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Fire extinguishersBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Mar 17, 2008 14:18:36 GMT
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I think fire extinguishers are a pretty important thing to carry whilst driving a retro. I've only ever had to use one once but if I hadn't had it on me it could have gotten out of control! I used a dry powder one from Halfords which just about put out a sizeable underbonnet oil fire... there was nothing left should the fire have kept going though! Plus, the powder makes a reet mess of the car, and I understand it is corrosive! After that I carried a huge CO2 extinguisher (paranoid?!), but this let itself off in the boot at some point! ;D Besides it was way too big to be carrying in a car. So I'm looking for another one - what type is best? Can anyone reccommend one?
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Mar 17, 2008 14:23:53 GMT
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I used a dry powder one from Halfords which just about put out a sizeable underbonnet oil fire... there was nothing left should the fire have kept going though! Plus, the powder makes a reet mess of the car, and I understand it is corrosive!
Although possibly not as damaging as fire :-)
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Mar 17, 2008 14:33:52 GMT
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Powder extinguishers make a real mess, but are very effective, my small one put the fuel fire in our camper out in seconds..... .....a thread started on another forum I'm on regarding the built in systems ;D
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Filthyjohn
Part of things
Currently on the road: 1/11
Posts: 705
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Mar 17, 2008 14:35:28 GMT
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When I bought my 85 fiero it came with an original US halon extinguisher, probably because the 2.5 iron duke engine was famous for starting big oil fires. I seem to remember Halon gas being made illegal, or at least phased out, am I right?
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'95 Volvo 945 Turbo
'87 Volvo 765 TIC
'75 Opel Manta A 2.0 16v,
'86 Volvo 360 turbo,
'62 amazon,
'67 MGB GT.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,474
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Mar 17, 2008 15:02:34 GMT
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You are correct - discharging Halon is waaaaaay more damaging to the environment than any potentially huge fire could ever be. Bloody eco-weenies. I always keep a look out for Halon extinguishers when I'm in the scrappies or at a roup. ;D
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Mar 17, 2008 15:41:16 GMT
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I always mean to get one but never do, there's a Paddy Hopkirk one in the garage for when I venture abroad.
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205 GTi Mi16
205 XS - Now in filmidget's signature
Clio dci 80
I've found in life if someone is an idiot, they generally stay and idiot.
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Fire extinguishersBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Mar 17, 2008 15:48:11 GMT
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Yeah it's irritating that Halon is illegal - I've heard they are the best at suffocating fires. I'm considering getting CO2 as it's nice and clean, but not sure how it will fair in a "field test" (God forbid!) I used a dry powder one from Halfords which just about put out a sizeable underbonnet oil fire... there was nothing left should the fire have kept going though! Plus, the powder makes a reet mess of the car, and I understand it is corrosive!Although possibly not as damaging as fire :-) LOL! Touche! ;D
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,474
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Mar 17, 2008 16:41:56 GMT
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I'm considering getting CO2 as it's nice and clean, but not sure how it will fair in a "field test" (God forbid!) They'll be banned soon too. Increasing your 'carbon footprint' for no reason other than putting out fires? You disgust me, etc... Seriously though, I used to be part of the fire crew when I worked offshore, so did a week's intensive training beforehand which was followed up by regular drills on the rig, Usually a sunday evening which meant I missed Top Gear! CO2 is useless in confined spaces as it will kill you. CO2 is useless in open spaces as although it will extinguish a fire by displacing all the oxygen around it, as soon as there's a breeze those embers will be up again. It's really only of any use on live electrical equipment, and only then in a reasonably large closed-off space. Dry powder puts a fire out by smothering it, water does it by cooling and AFFF foam does it by a combination of the two. Dry powder is without a doubt the best kind of all-round extinguisher for your car or garage, but I must confess to having one of each type! The major thing to watch with dry powder is that you don't inhale it - it's a laxative and you WILL be shitting regularly depending on how much you consume. Also, if you ever see someone on fire these days you really should ask their religion before attempting to tackle the blaze. AFFF foam is great for this, but your average Jew or Islamist would probably object to being extinguished with what is essentially diluted pigs' blood.
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craig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,029
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Mar 17, 2008 16:52:09 GMT
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Powder? C02? What are you lot on about? Heres mine.... It was good enough in 1942
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Mar 17, 2008 17:02:31 GMT
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Craig, you beat me to it! What is chlorobromomethane anyway? Good topic Benzboy. Interesting reading as I've never got round to getting one...
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Mar 17, 2008 17:33:13 GMT
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I have a total discharge foam system in the race car. It was £100 including pull cables, lines, extinguisher and mount. You mount the bottle wherever you want and plumb the line in so that it sprays the fuel side of your engine bay and driver compartment. Actually you probably wouldn't want one of those if you had a fire elsewhere. Would you have a fire elsewhere? Anyway, picture: Charlie
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Mar 17, 2008 18:04:23 GMT
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I keep a powder one in my car ever since I went to the ring.
We did a brief course on fire safety at work and I remember coming away with the impression that powder was the best but very messy.
I also remember that using a CO2 on a waste paper basket fire was stupid, yet utterly hilarious. It blows the contents all over the shop which then proceeds to catch fire again. I couldn't imagine a more appropriate time for a half hearted "oh curse word..." followed by an about turn and a slow walk away.
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gearoil
Part of things
Projectless...
Posts: 918
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Mar 17, 2008 20:03:53 GMT
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Dry powder also stings like a curse word should you get it in a cut.
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Mar 17, 2008 20:34:57 GMT
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I've just got a powder fire extinguisher. Thought that after two car fires (neither critical thankfully!) it was about time! I've got it in the garage at the moment, now realising that it would be good to have one in each car AND the caravan. Doh!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
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Mar 17, 2008 21:52:11 GMT
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Kids set alight the toilet paper dispenser at the school where I work . One of my team grabbed a co2 extinguisher ,dashed in to the toilet without following any checking procedures and put out the fire . Due to it being a confined area ,the oxygen was drawn out of the air ,and he came out the colour of beetroot,as his blood vessels reacted to lack of oxygen!Fire Brigade arrived ,suggested he go to hospital. He refused point blank to go ,or to give any of his details ,age etc . he didnt tell them he has a heart condition either ! What a t***er!
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Mar 17, 2008 22:12:55 GMT
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After the camper fire I bought a few, one in each car and two in the camper, I think two small units are better than one biggun though as you do seem to loose pressure before they run out, and keep the easy to reach as well and not in the enigne bay as i've seen before ;D
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Mar 17, 2008 22:16:15 GMT
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never had one, ever. there was one on the entrie property, in the kitchen, which has been there since like 1995 or so.
recently, i set one of my cars on fire. had i not had a fire extinguisher older than one of the people it protects to rely on, i would have had no car and possibly no sheds. then between the family we bought about 9 new ones within a fortnight.
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Mar 17, 2008 22:33:10 GMT
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I've put out a good number of oil related fires at various drift events, small handheld powder jobbies do well. I've a plumbed in Zero2000 one in the race car but I still carry a 2nd 1k job too, which is what I've ended up using on other peoples cars.
If doing any welding I always have one on standby after my brothers experience involving team trumpton & his old beetle.
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Resident Toyota Geek Current Fleet: HDJ81 Landcruiser, GZ20 Soarer, JZX81 Cresta
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Mar 18, 2008 11:21:29 GMT
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Also, if you ever see someone on fire these days you really should ask their religion before attempting to tackle the blaze. AFFF foam is great for this, but your average Jew or Islamist would probably object to being extinguished with what is essentially diluted pigs' blood. [/o]
Thats superb :-)
'Can you sign this disclaimer before I put you out, just in case you sue me...oh and don't burn my pen'
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Mar 18, 2008 13:22:24 GMT
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From what I've read AFFF is a synthetic foam and its the protein based foams (fluoroprotein) that may contain animal products. Lots of info on fire fighting foams in this thread on a firefighters forum: forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=35275
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