Chemists in the 1700′s began using fire extinguishers using a basic form of chemistry. They understood the need for safety and the probability of accidents. That’s why these revolutionary devices were slowly improved upon, developing into a diverse collection of fire extinguishers divided by fire extinguisher class. These different classes are devised to ensure that no matter what type of fire you may experience, you have an extinguisher that can safely and properly put a fire out. Why are different classes so important? Because they tell you the types of fires your extinguisher can be used on, and they tell you how effective it will be on those particular fires.
There are some basic fire extinguishers that are great for every day usage. The Class A or Class B extinguishers are meant to put out some dangerous, but general fires. Class A is all about extinguishing organic materials. This includes organic matter such as paper, wood, or even to put out a flaming garbage can or campfire. Class B, on the other hand, is formulated to help put out fires caused by or including gasoline, oil, kerosene, lighter fluid, or other flammable liquids. If you own a workshop or are trying to get extinguishers for your garage, these may both be a great choice.
Some fire extinguishers are not to be used in everyday fires that are caused by paper, wood, or gas. For example, the Class D fire extinguisher is used to combat flammable chemicals like magnesium or zinc. In laboratories, this can be of particular use, as accidents can sometimes be frequent if the workers are not careful. There are also extinguishers designed to put out fires next to electrical sources. They are known as Class C extinguishers in the US (there is no separate class for these in the UK). These extinguishers are extremely important in high risk jobs, where electrical exposure may be common.
A regular extinguisher would only agitate the situation more, as the Class C extinguisher is the only one that does not conduct electricity at all. Using another extinguisher would do way more harm than good, and the same is true for the Class D extinguisher. These are meant to be used in specific and dangerous circumstances.
If you are dealing with flammable gases you will want to acquire an Extinguisher in class C (in the UK) or class B in the US. These are a smart decision for those who intend to work in a lab as well. There are many different chemical reactions in a lab that must be dealt with in entirely different ways. On a completely different level, there are some establishments that may need a Class F extinguisher to deal with fires that are a result of cooking oils or fats. This gets dangerous in restaurants that fry foods or have large barbecue pits. These are known as class K in the US.
Finding the right extinguisher in the UK can be easy if you know which class will best suit your needs. Fire extinguisher class is very important to pay attention to. In addition to providing you with different classes to choose from, the fire extinguishers provide you with different numeric values that indicate the size of fire the appliance can deal with (the larger the number the larger the fire). If in doubt make sure you check with your local fire authority or an experienced consultant.
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In theory, any person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proved guilty. But, when it comes to substances, people are always prepared to think the worst and never let the facts get in the way of a really good urban myth. For more than a century or two, the world has been fixated with the idea that saltpeter can be used to induce impotence in men. For those of you with an interest in the scientific side of life, saltpeter is better known as potassium nitrate and, for many decades, rumor had it that this dreaded substance was craftily slipped into the food of prison inmates, those lucky enough to serve their country in the armed forces, and young men in single-sex schools and colleges. The result was peace and calm. All those unfortunate sexual urges that might have made it difficult to maintain discipline, were happily damped down.
The truth is rather more boring. Like many other chemical substances, if you were unfortunate enough to eat too much of it, it would make you sick. As a side effect of this sickness, men would tend to lose interest in sex. But the idea that a pinch or two of potassium nitrate added into food by willing accomplices among the kitchen staff would induce impotence is pure fiction. In fact, it’s the literal opposite that’s true.
For centuries, saltpeter has been added to food because it’s a preservative. Before the invention of the rerigerator, kitchens routinely salted meat to keep it edible during the long winter months. Today, the traditional cans of corned beef still contain saltpeter – it has always been man’s friend when used in moderation. Saltpeter first emerged in China about 2,000 years ago. Early experiments saw Chinese chemists getting the best and the worst results, depending on your point of view. The compost heaps containing decomposing organic matter were covered and spiked with dung and urine. When the resulting “mess” was filtered and wood ash added, this was wonderful fertilizer and the basis of fireworks for celebrations. Later, of course, it made explosives for war.
Modern science is a wonderful thing. It has built bigger and better fireworks and developed viagra as a sure-fire cure for erectile dysfunction. With the spread of refrigerators and the use of radiation to extend the shelf-life of food, there is less need for saltpeter. Indeed, because of the threat of urban terrorism, people who buy large quantities of fertilizer are monitored carefully.
But, of course, when there are not enough explosions in the bedroom, viagra is the first response for the men affected. The performance of this drug is no myth. In every clinical trial and with now more than a decade of practical experience in the real world, viagra has consistently proved itself able to produce erections hard enough for penetration. So even if modern men were to eat saltpeter in their food, there would always be a remedy to keep men’s libido on high.