What sort of fire extinguisher?

[Baldrick]

Hi all

I'd have thought others have asked this, but I couldn't find anything when I searched.

I've been looking at extinguishers and it seems from my understanding that I need a dry powder or foam. What do you guys have?

Thanks

 

[bobley]

Dry powder settles in the bottle and needs agitating regularly to ensure it stays in suspension.

The best fire extinguishers for a bus are the automatic foam systems where you clip a plastic hose around the roof of the engine bay. The hose is constantly pressurised and releases the foam when it melts and thus directs the foam directly onto the fire. You can get them with a pressure switch so you can disable the fuel pump when its triggered.

Drop a PM to VWJim either on this forum or on SSVC

 

[Dean]

Dry powder settles in the bottle and needs agitating regularly to ensure it stays in suspension.

The best fire extinguishers for a bus are the automatic foam systems where you clip a plastic hose around the roof of the engine bay. The hose is constantly pressurised and releases the foam when it melts and thus directs the foam directly onto the fire. You can get them with a pressure switch so you can disable the fuel pump when its triggered.

Drop a PM to VWJim either on this forum or on SSVC

The agitaion occurs when driving the vehicle, perhaps a shake before use and they're fine.

The set up in the engine is the best way to go though. I'll be fitting that to mine next year.

 

[Loxy]

The agitaion occurs when driving the vehicle, perhaps a shake before use and they're fine.

The set up in the engine is the best way to go though. I'll be fitting that to mine next year.

I believe the movement of the vehicle causes it to settle so it does need to be shaken occasionally, however as I understand it dry powder is a better extinguishant than foam which in my mind makes it better to use as that would seem to be the main aim of an extinguisher.
There are several threads on here regarding the automatic fire extinguishing systems, IIRC Araon had some details on their effectiveness & pros/cons from the manufacturer on the original one.

 

[Austin]

dry powder would be fine for fuel / engine fire protection, as they are ABC (A = solids, B = liquids, C = gases) rated and can pretty much tackle anything in a car, they would still need servicing every year to make sure that will work when you need it, the powder will eventually compact in what ever postion you leave it in, but this takes longer than a year to happen but getting it serviced or learn service it yourself every year and this wont happen. Powder extingiushers would need testing, discharging and refilling every 5 years, but being the size they are in cars it would be better to buy a new one. So that classic powder item you have because it looks old skool will be as effective as a fart in the wind.

A spray foam extinguisher either manually used or fixed and remotely activated will be most effective, typically an AFFF foam soloution seals the fire and prevents re-ignition. This would still need servicing every year, and testing / refilling every 5 years.

One thing that some people dont realise is that sheer mess that a powder extinguisher will make, and the powder is also mildley corrosive.

Co2 would not be very good, and not worth thinking about.

if anyone else wants to know about extinguishers just holla.