Why not check out smoke-in-a-can type products? You may be able to dress up a can to look more like a fire extinguisher.

Of course, it depends on whether or not you'll be spraying the person in the face, or just in their general area... wouldn't want to get smoke chemicals in their face either.

Your source for handmade shadow puppets at
Puppets in Melbourne

You can get refillable extinguishers that you fill with water, and then pump up with compressed air. They are coloured all red.

Alternatively, red with a black band is carbon dioxide. A short squirt shouldn't cause any problems. Too much and you'll displace the oxygen in the immediate area, with dire consequences. Also, no mess to clean up. These are the ones that create a visible gas discharge that you see in the movies, but they may replace it with a different gas.

I would suggest the water option is the safest, as you control how much pressure goes into the extinguisher.

As a general guideline, aiming pressurised liquids and gasses at another person is not a good idea.

www.meltheco.org.au

I was wondering about a water extinguisher but they are under pressure so might injure your actor, quite aside from the problem of "wet actor, wet costume, pools of water on stage, etc. etc.". Unless that is the effect that is wanted? The old bucket of water in the face schtick!

I'm with Na, the smoke in a can aimed at the (cough) trouser zip area might be best. Can you give a little more detail about the situation and the effect wanted? It might help spark some other ideas

"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

Thanks for the suggestions.
I wasn't very clear. Sorry about that.

It doesn't have to be a fire extingusher. That just poped into my head as having a burst of spray. I am going for the effect of (pretending of course) to spray something to make that person frozen. And not wanting to have any adverse reaction on the actor is my main worry. The floor i can cover.
Maybe the somke in the can is the go.

JennyFer

A simple freeze spray may work fine.
http://www.crcind.com.au/catalogue.nsf/web_brands/Freeze+Spray?openDocument
And don't worry they're only actors.

Your Techies are showing David!

Air water extinguishers {[Class A fires (paper. wood ect)] Solid Red in colour} you can adjust the amount of pressure required, upon refilling with compressed air at The local petrol station. The gauge on the extinguisher is segmented into red & green, with a visual indicator dial pionter, so you can have more or less pressure as needed.

You need something that is visual, audible, makes contact with the actor, has no residue, is easily reversible and cost effective. You also need to decide on whether the audience need to smell it or not and read the MSD sheet.

You haven't mentioned budget or how the effect is reversed.

David and Na's suggestions are closest so far as the water based fire extinguisher will not stop at the actor but also wet the set.

Try choosing an aerosol based spray so you can see the output reach and/or envelop the actor.

How is this for utalising realistic props;-

Frankly just use an air/water extinguisher, the amout of spray can be controled by the trigger handle - that's what rehearsals are for?

Offer some comps to a Fire extinguisher company, I'm sure they will have old units you can play with.

You might even get some forom of paid advertising out of them as weel?

Thanks for all the feedback. I checked ou the freeze spray, Hm, lots of chemicals with firstaide warnings. They might be actors but I like them. Fire extingusher company, what a great idea. I didn't want to put out any money till I had investigated some info. So again thanks.
JennyFer

Hi Would you be able to help me find a large lazy susan or appropriate item that a person can stand on and turn around with the item? Hope you understand what I mean.