Technical Fire Extinguisher location
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Technical Fire Extinguisher location
A warning for powder fire extingishers.
Due to the vibrations of driving, the powder settles, and over time becomes a hard lump. When you need it, the gas punches a hole through the lump, and you get a bit of powder, and los of propellant. Not useful.
Once a month, remove it, turn it around a lot, twist it all ways, to get the powder loose. It may need gentle shaking. That's GENTLE. Shaking it hard might bring a surpise.
At that important moment when it is actually needed, remembering to shake it a little will not be in your miind. Hopefully, it will remain an ornament, never to be used.
Most fires occur in the engine bay. Lift the lid only enough to squirt the extinguisher in. Careful, it'll be hot. (Keep oven gloves with the extinghuisher?) Opening the lid fully allows new oxygen in. A closed lid will try to suffocate its own fire. (It's not that successful, but better than fresh air.)
Due to the vibrations of driving, the powder settles, and over time becomes a hard lump. When you need it, the gas punches a hole through the lump, and you get a bit of powder, and los of propellant. Not useful.
Once a month, remove it, turn it around a lot, twist it all ways, to get the powder loose. It may need gentle shaking. That's GENTLE. Shaking it hard might bring a surpise.
At that important moment when it is actually needed, remembering to shake it a little will not be in your miind. Hopefully, it will remain an ornament, never to be used.
Most fires occur in the engine bay. Lift the lid only enough to squirt the extinguisher in. Careful, it'll be hot. (Keep oven gloves with the extinghuisher?) Opening the lid fully allows new oxygen in. A closed lid will try to suffocate its own fire. (It's not that successful, but better than fresh air.)
A 1.75 litre AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) extinguisher is a possible alternative to dry power for use in a car. Larger is better but 1.75l is acceptable for most historic motorsport applications. Only thing to be aware of is the minimum storage temperature, typically -15 deg C, so if car is outside in very cold weather it might be an issue.
AFFF does not fill the air with choking dust. It is better at preventing re-ignition than dry powder because it provides cooling. This may also be an advantage if you have to use it on a person.
Robert G8RPI.
AFFF does not fill the air with choking dust. It is better at preventing re-ignition than dry powder because it provides cooling. This may also be an advantage if you have to use it on a person.
Robert G8RPI.
Foam makes a lot of mess, a small problem if the fire is extinguished of course, but a lot of cleaning up if the fire was small.
Powder gets everywhere, amazing just how much there is in a small extinguisher, and how far it travels. It does clean up more easily, a vacuum cleaner is fine.
A long time ago, the 'Chubb Fire' engineer arrived at the garage I was working at. Ford Escort van, no bulkhead. A powder extinguisher had gone off in the van. Engineer looked like a walking snowman. We stood him in the valeting bay and vacuumed him off, then left him to vac his van out. Still makes me smile today. At least he didn't suffocate.
Powder gets everywhere, amazing just how much there is in a small extinguisher, and how far it travels. It does clean up more easily, a vacuum cleaner is fine.
A long time ago, the 'Chubb Fire' engineer arrived at the garage I was working at. Ford Escort van, no bulkhead. A powder extinguisher had gone off in the van. Engineer looked like a walking snowman. We stood him in the valeting bay and vacuumed him off, then left him to vac his van out. Still makes me smile today. At least he didn't suffocate.
AFFF is also corrosive, so beware of that. I’ve been leaning toward getting one of those “Element” stick extinguishers. They look nice and compact, leave no residue, and have a long shelf life.
Mess and corrosion are minor concerns compared to fire damage.
AFFF does not produce large volumes of foam like the traditional foam systems.
The "Element" style units work in a similar manner to dry powder, producing a "smoke" of potassium salts. Not so sure about the "no residue" claim. They are pyrotechnics using the same mechanism as a hand held smoke signal "flare". They cannot be stopped once lit. They do not apper to have been recognised or approved as a hand held device. There are fixed systems for engine spaces on boats but that is a closed unoccupied space.
Roert G8RPI.
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Fayray
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thanks for the advice everyone. I do like the look of the element sticks but they are sadly not available here. I'll stick with the one I have bought for now and follow Portland_Bill's excellent maintenance advice.
Any other thoughts on location? Chris's suggestion seems very sensible
Any other thoughts on location? Chris's suggestion seems very sensible
I've seen a lot sited across in front of the passenger seat. Few people put their legs there, and it does not get knocked as much as on the tunnel. But, does not work well with tilting seats. Horizontal seems better than vertical, as the powder will settle harder if vertical.
I welded two M6 nuts to the side of the tunnel at the correct centres for the bracket, and then screwed it on like this. It's not too much in the way for those rare times when I have a passenger.
Its been on the car since I restored it, which is five years now. It will still work, but five years is the point at which you would normally have an extinguisher checked or the warranty will be out.
I am considering getting a AFFF version, which will be more expensive. They are the only ones that qualify at even the lowliest levels of motorsport, and the cooling effect they give is extremely important in a car fire.
Its been on the car since I restored it, which is five years now. It will still work, but five years is the point at which you would normally have an extinguisher checked or the warranty will be out.
I am considering getting a AFFF version, which will be more expensive. They are the only ones that qualify at even the lowliest levels of motorsport, and the cooling effect they give is extremely important in a car fire.
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Fayray
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Thanks Peter. I ended up mounting it under the passenger seat (nobody will ride with me for some reason) so I can easily flip the seat forward and grab it. I plan to have some fire drills too
hansblix2001
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An alternative to the standard fire extinguisher is the Blaze Cut system, which is a flexible pipe installed in a suitable location in the engine bay which activates automatically at the correct temperature if there is a fire.
https://www.heritagepartscentre.com...2-metre-automatic-fire-suppresion-system.html
Main downside being the cost compared to a normal extinguisher!
https://www.heritagepartscentre.com...2-metre-automatic-fire-suppresion-system.html
Main downside being the cost compared to a normal extinguisher!
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lazylobster
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What is the correct temperature? As air cooled lumps can run pretty hot.
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Fayray
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That looks pretty interesting. It's expensive I guess, until you have a fire of course. If someone starts selling them here I'll consider it.
Lazylobster - it appears from the website it's specifically for air-cooled VWs so should work for the 500 I'm guessing
Lazylobster - it appears from the website it's specifically for air-cooled VWs so should work for the 500 I'm guessing
