Model 691 - PURPLE K / CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Typical use: Flight line/Ramp

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Agent weight

Purple K
CO2

125 lb. / 56.699 kg

20 lb. / 9.072 kg

Discharge range

Purple K

30-40 ft / 9.1-12.2 m
3-8 ft / 0.9-3.6 m

CO2
Discharge time

48 sec.
19 sec.

Purple K
CO2
UL rating
Purple K

320B:C

CO2
Gross weight

10B:C

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Height
Width

53.5 in / 135.9 cm
28.0 in / 71.1 cm

Depth

40.0 in / 101.6 cm

395 lb. / 179 kg

The model 691 dual agent flight line wheeled fire extinguisher was originally developed for the U.S. Navy and the
U.S. Air Force as an alternative to the popular 150-pound Halon 1211 flight line extinguisher.
Both Purple K and CO2 offer zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and have a low global warming potential (GWP) of
1.

Purple-K, also known as PKP, is a dry-chemical fire suppression agent used in some dry
chemical fire extinguishers. It is the second most effective dry chemical in fighting class
B (flammable liquid) fires after Monnex (potassium allophanate), and can be used against some
energized electrical equipment fires (USA class C fires). It has about 45 times more effectiveness
against class B fires than carbon dioxide, and more than twice that of sodium bicarbonate. Some fire
extinguishers are capable of operation in temperatures down to 54 C or up to +49 C. Dry
chemical works by directly inhibiting the chemical chain reaction which forms one of the four sides of
the fire tetrahedron (Heat + Oxygen + Fuel + Chemical Chain Reaction = Fire). To a much smaller
degree it also has a smothering effect by excluding oxygen from the fire. "Dry chemical"
extinguishers, such as Purple-K, are different from "dry powder" extinguishers that are used to fight
Class D flammable metal fires.

Characteristics
Purple-K powder has an acrid taste and odor, is free-flowing, floating on most liquids, non-abrasive,
does not wet with water and is compatible with most foam concentrates. It has violet color, to
distinguish it from other dry agents. Its principal component is potassium bicarbonate (7882% by
weight), with addition ofsodium bicarbonate (1215%), mica (13%), Fuller's earth (13%),
amorphous silica (0.2%), and is made hydrophobic by methyl hydrogen polysiloxane(0.21%).
Purple-K is normally non-toxic, but ingestion of large amount can cause alkalosis. In high
temperatures it decomposes to carbon dioxide and potassium oxide, which is toxic and highly
corrosive.