Question 333Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is C) Its smothering effect is excellent for class B fires. Carbon dioxide is an effective fire extinguishing agent due to its smothering effect, which is particularly useful for Class B fires involving flammable liquids and gases. When discharged, carbon dioxide creates an oxygen-depleted environment that starves the fire of the oxygen it needs to continue burning. This smothering effect is highly effective for extinguishing Class B fires, making carbon dioxide a preferred agent in these situations. The other answer choices are incorrect: A) Applying carbon dioxide slowly may not be as effective as a rapid discharge for extinguishing a large fire. B) While carbon dioxide has some cooling properties, its primary fire-extinguishing mechanism is the smothering effect, not superior cooling. D) Carbon dioxide is not corrosive when exposed to fire, unlike some other extinguishing agents.