Thinking of the use of water from the method of extinguishing fires with benzene
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Today I saw that water cannot be used to extinguish a fire involving benzene, and I thought it was indeed correct – after all, water and benzene are not compatible with each other, and benzene is lighter than water, so water cannot be used to put out such a fire. But then I thought that if 50 kg of benzene were on fire, I could definitely extinguish it using fire-fighting water. Therefore, in my opinion, as long as it’s not a large-scale fire, water is a very effective means of putting out fires
Yes, it’s important to analyze specific problems specifically and to seek truth from facts
As the original poster mentioned, toluene has a lower density than water; therefore, if water is used to extinguish a fire, the toluene will float on the surface of the water and the fire will not be put out. The burning toluene will flow with the water, potentially igniting other flammable materials in the vicinity and causing secondary accidents. The above are merely personal opinions and for reference only!
It is relative that some flammable liquids cannot be extinguished with water; generally, this means that it is not advisable to use large amounts of water, as this could cause the liquid to spread and lead to an expansion of the fire. We have instances where industrial naphthalene caught fire, and using water to put out the fire caused it to spread further. However, misting water can be used to control the fire
Even in the situation described by the original poster, with 50 kg of benzene on fire… using a fire extinguisher is a hundred times more effective than using water from a fire hose. Extinguishing a fire isn’t just about putting out the flames; the consequences also need to be taken into account. Therefore, I disagree with the original poster’s view!
The original poster used water to put out a benzene fire, and this also involves environmental protection issues, so it’s something that needs to be thought through carefully
Those who cannot break free from rigid dogma and blindly believe everything in books are better off without books at all. One must learn to analyze specific problems on a case-by-case basis.
I wonder how everyone uses water to put out fires? Do they just pour water on it directly? Can’t water be used from above to extinguish the fire?
This issue reminds me of a manager from my former company. One day, the aluminum-silver paste in the workshop caught fire; everyone was busy trying to put out the fire by covering it with asbestos blankets and sand. When the manager arrived, he ordered people to fetch water, but I intervened when I saw this happening, and the manager did not insist on it any further. Later, he told me that it is said you shouldn’t use water to put out fires, but who has actually done such an experiment? At that time, I really considered conducting an experiment, but later on, due to limited conditions, I was unable to do it. After careful consideration, if a small amount of aluminum-silver paste catches fire, using a large amount of water to extinguish it should be effective. But if the fire is large and water is used to put it out, water reacts to form hydrogen gas at high temperatures, which would be even worse than adding fuel to the fire; we must trust science!
The function of fire-fighting water is not only to extinguish fires but also to cool down.
It’s a simple principle: if the hot oil in a pan (for example, half a pan) catches fire, you definitely can’t pour water directly onto it. But if you take a thick piece of cloth, soak it completely in water, and then place it over the burning pot, the fire will go out immediately. Its function is to deprive the burning oil of oxygen, thereby achieving the purpose of extinguishing the fire. Water can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you use it. Without it, humans could not live on Earth.
There are indeed things that shouldn’t be treated too dogmatically, but scientific facts are beyond doubt. Safety managers should adhere to stricter principles. The amount mentioned by the original poster isn’t specified; if using 5 liters of water to extinguish a leak is fine this time, then using 10 liters might also not pose any danger. Over time, people might still use water even when 100 liters are involved, and that’s when an accident could occur. In my opinion, principles must be upheld when it’s necessary to do so.