What is one disadvantage of CO2 extinguishers compared to other extinguishers?

A key disadvantage of CO2 extinguishers compared to other types is their short discharge range. CO2 extinguishers typically have a limited range of about 3 to 8 feet, which can be significantly less than that of water or foam extinguishers. This limited distance requires the firefighter to be closer to the fire to effectively use the extinguisher, which can pose a risk, especially in rapidly changing fire conditions.

Additionally, while CO2 extinguishers do not leave any residue (which some might interpret as a benefit), their effectiveness can be diminished when dealing with larger or more aggressive fires due to the rapid dissipation of the gas and its inability to penetrate deep into a fire. This characteristic makes them less suitable for some types of fires compared to other extinguishing agents that can be deployed from a greater distance.