there are many dangers both apparent and subtle in the grow room,and a few simple things to keep around to help minimize them.
1: Fire Extinguishers; an often overlooked item,not that expensive all things considered,but having one near to hand can be the difference between losing your house and explaining what was going on to the fire inspectors later on.make sure to get them rated for electrical fires,and while your picking it up,grab one for your kitchen too!!
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. The following is a quick guide to help choose the right type of extinguisher. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Here are the most common types of fire extinguishers:[/FONT]
2: big ol box of baking soda; can be used to neutralize acids,can be used to put fires out in a pinch,does a good job of absorbing odor..
3: dust mask/respirator all types of medium are pretty dusty,many are fairly hazardous as well,and if you are spraying any kind of insecticides indoors you should seriously consider a respirator designed to remove fine particles and airborn mist.
4: safety glasses/sunglasses; with proper uv coatings,especially in bare bulb gardens!!
5: gloves; something like a nitrile glove should resist most chemicals found in the garden,as well as keep the funk off your hands from organics!
this is just a few very basic things to consider,feel free to add more!
1: Fire Extinguishers; an often overlooked item,not that expensive all things considered,but having one near to hand can be the difference between losing your house and explaining what was going on to the fire inspectors later on.make sure to get them rated for electrical fires,and while your picking it up,grab one for your kitchen too!!
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. The following is a quick guide to help choose the right type of extinguisher. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for class D fires only.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Here are the most common types of fire extinguishers:[/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Water extinguishers or APW extinguishers (air-pressurized water) are suitable for class A fires only. Never use a water extinguisher on grease fires, electrical fires or class D fires - the flames will spread and make the fire bigger! Water extinguishers are filled with water and are typically pressurized with air. Again - water extinguishers can be very dangerous in the wrong type of situation. Only fight the fire if you're certain it contains ordinary combustible materials only.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are suitable for a combination of class A, B and C fires. These are filled with foam or powder and pressurized with nitrogen. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]BC - This is the regular type of dry chemical extinguisher. It is filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. The BC variety leaves a mildly corrosive residue which must be cleaned immediately to prevent any damage to materials. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]ABC - This is the multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher. The ABC type is filled with monoammonium phosphate, a yellow powder that leaves a sticky residue that may be damaging to electrical appliances such as a computer[/FONT]
- [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are used for class B and C fires. CO2 extinguishers contain carbon dioxide, a non-flammable gas, and are highly pressurized. The pressure is so great that it is not uncommon for bits of dry ice to shoot out the nozzle. They don't work very well on class A fires because they may not be able to displace enough oxygen to put the fire out, causing it to re-ignite. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]It is vital to know what type of extinguisher you are using. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for the wrong type of fire can be life-threatening.[/FONT]
2: big ol box of baking soda; can be used to neutralize acids,can be used to put fires out in a pinch,does a good job of absorbing odor..
3: dust mask/respirator all types of medium are pretty dusty,many are fairly hazardous as well,and if you are spraying any kind of insecticides indoors you should seriously consider a respirator designed to remove fine particles and airborn mist.
4: safety glasses/sunglasses; with proper uv coatings,especially in bare bulb gardens!!
5: gloves; something like a nitrile glove should resist most chemicals found in the garden,as well as keep the funk off your hands from organics!
this is just a few very basic things to consider,feel free to add more!
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