On 2/17/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  RE:  And never, ever, EVER try to put out a magnesium fire with a Halon
> fire
> extinguisher. That produces phosgene gas,
>
> Are you sure about that?

Yep. Creates phosgene and fluorophosgene gas, and does so somewhat
explosively as well, so it'll also tend to blow back at you.

  Or are you thinking of the old carbon tetrachloride extinguishers?

Oh, THOSE were nasty even in general fires. Halon only turns to phosgene
when exposed to fairly high temperatures, but CTC turns to phosgene just in
the natural course of using it as a fire extinguishant. Phosgene is
dangerous stuff. Smells like fresh mown hay and doesn't irritate your
bronchial tubes when you inhale it, but it hits your lungs and turns into
hydrochloric acid.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"