the two.

Now let’s do a comparative study between the two types of fire extinguishers. Read on to know more.

• Stored pressure fire extinguishers have the agent and pressure mixed in the same container inside of the extinguisher. But the cartridge-operated fire extinguishers have just powder/agent inside, and there is a separate pressure cartridge that has to be activated to pressurize the extinguisher.

• Stored pressure fire extinguishers can be operated by using the PASS Method. But cartridge-operated fire extinguishers have to activate the cartridge first and then it can be operated using the PASS method. So the stored extinguishers will be much more convenient for use.

• The nitrogen gas is delivered to the agent tank in side cartridge-operated systems through a tube with gas escape holes in an attempt to break it up and suspend the dry chemical long before it is made to force out to the distribution network. The compressed powder is forced back up a siphon tube and out the extinguisher by stored pressure units, which rely on the nitrogen gas’s downward pressure.

• Stored pressure fire extinguishers have a simple and standard inspection process. While the cartridge-operated fire extinguishers have very complex and take a long time for the inspection process.

• The powder is fluffed before discharge in side cartridge units, though. Before being released, the powder is broken up and fluffed as the gas travels through the gas tube’s perforations.

Both side cartridge-operated vehicle fire suppression systems and stored pressure systems exhibit settling and compaction. The vibration that is intrinsic to that application is the cause of this.

Conclusion Stored pressure fire extinguishers are a much more convenient way to use for better inspection and results whereas cartridge-operated fire extinguishers have a more lengthy process of inspection to make it in use. Both fire extinguisher is required to be existent in the market for the safety of the mass.