Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. Stored pressure fire extinguishers are the most common type. With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used water and foam extinguishers typically use air. Depending on the agent used, different propellants are used. In stored pressure units, the expellant is stored in the same chamber as the firefighting agent itself. There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored-pressure and cartridge-operated. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent that can be discharged to extinguish a fire. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise requires the equipment, personnel, resources and/or expertise of a fire brigade.
A stored-pressure fire extinguisher made by AmerexĪ fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.